HST 101 Western Civilization: Ancient Mediterranean

A survey of the historical development of religious and secular value systems, scientific theories, social structures, economies, and political thought and institutions of the Western world from the earliest recorded city-states through the early Renaissance. The course will focus on the diverse societies and cultures of the Near East, Egypt, Greeks, Jews, Romans, and Christians and on the influence of Germanic and Islamic societies in the wake of the fall of Rome. The course will also examine the historical relationship between the events and ideas of this earlier period and our modern world.

Credits

4

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior. Identify and consider important concepts, movements, and themes to understand peoples of ancient and medieval societies from 5000 BCE to late Medieval/early Renaissance
2. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live. Analyze how diverse peoples in the Ancient Near East, northern Africa and Europe created religious systems, social structures and political institutions. Note the variety of interactions between various groups and individuals and how they dealt with change and issues common to all
3. Understand the role of individuals and institutions within the context of society. It will demonstrate when and where the concept of the individual came about and who first looked at how the individual functioned within a society. Look at function of institutions in society, how they are unique or not, and how they influence behavior of individuals or are used by individuals. Ask the question of why individualism was not a concept for many in ancient societies, how that changed, and why this is even an outcome for a Social Science class
4. Assess different theories and concepts, and understand the distinctions between empirical and other methods of inquiry. Demonstrate a functional appreciation of various interpretations of history and how they came to be. Identify different schools of thought and the many "lenses" used to look back and study history
5. Utilize appropriate information literacy skills in written and oral communication. Students evaluate and use relevant evidence to illustrate and support questions and perspectives about the past as well as conclusions they draw from them
6. Understand the diversity of human experience and thought, individually and collectively. Identify and consider the universals and the diverseness in human experience over time. Demonstrate knowledge of geographical time and place and how that changes. Be familiar with processes by which individuals and peoples change over time