"Introduction to Western Civ" 1 Western Civilization to 1715 43.105 Spring 2013 • Professor Christopher Carlsmith Today’s Agenda • Introductions • The course; the professor; the students • Course Information • Goals • Books • Syllabus & Course Description (Handouts) • Course Web site: http://faculty.uml.edu/ccarlsmith • Definitions – Periodization, “Western”, “Civilization” • Maps • Why Study W. Civ? Course Goals • To read critically, listen carefully, write persuasively, speak thoughtfully, and think clearly (all important job skills); • To analyze a primary source; • To see connections b/w past and present; • AIDS/Plague; Classical/Modern democracy; Medieval Peasant Revolts/Arab Spring; Gothic/Neo-Gothic architecture; • To learn about “Western Civilization, 3000-B.C.-1700 A.D.”
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"Introduction to Western Civ"
1
Western Civilization to 1715 43.105 Spring 2013
• Professor Christopher Carlsmith
Today’s Agenda • Introductions
• The course; the professor; the students
• Course Information • Goals • Books • Syllabus & Course Description (Handouts) • Course Web site: http://faculty.uml.edu/ccarlsmith • Definitions
– Periodization, “Western”, “Civilization”
• Maps • Why Study W. Civ?
Course Goals
• To read critically, listen carefully, write persuasively, speak thoughtfully, and think clearly (all important job skills);
• To analyze a primary source; • To see connections b/w past and
Course Web site: http://faculty.uml.edu/ccarlsmith/teaching/43.105
"Introduction to Western Civ"
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Periodization of European History
• Every society develops its own chronology and dating system (e.g., Chinese New Year, Jewish History, Muslim calendar**).
• In Western History, we use: • BC* (“Before Christ”) or BCE (“Before the Common Era”) • AD (“Anno Domini” = In Year of our Lord) or CE (“Common
Era”)
• *Invented ca. 525. AD by Dionysius Exiguus, to calculate dates of Easter Sunday, and birth of Christ; but he misdated Jesus’ birth by 4-6 years.
• **Our 2007 = Chinese Year of Boar or 4704-05; Jewish = 5767-68; Islamic = A.H. 1427-28 (Anno Hegira, = 622AD)
Periodization of European History
• Ancient (3000 BC – 600 BC) • Classical (600 BC – 450 AD) • Medieval (500 AD – 1400 AD) • Early Modern (1400 AD -1800 AD) • Modern (1800 AD – 1950 AD) • Post-Modern (1950 – 20??)
What is “civilization”? • From “civis” = “citizen” or
member of a larger group.
• The cultural achievements of a specific group of people (e.g., “Mayan civilization”)
• “civilized” = refined, polite, opposite of barbaric.
• Complex Societies – Intensive agriculture – Urbanization – Division of labor – Social hierarchies – Government / State – Larger populations – Laws, Armies, “culture”
Band/Tribal Groups – Hunter/Gatherer – Nomadic villages – No specialization – Egalitarian – Family/clan leadership – Small populations
"Introduction to Western Civ"
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Bronze Age Empires of the Old World, 3500-1200: Origins of Civilization
(This lacks reference to Mesoamerican societies)
What does “Western” mean?
Alternate world views….
"Introduction to Western Civ"
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More alternate world views…
What differentiates “the West” today?
Which of the following is different between ‘East’ and ‘West’?
• Political forms • Economic emphasis • Religious vs. Secular authority • Social Structures • Intellectual achievements • Artistic/Creative accomplishments • Natural Resources