Semester One British Civilization: The Historical Shaping of Modern Britain
Objectives of the Course:
1. An Introduction to British Geography, People, and Customs
2. Origins of the British People 1: The Antiquity and Roman Rule - The Celts - Roman Invasion and Achievements 3. Origins of the British People 2: The Anglo-Saxon Era and the Birth of England - Fall of the Roman Empire, Germanic invasions, Danish invasions (Vikings) anarchy in the Dark Ages - The Unification of England by Alfred the Great - Structure of the Anglo-saxon society (language, religion) 4. Origins of the British People 3: The Normans and the Middle Ages - Norman Invasion - Feudalism - Political transformations: Magna Carta – Provisions of Oxford 5. The English Reformation: Anglicanism - The English Reformation and its Aftermath: From Henry VIII to Elizabeth I 6. The Elizabethan Era - Queen Elizabeth’s Reign: political, economic, and cultural achievements - The rise of England as a Sea Power 7. The Stuarts and the English Civil War - Politico-religious conflict between the King and Parliament - Puritanism - Cromwell - The Restoration and the Glorious Revolution 8. The Birth of Great Britain - Settlement Act – Union Act - Mercantilism - The birth of political parties - The rising power of the prime minister - The rise of Great Britain as an imperial power Semester two American Civilization: The Historical Shaping of Modern America
Objectives of the Course:
1. An Introduction to American Geography
- Geographic regions - Climatic regions - Important towns and rivers - Megalopolis 2. An Introduction to the American People - Immigration and the Notion of Melting Pot - Individualism - Mobility 3. Pre-Columbian America: Native Americans - Origins - Different tribes - Life, social organizations 4. Discoveries & Explorations - Discoveries (Spanish, Portuguese, French, …) - Explorations and early settlements 5. Colonial Period 1 - First settlements: Virginia Bay Colony – Massachusetts Bay Colony 6. Colonial Period 2 - Thirteen colonies: inception, life, religion, political organizations 7. Colonial Period 3: - Relationship with the natives - Slavery during the Colonial Era - English, French, and Spanish rivalries in North America 8. The American Revolution - Causes - Consequences
(Access To History) Roger Turvey, Keith Randell - Access To History. Henry VIII To Mary I - Government and Religion, 1509-1558 (2011, Hodder Education)