WORLD HISTORY I: ANCIENT TO RENAISSANCE

Required Text
There is no required textbook for this course.

Course Description
This introductory undergraduate course in world civilization covers the history of mankind from antiquity to
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It provides a thorough coverage of the unique heritage of Asian,
African, Islamic, Western, and American civilizations, while highlighting the role of the worlds great religious
and philosophical traditions.

Course Objectives
Explain the social, political, and economic factors that were involved in the development of early civilization
society
Express an understanding of the various societies and cultures in regions that developed and resulted in the
advance of the modern global civilizations, including empires, feudal states and the eventual development of
early nation states
Identify and critically analyze the influence of early societies upon those that would follow and develop into
early nation states, by examining socio-economic, religious and political influences
Comprehend the influences of religion, philosophy and economics in the development of Civilization, leading
up to and including the Western European Renaissance and Reformation, Colonization through 1700 C.E.
Explain and critically analyze the developments of the Americas, European, Central and East Asian societies
toward a similar political and socioeconomic values and culture
Recognize the evolution of various forces in these societies that have created reform and change, in the
respective political, economic and social orders

Tentative Schedule
Week Assignments
Read The Formation and Evolution of Civilization
Read The First Information Technology
Review The Legacy of Ancient Civilizations
Week 1 Where (and How) it all Started
Discussion Getting to Know Ourselves
Reflection Journal
Assignment Short Answer Assignment
Read Individualism: The Greeks and the Foundation of
Western Civilization
Read Are You Not Entertained!?: How Engineering and
Week 2 The Search for Stability:
Sports Preserved Western Civilization
Individualism in Western Culture
Review Western Religion and Philosophy
Discussion Characteristics of Western Civilization
Reflection Journal

Week 3 The Search for Stability:
Collectivism in Eastern Cultures
Week 4 Societies Under Pressure: The
Middle Ages
Week 5 Association and Isolation: Cultures
in Africa and the Americas
Week 6 The Process of Rebirth: The
Renaissance Period
Week 7 Breaking Western Unity: The
Reformation
Assignment The Western Concept of Individuality
Read Collectivism: The Chinese and the Evolution of
Eastern Civilization
Read India: Tying the World Together through Business
Review Eastern Religions and Philosophy
Discussion Characteristics of Eastern Civilization
Reflection Journal
Assignment The Eastern Concept of Collectiveness
Read Forces of Division and Unity in the Middle Ages
Read A Liberal Arts Tradition: Muslims, Mongols, and the
Spread of Knowledge
Review Islam
Discussion The Making of the Modern World
Reflection Journal
Midterm
Read Africa: A Cultural Crossroads
Read Cultures in Isolation: The Americas
Review Women in Early African and American Societies
Discussion Influence and Isolation
Reflection Journal
Assignment Short Answer Assignment
Read The Renaissance Period
Read Merging Humanism and Science: Healthcare and
the Renaissance
Review Achievements of the Renaissance
Discussion The Process of Renaissance
Reflection Journal
Assignment Renaissance Inventors, Scientists,
Philosophers and Artists
Read The 95 Theses and the Birth of the Protestant
Reformation
Read Unity and Division: The Formation of Nation-
States
Review The Churches of the Reformation
Discussion Europe in Transition
Reflection Journal
Assignment The Protestant Reformation
 Read When Worlds Collide, Part I: The Expansion of
European Societies
Read When Worlds Collide, Part II: The Effect of
Week 8 The Collision of Worlds: Colonization on Native Societies
Exploration and Colonization to 1700 Review The Columbian Exchange
Discussion Marching into a New World
Reflection Journal
Final Exam
Work must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the date due.

Expected Student Workload

The following table outlines the academic effort required by students to be successful in this course. While
the times in the table are approximate, it is presented to help students with their time management. Please
note, depending on the student's background knowledge and experience of the course subject and an
individual student's academic capabilities, these times will vary. If you have any questions or concerns, please
direct them to your instructor or student advisor.

Estimated Hours
Week Type of Activity Activity
Required

Readings/Lectures 2.0

Online Discussions 3.0

Assignments 0.0

1 Readings 1.7

Discussions 2.0
Preparation
Assignments 7.0

Clinical/Lab Hours 0.0

Estimated Hours
Week Type of Activity Activity
Required

Readings/Lectures 1.6

Online Discussions 3.0

2
Assignments 0.0

Preparation Readings 1.0

 Discussions 2.0

Assignments 7.0

Clinical/Lab Hours 0.0

Estimated Hours
Week Type of Activity Activity
Required

Readings/Lectures 1.4

Online Discussions 3.0

Assignments 0.0

3 Readings 1.7

Discussions 2.0
Preparation
Assignments 7.0

Clinical/Lab Hours 0.0

Estimated Hours
Week Type of Activity Activity
Required

Readings/Lectures 1.4

Online Discussions 3.0

Assignments 2.0

4 Readings 1.7

Discussions 2.0
Preparation
Assignments 4.0

Clinical/Lab Hours 0.0

Estimated Hours
Week Type of Activity Activity
Required

Readings/Lectures 1.4

5 Online Discussions 3.0

Assignments 0.0
 Readings 2.3

Discussions 2.0
Preparation
Assignments 7.0

Clinical/Lab Hours 0.0

Estimated Hours
Week Type of Activity Activity
Required

Readings/Lectures 1.3

Online Discussions 3.0

Assignments 0.0

6 Readings 1.3

Discussions 2.0
Preparation
Assignments 7.0

Clinical/Lab Hours 0.0

Estimated Hours
Week Type of Activity Activity
Required

Readings/Lectures 1.3

Online Discussions 3.0

Assignments 0.0

7 Readings 1.3

Discussions 2.0
Preparation
Assignments 7.0

Clinical/Lab Hours 0.0

Estimated Hours
Week Type of Activity Activity
Required

Readings/Lectures 1.5
8 Online
Discussions 3.0
 Assignments 2.0

Readings 1.7

Discussions 2.0
Preparation
Assignments 4.0

Clinical/Lab Hours 0.0

Grading Policy
Assignment Percentage
Discussions 30%
Reflection Journals 10%
Assignments 40%
Midterm 10%
Final 10%

Click here to access institutional policies and procedures.