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HIST 2302: History of Civilization II

Spring 2011 Paul Rutschmann

Office: 320
Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00p-3:20p Office Hours: T. Th.3:30-4:30,
University Hall or by appointment
Email: prutsch@uta.edu

Course Description

Modern Europe between about 1500 and the middle of the twentieth century, beginning with
Luther and the Reformation and up to the period of the Cold War, is the focus of this course.
While this course places special emphasis on the great ideas that characterize western thought,
the course will be supplemented with a balanced treatment of political, social, and cultural
history. Students will be introduced to the main ideas and general concepts underlying such
topics as industrialization, revolution, nationalism, imperialism and socialism. Though the course
will seek to examine the significance of human agency within historical processes, it does not
exclude the circumstance and conditions from which individual and collective ideas and actions
emerged. We will see, further, that historical processes are not inevitable, that alternatives have
been and are possible. The course is reading intensive and its main objective is to provide the
student with basic historical literacy and a general understanding of techniques and trends in
historical study.

Required Books & Readings

Marvin Perry, et al., Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society, vol. 2: From the
1400s
Marvin Perry, et al., Sources of the Western Tradition, vol. 2
Elie Wiesel, Night

The two Perry texts will serve as primary textbooks: Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and
Society, vol. 2 is a general introductory text narrative that will provide a basis for lectures. There
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may be the possibility for students to rent copies of the book from the campus bookstore; but, if
you wish to purchase your book online, make sure to get only the ninth edition. Previous editions
may not conform to reading materials assigned in the syllabus. The Perry Sources of Western
Tradition is a collection of primary sources. And here too, make sure to get only the seventh
edition. There is in addition one paperback book: Elie Wiesels Night. Readings that are in your
syllabus, but not found in the above list, are available over the library course reserves. All
readings in the syllabus are required.

Course Requirements and Grading

Three exams (20% each) 60%

Class Participation 10%
Final Exam 30%.

This course is primarily based on lectures, but there will still be plenty of opportunity for class
discussion. The student is expected to have read the assigned texts before coming to class. The
grade for participation (10%) is based on more than just merely showing up for class. Thus a
precondition for a satisfactory participation grade is active AND informed discussion. Laptops
are allowed in class but only for the purpose of taking notes.

There will be three Exams (20% each) during the semester and a fourth exam (30%) will serve
as the final. The final is not comprehensive and will follow the same format as the other three
exams. Part I of each exam will consist of 30 multiple choice questions (30%), part II will
consist of 8 short ID questions (40%), usually requiring descriptions or definitions of issues or
concepts discussed in class; and part III will be an essay question (30%). In writing the essay,
students will adhere to the standard requirements of formal essay composition.

Make-up exam policy

The make-up exam policy for this course allows for students to make up an exam if the student
has medical or legal documentation that excuses the student on the day of the exam. Make-up
exams may be taken on a date to be announced at the end of the semester.

Attendance and Drop Policy

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of all classes. I will not drop students for excessive
absences. However, please be reminded that participation counts for 10% of your final grade.
Students are responsible for dropping a course before the cut-off date for drops. Last day to drop
courses: Friday, April 1, 2011.
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Academic Integrity
It is the philosophy of the university that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable
mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic
dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, submission for credit of
any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, will be subject to
discipline in accordance with university regulations and procedures.

Policy on the Americans with Disability Act

The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter
of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 93112 The Rehabilitation Act of
1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans With
Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed
focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.

As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide reasonable accommodation to students

with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility
primarily rests with informing faculty at the beginning of the semester and in providing
authorized documentation through designated administrative channels.

Student Support Services Available

The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you
connect with the University and achieve academic success. These programs include learning
assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and
federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially
should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for more information
and appropriate referrals.
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Schedule of classes
Week 1
Jan. 18 Introduction

Jan. 20 The Reformation I: The Lutheran and Calvin Tradition

Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 14 on the reformations.
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, Chapter 1, section 4 (Luther)
Week 2
Jan. 25 Reformation II: The Lutheran and Calvin Tradition

Jan. 27 Scientific Revolution

Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 17 on the Scientific Revolutions of
the Seventeenth-century.
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, Chapter 2, sections 2 and 3
(Galileo), sections 4 and 6 (Bacon and Descartes), and 7 (Newton).
Week 3
Feb. 1 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Feb. 3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Week 4
Feb. 8 Evolution of the Modern State
Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 16 (on the rise of sovereignty).
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, Chapter 1, sections 3
(Machiavelli), 6 (Hobbes); chapter 3, section 2 (Locke)

Feb. 10 The Enlightenment

Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 18
Humes: A Treatise of Human Nature, pp. 483-488. (course reserves)
from Gay, The Enlightenment,
Kant, What is Enlightenment? in Perpetual Peace and Other
Essays. (course reserves)
Week 5
Feb. 15 EXAM 1

Feb. 17 French Revolution

Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 19
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, Chapter 4, sections 1-3
Week 6
Feb. 22 The Reign of Terror, and Napoleon and his Legacy
Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 20
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, Chapter 4, sections 5 & 6
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1848 and the European Revolutions

Feb. 24 Perry, Western Civilization, Chapter 23
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, Chapter 6, section 5
Week 7
March 1 Thought & Culture: Early Nineteenth Century (Romanticism)
Perry, Western Civilization, Chapter 22

March 3 Alternatives to Capitalism

Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, chapter 5, section 6 (Owen)
Week 8
March 8 EXAM 2

March 10 Realism and Social Criticism

Perry, Western Civilization, Chapter 24
Week 9
March 14-18 Spring Break

Week 10
March 22 Building of Nation States: Unification of Italy and Unification of Germany
Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 25
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, Chapter 6, section 4
(Mazzini), chapter 8, section 5 & 6, chapter 11, section 1
(Treitschke)

March 24 New Imperialism: Europe and its Colonies

Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 27
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, chapter 9,
section 1(British Imperialism), section 2 (German
Imperialism)
Week 11 World Wars

March 29 The Road to the Great War

Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 29, pp. 709-729.
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, chapter 11, sections 1-5.

March 31
The Culture of War
Rouzeau/Becker, 14-18: Understanding the Great War.
(course reserves)
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Week 12
April 5 The Fall of Tsarism and the Russian Revolution
Perry, Western Civilization, Chapter 29, 734-739
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, chapter 11, all of sec. 7

April 7 Paris Conference and the Interwar Years

Perry, Western Civilization, Chapter 29, pp. 729-734.

Week 13
April 12 EXAM 3

April 14 The Weimar Republic and Rise of the Nazis

Stackelberg, Hitler's Germany, (course reserves) pp. 68-112.
Week 14
April 19 Fascism and Nazism
Perry, Western Civilization, chapter 30, pp.759-787.
Perry, Sources of Western Tradition, chapter 12, sections 6
(Fascism), 7 (Nazism), and 8 (Leader-State)

April 21 Hitler and the Consolidation of Power

Stackelberg, Hitlers Germany, (course reserves) pp. 113-134.
Week 15
April 26 The Road to World War II
Stackelberg, Hitlers Germany, pp. 188-213. (course reserves)

April 28 Holocaust I
Stackelberg, Roderick, Hitlers Germany, 254-274 (course reserves)
Week 16
May 3 Holocaust II
Elie Wiesel, Night
Browning, Christopher, One Day in Jozefow, in Nazism and German
Society, 300-315. (course reserves)

May 5 Study Day

Final date and time TBA