KEENE STATE COLLEGE

History

History 142-01:   Western Civilization, 1500 to the Present Fall 2004

Dr. Paul Vincent: 358-2722 (office); 352-6108 (home); pvincent@keene.edu

Office:   Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies, Mason Library

Office Hours: Tues, 10:30 a.m-12 noon; Wed, 10-11 a.m.; & 2:30-4 p.m., M-F, in the Holocaust Center [1]

                            Other times by appointment

PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION

This course examines major themes and developments in what is known as “Western Civilization” from the time of the Renaissance through the Second World War.   Focused largely on Europe, our aim is not to ignore the sophistication, dynamism, and humanity of the other cultures on our planet.   Nor will we recognize a single historical and uniform culture; rather, there are a number of “western civilizations.”    That said, we will focus on the intellectual components of Europe's past that gave rise to the modern age—including the growth of humanism, liberalism, conservatism, socialism, nationalism, antisemitism, and fascism—and we will also trace how some of those “isms” helped precipitate the horrors of the twentieth century.   Our examination will include the source of our religious divisions; the origin of nation-states in early modern Europe; the underpinnings of the Enlightenment; the beginnings of modern economic systems and theories; the age of political revolution; the scientific and industrial revolutions; and the emergence of modern, mass democracy.   As the concept "civilization" is incomplete without an appraisal of culture, we will also trace artistic change through an examination of music.   Above all, our course will examine the history of political, philosophical, and cultural developments as rooted in the circumstances and conditions of their specific age.

Although required readings are limited to the two texts, your careful reading of all assigned material is crucial to your success in the course.   A special emphasis is placed on the thoughtful consideration of a selection of primary sources ( Sources of the Western Tradition ); these will afford a better understanding of both your basic text ( Western Civilization:   The Continuing Experiment ) and class presentations.   The course's Blackboard account (see Course Documents) contains a list of “Key Terms” for the chapters in Western Civilization .   To gain the most from this course, you should read assigned materials during the week specified under “Weekly Readings and General Presentation Topics” (below).   So far as possible, the attempt is made to have the reading assignments parallel presentation topics; however, the readings are only meant to complement the presentations and may often differ notably from the topic covered in class.

ATTENDANCE

Anyone taking this course should consider him/herself obliged to punctually attend all classes.   Since unanticipated problems will arise, you are allowed three absences, without penalty, for the semester.   Each absence beyond three will result in the reduction of your final grade by one point.   If for any reason you cannot attend a session, I will grant an excused absence and allow for the makeup of a missed quiz or the delayed submission of written work— but only if your absence is reported to me before the session missed (see below); nonetheless , such absences still fall within the three allowed for the semester.   Use my voice mail (8-2722) or email to notify me of anticipated absences.   I shall, likewise, use my voice-mail if an unexpected circumstance precludes a class meeting (you might form a habit of calling my phone message prior to class).   Five absences (excused or not) are the maximum allowed ; please withdraw from the course if you exceed this limit.

Finally, unless a physical ailment precludes you from doing so, I ask that you maintain your seat throughout a class session.   If you find it imperative to leave a class session, please do not return that day.   Civility and etiquette suggest that you respect both your instructor and fellow classmates sufficiently to retain your seat during a class session.

READING OBSERVATIONS

As a stimulant for personal growth, you will submit one well-developed observation every other Thursday, beginning 9 September, for a total of seven over the course of the semester (your 7 th observation, due on 9 December (Thursday), should be an evaluation of the course).   These assignments must be typed or word-processed, double-spaced, and they must relate to your reading assignments in Sources of the Western Tradition ( N.B. :   make use of the “Review Questions” at the end of the sections).   While observations will not receive a formal grade, your diligent completion of this exercise will impact your final grade (see Evaluation).   Submissions will be rejected (a) if they demonstrate insufficient depth of thought, or (b) if they do not represent your own work.   I shall respond to your work and return all assignments within a week.   As with any written work, submissions should be clear and well crafted.   As needed, I'll use this assignment to assist you with your writing.   If necessary , this assignment may be completed via email (pvincent@keene.edu).   Tardy submissions will only be accepted after an excused absence (see Attendance).

Nota bene :   As history is not a science, it does not always allow for absolute answers.

QUIZZES AND FINAL EXAM

Beginning Thursday, 9 September, there will be thirteen weekly quizzes during the first part of class consisting of short-answer identifications; your ten best quizzes will count toward your final course grade (see Evaluation).   Each quiz will be worth ten points and, taken as a whole, will serve as more than the equivalent of a midterm exam (the course has no midterm exam).   By and large, questions will come from material covered since the prior quiz in both readings and presentations.   If a quiz is missed due to an excused absence (see Attendance), you may schedule a make-up; the make-up must be taken before the next class session (i.e., before the following Tuesday @ 8 a.m.).

The final exam will consist of both essay and short-answer identification questions.   It will be comprehensive, calling for knowledge of material covered since the beginning of the semester in both presentations and readings.

EVALUATION

Grades will be computed on the basis of the following percentages:

                                          Quizzes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50%

                                          Reading Observations. . . . . . . . . 15%

                                          Final Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35%

If you are failing this course, you must withdraw no later than Friday, 12 November, to avoid receiving a WF. 

TEXTBOOKS

Noble, Thomas F. X., et al.   Western Civilization: The Continuing Experiment: Since

1300 .   3 rd ed.   Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.

Perry, Marvin, et al. Sources of the Western Tradition: From the Renaissance to the

Present . 5th ed.   Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003.  

WEEKLY READINGS AND GENERAL PRESENTATION TOPICS

(Readings should be completed by Thursday of the week specified; extra-credit possibilities are highlighted )

1.     Week of 30 Aug:   Introduction; Renaissance Europe

                            Read Noble, ch 12 & 13; Sources , ch 1, #1-2.

2.            6 Sep:   The Reformation (Machiavelli & Renaissance Music) – 1 st weekly

quiz; Observation

                            Read Noble, ch 14; Sources , ch 1, #3-4.

3.            13 Sep:   Age of Religious Wars (Thomas Hobbes)

                            Read Noble, ch 15; Sources , ch 2, #1& 3.

4.            20 Sep:   Age of Absolutism (Baroque Music) – Observation

                            Read Noble, ch 16; Sources , ch 1, #5 & 7.

5.            27 Sep:  Science and Reason (Isaac Newton) – Holocaust Memorial

Lecture

                           Read Noble, ch 17; Sources , ch 2, #4-5.

6.            4 Oct:  The Enlightenment (John Locke) – Observation – NHHC Annual

Meeting (Elie Wiesel)

                            Read Noble, ch 18; Sources , ch 3, #8 & 10.

7.            11 Oct:   The French Revolution (Classical Music)

                              Read Noble, ch 19; Sources , ch 4, #1-3.

8.            18 Oct:   Romanticism & Reaction (Edmund Burke) – Observation

                             Read Noble, ch 21; Sources , ch 6, #1-2.

9.            25 Oct:   The Industrial Revolution (Romantic Music)

                              Read Noble, ch 20; Sources , ch 5, #4-5.

10.           1 Nov:   Nationalism and Social Reform (J.S. Mill and/or Dostoevsky) –

Observation

                              Read Noble, ch 22 & 23; Sources , ch 7, #4-5; ch 8, #4-5.

11.           8 Nov:   The European Treaty System and the Road to World War I –

Kristallnacht Remembrance

                            Read Noble, ch 24; Sources , ch 9, #2-3; ch 10, #1 ( NB :   No

class on Thursday)

12.           15 Nov:   World War I and the Versailles Treaty (films) – Observation

                            Read Noble, ch 25; Sources , ch 11, #3-4 & 6.

13.           22 Nov:   Europe between the Wars (Fascism) – No quiz; no class on

Thursday

                            Read Noble, ch 26; Sources , ch 11, #8; ch 12, #5 & 7.

14.           29 Nov:   The Road to World War II (Nazi Racial Policy)

                              Read Noble, ch 27; Sources , ch 12, #9-11.

15.           6 Dec:     Europe and the Second World War (The Holocaust) – Final quiz

& observation

                              Read Noble, ch 28 (thru page 974); Sources , ch 13, #3-4 & 9.

16.           Final Exam:   Tuesday, 14 December, 8-10 a.m.

     [1]   The afternoon hours listed for the Holocaust Center are subject to change.   Please call ahead (8-2722) to ensure that I'm at the Center.