Christopher Columbus and the Great Age of Discovery

 

HIST 4391/5391: Spring 2005

Instructor: Ronald Fritze

Credit: 3 hours.

Office hours: 3:15-6:00 and 8:45-9:30 MW; 12:00-1:00 and 2:00-4:00 F; or by appointment.

Office: 421 Irby

Telephone: 450-5616; email: fritzerh@uca.edu   (Feel free to contact me either by phone or email.  Email will probably get you a prompter response).

 

For Website at Planet Clio, go to: www.corndancer.com/vox/cliolinker.html

This site has the syllabus posted along with instructions for assignments.

 

Textbooks:

Alfred Crosby, The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492

Ronald Fritze, New Worlds

Jerry Brotton, The Renaissance Bazaar

Mathew Restall, Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest

 

Course Description: This class will survey the era of European expansion from 1400-1600 with a focus on the career of Christopher Columbus.  It will also study the ancient and medieval background of the early modern expansion of Europe and the biological, cultural, social and economic impact of the discovery of the Americas and the sea-road to Asia.

 

Graduate Credit: Students signed up for 5391 credit should see instructor for additional requirements.

 

Class Attendance: Coming to classes is an integral part of the learning experience.  Students need to try to make every class meeting. If they cannot make it to class they need to inform the instructor ahead of time, if possible.  They definitely need to explain their absence, after the fact, if they did not explain it beforehand.  Four absences, both excused and unexcused will result in the student being dropped from the class.

 

Academic Misconduct: For definitions and procedures regarding academic dishonesty and plagiarism, see pp. 29-31 of the 2001-2002 Student Handbook. 

 

Important University Policies: Students should familiarize themselves with all policies listed in the Student Handbook, especially those dealing with:

1) Sexual Harassment (beginning on p. 109 of the 2004-2005 Student Handbooks)

2) Academic policies (beginning of p. 34 of the 2004-2005 Student Handbook.

 

The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  If you need an accommodation under this Act due to a disability, contact the UCA Office of Disability Services at 450-3135.

 

Examinations and Quizzes:  (midterm= 20%; take-home final=20%, and quizzes= 25%) The tests in this class will consist of five reading quizzes on the Brotton, Fritze, Crosby, and Restall books.  The midterm exam on 4 April will be over the lectures and the readings.  The reading quizzes will be objective and/or short answer questions.  The midterm will be essay and possibly some objective questions.  The take-home exam will be due on 2 May and if possible should be type-written and not longer than 8 pages.  Late penalty will be a whole grade each day the paper is not turned in by 4:30pm.

 

Grading:  This class will consist of 500 total points. 

100 (20%) major project

100 (20%) midterm

 75 (15%) take-home final on Columbus film festival

 50 (10%) book review of Columbus biography

175 (35%) quizzes (7 or each quiz equals approximately 5%)

_______________

500 (100%) total

 

450 and above= A

400-449=       B

350-399=       C

300-349=       D

 

Class Participation:  Students are expected to come to class and be prepared to discuss the various topics at the appropriate times.  

 

Research Project: See separate handout or document on website.

 

Schedule:

Jan.     19        Introduction of course readings and assignments.  Rediscovering America video.

24        Legendary and Pseudo-Discoverers of the New World.

 

26        Video comparison: Vikings in America and In Search of: Vikings.

31        Discussion of documentaries

Quiz One on Renaissance Bazaar

 

Feb.     2         Shape of the World: Staking a Claim video and discussion.

             7         Geographical Knowledge of Antiquity and Medieval Europe.

                        Quiz Two Fritze, chs. 1 and 2.

 9         Geographical Knowledge of Antiquity and Medieval Europe.  Pick topic for major research project and turn in title.

Quiz Three Fritze, chs. 3 and 4.

14        Geographical Knowledge of Antiquity and Medieval Europe

16        Lecture on Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean world in the Middle Ages

Turn in reviews of Columbus biography. 

21        Discussion groups on Columbus and his biographers.

 

23        Lecture on Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean World in the Middle Ages.  Hand in bibliographies for research projects.

 

28        Lecture on Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean World in the Middle Ages

 

March   2        Early Portuguese explorations

  7        Early Portuguese explorations

  9        Early English and French Explorations of the Americas.

                                    Quiz Four Fritze, chs. 5 and 6

21        Early English and French Explorations of the Americas

23                    Quiz five on Crosby, chs. 1-3 and progress reports on research projects.

                        Intellectual and Cultural Consequences of the Discovery of America.

            28        Intellectual and Cultural Consequences of the Discovery of America.

Quiz six Crosby, chs. 4-6.

            30        Seeds of Change video

 

Apr.    4         Finish up lectures and quiz seven on Seven Myths of the Conquest

 

 6         MAJOR EXAM

 

Apr.    11        Christopher Columbus (Frederic March version, 1941)

13

            18        1492

20        Research papers and projects due.

            25        Christopher Columbus: The Discovery

            27

 

May      2        Take home final due; Project presentations.

May       6       Finals Day: Project presentations.

 

Last day to drop or withdraw without penalty: 1 April.

Last day to drop or withdraw with WP or WF: 22 April.