Fall 1999

Professor Judith Walsh

SUNY-Old Westbury

CH2511 is an introductory course in the Comparative Humanities curriculum. In this course we will survey the history and culture of five regions of the world: the Middle East, sub Saharan Africa, China, India and Japan. In each case we will review maps and geographical features of the region, review historical periods/events and read short selections from religion and literature to gain an appreciation of each country/culture s place in world history both in the past and the present. In the last section of the course we will use student reports to consider the recent history of our world.

Books

L.S. Stavrianos, A Global History seventh edition, Prentice Hall 1999. [Listed in Syllabus as A Global History]

Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

On reserve in library-Xeroxed maps, worksheets, text assignments

Weekly quizzes: 25%

Quizzes and/or short papers on assignments and lectures will be given each week and 25% of the grade for the course will depend on this work. There will be no makeups for these assignments

Midterm examination: 25%

Final examination: 25%

History In-Class Report and Paper 25%

A 3 5 page report given to the class and turned in as a paper with 4 item bibliography. Reports can be either (1) based on an interview with a family member over the age of seventy with additional library information or (2) a short research topic on a subject relating to course materials (list provided by instructor.) Class reports will be scheduled during the last two weeks of class.

Attendance is required and participation in class discussions of readings, group work etc. is helpful in determining your grade. Students who miss more than four classes may be asked to withdraw from the course.

Aug 30 Introduction

Sept 1 World History and the Non-Western Cultures of the World

Reading: A Global History, pp. 20-27 (Humans as Food Growers, I, II)

pp. 380-385 (Intro, I. II, III)

pp. 523-524 (intro and I).

pp. 396-398 (Regional Autonomy vs. Global Unity)

LABOR DAY September 6th

Sept 8 A. Geography

Reading: Maps of the Middle East, [ON RESERVE]

A Global History, 165-176; also MAPS on pp. 168, 174-175

AudioVisual/Library: "Islam: There is No God But God"

Sept 13 B. Mohammed, the Koran

Reading: A Global History, "Rise of Islam" pp. 177-187.

"Selections from the Koran" ON RESERVE

Sept 15 C. History of the Middle East: Expansion of Islam and the Islamic Empire

Reading: A Global History, 285-295 (Moslem World ca. 1500), Map, p. 287

"Aboukir and Abousir" ON RESERVE, 15-30

YOM KIPPUR September 20

Sept 22 A. Geography

Reading: Maps for Africa ON RESERVE, 4, 5, 10

A Global History: pp. 251-254 (I. Geography, II. Agriculture etc)

Things Fall Apart, Film: "The Africans: A Legacy of Lifestyles"

Sept 27 B. African History: West African Kingdoms and the Slave Trade

Reading: A Global History: pp. 254-261 (Islam, Trade, Kingdoms)

pp. 497-501 (Intro and I. "The Slave Trade")

"Sources for African History" ON RESERVE, 31 32

Things Fall Apart

Sept 29, Oct. 4 African Culture: Family and Society

Reading: A Global History: pp. 501-507 (Age of Exploration, Partition, Europe s Impact)

Things Fall Apart

Oct. 6 A. Geography:

Reading: Maps of China, ON RESERVE, 6, 9

A Global History: pp. 296-298 (I. Continuity of Chinese Civilization) pp 61-63; 69-70 (Shang Dynasty)

COLUMBUS DAY Oct 11

Oct 13 B. Chinese History: From Dynasties and the Dynastic Cycle to Mao Zedong

Reading: A Global History: pp. 298-299 (Dynastic Cycles)

pp. 129; 132-140 (I. Age..., III Ch in, IV Han, V Decline)

"Sources for Chinese History" ON RESERVE, 33-34.4.1

"Three Illustrations of Filial Piety: ON RESERVE, 35

Oct 18 C. Confucius and Chinese Culture

Reading: A Global History, pp. 130-132 (II. Philosophers and Classics)

pp. 211-223 Traditional Confucian Civilization

"Sources for Chinese History" ON RESERVE, 33 35

"The Lady Who Was a Beggar" ON RESERVE, 35.1 35.10

Oct 20 D. Modern China: Revolution and Changing Roles for Women

Reading: A Global History, pp. 486-492 (I Opening, II Reform and Revolution)

pp. 560-561 (IV. China)

"Girl Rebel" ON RESERVE 36 50

Oct 25 MIDTERM REVIEW

Oct 27 MIDTERM

Nov 1 LIBRARY ORIENTATION: Discussion and orientation on research for reports (Meet in Library for this class!)

Sign up for class reports !!!

Nov 3 A. Geography and History:

Reading: Maps of South Asia, ON RESERVE, 7, 11

Periods in South Asian History, ON RESERVE p. 70.1

A Global History: pp. 68-69 (India); 117-127; 290-291 (Mogul Empire)

Nov 8 B. History: Hinduism and Caste in Ancient India and Today

Reading A Global History: 18-121

The Laws of Manu, ON RESERVE, p. 70.2

"The Towncrier's Call" ON RESERVE, 71 76

Nov 10 C. History: Changing Ideas about Hinduism and Caste

Reading: A Global History, 476-485

Selections from M. K. Gandhi s Autobiography, ON RESERVE 83 91

"The Barber's Trade Union" ON RESERVE, 77 82

Nov 15 C. Modern South Asia: Changing Ideas about Women and Family

Reading: "Remember the House" ON RESERVE 92

Nov 17 A. Geography:

Reading: A Global History, pp. 223-225 (V. Chinese Civilization in Japan)

Maps of Japan, ON RESERVE, 8, 12

Nov 22, B. History: Shinto, Buddhism, Samurai Values

Nov 24

Reading: A Global History, pp. 225-226 (VI. Japanese Feudalism, VII. Japan s Isolation) pp. 300-304 (IV. Japan Absorbs, V. Tokugawa, VI. EarlyRelations)

"Sources for Japanese Religion" ON RESERVE, 97

Selections from The Tales of the Heike ON RESERVE, 98 103

Film at AudioVisual Center: "The Elusive Geisha"

Nov 29 D. Modern Japanese History: Japanese Values in the Modern World

Reading: A Global History, pp. 492-496 (III Modernization, IV Expansion)

"Patriotism" ON RESERVE, 104 117

Dec 1, 6, 8 Twentieth Century History and its impact on families: Class Reports on Papers

Reading: A Global History, pp. 396-398

[Note: All Written Papers are due on first day of reports; keep a copy for your class report]

Dec 13-17 Week of Final Examinations

Copyright   2000 Project South Asia and Judith Walsh.  May be copied for educational purposes only.  Commercial use is prohibited without permission of Judith Walsh.