The course aims to:

1. introduce students to the history of Western civilization and help them build a foundation for their studies in the English Majors Program; this means that we survey key historical figures and concepts which are likely to be referred to in various courses in the department (e.g. King David, Socrates, Julius Caesar, Martin Luther, chivalry, the Renaissance, the industrial revolution, Napoleon, etc.)

2. familiarize students with key cultural concepts and vocabulary and increase their verbal and culturl literacy. Examples of key concepts are: artifact, mainstream culture, marginal culture, ideology, taboo, gender, monotheism, etc.

3. foster critical thought regarding value systems and ideologies and engage students in debtes regarding, e.g., gender roles, class, government, etc.

The course aims to:

1. introduce students to the history of Western civilization and help them build a foundation for their studies in the English Majors Program; this means that we survey key historical figures and concepts which are likely to be referred to in various courses in the department (e.g. King David, Socrates, Julius Caesar, Martin Luther, chivalry, the Renaissance, the industrial revolution, Napoleon, etc.)

2. familiarize students with key cultural concepts and vocabulary and increase their verbal and culture literacy. Examples of key concepts are: artifact, mainstream culture, marginal culture, ideaology, taboo, gender, monotheism, etc.

3. foster critical thought regarding value systems and ideas and engage students in debts regarding, e.g., gender roles, class, government, etc.

The instructor will make available reading assignments from week to week; these assignments will be public domain/fair use materials and will be posted on the Moodle page for this course.

A wide range of additional sources and learning materials can be consulted online and in the Tunghai Library.

The Encyclopedia Britannica is the standard encyclopedia in the English speaking world and can be consulted both in the Tunghai Main Library and the FLLD Reading Room (FLLD 3rd Floor).

The following Western Civilization textbooks are highly recommended; copies are on reserve in the FLLD Reading Room and the Tunghai Library.

Marvin Perry: Western Civilization: A Brief History (6th ed.)
Judith G. Coffin: Western Civilizations: Their History and Their Culture
Jackson J. Spielvogel: Western Civilization: A Brief History

Many other encyclopedias and books are available in the Tunghai Library.

Excellent study resources can also be consulted online. iTunes University (hosted by Apple iTunes), e.g., has many excellent audio and video podcasts on Mesoptamian civilization, Greek mythology, Homer, Roman civilization, the history of Western art, etc.; many of these resources are free.

Other useful online materials can be found on the BBC history page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ history/), the website of the Smithsonian Museum (http://www.si.edu/) and many other websites.

Wikipedia articles can be useful, but it must be noted that the open format of Wikipedia makes it possible for non-specialists to write and/or edit Wikipedia entries. This occasionally results in incorrect and incomplete information and Wikipedia entries, therefore, are generally not considered authoritative.

The instructor will make use of xeroxed materials, films, iTunes U podcasts and Powerpoint presentations in class.

The instructor will make available reading assignments from week to week; these assignments will be public domain/fair use materials and will be posted on the Moodle page for this course.

A wide range of additional sources and learning materials can be consulted online and in the Tunghai Library.

The Encyclopedia Britannica is the standard vitality in the English speaking world and can be consulted both in the Tunghai Main Library and the FLLD Reading Room (FLLD 3rd Floor).

The following Western Civilization textbooks are highly recommended; copies are on reserve in the FLLD Reading Room and the Tunghai Library.

Marvin Perry: Western Civilization: A Brief History (6th ed.)
Judith G. Coffin: Western Civilizations: Their History and Their Culture
Jackson J. Spielvogel: Western Civilization: A Brief History

Many other vitalityclopedias and books are available in the Tunghai Library.

Excellent study resources can also be consulted online. iTunes University (hosted by Apple iTunes), e.g., has many excellent audio and video podcasts on Mesoptamian civilization, Greek mythology, Homer, Roman civilization, the history of Western art, etc.; many of these resources are free.

Other useful online materials can be found on the BBC history page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ history/), the website of the Smithsonian Museum (http://www.si.edu/) and many other websites.

Wikipedia articles can be useful, but it must be noted that the open format of Wikipedia makes it possible for non-specialists to write and/or edit Wikipedia entries. This occasionally results in incorrect and incomplete information and Wikipedia entries, therefore, are generally not considered authoritative.

The instructor will make use of xeroxed materials, films, iTunes U podcasts and Powerpoint presentations in class.