IDS 3323
World Thought and Culture 500-1650 CE
FALL 2008

Syllabus

Introduction

The World Thought and Culture  course sequence integrates significant religious, philosophical, artistic, and scientific thought of representative cultures throughout the world. The three courses, IDS 3313, World Thought & Culture to AD 500, IDS 3323, World Thought & Culture from AD 500 to AD 1650, and IDS 4333, World Thought & Culture from AD 1650 to the Present, are junior-senior level courses that should be taken in order.  This sequence is no at set of traditional  "history" courses, but a series of courses dealing with the interplay of ideas and general cultural patterns . 

McKay, Hill, and Buckler, A History of World Societies is required for all three courses, and Chris Rohmann's A World of Ideas is strongly suggested (it is required for The Individual in Contemporary Society, and you might already have it; the book will eventually be required in all World Thought courses). The second text is Volume II (edited by Karl F. Thompson) of the series Classics of Western Thought, under the general editorship of Thomas H. Greer (New York: Harcourt, 1988).  Additional readings as well as assignments using the Library and/or Instructional Media or Computer centers may be required.  Weblinks are provided to give you a chance to explore topics on the Web.  All links have been checked and were working, at least when this syllabus was last revised. 

IDS 3323 examines representative thought and expression of  the period between approximately 500 CE and 1650 CE, along with constant references to the origins of those ideas and consequently to material presented in the first course of this sequence. The focus of IDS 3323, however, is primarily  on Europe (with relatively brief excursions into India and China). Once again,  a knowledge of geography and the effects of the natural environment on human institutions are essential. While significant achievements in architecture, art, drama, literature, music, philosophy, technology, and science will be discussed, the central focus will be on the varieties of mythic/ religious/ philosophical models that have shaped and been shaped by various civilizations. 

While this is not simply a "history" course, but a cross-disciplinary course dealing with the interplay of ideas and general cultural patterns, it is impossible to understand the ways ideas are conceived, born, mature, and propagate, without thinking chronologically and placing ideas and events into a timeline. Try to think of certain elements of the present age as people with a genealogy or puppies with a pedigree.  Biologically, you are the organism you are because of the genetic makeup of your ancestors. Culturally, we are the result of complex crossbreeding of ideas.  World Thought & Culture courses explore the ways the strands of the past have been weaving the web of the present.

Much of what we do pertains to chronological sequences and maps. Here is a link to an excellent web site called HyperHistory Online. This site is described as "an expanding scientific project presenting 3,000 years of world history with an interactive combination of synchronoptic lifelines, timelines, and maps."  As we do in our World Thought and Culture courses, HyperHistory explores not only political but scientific, cultural, and religious aspects. The site should also help you in the study of maps.

By the end of the course you should demonstrate: 

• KNOWLEDGE OF GEOGRAPHY APPROPRIATE TO THE ERA UNDER DISCUSSION, 
• A BROAD GRASP OF THE GENERAL HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK OF THE PERIOD, 
• ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND USE THE VOCABULARY OF COURSE DISCIPLINES, 
• AN ABILITY TO EXPRESS IDEAS CLEARLY IN WRITING, 
• FAMILIARITY WITH ESSENTIAL FACTS, TERMS, MOVEMENTS, AND PERSONALITIES, 
• FAMILIARITY WITH MAJOR PHILOSOPHICAL,  RELIGIOUS, AND SCIENTIFIC TRENDS, 
• APPRECIATION OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FINE ARTS, 
• ABILITY TO USE THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB AS TOOL AND RESOURCE, 
• AN ABILITY TO INTEGRATE IDEAS OF VARIOUS DISCIPLINES,

leading to respect for others and a deepened understanding of both the past  and the of both the past  and the contemporary world, including yourself,  your background beliefs  and worldview, within the context of the background beliefs and worldviews  of people from different eras and cultures.

EXAMINATIONS and other ASSIGNMENTS:

EXAMINATIONS:
There will be two major examinations (80% of the final grade) and regular quizzes (20% of the course grade).

EXAM RETAKE POLICY:
        1) The mid-term may be made up or taken over at the same time as the final.  Anyone may retake the exam in order to try to improve the course grade.
        2) Quizzes may not be made up or taken over.

Examinations and quizzes will focus on material presented in class (you need to take good class notes) as well as  the reading assignments in the text book, handouts, and web.  Be sure to do all readings BEFORE class. If you don't understand material, use a dictionary. You should be able to summarize,  discuss, and apply what you have reqad or heard in lecture. 

Anyone caught cheating will automatically receive a zero for the examination and will not be allowed to take a makeup examination. 

Final grades will depend on the averaged grades. Lowest percentile for A=90th, B=80th, C=70th, D=60th. 

Final grades will depend on the averaged grades. Lowest percentile for A=90th,B=80th, C=70th, D=60th. 

ABSENCES: Irregular attendance and habitual tardiness may lower your grade, especially since there will be regular quizzes.

DROPPING A CLASS:  If you need to drop a class (including this class) be sure to do so offically by filling out the proper slip, having it signed by adviser and instructor AND turning it in at the Registrar's office. 

MISSING A CLASS: Contact the Student Services Office (224-3140 ext. 278); they will inform all of your instructors. 

Prof. Ingrid Shafer  (204c Davis) (o) 574-1312 (h)224-3988 e-mail: ihs@ionet.net
Prof. Kevin Crow (203a Davis) (o) 574-1216 e-mail kcrow@usao.edu