Western Civilization from 1648

History 120, Winter/Spring 2008

Palace of Versailles, SW Exterior

©AICT: Allan T. Kohl

Course Description

Welcome to a historical study abroad. Over the next semester we will be exploring 350 years of European history, from the end of the religious wars to today. This is a critical time in the development on modern Europe with a number of complex events including the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, rise of nationalism and imperialism and of course the world wars of the 20th century. This class will examine not only political history, but economic, religious, social, cultural and intellectual issues.

Course Objectives

Remember that whatever your major happens to be, it does have a history. History is multidisciplinary. By examining a range of historical disciplines, hopefully this class will be able to provide you with a better understanding of your own major and the larger context in which it developed. In addition, through papers, exams, discussions, and class activities, students will be given the opportunity to improve their oral and written skills. More importantly, especially from the viewpoint of an historian, this class will provide the student with a firm foundation for understanding modern Europe and how we came to this point in history.

Textbooks

• Spielvogel, Western Civilization, A Brief History, vol. 2, 4nd edn. (required)
• Perry, Sources of the Western Tradition, vol. 2, 7th edn (required)

Grade Assessment

• Participation (attendance, movie responses, group discussions) - 10%
• Discussions and Current News - 20%
• First Exam - 20%
• Second Exam - 25%
• Third Exam - 25%

Late Policy

• Discussions: If an absence is not excused, late work is penalized 5% per day.
• Group Work/Movie Responses: If an absence is not excused, these assignments cannot be made up.
• Exams/Papers: If an absence is not excused, late work is penalized one half grade per day.

Please note that this university has a no tolerance policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. Use of another person's exact words without quote marks and reference is plagiarism, as is restating another person's ideas but not providing a reference to indicate that it is not your own. If you have any questions, see your Student Handbook, or talk to me.

Disability Statement

If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services office early in the term so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide current documentation of your disability to Disability Services. For more information, contact Rick Muthiah, Director of Disability Services (ext. 2314 or rmuthiah@georgefox.edu), or go to ds.georgefox.edu.

Where do I.....

find the link to my assigned newspaper - Go to the blog (http://blogs.georgefox.edu/HIST-120-B) and click the "newspaper" link on the right.

upload my news summaries - On the blog.  See the instructions in the column on the right

find the discussion questions - In foxtale (http://foxtale.georgefox.edu) - log into the class and they are listed each week

write my discussion - In foxtale

find the schedule - Either check the foxtale calendar or log onto the syllabus itself and check under schedule.