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Western Civilization II
History 102
Most weeks you will turn in a one page paper based on the week's readings from "Sources of the West . The reading assignments and the topics for the weekly papers are listed below.
Books:
  • text, Lerner and Meacham, "Western Civilizations , vol.2
  • reader, Kishlansky, "Sources of the West , vol.2
Grade:
  • Midterm 35%
  • Final 35%
  • Papers 30%
Week 1 Introduction
Great Chain of Being
Week 2 Absolutism, text: Ch 17
reader: James I's "Free Monarchy , Mornay's "Defense of Liberty .
topic: What diferences do these two men see in the rights and powers of kings? How do they support their arguments?
Week 3 Colonialism and Capitalism, text: Ch 16
reader: Mun's "England's Treasure , Smith's "Wealth of Nations .
topic: What do Mun and Smith believe to be the best ways for nations and individuals to become wealthy?
Week 4 Magic and Science
reader: Galileo's "Letter to Duchess Christina, Descartes' "Discourse on Method .
topic: What are the religious issues that concern scientists like Galileo and Descartes? Why?
Week 5 Enlightenment, text: Ch 18
reader: Rousseau's "Social Contract , Beccaria's "Crimes and Punishments .
topic: What specific Enlightenment ideas are expressed by Beccaria and Rousseau? What do they see as wrong with the governments and laws of their time?
Week 6 French Revolution, text: Ch 19
reader: Declaration of Independence, Declaration of the Rights of Man, Declaration of the Rights of Woman.
topic: What political rights do these documents stand for? What would kings and nobles not like about these ideas?
Week 7 Industrial Revolution, text: Chs 20, 21
reader: Chadwick's "Condition of Poor , Engels' "Condition of " Working Class .
topic: What problems did industrialism create for working people according to Chadwick and Engels? How could these problems be solved?
Week 8 Nationalism, text: Ch 23
MIDTERM EXAM
Week 9 Socialism, text: Ch 25
reader: "The Great Charter , Marx and Engels' "Communist Manifesto .
topic: What do these socialist writings find wrong with society? How in their opinion could society be improved?
Week 10 Imperialism, text: Ch 24
reader: Hobson, Rhodes, Kipling, Orwell.
topic: Which of these writers are pro©imperialist and how do they justify imperialism? How do the other writers criticize imperialism?
Week 11 World War I, text: Ch 27
reader: Pankhurst's "Suffrage Movement , Kollantai's" Communist Morality , Woolf's "Room of One's Own .
topic: What do these writers see as necessary for women to become liberated?
Week 12 Russian Revolution and Soviet Society
Week 13 Fascism, text: Ch 28
reader: Mussolini's "Fascist Doctrine , Hitler's "Mein Kampf .
topic: What do you think attracted people to the ideas expressed by Mussolini and Hitler?
Week 14 World War II and the Holocaust, text: Ch 29
Week 15 Postwar Problems, text: Chs 30, 31
FINAL EXAM