A History of the World Part I (Antiquity to 1500): The Myriad Winding Paths to Modernity
3 Lecture Hours/week
3 credits
Zero-Textbook Cost
Instructor Name: Samuel Finesurrey
E-mail: samuel.finesurrey@guttman.cuny.e
Course Description
A History of the World Part I – Antiquity to 1500
This is a survey of the history of human civilization from the end of the Stone Age to 1500 CE. The course examines human evolution from the earliest agrarian societies to the distinctive features of ancient and medieval cultures and governments. Particular attention is paid to the traditions, achievements, and ways of life in several regional and global military, political, and cultural centers. Moments of contact between cultures will be lifted up as civilizations exchanged materials, goods, illnesses, religions, and most significantly ideas. The course ends roughly around 1500, on the eve of tremendous changes and the emergence of a truly unprecedented global network of trade and communication.
Prerequisites/corequisites:
N/A
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate a broad familiarity with major historical events and trace connections between watershed moments over time and across the globe.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to identify varied historical perspectives in significant moments. They will be able to analyze why different people think, govern themselves, fight, and interact with each other the ways they do.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to explain patterns and divergences between varied societies and the movements, advancements, conflicts and struggles that shaped historical and modern experiences.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to analyze and critique different types of historical sources including written texts, art, artifacts, and architecture.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to utilize their critical thinking, writing, and rhetorical skills to construct evidence-based arguments about history.
Suggested Course Textbooks:
Kordas, A., Lynch, R. J., Nelson, B., & Tatlock, J. (2023). World History Volume 1, to 1500. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/world-history-volume-1/pages/1-introduction
Kordas, A., Lynch, R. J., Nelson, B., & Tatlock, J. (2023). World History Volume 2, from 1400. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/world-history-volume-2/pages/1-introduction
Grading:
Course Assignments and Grading
| A+ | 4.0 | 97-100% |
| A | 4.0 | 93-96.9% |
| A- | 3.7 | 90-92.9% |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87-89.9% |
| B | 3.0 | 83-86.9% |
| B- | 2.7 | 80-82.9% |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77-79.9% |
| C | 2.0 | 73-76.9% |
| C- | 1.7 | 70-72.9% |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67-69.9% |
| D (passing) | 1.0 | 60-66.9% |
| F | 0 | 0-59.9% |
| NC* | Not calculated | 0-59.9% |
| Participation, Attendance & Punctuality | 15% |
| Weekly Assignments | 25% |
| Debate Assignment | 10% |
| Oral History Project | 30% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
Assignments
Oral History Project (30%):
Oral History (10%): You will interview a peer or elder about how they learned about a series of historic events discussed in the class.
Transcript (5%): You must edit your oral history transcript to prepare it for consumption by your classmates.
Final Project (15%): You will have access to each other’s’ testimonies to write about how a historic event is taught and make an argument about what that says about who we celebrate in history and why. You will present your findings to the class in a five minute presentation.
Your final paper/presentation must have…
- A research question you are answering. Make sure it’s a question the interviewees can answer.
- A clear thesis that answers the research question you are posing. The thesis should identify a pattern in the experiences documented through this oral history project.
- At least three body paragraphs with each having a clear topic sentence followed by at least three quotes from the oral histories collected by you and your peers that will be used as evidence.
Weekly Assignments (25%):
Nearly every week there will be a set of graded assignments due on Sunday nights. You will submit your notes and answer a set of questions based on the assigned materials.
Participation, Attendance & Punctuality (15%):
You are expected to participate in class discussions showing active listening and thinking. If you are late to class, it will negatively impact your participation grade.
Debate Assignment (10%):
Students will read arguments made by historians and contemporary actors about various topics over the course of the semester including what defines a “civilization”, the nature of empire, and positions on various historical conflicts and movements. This assignment will culminate in every student participating in 1 of 4 debates.
Final Exam (20%):
You will have an open note final exam covering material from the entire course.
Weekly Schedule
| Week | Topic | What’s Due | Readings |
| Week #1 |
Class 1: Intro to A History of the World Part One Class 2: When does human history begin? |
Notes and Writing Response: Prompt: Explore what informed you vision of the world? |
Chapter 1: Understanding the Past Eugene Berger “Pre-history” World History: Cultures, States, and Societies to 1500. |
| Week #2 |
Class 3: The Agricultural Revolution Class 4: Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Nubians |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. |
Chapter 3: Early Civilizations and Urban Societies, 4.2: Egypt’s New Kingdom |
| Week #3 |
Class 5: Introduction to Oral History Project & Debate Prep Class 6: Eastern CivilizationAncient ChinaJapan & the Southeast |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. | Chapter 5.1: Ancient China, 5.3 Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia |
| Week #4 |
Class 7: Ancient Asia: The Steppes and Ancient India Class 8: The Hellenic World |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. | Chapter 5.2: The Steppes, 5.4 Vedic India and the Fall of the Maurya Empire |
| Week #5 |
Class 9: The Roman Empire Class 10: Debate One – Which ancient empires or civilizations influenced in our modern lives? |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. Debaters for debate one must be prepared with key points and arguments. |
Chapter 7.2 Slavery in the Roman Empire, 7.3 The Roman Economy: Trade, Taxes, and Conquest, 7.4 Religion in the Roman Empire, 7.5 The Regions of Rome |
| Week #6 |
Class 11: Populating the Americas Class 12: The Great Empires of the Americas |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. | Chapter 8: The Americas in Ancient Times |
| Week #7 |
Class 13: Debate Two – How should we mark first contact between Columbus and native cultures of the Americas? Class 14: Ancient Africa |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. Debaters for debate two must be prepared with key points and arguments. | Chapter 9: Africa in Ancient Times Chapter 15 States and Societies in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Week #8 |
Class 15: The Rise of Islam Class 16: Finalizing Oral History Project |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. Debaters for debate two must be prepared with key points and arguments. | |
| Week #9 |
Class 17: After Rome Fell Class 18: Editing a Transcript |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. Oral History Due |
Chapter 13.1, 13.2, 13.3 & 13.4 |
| Week #10 |
Class 19: Debate Three – How does identity work between groups in the ancient world? Class 20: Connecting East and West – Indian Ocean Trade and Silk Road |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. | Chapter 12, 14.1 |
| Week #11 |
Class 21: Introduction to Final Project Class 22: The Mongols |
Notes and short quiz on readings/video. Oral History Transcript Due |
Chapter 14.2 – 14.4, 16 & 17.1 |
| Week #12 |
Class 23: A Global World is Born & Final Exam Review Class 24: Debate Four – Is a globalized world a good thing? |
Oral History Final Project is Due | |
| Last day of Class | |||
| Final Exams | |||
