New Jersey Institute of Technology     Charles R. Brooks, Ph.D.
HSS 211:017       M 2:30/W 11:30
Fall 2003       brooks@adm.njit.edu
Facx 305       973-596-3282

The Pre-Modern World
HSS 211:017

Course Description
This course investigates and compares world cultures from the beginning  of the human species up to 1400. The emergence and development of civilizations and their contributions to human knowledge will be approached holistically, looking at their political, economic, religious, artistic and philosophical systems as well as their material productions. Some of the primary cultures of this period will also be studied through their written texts.

Required Text

The Earth and Its People, Brief 2nd Edition, by Bulliet, et.al., Houghton Mifflin. 2003

The Humanities, Volume 1, 6th Edition, by Witt, et.al., Houghton Mifflin. 2001.

Webs Sites announced in class

Handouts

Requirements and Grading
Essays  40%
Presentation 15%
Mid-term Exam 15%
Final Exam 20%
Portfolios 10%
 

Guidelines and Policies
1. More than three unexcused absences will result in a lowered grade. Unexcused lateness counts as ½ absence.
2. All papers handed in late will receive a lowered grade. Papers must be submitted by their due dates.
3. A plagiarized essay will result in a grade of F for the course. Citations must conform to MLA or APA format.
4. All homework essays must be word-processed using a standard 10 or 12-point font. Use one-inch margins on all sides of each page, double space and left-justify. Indent the first line of every paragraph five spaces. Number pages consecutively.
5. Headings should be single-spaced in the upper left of the first text page. They should include your name, essay number or other identifying information, course/instructor, and date, according to MLA.
6. Handwritten in-class assignments should be double-spaced with one-inch margins.
7. Each essay should include a title, centered on the first text page below the heading.
8. All work will be submitted in reverse chronological order in an NJIT portfolio on the last class day.
9. Keep an extra printout or photocopy of all essays and papers. Make a back-up disk.
 

Course Schedule

DATE                      ASSIGNMENT

Sep 3, 8 Human Origins, evolution, culture, and civilization  B4-13

 10, 15 The first civilizations: Mesopotamia   B14-21
         W6-31
         Internet: Gilgamesh
         Handout

 17, 22 The first civilizations: Ancient India   B29-44, 108-110
         W442-445
         Internet: Harrapa, Rig Veda
 
 24, 29 The first civilizations: Ancient Egypt and China  B21-28, 37-44
and the Hebrew      W32-64, 467-471, 216-218, 232-242
         Internet: Ka; Confucious
         Hebrews
         Essay 1 Due

Oct 1, 6 Greece       B52-54,94-107
         W65-215
         Internet: Socrates, The Odyssey

 8, 13 Rome       B123-135
         W167-215
          Internet: Julius Caesar;Constantinople
          The Aeneid

 15, 20 Classical Asia: Hinduism and Buddhism   B11-113;
W446-466
Internet: Vedas, Varna, Bhagavad Gita, Nirvana, Bodhisattva
 

22 Mid-term Exam
 

27, 29 Christianity      B203-206
        We19-256
         Internet: Patriarchs,
         Council of Nicea, New Testament
Nov 3, 5 Islam       B176-194
         W268-285
         The Qur’an, the Satanic Verses
         Essay 2 Due

 10,12 Medieval Eastern Europe     B207-210
         W257-267
         Internet: Orthodox Church
         Byzantine Empire
 

17, 19 Medieval Western Europe     B212-217
         W286-366
      Internet: Charlemagne,
Holy Roman Empire, Vikings;
 

 24, 26 Medieval East Asia and Eurasia    B262-268, 293-3101
         Internet: Dalai Lama
         Chigis Khan, The Tale of Genji
 

Dec 1, 3, 8 Oral Presentations
 

10 Review
 

15 Last Class
   Portfolios Due
 

Essay 1: Write a research essay on an ancient civilization focusing on one work of art or literature that reflects an important aspect of that civilization. This essay should be 4-5 pages and incorporate the MLA format.

Essay 2: Write a research essay on an individual writer, artist, architect, philosopher, or religious figure who had a significant impact on one of the societies studied up to 1500. In this essay, discuss the person’s contributions and his or relationship to the development of the culture. This should be 5-6 pages and follow MLA format.

Presentation: Each student will give a presentation in class of not more than ten minutes. The presentation should be related to the topic of one of the essays.