Watch the documentaries/lectures and complete the readings. Pick one of the topics below to discuss. (The topics should focus on the period in world history from 500 B.C. to A.D. 1450 roughly).
Discuss the spectrum of power-to-powerlessness women possessed in the various civilizations studied.
Discuss the function of war for the various civilizations studied.
The weekly critical reflections will consist of an original post that addresses ONE of the questions in the corresponding thread. Each student should enter one critical reflection for each week. These will be 40% of a student’s grade. The critical reflections will mirror the specific topics for the week they are due. Critical reflections will take into account the various readings, lectures, and documentaries in the corresponding weekly module. Each critical reflection should be 500 words minimum and MUST incorporate two primary sources.
This week, students will explore the role of political thinking from the perspective of various cultures across the ancient world. The goal for this week is to identify the influence of political philosophy on warfare, gender relations, family, and death.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
Describe what were the causes and effects of the origin development, and fall of early Mediterranean and Asian Civilizations.
Compare the specific historical characters of early Mediterranean and Asian Civilizations.
Distinguish the political, religious, and social significance of early Mediterranean and Asian Civilizations.
Readings (Quizzes are based on primary source readings below).
A Woman in Power Empress Lu
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Confucius and Laozi
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Legalist Teachings
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Sun-Tzu Art of War
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China and Rome Compared
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A Mongol Governor
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From The Secret History of the Mongols
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The Plague in Florence
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The Plague in Cairo
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Secondary Source Readings
Relevant Chapters 7, 14, 15, and 16: World History, v. 1
Links to an external site.
Suggested Videos
Chinese Civilization – The Light of Reasoning Part 1 (25:21)
Links to an external site.
Chinese Civilization – The Light of Reasoning Part 2 (25:56)
Links to an external site.
The Mongols (43:40)
Links to an external site.
