Note: This syllabus record is a public document intended for general information purposes only.  For up to date information on scheduling and changes, students in the class should consult the syllabus published and distributed in class, and available through the Desire2Learn e-learning connection for the course.

ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION 

Course Prefix/Number: ANT 3141

Course Title: Origins of Civilization

Course Credit Hours: 3

Instructor Name and Contact Information: Terry Prewitt (tprewitt@uwf.edu) 850.474.2186; building 13, room 109

Prerequisites or Co-Requisites:  None

Course Description: The Origins of Civilization course is an anthropological treatment of the definitions of “civilization” and world cultural developments leading to state-level societies.  The course moves from a consideration of archaeological and historical cases to the current world economy and large-scale institutions of global political-economic interaction.  The class is structured in 12 “Sessions” divided into 5 “Units,” with assignments and assessments that can be accomplished as a classroom experience supplemented by distance-learning resources.  This “combined” format allows for greater diversity of reading, discussion, and assessment activities.

Students enrolled in the class can access the on-line materials through the Argus system.  All students should become familiar with work-submission and examination routines of the Desire 2Learn or eLearning portal. Some of the early assignments in the course will assure that students are engaged in the distance component of the class.

Goals: Upon completion of the course, students will be able to identify the cultural processes leading toward civilization and theories explaining the emergence of civilization. Students will compare the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Mesoamerica, and Peru and discuss the important cultural and social characteristics of each major area as well as specific societies within these areas.

About this Course: This course is delivered on the main campus of UWF, Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-3:45. The course is supplemented with internet materials, and some readings and other materials are available only on line.  While internet access is not absolutely required for success in this course, it is strongly recommended. 

Topics:

1.     Foundations

2.     Mesopotamia

3.     Egypt

4.     Asian Civilizations

5.     Near East

6.     Aegean

7.     Rome

8.     Secondary States

9.     Mesoamerica

10. South America

11. World Capitalist System

12. Current Applications

Student Learning Outcomes:

1.     Summarize the cultural precursors of the six primary state systems and early civilizations.

2.     Contrast the social bases of kin-based (traditional) and institutional (complex) states.

3.     Recognize the significance of Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations to the early development of Western culture.

4.     Explore the significance of the secondary Aegean/Anatolian and Italic states to the emergence of Western world empires.

5.     Recognize the significance of primary and secondary states to the broader development of Western colonialism and the modern “capitalist” world system.

6.     Illustrate the continuing importance of kin-based organization for modern state systems.

7.     Apply concepts of world system theory to the current world economy.

Required text:

Ancient Civilizations by Christopher Scarre and Brian Fagan (Prentice Hall, 2002, ISBN: 0130484849).  These are supplemented by readings available on electronic reserve through the UWF Library, accessible via D2L.

Required Materials:

Internet Access
E-mail Account

Grading / Evaluation: Grades will be based upon a single final examination.  There are 2 preparatory 'examination exercises' conducted on line, and a participation grade, forming a total of 150 points for the examination and a potential of 9 bonus points for participation/attendance.

Occasionally, a student question prompts me to assign a short essay to an individual. Such an essay assignment is not an option, but will assure the 9 point participation bonus for the student regardless of other factors.  At the students option, once the short essay is completed, the student may complete a paper on the same topic, under my direction, graded with equal weight to the final examination  (i.e. up to 150 points that will be averaged with the performance on the final examination essays).   (see the Grading Criteria for Writing Assignments). 

Again, there is only one final examination given during the finals week, constituting the primary basis for the grade in this course.   There are two non-graded exercises designed to prepare you for the final examination, consisting of on-line multiple-choice questions drawn from a pool of questions on the readings and other activities of the course. STUDENTS MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE EXERCISES TO RECEIVE FULL PARTICIPATION CREDIT. Each question in these exercises offers four answers, one valued at 2 points, one valued at 1 point, and the others worth no points.  Composition of the questions from the test bank are outlined in the descriptions that follow:

a. FINAL EXAMINATION: 5 essays of 500 words. 30 points each = 150 points

b. Mid-term exercise: 24 questions

    3 questions for each of sessions 1-8, plus 1 question.

c. Final exercise: 24 questions

    4 questions for each of sessions 9-12, plus one new

    question for each of sessions 1-8, plus 1 question.

d. Participation points and attendance: (1 per Unit + 4 for the course as a whole = 9 ).  These BONUS points will be awarded  automatically provided class attendance is strong and students have participated in organized activities of the class. Students not contributing to discussions or class sessions may receive half or no credit for the unit.  Students with more than three unexcused absences during the term receive no bonus credit.  .

Syllabus for Summer 2005

The Origins of Civilization course is an anthropological treatment of the definitions of “civilization” and world cultural developments leading to state-level societies.  The course moves from a consideration of archaeological and historical cases to the current world economy and large-scale institutions of global political-economic interaction.  The class is structured in 12 “Sessions” divided into 5 “Units,” with assignments and assessments that can be accomplished as a classroom experience supplemented by distance-learning resources.  This “combined” format allows for greater diversity of reading, discussion, and assessment activities.

Students enrolled in the class can access the on-line materials through the Argus system.  All students should become familiar with work-submission and examination routines of the Desire 2Learn portal.  Some of the early assignments in the course will assure that students are engaged in the distance component of the class.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

·           Summarize the cultural precursors of the six primary state systems and early civilizations.

·           Contrast the social bases of kin-based (traditional) and institutional (complex) states.

·           Recognize the significance of Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations to the early development of Western culture.

·           Explore the significance of the secondary Aegean/Anatolian and Italic states to the emergence of Western world empires.

·           Recognize the significance of primary and secondary states to the broader development of Western colonialism and the modern “capitalist” world system.

·           Illustrate the continuing importance of kin-based organization for modern state systems.

·           Apply concepts of world system theory to the current world economy.

Readings are assigned from the textbook:  Ancient Civilizations by Christopher Scarre and Brian Fagan (Prentice Hall, 2002, ISBN: 0130484849).  These are supplemented by readings available on electronic reserve through the UWF Library, accessible via D2L.

The Grading System

Grades will be based upon performance for five writing assignments, 2 examinations, and a participation grade, forming a total of 150 points.  Each of the five writing assignments will be valued at a maximum of 9 points (see the Grading Criteria for Writing Assignments).  The examinations will consist of multiple-choice questions drawn from a pool.  Each question offers four answers, one valued at 2 points, one valued at 1 point, and the others worth no points.  Composition of the questions from the test bank are outlined in the descriptions that follow:

a. Writing Assignments: 5 essays of 500 words. 9 points each = 45 points

b. Mid-term examination: 25 questions, max of 2 points each = 50 points

    3 questions for each of sessions 1-8, plus 1 question.

c. Final examination : 25 questions, max of 2 points each = 50 points

    4 questions for each of sessions 9-12, plus one new

    question for each of sessions 1-8, plus 1 question.

Participation points (1 per Unit).  These points will be awarded  =  5 points

    automatically provided all assigned work is turned

    in on time and students have participated in on-line

    discussions or other organized activities of the class.

    Students submitting late work or not contributing to

    discussions may receive half or no credit for the unit.

Schedule of Sessions and Assignments:

Sessions marked with an asterisk will be taught from the UWF Main Campus Distance Classroom.  All others will be taught from the Fort Walton Beach center Distance Classroom.  “Sessions” are teaching blocks represented through in-class handouts and Distance2Learn pages available to enrolled students.  Examinations and writing assignments will be handled electronically (essay submissions by deadlines in the D2L Session Drop Box, and examinations available through the D2L Quiz page.  Office hours are one hour before and after each class at the center from which I am presenting on that day, except where otherwise noted.

Origins of Civilization: Revised Course Schedule and Assignments

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE EARLIER VERSION OF THE COURSE, TAUGHT IN 2001 AND 2003: