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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS 121"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Western Civilization II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Vanda Wilcox
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course surveys European history from the Reformation to the present, concentrating on the intellectual, political, and economic transformations that marked the advent of Western modernity and on what these changes meant for the people living through them. An additional focus of the course is the evolving relationship between Europe and the rest of the world over the time period covered. Like HS 120, this course also provides an introduction to the practice of history, i.e., how historians go about reconstructing and interpreting the past.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The class aims to give you a general overview of key political, social and cultural developments from the Reformation forwards. We will not attempt to cover every individual event but choose key themes and case studies. We will also critically engage with the underlying assumptions of the course: what is the West? What is Civilization? Why do we study them? We will highlight certain themes – such as the role of religion in society, the changing character of war, the process of nation-building and the impact of technology in society  - to illustrate the long-term changes across this period.

 

 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this class you will:

Develop an understanding of key events and themes across European history from the Reformation to the present;

Understand the origins of ‘the West’ as a concept and engage critically with it;

Develop an awareness of some of the ways that historians research, interpret and understand the past;

Develop skills in working with primary sources;

Develop your ability to use evidence to support your own argument and interpretations;

Develop your ability to communicate your ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Making of the West, Vol, 2: Peoples and Cultures. Seventh EditionHunt, Martin, Rosenwein, SmithBedford St. Martin's / Macmillan9781319331542 OR 9781319408015 textbook rental via Macmillan learning or via Amazon is the cheapest option There is also a VALUE Edition ISBN 978-1319331573 available in paperback or ebook which is functionally the same   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Mid-term examin-class mid-term20%
Final exam 35%
3 x short (2-page) reading response papersA short written response based on a set of the primary sources which we are reading and discussing for the class, to be submitted via moodle. Full instructions given in class. 15%
Class participation & discussionDiscussion – includes both in-class & online. You must post a question or answer a prompt based on the reading assignment in the online forum AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK NB if you do this and regularly participate in the class you can earn maximum points for this portion of the grade 30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

How the class works

This course will be a mixture of  lecture, in-class discussion and virtual discussion on moodle. It prioritises your active learning through developing skills in analysing and interpreting documents and engaging critically with ideas about the past, rather than simply memorising content. The more you actively participate, the more you will learn – and the more interesting the course will be.

For this to work, your engaged and regular participation is an essential component in the course. Consequently, it is absolutely essential that you come to class ready to discuss the assigned discussion readings – you should read them BEFORE the date of the class indicated on the schedule. This means you should not only read the assigned source but think about it, develop some questions about it, and look up any terms you don’t understand.

Discussion policies:

Please observe the deadlines for on-line discussion posts. This enables you to respond to classmates and vice-versa in a meaningful way. In class, please try to be present. This means turning off your phone, avoiding distractions and focusing on the discussion: this is a sign of respect for your classmates and your own learning (and your professor).

In class we all ought to be able to express ideas and interpretations freely in an atmosphere of mutual respect, based on thoughtful reasoning. By collectively maintaining a professional and respectful tone we can explore even controversial and complex topics openly and with confidence.

 

This is a draft schedule which may be subject to alteration

Reading assignments are from the class textbook, The Making of the West, Volume 2: Since 1500 (2021 - 7th edition - with the brown cover)

Sections Underlined will be discussed in class but you are expected to read other the sections covering the day's topic in the relevant chapter. Any class marked with a * will also have a primary source uploaded to moodle which you must also read before class. It is essential that you check Moodle carefully for additional materials!

 

1.       20 Jan -  Intro: what is Western Civilization anyway?

2.       22 Jan - Global encounters & the birth of European expansion* Ch. 14  Columbus describes his First Voyage

3.       27 Jan - The Protestant Reformation* Ch. 14 Contrasting views - Luther

4.       29 Jan - The Wars of Religion & the Thirty Years’ War* Ch. 15 Contrasting views – political authority & religion

5.       3 Feb - The Scientific Revolution Ch. 15 - Edict Against Galileo

6.      5 Feb - Absolutism and Constitutionalism Ch. 16 Louis XIV, Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685); Hobbes and Locke

7.       7 Feb - Make-up day - Primary source exercise

8.       10 Feb - Art and politics in early modern Europe Ch. 16* 

9.           12 Feb  -  Slavery & the Atlantic System Ch. 17*  

10.   17 Feb - The Enlightenment Ch. 17, Ch. 18 Montesquieu, Persian Letters: Letter 37 (1721)

11.   19 Feb - Liberty and its meanings Ch. 18 "Slavery" in the Encyclopedia (1755)

12.   24 Feb - Revolution and its Legacies Ch. 19, Ch. 20 The Rights of Minorities (1789); Contrasting Views: Perspectives on the French Revolution

13.   26 Feb - Women in the Enlightenment & Revolutionary era Ch. 18, Ch. 19* Contrasting Views: Women and the Enlightenment

 14.   3 March - Mid-Term Exam

15.   5 March - Sport & Leisure from early modern Europe to the 19thcentury

16.   17 March -  Industrialization and responses to it Ch. 21 Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto (1848); Contrasting Views: The Effects of Industrialization

17.   19 March -The origins of nationalism Ch. 21*

18.   24 March -The rise of the Nation StateCh. 22 Contrasting Views: The Nation-State in the Mid-Nineteenth Century;

19.   26 March -The New Imperialism Ch. 23* An African King Describes His Government

 20.  31 March - Modernity and social transition Ch. 24 *

21.   2 April - The First World War as a global moment Ch. 25* Contrasting Views: The Middle East at the End of World War I

22.    7 April - Post-war societies and the Great Depression Ch. 26* A Family Copes with Unemployment

23.   9 April - Totalitarianism and the Second World War Ch. 26 Contrasting Views: Nazism and Hitler: For and Against

24.   14 April - The aftermath of the Second World War & the birth of ‘human rights’ Ch. 27*

25.   16 April De-colonization and the Cold War Ch. 27, Ch. 28 Torture in Algeria; Contrasting Views: Decolonization in Africa

26.   23 April - A new idea of Europe: the EU Ch. 29*

27.   28 April - Global culture & society: the effects of mass migration Ch. 29 Contrasting Views: The Dutch Debate Globalization, Muslim Immigrants, and Turkey’s Admission to the EU

28.   30 April - Review Session