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Syllabus-Fall, 2001 Instructor: D. Mulligan |
| Office: | CAS 124 | |
| Phone: | 254-3779 | |
| E-Mail : | dmulligan@rwu.edu | |
| Office Hrs.: | M,W,F 9:15 A.M.- 10:15 A.M.
Th: 12:30 P.M.- 1:30 P.M (or by appointment) |
| Course Description and Methodology: | This course will trace the development of and the challenges to democracy in Western Civilization by utilizing primary source documents of the period. Students are responsible for completing assigned readings by the due date so that productive class discussion and debate may ensue. Through the use of historical and political science methodology, students will analyze what the fundamental historians, political scientists, and philosophers of the period had to say about democracy and democratic ideas. While some wholeheartedly endorse democracy as the quintessential method of governing, others offer a challenge to this concept of "rule of the people." In our discussion and analysis, we will explore both positions. |
| Attendance Policy: | Because this course is primarily lecture, discussion and debate, students are expected to attend class regularly. Therefore, attendance is important for proficiency in this course, and your input will be a most valued part of each class period. |
| My attendance policy will be recorded as follows: | |
Six (6) unexcused absences |
no penalty
drop one whole letter grade (eg: from an "A" to a "B")
"F" for the course |
| Examinations: | Examinations will be given on the examination date. No examination will be administered before the scheduled time. Testing material will be taken from lectures, discussion, corresponding textbook readings, and the primary source documents of the period. Exams will be multiple choice, identification, short answer, and some essay. |
| Discussion/ Reaction: | Once a week/ or once every other week, students will be placed in groups and required to answer several pertinent discussion questions related to the assigned document reading(s). Students must be prepared to discuss/debate their conclusions with the rest of the class. (Handouts on these topics will be forthcoming.) You will be responsible for these documents on your examinations. |
| Democracy Paper: | Based on your required reading of the remaining documents, classroom discussion, and debate, you must analyze the development of democracy in Western Civilization using a selection of readings from The Democratic Idea. These papers must be typed (double-spaced, title page, 12- inch font, footnoted, etc.) Directions for the paper will be distributed at a later date. Due date: December 12, 2001. Late entries will be penalized one letter grade. (eg. From an "A" to a "B") |
| University Policy on Plagiarism: | "Roger Williams University exists to foster the mature
pursuit of learning, which is premised upon the exercise of honest care
in representing data, findings and the sources of ideas used in an academic
exercise. The University expects students to observe these principles of
academic integrity in order to ensure the excellence of their education
and the value of their diploma"- see page 6
Roger Williams University
Student Handbook.
I adhere to the university's policy regarding plagiarism and academic integrity. I have included a copy of the policy for your information. Proof of plagiarism will result in an automatic "F" for the course. |
| Textbooks: (Required Reading) | Sherman, Dennis and Joyce Salisbury. The West in the
World
New York: McGraw- Hill, 2001. Swanson, Michael R.H., et al. The Democratic Idea
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| Course Requirements: | First Examination: 20%
Second Examination: 20% Final Examination: 20% Discussion Group: 15% Democracy Paper: 25% Total: 100% |
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| Sept. 3 Labor Day | |
| Sept. 4 | Sherman, Chapter 2- "The Contest for Excellence:
Greece, 2000 - 338 B.C."
Topics: Greece and its geography |
| Sept. 6 | Sherman, Chapter 2- cont'd
Sherman, Chapter 3- "The Poleis Become Cosmopolitan: The Hellenistic World, 323-150 B.C." Topics: Persian Wars |
| Sept. 8 Documents:
Discussion Group |
Swanson, et al. Chapters 2, 4
"Funeral Oration" Pericles-Introduction and Background on the authors -Preparation in groups -Discussion of documents |
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SEPTEMBER 10 |
LAST DAY TO ADD A COURSE WITHOUT INSTRUCTOR'S PERMISSION |
| Sept. 11 | Sherman, Chapter 4- "Pride in Family and City: Rome from
Its Origins Through the Republic, 753-44 B.C."
Topics: Geography of Rome |
| SEPTEMBER 12 | LAST DAY TO ADD A COURSE WITH INSTRUCTOR'S PERMISSION |
| Sept. 13 | Sherman, Chapter 5- "Territorial and Christian Empires:
The Roman Empire, 31 B.C.- 410 A.D.
Topics: -Government under Augustus |
| Sept. 15 The Documents: Discussion Group | Swanson, et al. - Chapter 6
"On the Laws" - CiceroBackground on the author Discussion and debate |
| Sept. 18 | Sherman, Chapters 7, 8 --"The Struggle to Restore
Order: The Middle Ages, ca. 750- 1000"
--"Order Perfected: The High Middle Ages, 1000-1300" Topics: Geography |
| Sept. 20 | Chapters 7, 8 cont.d |
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Sept. 22 The Documents: Discussion Group |
Swanson, et al. Chapter 7 "Magna Carta or the Great Charter of King John"-Background material -preparation/ discussion/debate |
| Sept. 25 | Sherman, Chapter 9 "Despair in the
West, Empires in the East: The Late Middle Ages, ca. 1300-1500"
Topics: -The Black Death and its Results |
| Sept. 27 | Sherman, Chapter 9 cont'd
Review for Examination #1 |
| Sept. 29 | FIRST ONE- HOUR EXAMINATION
Sherman, Chapters 1-5, 7-9 (Pay close attention to above topics. |
| Oct. 1 | Sherman, Chapter 10 "A New Spirit in the West:
The Renaissance, ca. 1300- 1640"
Topics: Humanism |
| Oct. 3 | Handout: Machiavelli- The Prince
Classroom discussion and debate
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| Oct. 5 | Sherman, Chapter 11 "'Alone Before God' Religious
Reform and Warfare, 1500- 1648"
Topics: -The Protestant Reformation |
| Oct. 8 COLUMBUS DAY- | Tuesday will follow Monday's Schedule |
| Oct. 9 | Sherman, Chapter 12 "Faith, Fortune, and Fame:
European Expansion, 1450-1700"
Topics: -European Expansion |
| Oct. 15 | Sherman, Chapter 13- "The Struggle for Survival
and Sovereignty: Europe's Social and Political Order, 1600-1715"
Topics: -Louis XIV - Absolutism vs. English Constitutionalism |
| Oct. 17 | Sherman, Chapter 14- "A New World of Reason and
Reform: The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, 1600- 1800"
Topics: -Growth in Science |
| Oct. 19 The Documents: Discussion and Debate | Swanson, et al. : Chapters 9, 11
"The Social Contract" from Leviathan- Thomas Hobbes |
| Oct. 22 | Sherman, Chapter 15 "Competing for Power and Wealth:
The Old Regime, 1715-1789"
Topics: -War for Independence |
| Oct. 24 | Sherman, Chapter 16 "Overturning the Political
and Social Order: The French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789-1815"
Topics: -The French Revolution |
| Oct. 26 Documents: Discussion and Debate/ Comparison-
Enlightenment Philosophy and Democratic Ideas Rights of Property/ Federalism/Separation of Powers
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Swanson, Chapters 13, 17, 18
"The Declaration of Independence" |
| Oct. 29 | Review for Examination #2 |
| Oct. 31 | SECOND ONE- HOUR EXAMINATION
Sherman, Chapters 10-16 |
| NOVEMBER 1 | - WARNING GRADES |
| Nov. 2 | Sherman, Chapters 17, 18 "Factories, Cities, and
Families in the Industrial Age: The Industrial Revolution, 1780-1850"
"Coping with Change: Ideology, Politics, and Revolution, 1815-1850" Topics: -Industrial Revolution and the Growth of the Middle Class |
| Nov. 5 | Sherman, Chapters 17, 18 cont'd
Topics: -Reform in Europe |
| Nov. 7 Documents and Discussion: | Swanson, Chapters 21, 22, 24
"Democracy and Equality"- Alexis De Tocqueville |
| Nov. 12 | Sherman, Chapter 19 "Nationalism and Statebuilding:
Unifying Nations, 1850-1870"
Topics: -Italian Unification (Cavour, Garibaldi, Mazzini) |
| Nov. 14 | Sherman, Chapter 19 cont'd Documents and Discussion |
| NOVEMBER 15 | LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM A COURSE AND RECEIVE THE "W" GRADE |
| Nov. 16 Documents: Discussion and Debate | Swanson, et al. Chapters 27, 28, 29
"Speech at Peoria" - Abraham Lincoln |
| Nov. 19 | Sherman, Chapter 22 "Descending into the Twentieth
Century: World War and Revolution, 1914-1920"
Topics: -World War I |
| Nov. 21 Documents: Discussion and Debate | Swanson, et al. Chapter 36
"State and Revolution" V.I. Lenin |
| Nov. 22-23 |
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| Nov. 26 | Sherman, Chapter 23 "Darkening Decades: Dictators,
Depression, and World War II, 1920-1945"
Topics: - Roosevelt and Democracy |
| Dec. 3 | Chapter 23 cont'd |
| Dec. 5 Documents and Discussion | Swanson, et. Al : Chapters 33, 34
Handout- "The Four Freedoms"- Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
| Dec. 7 | Sherman, Chapter 24 "Superpower Struggles and Global
Transformations; The Cold War, 1945- 1980s"
Topics: -Cold War in Europe |
| Dec. 10 Documents and Discussion | Swanson, Chapter 35
"The Iron Curtain"- Winston Churchill |
| Dec. 12 | PAPERS ON DEMOCRACY DUE TODAY!!!!
Sherman, Chapter 24- cont'd Topics: -Civil RightsDocuments: Swanson, Chapters 31, 32 "Dissent from Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896)" |
| Dec. 14 | EXAMINATION REVIEW |
| Dec. 15-17 | Reading Days |
| Dec. 18-21 | FINAL EXAMINATION PERIOD
Sherman, Chapters 17-19, 22-24 |
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