Pre Modern and Ancient World Studies
Course Descriptions, Spring 2010
ART 120H 1W . History of Art II
4.00 credits
Gimenez-Berger, Alejandra
Prerequisite: none
Art 120H offers a selective chronological survey of the arts of the Western world from the Renaissance through the Modern period. This course traces the development of the pictorial traditions of the West by concentrating on the major artists and movements, beginning with the resurgence of classical antiquity in the Italian Renaissance, and culminating with the break from that tradition and the radical innovations of the 20th century. The art of this period will be discussed in relation to historical circumstances and the original context of the work. Writing intensive.
ENGL 180A 1W. “How Like a God” : Myth, Epic, and Metamorphosis
4.00 credits
Smith, Fitz
Prerequisite: ENGL 101E
This course will introduce the student to the work of Greco-Roman myth. With intensive readings of The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, and The Metamorphoses, this course not only will consider the various stories and ideas that myths construct and entail, but also will work to question the more modern myths by which we live today. As a writing intensive section, this course will require a daily reading journal, several short essays, two examinations, and a final analytical paper. The course will emphasize student engagement with the readings and ideas, so class sessions will entail lecture but rely heavily upon class participation. The student will leave this course with a familiarity with the dominant myths of the ancients, as well as a broadened understanding of those myths by which we live—myths more naively known as reality. Writing intensive.
ART 240 H 1W. Early Christian and Byzantine Art
4.00 credits
Gimenez-Berger, Alejandra
Explores the foundations of the Christian tradition in the visual arts in Late Antiquity (ca. 200-565 AD) and traces its development through the early, middle and late periods of Byzantine art. Emphasis will be placed on an examination of traditions that informed the art of the period. Every third year. Writing intensive.
ENGL 306 1W. Studies in Renaissance Literature and Culture: 1590's London
4.00 credits
Buckman, Ty
This course focuses on literature, art, and the material conditions of life in the last full decade of Elizabeth's reign in England's great capitol. We will read works by Shakespeare, Marlowe, Spenser, Sidney, Donne, Jonson, and a host of less well known writers, study the role of the theater and other popular art forms in the period, explore life "on the ground" in London, and otherwise drink deeply from one of the richest literary decades of all time. A reading journal, three papers, a midterm and final, and a field trip to OSU’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Library and Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Writing intensive.
ENGL 307 1W. Love and War in the Eighteenth Century
4.00 credits
Richards, Cynthia
Out of the 1960s protests of the Vietnam War grew the slogan: “Make love not war,” and the title of this course is clearly intended to invoke that now familiar saying. But in the long eighteenth century, this slogan would have taken a different configuration. It might have read: “war makes love.”
The wars of this time period were largely domestic, internal affairs that threatened not just domestic peace, but also the very configuration of domestic space. The Glorious Revolution, the Jacobite Rebellion, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution each challenged the definition of patriarchal power and the structure of the family. These seismic changes in political space helped to usher in equally revolutionary shifts in domestic space, such as personal choice and personal virtue in the negotiation of love and marriage.
This course will examine this connection between love and war in the eighteenth century. We will read selections from the work of John Dryden, Aphra Behn, Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Olaudah Equiano, Laurence Stern, Edmund Burke, Mary Wollstonecraft, Tom Paine, and Jane Austen. There will be a midterm and final exam, one shorter paper (4-5 pages) and a longer researched final paper (12 pages.) Writing intensive.
French 450 1W. Senior Seminar
4.00 credits
Wilkerson, Timothy and Wierenga, Leanne
Prerequisite: One 300 level French
Review of major literary movements and genres. Required of majors. Departmental comprehensive examination serves in lieu of final examination. Writing intensive.
HIST 105C/H 1W. Pre Modern World
4.00 credits
Brooks Hedstrom, Darlene
Prerequisite: none
This course considers how in the world ancient history matters in shaping the modern world. We will discard memorization of dates to consider real questions that have historical importance in thinking about the past. We will develop skills in reading, debating and argumentation as we consider issues such as how telling stories about the world reflect core values of society, what medical beliefs about the body tell us about gender roles in the past, what beliefs were foundation to the Islamic empire, how Genghis Khan ushered in the modern age, and to what degree ancient religious beliefs predetermine the political and ethical history of a community. We will read primary sources from period, examine archaeological remains of material culture and read historical fiction as a way to engage with these questions and establish skills in thinking critically about the past. The course is reading and writing intensive.
HIST 105C/H 2W. Pre Modern World
4.00 credits
Brooks Hedstrom, Darlene
Prerequisite: First-year students only. Supplemental instruction available.
Please see HIST 105C/H 1W: Pre Modern World course description above.
HIST 201C 1W. Japan’s Medieval Past
4.00 credits
Maus, Tanya
Prerequisite: none. Supplemental instruction available.
Japan’s Medieval Past is most often viewed through the rise of a ruling warrior (samurai) class. However, long before the age of the samurai, civil officials, aristocratic women, monks, and wandering performers created an unprecedented age of political, social, artistic and literary achievement that drew on rich and diverse traditions from within and without Japan. Through the use of primary historical sources, literature, and classic film by directors such as Akira Kurosawa and Mizoguchi Kenji, this course will examine Japan’s complex medieval heritage beginning with the rise of a stable imperial rule in the sixth century and ending with the anarchy of the warring states period of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Students will be evaluated according to quizzes, two exams, weekly journal responses, and an analytical paper of five to six pages. Writing intensive.
HIST 202H 1W. Children of the Past
4.00 credits
Livingstone, Amy
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing only.
What was it like growing up in the past? Did pre modern people have a “childhood?” Historians have recently turned their attention to investigating the private lives of medieval and early modern people. In this class we will explore what historians have uncovered about growing up in the past. We will examine the experiences of children in medieval London and Florence, Reformation Germany and sixteenth-century France. This course will also examine how historians “do” history. What methods, theories, philosophies inform how historians have approached examining the history of childhood? What are the issues that confront historians in regard to the use of primary sources and historiographic traditions? Should historians be objective? Can they be objective? Each of those questions is fundamental to the task, vocation and obligation of the historian. To address such issues, students will read, analyze and critique primary sources. The “history” of historical interpretation, or historiography, will also be explored through a series of monographs and articles. Students will write several short analytical essays, as well as a longer historiographical paper, and participate in discussion and debate. Writing intensive.
HIST 203C 1W. Excavating Egypt’s History
4. 00 credits
Brooks Hedstrom, Darlene
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing only.
"Excavating Egyptian History" will explore the art, archaeology and history of Ancient Egypt during the 18th Dynasty, with particular focus upon the Amarna Period. Tutankhamun and Nefertiti are the two most well-known figures of the Amarna period. We will examine their lives in relationship to the most controversial ruler of ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh Akhenaten. Considered a madman, a heretic, or a visionary by some, this course will endeavor to explore the mysteries surrounding him and his successor, Tutankhamun.
Through the reading of primary textual sources in the form of letters, myths, military annals, and biographies, we will ask questions about what life was like before, during and after the Amarna Period. We will also examine archaeological discoveries at Amarna and Karnak that have reconfigured our understanding of the Amarna Period and the successors of the 19th Dynasty. One component of the course will include a trip to the research library at the Ohio State University.
This sophomore level, research class will be based upon several pre-writing, writing, and revision exercises to train students how to write a well-designed and argued research paper based upon archaeological and textual material. This methodology course will include exercises that will give students the experience in writing summaries of scholarly articles, revising thesis statements, designing research outlines, and providing peer reviews of early versions of the final research paper. The central focus of the assessment in the course is a project that includes a source bibliography, citation with footnotes, and a research text that analyzes a topic related to the Amarna Period. Available for credit in Africana Studies and PAST minor. Writing intensive.
HIST 241 1.1W. Renaissance Florence
2.00 credits
Livingstone, Amy
Prerequisite: none. Course meets the first half of the semester.
Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Medici … these are the names forever associated with the history of Renaissance Florence. Perhaps more than any other city, Florence is seen as where the Renaissance started and where it reached its pinnacle. While the names above are those that are familiar from Renaissance Florence, there are many others who remain in the shadows. This course will examine the experiences of the illuminati of the Florentine Renaissance, as well as the common men and women who took part in or were affected by this cultural movement. Topics to be considered include: Machiavelli’s Florence: The Society and Economy of Renaissance Florence; Love, Marriage and Family; Renaissance Religion; The Lives and Contributions of Florence’s Artists. Students will read primary sources from Renaissance Florence, as well as different interpretations historical interpretations of the people and contributions of this important city. Assignments include, exams/quizzes, short essays, an analytical paper, and presentations. Writing intensive.
HIST 241 1.2W. Did Women Have A Renaissance?
2.00 credits
Livingstone, Amy
Prerequisite: none. Course meets the second half of the semester.
The Renaissance has long been held up as the start of the “modern world” when Europe finally evolved out of the “dark ages” of the medieval centuries. While popular and often found in text books, the above description embodies some inherent problems. This course will address some of the problems of this interpretation by asking the question “Did Women have a Renaissance?” Taking its name from the seminal article by Joan Kelly Gadol, this course will examine the experience of women in the Renaissance. Using the life experience of Felice della Rovere as introduction to the social, political and economic realities of the Renaissance, we will consider the lives of Felice’s contemporaries to determine their role in the Renaissance – if any – and how the Renaissance shaped their lives. Students will read primary sources by and about Renaissance women, as well as historians’ interpretations and current cinematic interpretations of their lives. Assignments include, exams/quizzes, short essays, an analytical paper, and presentations. Writing intensive.
HIST 301 2W. Viking World
4.00 credits
Raffensperger, Christian
Prerequisite: One course in History or permission of instructor.
The Vikings occupy an important place in European, and indeed, Eurasian history. From their first recorded attack on Lindisfarne in 793, the Vikings roamed the Baltic and North Seas, continental Europe, the Mediterranean, the eastern European river systems, and even the Caspian and Black Seas. In their travels they met peoples of various faiths and origins, and traded with and raided them all equally. This course will explore the initial outburst of Viking expansion beginning in the late eighth century, look at the way Vikings lived at home and abroad, and will also examine the effect Vikings had on the various places they visited. We will also address the place of women in Viking society and study the Icelandic sagas that have survived to this day as a view to what they can tell us about Viking life and practices. The course will conclude with the creation of Scandinavian kingdoms and empires, such as those of King Cnut and Harald Hardrada. Writing intensive.
LATN 112 01. Intermediate Latin
4.00 credits
Jones-Lewis, Molly
Prerequisite: Latin 111 or permission of instructor.
Continuation of grammar, exercises and selected readings in classical Latin and discussion of Roman culture.
PHIL 311 1W. Modern Philosophy
4:00 credits
McHugh, Nancy
Prerequisite: PHIL 310 or permission of instructor.
Modern philosophy (1600-1900) is one of the most fascinating areas of philosophy. It is during the modern period that philosophy began to be concerned with the kinds of methods and ideas that we think of today as philosophical. Perhaps the most interesting thing about modern philosophy is that it is a period of radical scientific and social upheaval. The beliefs we have in democracy and the faith we have in scientific method, for example, developed during the modern period, as did navigation methods and optics. The modern period was one of the most hopeful times for social reform, but it also was a period of imperialism and colonialism, which did not have social reform for Others in mind. We will study Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Wollstonecraft, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche as well as contemporary texts critiquing these readings.
The goals of this class are for you to engage texts from the modern period, to think critically about these texts and to understand the socio-political climate that lead to the development of these beliefs. You will be assessed through your writing of a book review and a final paper, as well as a midterm, final, and reaction papers. Writing intensive.
Optional Course Component: Cultures and Language Across the Curriculum
Interested in using your foreign language skills to earn extra credit connected to this course and to learn more about the subject matter of this course at the same time? If so, register for the CLAC components offered here. You don’t need to be fluent in the language to exercise this option. In fact, you need only to have completed two credits beyond 112 or to be currently enrolled in a course beyond 112. Your work will be guided by your professor and by faculty from the Languages Department. The CLAC module is designed for intermediate level language learners.
This course offers a foreign language component or CLAC component in the following languages:
German, Spanish, French, and Russian
Students who select the CLAC option will complete work in a foreign language that will supplement the work in this course. Students who complete the CLAC assignments successfully will earn 1 credit for the CLAC component.
To register for the CLAC component, you must also register for a one-credit LANG 230 CLAC module listed among the Language Department’s offerings. Meeting times and location will be arranged at the beginning of the semester. Credit for CLAC modules may be counted toward the requirements for International Studies and as elective credit in the Language department.
RELI 100 C/R 01. Hinduism
4.00 credits
Glowsky, Janice
Prerequisite: none
This course explores Hinduism as a socio-religious tradition in South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan) by examining the relationship between Hindu thought, artistic traditions, ritual and social structures from about 2,5000 BCE to the present. The course also analyzes historical and modern interpretations of Hinduism, from the “Orientalists,” to Mark Twain, to post-colonial scholars, as a way of reflecting on contextual perspective and how “knowing” changes over time. Student assessment is based on group work and presentations, quizzes, mid-semester and final exams, and short writing assignments.
RELI 134C/R 01. Chinese and Japanese Religion
4.00 credits
Oldstone-Moore, Jennifer
Prerequisite: none
This course examines several religious traditions which have shaped East Asian civilizations. We will study the formal traditions of Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Shinto and the New Religions; we will also consider the popular religious traditions of China and Japan. Classes include both lecture and discussion; students will be evaluated through essay exams, short papers and analysis of scripture and other texts.
RELI 137R 01. Jewish Tradition
4.00 credits
Millen, Rochelle
Prerequisite: none
This course introduces the student to the Jewish tradition, beginning with its development in the biblical and early rabbinic periods. It focuses upon the general history of Judaism as well as its basic concepts, including readings in primary and secondary texts and discussions of the Jewish calendar and life-cycle events. Required: three exams and two book reviews. Not writing intensive.
RELI 200 C /R 1W. Sacred Architecture/Sacred Space
4.00 credits
Glowsky, Janice
Prerequisities: none
What do Native American sweat lodges, Gothic cathedrals, Islamic mosques, Buddhist mandalas, Tibetan stupas, Hindu temples, Japanese gardens and the Kathmandu Valley have in common? They have all been referred to as "sacred space." This course discusses theoretical frameworks and categorical interpretations of sacred space by examining and comparing selected architectural forms, landscapes, and other places that have been historically important to the cultures and religious traditions that have indentified, created, recreated and appropriated them. In addition to theory and form, this course will also consider the role of experience and interpretation in the defining of sacred space. Student assessment is based on group work, oral presentations, mid-semester and final exams, and writing assignments. Writing intensive.
RELI 241R 01. Christian Tradition
4.00 credits
Nelson, Paul
Prerequisite: none
Historical survey of the development of Christian thought and doctrine in the West. Students will be introduced to the work of major theologians (classical and modern) and to issues of perennial debate such as the tensions between reason and revelation, the humanity and divinity of Christ, nature and grace, justification and sanctification, spirit and structure, and differences between Roman Catholic and Protestant doctrine. Lecture/discussion format. Midterm and final examinations. No prerequisite though students should be aware that the course requires careful reading of primary texts, many of which are quite challenging.
RELI 335 C/R 1W. Confucianism and its Critics
4.00 credits
Oldstone-Moore, Jennifer
Seminar on the history, central teachings, and institutions of the East Asian Confucian and Neo-Confucian traditions and Confucianism as manifest in the modern world. We will read pivotal works of Chinese, Japanese and Korean Confucians including the Analects, Mencius, the writings of Zhu Xi, Wang Yangming, Korean Neo-Confucians, Kaibera Ekken, and Tu Wei-ming. These will be assessed in part in contrast to critics of Confucianism ranging from classical philosophers to Shinto revivalists to twentieth century Marxists. Assessment includes short papers, essay exams, and a term paper. Writing intensive.
RELI 381R 1W. Women and Religion: Judaism and Christianity
4.00 credits
Millen, Rochelle
Prerequisite: none
The aim of this course is to understand the status of women within classical and modern Judaism and Christianity and to assess feminism's influence upon and critique of them. Religious institutions and laws are examined from a feminist principle of interpretation. Writing intensive.
SPAN 264 1.1W. Voces del pasado
2.00 credits
Hoff, Ruth
Prerequisite: Four semester hours of 200- level courses in Spanish
Course meets first half of the semester.
This course gives students the opportunity to gain an understanding of the Spanish-speaking world by examining its rich cultural heritage. Through reading and writing activities, student learners will explore the complexity of the Hispanic world and how historical events have influenced human contact. The course will help students develop language skills for description and narration in the past. Writing intensive.
THDN 260H 01. History of European Theatre
4.00 credits
Reynolds, Steven
Prerequisite: none
Beginning with the Greeks, this course will provide an overview of the history of the European Theatre. It will consider the dramatic literature, theories, and practices of theatre during the great ages of western theatre. During the semester we will look at the evolution of acting, directing, playwriting, theatre design, and theatre architecture. Throughout the course we will study the relationship between theatre and society. Course requirements include exams and a research project.
