1 History 1113H: Honors Institutions and Ideas of World Civilizations ...

Institutions and Ideas of World Civilizations I (Honors), Fall 2014
HIST 1113H-003; MWF 11:50 am – 12:40 pm; SCEN 404
Scott Lloyd
Office: Main 105
Office hours: M/W 2:15-3:15 pm, or by appointment
E-mail: srlloyd@uark.edu
Office phone: 479-575-6585
Course description, goals and objectives:
History is the study of the past, and embraces every aspect of the human experience. It brings disciplines
together, provides coherence to our common story, and gives the context necessary to understand the present and
our own place in the world. History asks students to be critical and analyze, and to do so from the perspective of
both humanistic and social scientific inquiry.
In this class, we will follow the course of history from the earliest civilizations through the Reformation,
paying particular attention to the dynamics of cause and effect, and the interrelated nature of varied human
experiences.
Course components:
• Class participation/attendance (100 pts.): Your involvement in class will directly affect your grade. Be
present, ask questions, enter into discussions! Attendance will be taken regularly (but not daily); each
unexcused absence will count 5 points off your final grade.
• Papers (2 x 100 pts.): You will write two papers based on select primary documents and secondary works.
More detailed information about each paper will be given to you in a timely manner. Due dates are included
in the course schedule.
• Exams (2 x 100 pts.): There will be two exams, a midterm and a final. More detailed information about each
exam will be given to you in a timely manner
• You must complete all measurable course components to receive a passing grade. If you do not, you will fail,
regardless of your points total.
• If you want me to reconsider a grade on any given assignment, you must talk to me within one week of when
the assignment was due.
• If you are concerned about your grade, talk to me! I will not consider options for strengthening your grade
after the final regularly-scheduled class meeting the Wednesday before Dead Day.
Grading scale (500 total points available):
450-500 A
400-449 B
350-399 C
300-349 D
Below 300 F
Late and missed assignments:
• Late papers will be penalized 20% of the earned grade for the first week after they were due, and 40% of the
earned grade thereafter. I will only make exceptions if you can convince me any lateness was due to a
legitimate emergency. If you will be absent for any reason on a paper’s due date, hand it in early.
• Missed exams can only be made up if you advise me in writing in advance of any absence with a valid
excuse (e.g. school-sanctioned activities) or you convince me that you were absent due to a legitimate
emergency.

Attendance and punctuality:
I expect you to attend class regularly and be on time. If you need to be absent on a non-exam day, please
notify me by e-mail in advance so any necessary adjustments can be made. If you notify me before the
beginning of class, you will be considered excused up to 3 times.
General class comportment:
• If you want to sleep or do work for another class, do not come to this one.
• I do not mind drinks in class, but do not bring food of any kind.
• I allow use of laptops and tablets only for note taking. I do not allow use of other personal electronic devices
during class.
• Silence your mobile phone, and please do not text in class. I reserve the right to ask you to place your
mobile on the front desk if this becomes a problem.
• During tests, you may only have test materials and writing utensils at your desk. All bags and other personal
items (including cell phones) must be deposited at the front of the room. If I catch you with anything else
during a test, I will assume you are cheating, and you will receive a 0 for the exam, no questions asked.
Academic integrity:
As a core part of its mission, the University of Arkansas provides students with the opportunity to further
their educational goals through programs of study and research in an environment that promotes freedom of
inquiry and academic responsibility. Accomplishing this mission is only possible when intellectual honesty and
individual integrity prevail.
Each University of Arkansas student is required to be familiar with and abide by the University’s "Academic
Integrity Policy" which may be found at http://provost.uark.edu/ Students with questions about how these
policies apply to a particular course or assignment should immediately contact their instructor.
Students with disabilities:
Any student who needs accommodation for a disability should contact the Center for Educational Access as
soon as possible and also discuss the situation with me.
Inclement weather:
If Fayetteville public schools are closed, we will not have class. If further cancellations are necessary I will
notify you by e-mail.
Required readings:
The Human Web: A Bird’s-Eye View of World History, J. R. McNeill and William H. McNeill
Projected course schedule:
WEEK I
8/25 Course introduction
The Human Web, pp. xvii-40
8/27 Pre-history
The Human Web, pp. 41-81
8/29 Ancient Mesopotamia
WEEK II
9/1 Labor Day: no class
9/3 Ancient Egypt
9/5 Paper #1 assignment / discussion
WEEK III
9/8 Classical China
9/10 Mediterranean civilizations
9/12 Hebrews

WEEK IV
9/15 Greek civilization
9/17 Greek thought
9/19 Hellenism / Alexander
WEEK V
9/22 Roman Republic
9/24 Early Christianity
9/26 Roman Empire Paper #1 due
WEEK VI
The Human Web, pp. 82-115
9/29 Roman decline
10/1 Byzantium
10/3 Rise of Islam
WEEK VII
10/6 Spread of Islam
10/8 Inner Eurasia
10/10 Classical India
WEEK VIII
The Human Web, pp.116-154
10/13 Imperial China
10/15 Medieval China
10/17 Midterm Exam
WEEK IX
10/20 Fall Break: no class
10/22 Imperial Japan
10/24 Medieval Japan
WEEK X
10/27 Early Europe
10/29 Early Middle Ages
10/31 Paper #2 assignment / discussion
WEEK XI
11/3 Medieval Church
11/5 High / Late Middle Ages
11/7 Crusading mentality
WEEK XII
11/10 Crusades
11/12 Reconquest
11/14 Africa
WEEK XIII
11/17 America
11/19 Aztecs / Incas
11/21 Renaissance Paper #2 due

WEEK XIV
The Human Web, pp. 155-212
11/24 European expansion
11/26 Thanksgiving Break: no class
11/28 Thanksgiving Break: no class
WEEK XV
12/1 Early colonialism
12/3 Global changes
12/5 Reformation
WEEK XVI
12/8 Political changes
12/10 Re-cap / final exam prep
12/12 Dead Day: no class
WEEK XVII
12/17 Final exam, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm