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PROCEDURE: The usual class attendance, taking notes on lectures (with instructor's hope that something is happening), exams, group meetings and class discussions.
NOTE ON READING:
Please be careful to check your assignment sheets far in advance of each section
as textbook readings will vary each week.
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS
If you want to review the in class lectures or you miss a class a court reporter
transcribed all my lectures during the Fall Semester 2005. A
link to each of these lectures is available if you care to read any of them
at:
http://www2.ohlone.edu/people/akirshner/lectureswca.html Podcasts
were done in 2008 and can be heard at the links from http://itunes.ohlone.edu
GROUP
MEETINGS:
There will be ten group meetings during the semester. The Course Assignment
section below lists the dates of these group meetings. Students will interact
with four or five other individuals during class time to discuss the readings,
creative insights and personal hang-ups (not required) according to the questions
in each chapter (except for the first group meeting). Each student is to come
prepared to discuss the material in accordance to the questions or problems
in the
chapter as specified on the assignment sheet.
In order to facilitate these discussions, students must bring a 3 x 5 card (or
equivalent) with notes or a short outline pertaining to the material the student
will talk about. Students are not to read their answer.
GROUP EVALUATION:
Group meetings will count 1/4 of your grade. Each group meeting is worth 10
points--a total of 100 points. The 10 points for each group meeting will be
given by a self-evaluation form which will be checked against a group chairperson's
evaluation and the instructor's opinion from listening to the group discussions
as he moves from group to group.
MISSING MEETINGS:
If you should decide to be absent the day of the group meeting or if you decide
you do not want to participate in the group meeting, you must submit
within two weeks of your return to class a 2-page typewritten (3 pages if handwritten)
answers to the questions due for that group meeting.
COURSE GRADE:
The course grade will be the exact average of the three exams and the sum of
the 10 group meetings.
WARNING:
You can withdraw from this class within the first three weeks of the semester
without any notation appearing on your transcripts. Between the third
and the twelfth week of the semester your withdrawal will appear on the transcript
as a W. After the twelfth week I must give you a grade for the course. If you
withdraw after this deadline the only grade I will give you is an F. All
withdrawals must be done through the Registrar's office. If you are in class
anytime during the semester and do not withdraw officially, you will receive
an F.
CREDIT/NO CREDIT:
This course may be taken for credit/no credit. You must register with the admission's
office no later than the fourth week of the semester. To receive credit for
the course you must receive at least a C grade.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Academic
dishonesty defrauds all those who depend upon the integrity of the college,
its courses, and its degrees and certificates. Students are expected to
follow the ethical standards required in Ohlone courses. These standards
are defined in the Policy on Academic Dishonesty. Violations
of this policy include cheating and plagarism. Cheating on an exam will not only provide you with 0 points, but you will obtain an F in the course. An F cannot be changed to a W once I place it on your grade sheet.
STANDARDS OF STUDENT CONDUCT:
The
student has the right and shares the responsibility to exercise the freedom
to learn. The student is expected to conduct himself/herself in accordance
with the standards of the College that are designed to perpetuate its educational
purposes.
BEWARE:
Too
many people today view the world with a sense of personal entitlement. They
harbor a belief they are somehow entitled to a grade, a degree, a job, a raise,
a mortgage, a home, the good life in general; rather than recognizing most of
these things actually need to be earned. We need to keep our commitment
to a general and liberal education, with critical thinking as a core focus. Personal
assumptions and beliefs need continual reflection and scrutiny under the bright
lights of reality and social awareness. A sense entitlement is difficult
to maintain if one truly thinks in a critical manner.
From
Dr. Jim Wright, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Feb. 23, 2009
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To develop a specific knowledge of the beginnings of civilization.
2. To gain an understanding of the impact of early civilizations on Modern societies.
3. To develop an awareness of the interaction and intertwining of historical events.
4. To provide specific knowledge of the history of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, the Medieval Era, the Renaissance, the Reformation and the Age of Exploration.
5. To acquire through the study of the past practical skills necessary to cope effectively with Modern society.
6. To develop the ability to solve problems through the process of rational thinking enhanced by studying the great minds of the past.
7. To develop basic academic skills through the reading and memorization of important events in Western Civilization.
COURSE OUTLINE
SECTIONS:
I. BE PHYSICAL: An inquiry into the beginnings of civilization
A. Interpretation of
Evidence
B. Nature or Nurture
C. Evolution vs. Revolution
D. Woman the Creator
II. LIFE AND DEATH: Early Civilization
A. Geographical Determinism--Egypt
and Mesopotamia
B. Stirrings in Asia
C. Rural-Urban Values
D. Civilization to Civilization:
Contributions
III. PERFECTION IS STERILE: Barbarian Tides
A. Toilet Power: Crete
B. Polis, Hubris,
Ideals
C. Antithesis—Sparta
and Athens
D. Alexander and Alexandrias(Hellenism)
IV. THE TWO FACED GODS: Polarization
A. To Beware the
Ides of March
B. On the Way to
the Forum and Away
C. Decline and
Fall, Maybe!
D. Quest For Power in the East-Byzantium
V. A FISH STORY: The Rise of Christianity
A. "Martyrdom is
the only way a man can become famous
without ability."--George
Bernard Shaw
B. Internal Self
C. A Cross to "Bare"
D. From Temple to Mosque
VI. FALSE
IMAGES: Early Medieval Europe
A. It ain't so uniform!
B. A Chess Game
C. Miss America, then
and now
VII. UNIVERSAL TRUTH: Disruption and Renewal
A. Revealed Knowledge
B. Faith and Reason
C. Guilded
D. The Crusading Spirit
VIII. WHAT A PLAGUE!: The Waning
of the Middle Ages
A. The Changing Face
of Heresy
B. Economic Expansion
C. 1453: Where to From
Here
D. Pegasus and Unicorns
IX. RENEWAL: The Renaissance
A. A Rebirth of What?
B. Men can do all things
if they will--And women?
C. Society and Art
D. An Anal Retentive
Victory
X. WHO IS SKEPTICAL?: Life and Expansion
A. How do we live now?
B. Mar Clausum vs. Effective
Occupation
C. Natural vs. Legal
Servitude: blacks, women +
D. Eurocentric--to be
or not to be
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
I. BE PHYSICAL: August 29 31, September 7,12, 14
REQUIRED READING: Read all of the information about this course. Read Chapter 1 in World Civilization text and Velikovsky (on Reserve in Library under History 104A) with Jarmo (in same packet) IF YOU CANNOT GET TO THE LIBRARY I HAVE A FEW COPIES TO LOAN--BUT THEY MUST BE RETURNED RIGHT AFTER THE GROUP MEETING. I have also placed a copy at http://www.kirshnerisms.com/Bushman-Velikovsky-Jarmo.pdf This copy is difficult to read. I would also warn you that reading the Velikovsky material slowly and carefully could be dangerous to you health. Just scan read it to get a feel for his theories and the issues.
Group Meeting I (September 14): Discuss your impressions Velikovsky's theories.
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
Orientation, Orientation Continued, Site Map Exercise, Did darwin get it Wrong?, Origins of Civilization, Woman, Homosexuals, Beer and Civilization, Mother Goddess, Animals and Group Dynamics
II. LIFE AND DEATH: September
19, 21, 26
REQUIRED READING: Chapter
2 and Chapter 3
OPTIONAL
READING: Chapter 5
and Chapter 6
Group Meeting II (September 26): Discuss what you see as the advantages and disadvantages of living in the Ancient Mesopotamian and Ancient Egypt.
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
Velikovsky (true or false?) and Geographical Determinism, Geography, God and Floods!, Dating in Mesopotamia and Egypt,
Who Wore the Pants in Mesopotamia?, Contributions of the Ancients!, LAW & ORDER + CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE!
III. PERFECTION
IS STERILE: September 28, October 3, 5,
REQUIRED READING: Chapter
4, Chapter 7 and Chapter 8
Group Meeting III (October 5): Compare the Greek concepts of polis, hubris and fate with our beliefs today.
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
Beware the Greeks with the Trojans, Fates, Hubris and Polis+Bull Stories, Water vs. Rock: Athens and Sparta, Gold leads to Art, Philosophy, Perfection and even War, Girlie-Men Conquer the World!
EXAM I: OCTOBER 10
IV. THE TWO FACED GOD: October 12, 17, 19
REQUIRED READING: Chapter 9 and pages 258-262, 274-278, 278- 291, 364-377
Group Meeting IV: (October 19) What did you liked about the Roman society? Disliked?
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
RETURN EXAM & ROME-Two Faced!, Dear Pres. Bush, The Younger: The US is no Rome!, Friends, Romans, Countrymen: The Late Republic, Hail Caesar & Caesar & Caesar, Sex, Lies and Rome
V. A
FISH STORY: October 24, 26
REQUIRED READING: pp.262-274,
377-393
Group Meeting V(October 26): As a Roman citizen in the
first or second century, would you have converted to Christianity? Explain
why or why not?
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
An Easter to Remember: The Beginnings of Christianity, The Way of the Cross
VI. FALSE
IMAGES: October 31, November 2
REQUIRED READING: pp.
393-421
Group Meeting VI (November 2): Describe how the Greco-Roman heritage, the Germanic traditions, Christianity, and the Islamic cultures contributed to the making of Modern Europe?
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
The Dark Knight is White & Plays Chess!, Miss America in a Feudal Society,
VII. UNIVERSAL TRUTH: November 7, 9
REQUIRED READING: pp.421-454, 461-493
Group Meeting VII (November 9): Describe education for men and women of all classes during the Middle Ages.
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
Learning the Hard Way!, School Used to be Fun & Now it is a Riot!
EXAM II: NOVEMBER 14
VIII. WHAT A PLAGUE!: November 16, 21,
REQUIRED READING: pp. 454-461, Chapter 15
OPTIONAL READING: Chapter 16
Group Meeting VIII(November 21): Describe the impact of the “Black Death” on European History. Also, compare the “Black Death” to Aids.
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
Crusades: Now and Then! , The Aftermath of Death!, Connections-Film, Where to From Here?
IX. RENEWAL: November
23, 28
REQUIRED READING: Chapter
18, pp: 667-711
Group
Meeting IX (November 28): Poof—you believe in reincarnation! Describe,
thoroughly, the life you led in the Renaissance era.
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
Renaissance: Humble—to be or not to be!, Dissent! Renaissance Video, ,Three for the Price of One! , Like It or Not, We are All Protestant! Part I, Like It or Not, We are All Protestant! Part II,
X. WHO IS SKEPTICAL? November 30, December 5, 7
REQUIRED READING: pp: 667-677, Chapter 20
OPTIONAL READING: Chapter 17 and Chapter 21
Group
Meeting X (December 7): Explain why European people developed a drive
to explore.
LECTURE TRANSCRIPTS AVAILABLE FROM 2005
Violating the Prime Directive
EXAM III: FRIDAY, December 16, 9:30-11:30 am
OFFICE HOURS: I will hold court in 8320 between 10:45
and 11:40 am on
Tuesday
and Thursday. I will also be there on Monday
and
Wednesday between 1:30 and 2:25 pm. I will hold virtual office hours
on
Fridays from 11 to 11:55 am. If you cannot make it at
these
times, please speak to me to see if we can work out some
mutually
convenient time.
I
am in my office at other times my door is open even if I appear
not
to be there. Come in and wait.
I am in my office at other times my door is open even if I appear
not to be there. Come in and wait.
TELEPHONE: I can be reached at 659-6242 during my office hours. If you need
to reach me at another time leave a message on my tape machine.
In case of an emergency (missing class is not an emergency) you
can call me at (510) 468-6307. Please be clear in your message about
why you are calling, the date and the time, as my answering machine on
this cell phone fails to give me the latter information.
You can e-mail me at AKirshner@ohlone.edu
You can view my home page and even check out example exams at:
http://www2.ohlone.edu/ people/akirshner
OR
http://www.kirshnerisms.com
After arriving at the page, just click on “About My Courses.”
Western Civilization 104A: Podcast LectureList in iTunes (http://itunes.ohlone.edu/)
LECTURE 1: Orientation and Introduction to WC104A 9/3/08 1:04:01 Ohlone College
History 104A Free
LECTURE 2: Site Map--Where are you? 9/8/08 1:01:44 Ohlone College History 104A
Free
LECTURE 3: Nature or Nurture: Did Darwin get it wrong? 9/10/08 1:00:14 Ohlone
College History 104A Free
LECTURE 4: Will the real women please stand up? 9/12/08 59:57 Ohlone College
History 104A Free
LECTURE 5: Women, Homosexuals and Civilization! 9/15/08 56:21 Ohlone College
History 104A Free
LECTURE 6: Velikovsky, right or wrong? 9/17/08 1:00:28 Ohlone College History
104A Free
LECTURE 7: Early Civilization w/ leftover beer! Geographical Determinism-Is
god good or evil? Happy cows!9/19/08 11:47 AM 1:01:19 Ohlone College History
104A Free
LECTURE 8: Aryan/Iranian to Iraq & Egypt Contributions of the Ancients 9/22/08
1:00:29 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 9: Who wore the pants in the Middle East? The loin clothes? 9/24/08
1:00:20 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 10: Egypt: Mummies, Mommies Brothers & Sisters; LAW & ORDER
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE 9/26/08 1:01:09 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 11: Melvin, the Egyptian accountant; Trojans for all; Half Bull=Crete
9/29/08 57:58 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 12: How to go to hell. 10/1/08 1:01:11 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 13: Rules for Writing Essay Questions!; Cheating at Ohlone and
in Ancient Greece 10/3/08 52:03 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 14: The Greek Way! 10/6/08 1:02:49 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 15: Greek Reality: Plato or Aristotle 10/8/08 1:01:09 Ohlone College
History 104A Free
LECTURE 16: Return Exam-go over; Alexander the Great 10/15/08 1:01:04 Ohlone
College History 104A Free
LECTURE 17: Skip first 15 minutes-election; Roman Mystery Cults & Religion
10/17/08 1:01:20 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 18: Rome-A Two Faced Republic 10/20/08 59:56 Ohlone College History
104A Free
LECTURE 19: Rome from HBO; Group chaos! 10/22/08 56:49 Ohlone College History
104A Free
LECTURE 20: Rome reclines! 10/24/08 55:34 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 21: Truth or Consequences: As Rome moves on! 10/27/08 1:00:16 Ohlone
College History 104A Free
LECTURE 22: Idiots and Monsters and Five Good Guys; Blame the Christians! 10/29/08
58:32 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 23: Lead in their pipes bring on the Christians 10/31/08 54:27 Ohlone
College History 104A Free
LECTURE 24: A US Election to be Remembered-An Easter that is Remembered The
Way of the Cross 11/5/08 1:01:27 Ohlone College History 104A Free
LECTURE 25: The Dark Knight is White & Plays Chess! False it is! 11/7/08
59:32 Ohlone College History 104A Free
Western Civilization 104A: Lecture Video List on
reserve in the library
Lecture Title Taped Call #
1 Orientation #1 8/22/94 VID/549
2 Orientation #2 8/24/94 VID/549
3 The Beginnings #1 (Map Work) 8/29/94 VID/550
4 The Beginnings #2 8/31/94 VID/551
5 The Beginnings #3 9/2/94 VID/552
6 Velikovsky Group Disscusion 9/7/94 VID/553
7 Geographic Determinism #1 9/9/94 VID/554
8 Geographic Determinism #2 9/12/94 VID/555
9 Geographic Determinism #3 9/14/94 VID/555
10 Geographic Determinism #4 (Contributions) 9/16/94 VID/556
11 Geographic Determinism #5 (Persia + Group) 9/19/94 VID/557
12 Greece: Perfection Is Sterile (Introduction) 9/21/94 VID/558
13 Greece: Fate, Hubris (Intro to EXAM) 9/23/94 VID/559
14 Greece: Polis, Philosophy, Society 9/26/94 VID/560
15 Greece: Alexander, Hellenistic, Group Meet 9/28/94 VID/561
16 Rome: Return Exam, Two Faced God #1 10/3/94 VID/573
17 Rome: 2 Faced-Beware the Ides of March 10/5/94 VID/573
18 Rome: On The Way To The Forum 10/7/94 VID/574
19 Rome: Get a Life! Decline & Fall, Maybe! 10/10/94 VID/574
20 Rome: Decline & Fall, Maybe! Islam 10/12/94 VID/575
21 A Fish Story + Eastward Ho! 10/14/94 VID/576
22 Eastward Ho: India & China; Group Meeting 10/17/94 VID/577
23 A Fish Called >>>Video on Christianity 10/19/94 VID/578
24 False Images: Chess the Game of Queen Power 10/21/94 VID/579
25 Universal Truth + A Deaf Miss America 10/24/94 VID/580
26 Middle Age Thought! 10/28/94 VID/581
27 Guest Lecture on Velikovsky: Fred Jueneman 10/31/94 VID/582
28 Universal Truth--I hope! Middle Ages 11/2/94 VID/583
29 Medieval Thought: Group Meeting 11/4/94 VID/584
30 What A Plague! The election of 1994 11/9/94 VID/584
31 Go over exam + Crusading Spirit 11/14/94 VID/585
32 The Waning + Middle Age Spread 11/16/94 VID/585
33 The Changing Face of Heresy + Group Meeting 11/18/94 VID/585
34 The Other Side of the Story: Russia & Ottoman 11/28/94 VID/586
35 Where To From Here? 11/30/94 VID/586
36 Rebirth vs Rebewal: The Renaissance 12/2/94 VID/587
37 Men & Women Can Do All Things: Slides 12/5/94 VID/587
38 Renaissance Wo/Man + Group Meeting 12/7/94 VID/588
39 Reformation: The Fuggers Sell Indulgences 12/9/94 VID/588
40 The Reformation & Anal Retentive America 12/12/94 VID/589
41 The Violation of the Prime Directive: Colon 12/14/94 VID/590
42 Exploration & The World + Exam Countdown 12/16/94 VID/590
