A Survey of Western Civilization II
CCRI, Spring Semester
Instructor: Dr. Jon Q. Lu
Course Outline:
This is essentially a survey of Western cultural, political and social developments from
the early modern period (1600), through the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution,
the two World Wars, the Cold War, and to the 1980s. For a survey course of this
magnitude, reading is crucial if you want to move beyond the generalizations. On
average, you should spend at least 3-5 hours on the reading assignment per week. The
lectures are given under the assumption that you have read the weekly assignment before
class. Therefore, not all basic historical facts are covered in class. The lectures primarily
serve to highlight, supplement or substantiate certain historical events in our textbook.
Required Reading:
McKay, John/Hill/Buckler, 9th ed. A History of Western Society vol. II (2008)
Additional primary source readings will be handed out in class irregularly.
Some video materials will be used to help visualize the period/topic we are studying.
There will be three group discussions* during the semester.
Course Requirements:
Requirements: There are five multiple-choice tests during the semester. The final grade
will be the average of four grades (Best three of the first four + the last grade = 25%
each). No request for extra credit will be considered, unless it is an Honors’ project. No
makeup exams will be given. Tests 2 and 4 will be open-book tests. Test questions will
come from both the class discussions and weekly readings (50/50 split). None of the tests
are cumulative.
Penalties: If you manage to take only three tests during the semester, the final grade
would be the average of the three tests and a mandatory deduction of 20 points off the
average. If miss the final test, the zero will be added onto your class average.
Incentives: A perfect attendance (14 weeks) will earn you 5 points on top of the final
grade average.
Weekly Class Schedule:
Section 150---1:00 p.m. T.
Section 151---1:00 p.m. W.
Section 153---1:00 p.m. Th.
Office:
Room 1236 in the Faculty Lounge. I am also available by telephone: 401-333-7357 (O) or
by e-mail: jlu@ccri.edu
Office Hours:
12:00-1:00 pm (M - Th)
3:30-4:00 pm (M)
Weekly Reading Schedule:
Time
Themes
Required Reading
Week-1, Jan. 25
Week-2, Feb. 1
Week-3, Feb. 8
Absolutism/Constitutionalism
Science and Enlightenment
Agriculture and Economy
Test 1 => no books
Chapter 17 p559-585
Chapter 18 p603-619
Chapter 19 p634-651
50 minutes
Week-4, Feb. 15
Week-5, Feb. 22
Week-6, Mar. 1
European Society and Family*
The French Revolution
Nationalism and Modern States
Test 2 =>
Chapter 20 p658-671 + (discussion)
Chapter 23 p707-715+747-758
Chapter 25 p815-838
55 minutes = Open-book Test
Week-7, Mar. 8
Week-8, Mar. 15
Spring Break Week
Week-9, Mar. 29
The Industrial Revolution*
A New Urban Society
Chapter 22 p727-742 + (discussion)
Chapter 24 p786-804
European Expansion
Test 3 => no books
Chapters 26 p847-868+876-877
50 minutes
Week-10, Apr. 5
Week-11, Apr. 12
Week-12, Apr. 19
World War One
Russian Rev. and the 1920s
Hitler and World War Two
Test 4 =>
Chapter 27 p890-895+901-911
Chapters 27/28 p895-901+913-928
Chapter 29 p955-966+970-975
55 minutes = Open-book Test
Week-13, Apr. 26
Week-14, May 3
E. Recovery and Cold War
Welfare States and Society*
Chapter 30 p981-998
Chapters 31 p1025-1041 + (discussion)
May 11 = exam week
Test 5 => no books
* = Extra reading and group discussion