Chansok Lak: IS202

Royal University of Phnom Penh

Institute of Foreign Languages

Department of International Studies

Course Syllabus

I. Basic Information

Name of Institution: Department of International Studies (DIS), IFL, RUPP

Lecturer: Lak Chansok (LCS)

Dates: First Semester

Course Title: World History and Civilization

Course Code: IS202

Credit Units: 3 credits, 17 weeks, 3 hours/week (51 hours)

II. Course Description

World History and Civilization (IS202) is the descriptive story of great human adventures, their culture development and their achievements in human history. World History and Civilization, as an academic course, provides students with a wide range of knowledge from religious ideas to scientific achievements. This course focuses on the development of major world civilizations in the chronological order. It starts from the development of Egyptian Civilization, Sumerian Civilization, Indus Civilization, Chinese Civilization, and Mayan Civilization, which is considered to be the predecessors of later-on development. This course also emphasizes on the building of these major civilizations as well as the achievements in the field of religions, literature, science, and technology.

III. Objectives

Upon successful completion of the academic course, students are expected to have a better understanding of world history, the origin of major world civilizations, and a variety of knowledge ranging from fiction to science. Students will also develop their critical thinking skills and comparative study of the world history in the global context.

IV. Main Textbook and Supplementary Readings

Several types of documents will be used in this course. The main textbook is World History: Pattern of Civilization by Burton F. Beers. The book is deemed very comprehensive and quite easy for students to understand. In addition, video documentaries will be shown so that students can get better understanding of how civilizations emerged and developed from time to time. Some other articles from various academic journals will be used, too.

V. Procedures and Requirements

Students are highly expected to read the assigned materials, particularly the main textbook. They are also required to read the supplementary reading materials from J-Store and other accessed academic Journals (that will be provided by lecturers). The reading materials are very important not only for students’ knowledge inquiry but also for them to carry out a major written assignment, two (surprised) quizzes, two progress tests, and one final written exam or semester exam, as required in the course.

Reading – Students are required to read on a weekly basis the material assigned by the course instructor (as described in the Course Outline and/or provided as a supplement) prior to attending the class. Further reading related to the course’s subject and sharing of information obtained from such material with the classroom are highly encouraged.

Major written assignment – Students in groups are expected to produce a report by the end of the semester. The topics are the same as those on which the students present. Details in regards to organization and content of the report will be discussed at the beginning of the course. Students are advised to consult with the course instructor throughout their writing process to stay on track and achieve optimal positive outcomes.

Presentation – Students in groups are required to prepare and deliver a 20-minute presentation on materials and topics they have covered in their assignments. Criteria for the presentation will be detailed at a reasonable time prior to the presentation week.

Progress Test – Before and after presentation week, students will sit for two progress tests as part of the revision. The tests will mostly involve short and critical-thinking questions to help students reflect on the material they have been studying since the beginning of the course. More details will be explained at least one week prior to the test date.

Semester Exam – The exam will consist of some of critical-thinking questions (and short-answered questions if deemed fit) and an essay piece on one of the topics provided by the instructor. Details on structure and contents of the exam will be explained in due time.

VI. Methods of Instruction

- Introduction to/review of each lessons by course instructor

- Group discussion and presentation

- Watching historical films and documentary

- Writing small comparative research papers

- A visit to historical/cultural site if possible

VII. Grading Criteria/Assessment

On-going Assessment: 60%

- Progress Test (each worth 10%) 20%

            - Major Assignment (Paper 10% and Presentation 10%)      20%
            - Quizzes (each quiz 05%)                                                           10%
            - Class Participation                                                                     10%

Semester Exam: 40%

Total: 100%

VIII. Course Outline

Week	Content	Miscellaneous
1 (3 hours)	· Course Orientation Introduction Foundation of Civilization	Welcome and introduction - Course description - Course requirements - Course outline and schedule - Geography and World History - Discovering Prehistory - Stone Age Peoples - Emergence of Civilization
2 (3 hours)	Chapter I Ancient Egypt (7000 B.C. – 30 B.C.)	- Early Egyptian Civilization - Government in Ancient Egypt - Ancient Egyptian Society
3 (3 hours)	Chapter II The Ancient Middle East (4500 B.C. – 331 B.C.)	- Sumerian Civilization - A Blending of Cultures - Contributions of Smaller States
4 (3 hours)	Chapter III Ancient India and China (2500 B.C. – 256 B.C.)	- The First Civilization in India - The Aryans - Beginning of Chinese Civilization - Expansion under the Chou Dynasty
5 (3 hours)	Chapter IV The Heritage of Ancient Greece (2000 B.C. – 133 B.C.)	Quiz#1 - Early Civilization in the Aegean - The Greek City-States - A Century of Wars - Patterns of Greek Life and Thought - The Spread of Greek Civilization
6 (3 hours)	Chapter V Ancient Rome: Republic to Empire (509 B.C. – 180 A.D.)	- The Roman Republic - The Expansion of Rome - Decline of the Republic - The Rome Empire
7 (3 hours)	Chapter VI The Roman Heritage (509 B.C. – 476 A.D.)	- Greco-Roman Civilization - Rise of Christianity - Breakdown of Unity in the Empire - Collapse of the Empire
8 (3 hours)	Chapter VII The Heritage of India and China (600 B.C. – 550 A.D.)	- Two Influential Religions - Great Empires in India Progress Test I
9 (3 hours)	Chapter VII (Cont.) The Heritage of India and China (600 B.C. – 550 A.D.)	- Indian Society and Culture - The Shaping of Chinese Traditions - Unification of China
10 (3 hours)	Review Chapter VIII Foundation of Medieval Europe (500 – 1050)	- The Germanic Kingdom - Feudal Society
11 (3 hours)	Chapter VIII (Cont.) Foundation of Medieval Europe (500 – 1050) Chapter IX The Height of Medieval Civilization (500 – 1050)	- Life on the Manor - The Medieval Church - The Economic Patterns
12 (3 hours)	Chapter IX (Cont.) The Height of Medieval Civilization (500 – 1050) Chapter X Building National Monarchies (1050 – 1350)	- Medieval Culture - Expanding Horizons - Growth of Royal Power in England and France - The Struggle Between Popes and Emperor
13 (3 hours)	Chapter X (Cont.) Building National Monarchies (1050 – 1350)	- Strong Monarchies in Spain and Scandinavia - Decline of Medieval Society Quiz#2
14 (3 hours)	Presentation	- Students’ Research Papers
15 (3 hours)	Chapter XI Byzantine and Islamic Civilization (330 – 1453)	- The Byzantine Empire - Eastern Europe: Heir to Byzantine Civilization - Emergence of Islam - Islamic Civilization Progress Test II
16 (3 hours)	Chapter XII Africa and the Americas (3000 B.C. – 1532 A.D.)	- Africa: The Land and Early Peoples - African Empires and Trading States - Patterns of Daily Life in Africa - The First Americans - Early Civilization in the Americas
17 (3 hours)	Chapter XIII India, China, and Japan (550 – 1650)	- A Meeting of Cultures in India - Flowering of Chinese Civilization - Mongol and Ming Empires - Foundations of Japanese Civilization - From Feudalism to Unified Nation