Humanities I: The Ancient, Classical, and Medieval Worlds (680:021): Spring 2007 (Section 02)

Required Texts:

Course Description

Why does the past matter? How do events that took place centuries ago affect me today? Why do people kill in the name of God? Why has Western history been so violent? Should I care about the humanities? If you are interested in these questions, then this is the course for you. My goal in this class is to introduce you to the study of the humanities and show you why it is important. Throughout the semester, you will take a journey through the history of Western civilization from its beginnings in the Middle East to approximately 1300 C.E. I am confident that you will find this exploration of the ancient, classical, and medieval periods fascinating for the light that it sheds upon our modern world. In this class, you will not only study the good side of Western civilization, but you will also explore the origins of contemporary religious violence in order to help you understand the important role that history, culture, and faith continues to play in today’s world conflicts.        

In this class you will not merely read about the humanities, but you will also examine the major teachings and traditions of Western civilization by reading some of its classical texts. As you progress through this course, you will realize the important role that history continues to play in today’s increasingly pluralistic and multicultural society. For this reason, it is more important than ever for you to acquire a basic knowledge of the humanities since issues of nationalism, violence, terrorism, and discrimination are frequently rooted in religious and cultural misunderstandings that often originated in the periods we will study in this course. By the end of this class, you should have a basic knowledge of Western civilization and its importance for understanding our present world. Like all classes that make up the “Liberal Arts Core,” the purpose of this course is to open your mind to new ideas, teach you how to acquire knowledge, and enable you to successfully apply what you have learned to new circumstances that you will encounter throughout your life.

Course Goals

The study of the humanities seeks to uncover humankind’s continuing experience by engaging in a critical inquiry about events that have occurred, are occurring in the present, and are likely to occur in the future. You will find that the methods that you will use to comprehend the past in this course will also help you to understand the present. As we undertake our journey through the history, religion, culture, and literature of Western civilization, we will focus on how the past continues to shape the present. My major goals in this class are:

• To expose you to the major events and ideas that have shaped Western civilization.
• To show you how developments in science, technology, and the arts have impacted thought, social institutions, material production, and daily life.
• To illustrate how the shifting relations between religion, society, and the state influence events.
• To help you view current events in a long perspective in order to understand how contemporary society continues to be shaped by the past.
• To teach you the analytical skills of writing, reading, critical inquiry, and discussion that remain the core of a liberal arts education.

I believe that this is one of the most important courses that you will take during your time at UNI. For this reason, I will try to expose you to the most recent and accurate information about the humanities. In many instances, I will include information and photographs from my extensive travels and archaeological excavations to make the course more exciting. Much of this information is as yet unpublished. By integrating new historical and archaeological discoveries into this class, I hope to show you how experts process knowledge before it appears in the textbooks. Some of the questions we will examine in this course include:

•Why is religion often violent?

•Was there a Trojan Horse?

•Did Moses or King David exist?

•Did King Arthur and Camelot actually exist?

•Where is Atlantis?

•Which woman in antiquity wore a wooden beard?

•What is jihad?

•When did sexism began?

•How do archaeologists uncover the past?

•What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

•Have archaeologists recently discovered the site of one of Jesus’ healings?

•What do secret Gospels hidden in the Egyptian desert have to tell us about Jesus?

•Is the Gospel of Judas true?

•Which recent New Testament discovery was associated with a murder and cannibalism?

In this course we will also learn about unruly students in the Middle Ages, the birth of political scandals, and much more. You need to check your UNI e-mail account regularly for this class. I will send you information each week about this class by e-mail. Because university e-mail inboxes can become full rather quickly, be certain to delete your old messages on a regular basis. For more on the humanities and the Liberal Arts Core at UNI, please visit: http://www.uni.edu/vpaa/lac/.

Course Requirements

1. Attendance/Class Participation (approximately 5% of grade). This course requires your active participation. Because you have chosen to take this class, I assume that you want to learn as much as possible about the Humanities (Ancient, Classical, and Medieval Worlds). If so, then please be certain to arrive on time ready to share your ideas and thoughts about the assigned readings. As a member of this class, I expect you to be respectful to other students regardless of whether or not you agree with their opinions. I also expect you to remain open to new ideas throughout this course, which is the first requirement of the academic study of the humanities. Please feel free to disagree with me in class and challenge me to support any truth claims that I make. I may not always convince you that my interpretation of a text is correct, but if I can show you the reason for my view, and the primary sources I have used, then I have done my job. I am always happy to explain to you how I have reached my conclusions, so do not hesitate to ask me hard questions. You will discover in this class that scholars frequently disagree over how to interpret the same evidence. For this reason, do not always assume that I am correct. What is important is that you learn how to ask difficult questions in order to become a critical thinker and lifelong learner. During this course I hope that you will always feel free to take risks and ask difficult questions. By contributing to this class, you will find that your questions will help you to organize your thoughts and better understand the material. This is your class, so please let me know if there are any specific topics that you would like me to discuss. Remember that your questions are always welcome.

Because attendance is critical to understand the material and texts that we will study, I will deduct a few points for more than three unexcused absences when I determine your final grade. I assume that you will miss a few classes due to illnesses, university activities, or other life issues. Only unexcused absences will be penalized, so if you have a good reason for missing class I will not count your absence. If you are sick, you do not need to obtain a note from a doctor or nurse to prove your illness. I will trust you, so just let me know that you were sick, and I will not count your absence. Whether your absence is excused or not, you are required to keep up with the readings and lectures. If you miss class, I suggest that you obtain copies of the notes from a fellow student. I am always happy to sit down with you and go over any material at any time. I am pleased to have you in my class if you are involved in any university program (sports, ROTC, student government, etc.) that may occasionally prevent you from attending this course. Please provide me with a letter by January 22 about your activity or program, the name and phone number of a contact person, and the projected number of absences. Here are a few general guidelines and requirements for this class:

a. Careful listening to the instructor and to other students. When responding, please do so in a courteous and thoughtful manner. You may disagree with the opinions presented in class, but it is important in an academic environment that you provide the reason for both your agreement and your disagreement. As a general guide, remember that ideas and theories can always be criticized, but not the person presenting them. Always be polite and encourage other class members by listening to their ideas and responding in a courteous manner, whether or not you agree with the thoughts presented.

b. Integration of reading assignments. During class discussions, you should demonstrate that you have read the portion of the textbook or the primary text assigned for that particular class. Always bring the textbooks to class. Be prepared to discuss these texts by preparing questions in advance. When you ask questions about a particular text, whenever possible provide the specific page number so that we can all look at the passage together.

2.Quizzes(4 total; approximately 40% of grade). There are four quizzes. Each quiz covers the assigned readings and the lectures. All quizzes are worth fifty (50) points. There are no make-up quizzes. The quizzes will cover major events, people, places, and vocabulary from the assigned readings and material presented in class. Because we have much material to cover in this class, I may not discuss each reading in depth. I like to include a few questions on material that I did not explain in class in order to reward you for reading the assigned texts. You are always free to ask me questions in class about any of the assigned readings to help you prepare for the quizzes.

3. Exams (4 exams; approximately 40% of grade). There are four (4) exams in this class. Each exam includes identifications of events, terms, names, quotations, multiple-choice, and sentences for you to complete with the appropriate word. You must be present for the exams: no make-up exams will be given unless you have an excused absence in advance or some legitimate emergency! The exams are not cumulative. Please note that I am required to follow the exam schedule for the last exam printed on page 17 of your spring schedule of classes or on the UNI website (http://www.uni.edu/regist/calendars/spring2007exams.shtml). Our last exam will take place onWednesday, May 2 from 10:00-11:50 p.m.

4. Essays (2 total; approximately 15% of grade). You will write two short essays in this class. The essays will be no shorter than THREE and no longer than FIVE double-spaced pages (standard 12 point font, 1 inch margins all around). You will not receive full credit for a short essay. Rewrites are allowed only after consulting with me in advance. You are responsible for keeping a copy (photocopy or computer disk) of your essay for reference in case the original should become lost. I am happy to read a draft of your essay. The due dates for the essays are March 2 (Essay # 1) and April 20 (Essay # 2). The questions for the essays will be sent to you by e-mail. The essays will be on Boccaccio’s Famous Women.

General Comments: I am required by the university to provide you with the following information.

•Grading: I like to see evidence of intellectual development over the course of the semester. I will reward you for your contributions to the class discussions and your regular attendance. If you simply show up for each class, do the readings, and participate in class discussions, as well as study the assigned materials, you should have no trouble receiving an excellent grade for this course.

•Reading: In addition to the readings listed on this syllabus, I will periodically send you short readings about current events by e-mail. These will be sent to your university e-mail account. You must have access to your assigned UNI e-mail address for this class. If you need assistance with your university e-mail account, please consult the ITS home page (http://www.uni.edu/its/us/faqs/email/email14.htm). Make certain that you periodically delete old messages since these accounts are rather small.

•Final Exam: Note the Final Examination Schedule in your Spring 2007 Schedule of Classes (page 17) or the UNI website (http://www.uni.edu/regist/calendars/spring2007exams.shtml). Please read this information and keep this chart handy since some exams are scheduled for different dates and times. I am required to adhere to this schedule unless you follow the procedure described on page 17 of your Spring 2007 Schedule of Classes. It is a good idea to hold onto this book since it contains much useful information. Pay particular attention to the Liberal Arts Core requirements on page 18 of this book or the UNI website (http://www.uni.edu/vpaa/lac/). I am always happy to answer any questions you may have about this chart or the university. The final exam is not a cumulative test, but only covers the final portion of the course.

•Policy on Late Work: All assignments must be completed for class on the day listed on the syllabus. Late submissions will not be accepted. No exceptions! If you do not show up for an exam or quiz, you will receive zero points for that exam or quiz.

•Disabilities: I will make every effort to accommodate disabilities. Please contact me if I can be of assistance in this area. All qualified students with disabilities are protected under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C.A., Section 12101. The ADA states, “no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity.” Students who desire or need instructional accommodations or assistance because of their disability should contact the Office of Disability Services located in 103 Student Health Center (319-273-2676 Voice or 319-273-3011 [TTY]). See page 10 of your Spring 2007 Schedule of Classes for more information or consult the Office of Disability Services website (http://www.uni.edu/disability/).

•Discrimination: It is the policy of the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal and/or state law. Further details concerning UNI’s policies may be found in your Spring 2007 Schedule of Classes (pages 12-13). For additional information, visit: http://www.uni.edu/equity.

•Cheating: You should become familiar with the Academic Ethics Policies found in the University Catalog. Cheating on the exams or quizzes may result in a grade of an “F” for the entire course. Additional information may be found on the UNI website  (http://www.uni.edu/pres/policies/301.shtml).

•Weather Policy: My policy is to conduct class as long as the university is open. You will find additional information on my weather policy, as well as your local weather, on my web site. I do not expect you to risk your life to attend this class. If you feel that it is not safe for you to attend class, then please stay home. I will trust your judgment and will allow you to make up any assignments you have missed without penalty. Just let me know that you could not attend class due to the weather and I will not count your absence. For UNI’s weather policy, see: http://www.uni.edu/pres/policies/407.shtml.

CLASS SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1—Introduction to the Humanities. What is Western Civilization? Why Study the Humanities?

Week 2—The Epic of Gilgamesh and Mesopotamian Civilizations

Week 3—Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations

Week 4—Ancient Near East Civilizations (Part 2)

Week 5—Civilizations of the Mediterranean

Week 6—Classical Greek Civilization: Culture and Conflict

Week 7—The Hellenistic Age and the Emergence of Rome

Week 8—The Roman Republic

Week 9—The Roman Empire

Week 10—Spring Break: March 12-16 (No Class)

Week 11—Late Antiquity

Week 12—The Byzantine Empire and Islam

Week 13—The Early Middle Ages (750-1000 C.E.)

Week 14—The High Middle Ages (1000-1300 C.E.)

Week 15—Medieval Culture and Literature

Week 16—The World of Chaucer

Week 17—Final Exam Week: Exam Four

Wednesday, May 2 from 10:00-11:50 p.m.