HIST 134:
Ancient World History

HIST 134 is run as a seminar where I teach the first part of the class and you and your colleagues teach the second part.

Additional Information

Following is additional information about the class.

• Textbook

• Course Schedule

• Major Assignments

• Research Paper

• Presentation

• Origins of the World

• Divining the Truth

• Biographical Sketch

• Teaching/Learning Module

• Assessment

Course Objectives

I think you have a right to know how various assignments help advance the objectives of the course. Therefore, I have inserted this "Protection Symbol" throughout the course pages. The symbol will be a hot link to an explanation as to how that section of the course advances the course objectives.

Textbook

Throughout my teaching materials, I insert this image of the letter "T" as a way to highlight ways in which the textbook is being connected to course materials. For a more detailed explanation as to why I am doing this--as well as to see a larger version of the image--please go to "Highlighting the Textbook" which appears in my blog.

As a Schoolcraft College student, you can earn an a Global Endorsement as part of your degree. To earn the endorsement, you need to take 15 hours of classes designed as “international.” This class has been approved as an international class and counts toward the Global Endorsement.

Course Description

This course is a survey of prehistoric and ancient times: origins of human nature and culture; early gathering-hunting and planting- herding societies; origins of civilization in the Middle East, India, China, the Mediterranean and elsewhere; civilized- barbarian interaction and the rise of early Old World empires; rise of classical civilizations, especially Greece and Rome; rise of the higher religions, especially the Judaeo-Christian traditions; and decline of classical civilizations, with emphasis on the fall of Rome and the rise of medieval Europe, Byzantium and Islam.

Prerequisites

None.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a clear, factual and conceptual understanding of the historical development of the world from pre-ancient times to the medieval period.

2. While focusing on the historical period covered by the course, use research and writing to develop an awareness of history as a means of reflecting and evaluating the human experience, both in the past and in contemporary times.

3. Analyze the unique geographical history of the regions/time-period covered by the course as well as the role geography played in those regions.