Western Civilization

“From Homer to Henry to Hitler” !!!

Course Description

Mr. Robert the “Bruce” Clarke

Classroom: G205

Office: A208; Email: rclarke@darienps.org; Phone: 655-3981 Ext: 2224

Office hours: periods 1, 3, 8 and 6 (1^st Sem. only, in Study Hall B201) and after school even....I am accessible! Make an appointment whenever possible.

This course will cover European history from the Ancient Greeks to World War II. This means that a lot of material will be covered in general terms. It is important for you to do the nightly reading and homework assignments to keep up. I recommend that you do a little reading and review every day in any case. Our textbook is: World History: Perspectives on the Past by Krieger, Neill & Reynolds.

What you will need everyday:

1. A binder in which you can keep class notes, handouts, and homework assignments organized.
2. Your completed homework in the binder; your book only when asked to bring it.
3. Your mind, with historical imagination attached.

Homework

1. Homework is very important to keeping up in this class and is assigned regularly. You can expect homework 4 days per week. Usually this means reading a section of the textbook or a handout and writing down answers to the questions attached. Each quarter, your score for doing homework adds up to a test grade. Consistently doing a good job on the homework each quarter and having it on the due date will earn you a 94 on homework or higher. A score of up to 105 on homework is attainable each quarter for doing superior work. I will check 12-16 homeworks in class each quarter and give them a score of “zero/minus/check minus /check /check plus/plus,” which I will convert to an 8 point scale. I collect some homework assignments for closer inspection.

2. In the first semester, a late homework assignment will receive partial credit. In the second semester, late daily homeworks will receive a “0”. So get into the good habit of doing your homework on time.

3. Homework is due at the start of class. If you are absent the day the homework was assigned or the day it was due you will not be penalized. However, it is your responsibility to hand in the work.

4. If you come late to class (excused) it is your responsibility to find out if homework was checked and then hand it in to me.

Written Assignments

1. Completeness, accuracy, originality and thoughtfulness of your answer, as well as syntax and grammar will be taken into account.

2. All work must be original work authored by you. Plagiarism on any assignment will earn you a zero grade, and notification of parents, counselor and the Assist Principal.

3. Late assignments are docked 5 points per day, including dropped- period days and weekends.

4. Each semester there will be one researched essay to write.

Quizzes:

Will be given grades of 0 to 100, but are typically counted as half a test grade. Short quizzes count as one third a test grade.

Tests:

For each chapter or unit you will receive a study guide. Tip: Do not wait until the night before a test to study. Each test, essay, and project will carry the same weight toward your grade.

Your grade will be based roughly on:

Written expression: Essays, projects 35%

Formal evaluations of historical knowledge: tests and quizzes 50%

(Tests always have an essay portion to them)

Homework 15%

Active participation: 1 or 2 points may be added to your qtr. grade.

The high school is using IGPro to keep students and parents informed of grades.

General Policies

1. Your book must be covered.
2. Late assignments (papers, essays, journals, projects, etc.) will be penalized 5-7 points per day, at my discretion.
3. If you are absent the day of a test or quiz you are responsible to schedule a make-up as soon as possible or it will become a zero at the teacher's discretion.
4. 3 unexcused tardies = a cut = 4 pt. reduction in your quarter grade. Be on time.
5. Please see me outside of class for extra help and to make-up work during free periods. Please schedule an appointment when necessary.
6. When in doubt, you should be taking notes in class.
7. When my web page is up I will let you know; work in progress.

Class participation is hoped for from all members of the class. Challenging interpretations, offering insights and asking questions all make me happy.

Come see me! I do not bite. If you want to see me outside of class, (and I encourage that) come see me during my free periods. Try to make an appointment beforehand so that I can expect you. I may be in my classroom if I am not in the History office.

Have a Good Year, and remember…

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Course Outline: Semester One

Ancient Times

Chapter 5: Ancient Greece

Greek culture grew up around the Aegean Sea

Greek city-states competed for power

Athens led Greece in its Golden Age

Alexander’s conquest spread Greek culture

Chapter 6: The Roman Republic

The Romans built a great city

The Roman republic spread its power

Republican government collapsed in Rome

Chapter 7: The Roman Empire

Augustus’ rule began the Pax Romana

Romans extended Greek culture

Christianity spread through the empire

Rome’s empire declined and fell

The Middle Ages

Chapter 8: The Byzantine Empire and the Rise of Islam

Constantinople ruled an Eastern Empire

Chapter 9: The Early Middle Ages

New ways of life developed in Europe

Charlemagne revived the idea of empire

Vikings terrorized Europe

Feudalism became the basis of government

Chapter 10: The High Middle Ages

Farming improved and trade revived

Religious leaders wielded great power

Royal governments grew stronger

Learning revived and spread

Crusaders marched against Islam

Chapter 11: The Origin of European Nations (summarized)

England and France developed as nations

The Church faced a crisis in the 1300s

The 1300s brought a Plague and war

New monarchs ruled in Western Europe

Renaissance

Chapter 15: The Renaissance

Beginnings in Northern Italy

Florence led the way in the arts

The Renaissance spread

Explorers discovered new lands

Course Outline: Semester Two

Reformation

Chapter 16: The Reformation and Scientific Revolution

Martin Luther began a religious revolt

Protestantism spread in northern Europe

The Catholic Church made reforms

Scientists challenged old assumptions

Rise and Fall of Absolute Monarchs

Chapter 17: The Spanish Empire and Shifts in European Power: summarized

Spain built an overseas empire

Spain was a Catholic bulwark

Netherlands won independence

France’s crown changed hands

Religious wars split Germany

Chapter 18: Tudor Queen and Stuart Kings

Elizabeth faced many challenges

The Elizabethan era was a golden age

England had a civil war

Parliament won political power

Absolute Monarchy and the Enlightenment

Chapter 19: Europe in the Age of Absolute Monarchs

19.1 The Sun King ruled France

19.2 Peter the Great / Catherine The Great ruled Russia

Chapter 20: Enlightenment in Europe, Revolution in America

20.1 European thinkers expressed new ideas

20.2 Writers advocated liberty and reason

The Birth of Modern Times

Chapter 21: The French Revolution and Napoleon (pink)

The French Monarch faced a crisis

Revolution brought reform and terror

Napoleon conquered much of Europe

Napoleon’s empire collapsed

Unit 7: Nineteenth Century / Late 1700’s to 1914 (summarized)

Chapter 22: The Industrial Revolution

Chapter 23: Restoration, Romanticism and Revolution

Chapter 24: Italy and Germany formed Nations

*Marxism: See also packet on Marx and Communism;.

Chapter 25: The Age of Imperialism

Chapter 26: Turn of the Century

World Wars and the Emergence of the USSR

Chapter 27: World War I

Conflicts divided Europe

Europe plunged into war

War dragged on for four years

Peace stood on shaky foundations

Chapter 28: Russian Revolution

The Bolsheviks led a Revolution

Stalin became a dictator

Chapter 29 and Chapter 30: W.W. II

Fascist leaders became dictators

The world drifted toward war

Germany overran much of Europe

Japan conquered much of Asia

The Allies launched a drive to victory