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The American University of Rome HST 201 - Survey of Western Civilization I - Fall 2008
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Session |
Topics |
Readings |
Tasks |
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M 8 Sep. |
Introduction: The evolution of political systems and international relations. Time and scale.
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No
reading |
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W 10 Sep. |
The Beginnings of Civilization: The Advent of the State and Empire.
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Chapter
1: The Origins of Western Civilizations |
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M 15 Sep. |
The International Bronze Age and its Aftermath. An early process of globalization.
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Chapter
2: Gods and Empires in the Ancient Near East, 1700–500 B.C.E. |
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W 17 Sep. |
Building the Classical World: Hebrews, Persians, and Greeks.
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Chapter
3: The Greek Experiment |
First
Take-Home Exam handed |
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M 22 Sep. |
Classical Greece : Politics, Science and Philosophy
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No reading |
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W 24 Sep. |
The Hellenistic Age: Expansion of Greek Ideals. Globalization of the Mediterranean World.
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Chapter
4: The Expansion of Greece |
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M 29 Sep. |
The Early Roman Empire. From Republic to Empire and the Shaping of a Continental Power.
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No
reading |
First
Take-Home Exam is DUE |
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W 1 Oct. |
Roman
Empire and the Strategies of an Imperial Power Discussion on take-home exam 1
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Chapter
5: Roman Civilization |
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M 6 Oct. |
Late Antiquity: Demise of the Management of the Empire
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Chapter
6: Christianity and the Transformation of the Roman World |
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W 8 Oct. |
Rise of Christianity: From Peter to the Official Church in hand with the Evolution of the Empire. Constantine.
Discussion on selection of paper topic. |
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M 13 Oct. |
Rome's Three Heirs: the long life (but short zenith) of the Eastern Roman empire… The rebirth of the Western empire… The birth of Islam…
More discussion on paper topic.
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Chapter 7: Rome's Three Heirs: The Byzantine, Islamic, and Early Medieval Worlds
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Second
Take-Home Exam handed |
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W 15 Oct. |
Diversity in Cultural Traditions: Three Cultural Trends into the future.
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No
reading |
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M 20 Oct. |
Review Session for the Mid-term Exam.
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No
reading |
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W 22 Oct. |
Mid-term Exam |
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M 27 Oct. |
The Early Middle Ages. Topic 1: Cordoba and the culture of the Middle Ages. Intro to WS and Core-Periphery.
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Second
Take-Home Exam is DUE |
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W 29 Oct. |
The High Middle Ages. Topic 2: The Feudal political system in Europe. What occurs elsewhere?
Selection
of paper topics - Guidelines for the bibliography and research. |
Chapter
8: The Expansion of Europe: Economy, Society, and Politics in the High Middle
Ages, 1000–1300 |
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FALL BREAK
31 Oct. - 9 Nov. |
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M 10 Nov. |
The High Middle Ages. Topic 3: he evolution of cities and urbanization in the Mediterranean world.
Discussion
on take-home exam 2 |
Chapter
9: The High Middle Ages: Religious and Intellectual Developments, 1000–1300 |
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W 12 Nov. |
The Late Middle Ages.
Topic 4: Evolution of art and Humanism in
the Middle Ages. Artistic trajectories in the Mediterranean/European world |
Chapter
10: The Later Middle Ages, 1300–1500 |
Annotated
Bibliography of Papers DUE |
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M 17 Nov. |
The
Renaissance: How Money, Trade, Artistic Influences and Humanistic Interest
create the Revival of European Culture |
Chapter 11: Commerce, Conquest, and Colonization, 1300–1600 |
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W 19 Nov. |
The
Renaissance (Cont.) |
Chapter 12: The Civilization of the Renaissance, 1350–1550
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Paper
Outline DUE |
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M 24 Nov. |
The
West and the World. |
No reading
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W 26 Nov. |
No class
Visit to Markets of Trajan & Museum of Fori Imperiali @ entrance of Via
Nazionale 33.
Classroom debate 1: How do learn / use the Past? History and Politics. |
No
reading |
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M 1 Dec. |
The
Protestant Reformation. Classroom debate 2: the meaning of “Civilization” and today's scenarios of political organization in light of ancient models.
Presentations by students (8-10 minutes each) |
Chapter
13: Reformations of Religion |
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W 3 Dec. |
Presentations by students (8-10 minutes each) |
No
reading |
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M 8 Dec. |
HOLIDAY - class held on Friday 12 Dec. |
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W 10 Dec. |
Politics,
Religion and the Creation of the New Nation-States in Europe |
Chapter
14: Religious Wars and State Building, 1540–1660 |
Paper
DUE |
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F 12 Dec. |
Review
Session for the Final Exam |
No
reading |
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W 17 Dec. |
FINAL EXAM: 1pm- 3pm |
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