Academic Catalog

HIST 4A: HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION TO 800 CE

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2022
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Advisory: Demonstrated proficiency in English by placement via multiple measures OR through an equivalent placement process OR completion of ESLL 125 & ESLL 249.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • The Student will be able to synthesize and analyze the major themes and patterns of the ancient world - in writing
  • The Student will be able to recognize and assess the reach, significance and impact of individuals on the course of history - in writing

Description

Survey of the development of Western culture and civilization in the ancient world. From the Neolithic period to the early Middle Ages.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Identify scientific, thinking, technical and artistic contributions of the ancient world and the ancient heritages.
  2. Appreciate the multicultural foundations of the ancient world and the continuous interaction with Africa, Near East, Asia, and the Mediterranean Sea.
  3. Comprehend and analyze the ideas, discoveries, developments, contributions of the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations and draw relationships to the contemporary world.
  4. Understand art and literature as a mirror to its age, the Greek contribution to the political ideal of the West, the Roman contribution to law, the enduring impact of the Roman Empire.
  5. Critically evaluate origins and development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. And recognize the impact of Christianity upon the development of Western civilization, and the impact of Greek philosophy on Western thought.
  6. Appreciate the growth and development of themes of war, slavery, gender models, religion, athletics, daily culture.
  7. Analyze the break-up of the Roman Empire and the resultant decentralization of the successor states.
  8. Note the development of the heirs of Rome—Byzantine Empire, Islam, Christian Europe.
  9. Effectively communicate in writing and orally the challenges and lasting legacies of the Ancient World.

Course Content

  1. Ancient history
    1. Its roots in the Mediterranean, Africa, and Near East
    2. How do we know what we know
    3. Reliance on the range of disciplinary knowledge and discoveries from geography to anthropology and archaeology
    4. Importance of cultural differences, similarities, sharing, changing
  2. Ancient Near East
    1. Mesopotamia, Egypt, Hebrews
    2. Development of civilization, culture
    3. Inventions, art, architecture
    4. Governmental forms, war, trade, economics
  3. Greece
    1. Archaic age and development of common themes
    2. Government forms, religion, expansion and contraction
    3. Gender and slavery
    4. The development of thinking and philosophy
    5. Major figures and original sources
    6. Art, architecture, literature, drama
  4. Philip and Alexander
    1. Movement through Greece and stabilization
    2. Thrust into Africa, Near East, Asia
    3. Strategies, successes, failures
    4. Cross cultural impacts
  5. Persia
    1. Empire, culture, wars, religion
  6. The Hellenistic world
    1. Dynamics, art, politics
    2. Governing models
    3. Philosophies
  7. Rome
    1. Origins, Etruscans, republic
    2. Expansion, wars, relation to conquered
    3. Republic government, challenges, change
    4. Impact on Mediterranean world
    5. Empire
      1. Government, law, change
      2. Military and diplomatic expansion and strategies
      3. Key figures and sources
      4. Bread and circuses
      5. Cultural transmission, interchange of ideas and customs
      6. Expansion and contraction of empire
    6. Decline and refocus to the East
  8. Christianity
    1. Origins, expansion
    2. Importance of key figures
    3. Development, persecution, acceptance
    4. Doctrines and beliefs
  9. Heirs of Rome
    1. Byzantine Empire
    2. Islam
    3. Christian Europe
  10. The world of the Carolingians and Charlemagne

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

When taught as an online distance learning section, students and faculty need ongoing and continuous internet and email access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Class discussion/projects including museum analyses and primary sources
Essay midterm and final
Significant required writing: essay exams, papers, special essay project

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Discussion
Oral presentations
Participation
Web work
Special projects such as museum analysis
Extensive writing and analysis

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Hunt, Lynn, et al.. The Making of the West, 7th ed.. 2021.

Spielvogel, Jackson. A History of Western Civilization, Volume A - To 1500, 11th ed.. 2020.

Range of paperbacks and primary materials

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading: textbook and other material, including web; 30 pages per week
  2. Writing: continuous essay questions relating to the SLOs; 25-36 pages of writing for quarter

Discipline(s)

History