HIST A390A Themes in World History

Online Course-Contact Hours: 3

Instructor: David Craft
Email: craftdavid@rocketmail.com
Phone: (715) 468-1049
Course Description
Provides students with opportunities to analyze patterns of meaning in
the accumulated record of the human experience from prehistory to
the present, contemplated on the most inclusive scale, that of the
entire world. The course is comparative and interdisciplinary.
Prerequisites
GEOG A101 and [HIST A101 or HIST A102 or HIST A121 or HIST A122
or HIST A131 or HIST A132]
Required Textbook
Adler, P. Pouwels, R. (2007). World Civilizations: Volume 1: To 1700.
Program Outcomes
ThedesiredstudentlearningoutcomesfortheDepartmentofHistoryare:

DemonstratetheabilitytowriteclearandpreciseEnglish.

Demonstrateadvancedlevelhistoricalresearchskills(properuseofhistoricalcitation
style,criticaluseofprimaryandsecondarysources,adequateresearchbase,abilityto
frameagoodhistoricalquestion).

Demonstrateadvancedhistoricalskills(recognitionofsignificance,causeandeffect,
continuityv.discontinuity,historiographicalconversancyandperspective,criticaland
integrativethinking).
Assessment
Thereareseveralassessmentsthatarerequiredthroughoutthecoursethatwilldetermine
yourgradeforthiscourse.Thiscourseisworth500points.Assessmentsandtheirpoint
valuesarelistedbelow:

BlogPost(6)BlogPostsareworth10pointseach.
Discussion(8)Discussionsareworth10pointseach.
Essay(3)Essaysareworth20pointseach.
StudentPresentations(5)StudentPresentationsareworth20pointseach.The
infographs/comparisonchartsandstudentillustrationinmoduleonecountasone
presentationworth20points.
Quiz(6)Quizzesareworth25pointseach.
ResearchPaperTheresearchpaperisworth50points
Duedatesforeachitemcanbefoundonthecoursecalendar.Detailsforeachitemcanbe
foundunderActivitiesforeachmodule.
GradingScale
93100=A
9092=A
8389=B+
8083=B
<80=Retake
CourseOutline
ModuleOne: Paleolithic and Neolithic, 3 Million Years to 3,000 BC
Objectives
1. Define and Describe Paleolithic and Neolithic.
2. Articulate the differences between the Paleolithic and Neolithic
periods.
3. Articulate the differences between Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens.
4. Discuss the lifestyles of humans during each period.
5. Illustrate the movement of humans around the globe.
Module Two: Antiquity, 3000 BC-476 AD
Objectives

1. Define and Describe Antiquity, Domestication, Irrigation.

2. Discuss what advancements made it possible for the rise of ancient
civilizations.
3. Illustrate the culture of an ancient civilization from around the world
including lifestyle, government, and religious beliefs.
4. Articulate how the collapse of the Roman Empire set the stage for
the middle ages.
Module Three: The Middle Ages, 476-1492
Objectives
1. Define and Describe Feudalism and Manorialism.
2. Discuss the reasons that lead to the rise of Feudalism and
Manorialism.
3. Articulate changes in society, technology, trade, the arts, and
warfare during the Middle Ages.
4. Define major events of the Middle Ages such as the Crusades and
Bubonic Plague.
5. Discuss what lead to the rise of state power.
Module Four: Emergence of the First Global Age and the Age of
Revolution, 1450-1914
Objectives
1. Define and Describe Enlightenment, Revolution, Imperialism.
2. Discuss the importance and effect of the Enlightenment on society.
3. Evaluate the causes of revolution across the world.
4. Analyze imperial expansion in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
5. Discuss the connections between major developments in science
and technology and the growth of industrial economy and society.
Module Five: A Half-Century of Crisis and Achievement, 1900-1945
Objectives

1. Define and Describe Nationalism, Communism, Nazism, Triple

Entente, Central Powers, Axis Powers, Allied Powers.
2. Discuss the causes of WW1.
3. Evaluate major events of WW1.
4. Evaluate the Causes and Major Events of the Great Depression.
5. Describe the impact of the Great Depression on world events.
6. Discuss the causes of WW2.
7. Evaluate major events and the outcome of WW2.
Module Six: The 20th Century Since 1945, The Cold War
Objectives
1. Illustrate economic and cultural sources of tension and conflict in the
contemporary world.
2. Explain the reasons why the Cold War took place.
3. Evaluate major events in the Cold War.
4. Explain the reasons why the Cold War ended.
5. Assess the significance of the Cold War and its impact in history and
world events.
Module Seven: The World Since 1990 and Beyond
Objectives
1.Define and Describe Information Age.
2. Acknowledge the technologies that made the Information Age
possible.
3. Discuss the impact computer technology has had on economics,
scientific advancement, education, culture, language, or politics.
4. Evaluate major events and advances in the Information Age.
Module Eight: World History, Bringing It All Together
Objectives

1. Create the final research project.

2. Discuss how understanding world history can help us now and going
into the future.
Late Policy
Students are responsible for meeting all due dates as listed on the
course calendar.
Work turned in after the due date will receive no credit. The only
exception that will be made to this policy is in the case of serious
emergences. Serious emergencies include serious health related
issues, such as a stroke, or major accidents, such as a car accident or a
house on fire. Anything that can be planned on a calendar such as
vacations and weddings are not serious emergencies and will not be
used as an exception to the late policy. Technology issues such as
power outages are also not considered an exception to the late policy.
All work turned in by midnight of the listed due dates will be
considered on time and can receive full credit.
Academic Dishonesty
Students are responsible for honestly completing their own work,
providing citations when required, while avoiding fabrication, cheating,
and assisting.
Students caught committing academic dishonesty will be confronted.
Below are several definitions of academic dishonesty:
Plagiarism-To steal and pass off the ideas or words of another as ones
own; To use anothers production without crediting the source; to
commit literary theft; to present as new and original an idea or product
derived from an existing source.
Fabrication- The falsification of data, information, or citations.
Cheating-The use of any outside materials or programs to assist in
academic activities without instructor acknowledgement.
Assisting-Facilitating or assisting in academic dishonesty.
On Plagiarism
To prevent Plagiarism in this course, students must read this document
on how to avoid plagiarizing other works. Then students must complete

The Plagiarism Self-Test from the Western Carolina University and turn
in the certificate, signed, to the instructor. This is to ensure that
students know what constitutes as plagiarism and how to properly cite
sources in APA format.
Not sure if your work is plagiarizing? No problem. You can use any of
the tools found here to check your work.
Student work will be occasionally checked for plagiarism. When in
doubt, cite!
Disability Support Services (DSS)
Disability Support Services (DSS) coordinates the support services for
UAA students who experience disabilities, as well as provides resources
for the university and community. Providing equal opportunities for
students who experience disabilities is a campus-wide responsibility
and commitment.
DSS staff can provide details about services and accommodations that
are available to qualified students with appropriate documentation.
Early planning is encouraged to allow DSS staff adequate time to make
the necessary arrangements for support services.
Contact Information
Website: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/dss/
Phone Number: (907) 786-4530
Location: Rasmuson Hall 1053211 Providence Drive Anchorage AK
99508
Hours:8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday