HIS 281								FALL 2016
MF 1:00-2:20								Library W4540
Prof. Susan Hinely							Office hours:
SBS S-351								MWF 10-11
susan.hinely@stonybrook.edu					& by appt.
TA: Aishah Scott							Office hours:
SBS-N306								MF 11-12						

1566 world map by Nicolas Desliens.  North is situated at the bottom.

Global History and Geography
STAS, DEC H

“A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not even worth glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and seeing a better country, sets sail.” Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man Under Socialism, 1891.
I. Course Description: This course will be conducted on the basis of two divergent goals.  Our first goal is to achieve basic fluency in the dominant, internationally employed frameworks for structuring time and space. In other words, we will review the prevailing narratives of human history, with a focus on the modern global period (post 1492), and we will review the contemporary political and physical divisions of the earth. Our second goal is to critique both of these dominant frameworks with a view to constructing alternate ways of organizing our past and structuring spatial boundaries that would better serve 21st century global concerns.  In pursuit of the first goal we will review familiar stories and learn new ones, assisted by timelines, glossaries, web links, and similar content-focused sources, and we will use maps, games, puzzles, whatever it takes, to master the contemporary world map. In pursuit of the second goal, we will read two monographs and several chapters/articles in the field of global history, materials on the history of cartography, and relevant primary source selections. Grades will be based on objective quizzes, homework, etc. (evaluating the first goal of the course), and on essay exams and a final paper (evaluating the second goal of the course).
Please note that a significant portion of the grade for this course is based on in-class requirements.  It will be impossible to do well in this class if you do not attend regularly.
II. Learning Objectives/Course Goals:
•	Students will review, reinforce, and expand their existing understanding of the dominant narratives of modern global history (15th c. to the present), and will critically examine the political and cultural assumptions of these narratives. 
•	Students will learn the major physical features and contemporary political divisions of the earth, and will critically examine the political and cultural origins of these spatial divisions.
•	Students will review basic concepts in cosmology, geology, and meteorology, and will integrate these concepts into their critical review of global history and geography.
•	Students will explore the reciprocal relationship between the mapping of the earth and the “mapping” of human history in the form of dominant chronologies and narratives.
•	Students will practice integrating their knowledge of global history and geography with contemporary political and environmental issues.
•	Students will explore the varieties of historical evidence and how they are used to construct narratives and historical themes.
III. Requirements:                                                                                              
A. Attendance and Participation. Unlike on-line learning, direct human-to-human, real-time courses offer a special opportunity to engage and develop the full range of perceptual senses, from factual to aesthetic to emotional. It is expected that every student will exercise this opportunity and privilege by preparing for, attending, and participating in every class meeting. Furthermore (and secondarily), failure to attend will reduce your grade in the following ways: i) you must be present to hand in your homework, and late homework will not be accepted; ii) in-class exercises and quizzes cannot be made up; iii) much of the course material for which you will be responsible will be available through class lectures and discussions only; if you miss class, you will not have access to this material.
B. Reading.  You will read two monographs, several articles or chapters of books, and several primary sources, with a total reading assignment averaging about 100-125 pages a week. In addition, there will be required chronologies and glossaries posted weekly, in addition to optional readings and links.
C. Homework and In-Class Exercises/Games.  You will have weekly map homework, and occasional contemporary events homework assignments.  There will also be periodic in-class exercises.  You must be present to turn in your homework, no late homework will be accepted, and in-class exercises cannot be made up. At least 10% of the lowest scores from this component of the grade will be dropped.
D. Quizzes.  You will take weekly map and global history objective quizzes. There will be no make-up quizzes. At least 10% of the lowest scores from this component of the grade will be dropped. Quiz scores may be raised through extra credit participatory activity.
E. Exams.  There will be two essay and short answer examinations.  Failure to take the exams without having made prior arrangements with the instructor well in advance will result in an automatic 10 point mark-down of any subsequent make-up. 
F. Final Paper. You will write a final 4-6 page paper based on your choice of three prompts. The paper must be posted on Safe Assign and delivered in paper form to the History Department no later than 3 pm, Dec. 16th.  Failure to turn in the final paper on time without having made prior arrangements with the instructor well in advance will result in an automatic 10 point mark-down and an Incomplete for the course.

IV. Evaluation:
	Homework/In-Class Exercises				20%
	Quizzes							20%
	Exam I								20%			
	Exam II							20%
	Short Paper							20%   

V. Required Materials: (Required and optional texts are on 4 hour reserve at the Main Library.)
•	Alfred W. Crosby, Children of the Sun: A History of Humanity's Unappeasable Appetite for Energy. W.W. Norton & Co. (2006).
•	Sven Beckert, Empire of Cotton: A Global History, Vintage (2015).
•	Streetwise, Worldwise World Map (2011). Laminated, folded, world map in two projections, with countries, capital cities, time zones.  Available at the Bookstore and on-line, for about $7, at http://www.streetwisemaps.com/world-map/world-map.html .
•	OPTIONAL: Valerie Hansen and Kenneth R. Curtis, Voyages in World History, Brief Edition, Vol. 2: Since 1500, Wadsworth Cengage, 2013.
•	OPTIONAL: Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, The World: A Brief History, Vol. Two, Since 1300,Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.

 VI. Electronic Communication:
	Email and especially email sent via Blackboard (http://blackboard.stonybrook.edu) is one of the ways we will communicate with you in this course.  It is your responsibility to make sure that you read your email in your official University email account.  For most students that is Google Apps for Education (http://www.stonybrook.edu/mycloud) but you may verify your official Electronic Post Office (EPO) address at: http://it.stonybrook.edu/help/kb/checking-or-changing-your-mail-forwarding-address-in-the-epo. If you choose to forward your official University email to another off campus account, we are not responsible for any undeliverable messages to your alternative personal accounts. You can set up email forwarding using these DoIT-provided instructions found at: http://it.stonybrook.edu/help/kb/setting-up-mail-forwarding-in-google-mail. If you need technical assistance, please contact Client Support at (631) 632-9800 or supportteam@stonybrook.edu.

VII. Blackboard Accounts:
	This course is set up with a Blackboard site, and you will need to use it to access maps, assignments, internet links, and other basic information about the course.  It is important, therefore, for each of you to access the Blackboard site at http://blackboard.sunysb.edu.  For help or more information see:  http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/helpdesk/docs/blackboard/bbstudent.php .  For problems logging in, go to the helpdesk in the Main Library SINC Site or the Union SINC Site.  You can also call:  631-632-9602 or e-mail:  helpme@ic.sunysb.edu .

VIII. Academic Integrity:
	Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Any suspected instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Judiciary. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/ .

IX. Disabilities:
	If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services,
ECC (Educational Communications Center) Building, room 128, (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and
appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential. Students requiring emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their
needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information, go to the following web site: 
http://www.ehs.sunysb.edu/fire/disabilities/asp

X. Critical Incident Management: 
Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn.  Faculty in the HSC Schools and the School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures.
 
XI. Tentative Course Schedule: (Readings should be completed by the beginning of the week in which they’re assigned.)

Wk 1: 8/29 & 9/2  	Introduction. Big History and Humans.
			Crosby [“AC”]: 1-24; Blackboard Assignments ["BB"] Wk 1
		
Wk 2: 9/9		Agriculture. The Oceans.
			AC: 25-44; BB Wk 2.

Wk 3: 9/12 &16	Agrarian Regimes and Maritime Expansion. Australia/Oceania.
	Beckert [“SB”]: ix-28; BB Wk 3.  
			Weekly homework and quizzes begin.

Wk 4: 9/19 & 23  	The Columbian Exchange and the Birth of a Global Economy. South America.
			AC: 45-58; SB: 29-55; BB Wk 4.

Wk 5: 9/26 & 30	Modern Science, Western Imperialism, and Industrialization. North 	America and the Caribbean.  
			AC: 59-84; SB: 56-97; BB Wk 5.

Wk 6: 10/3 & 7  	The Liberal State. Africa.
			SB: 98-198 [199-241 optional]; BB Wk 6.

Wk 7: 10/10 & 14 	 Exam I (10/10). Accelerated Transit and Communication.
			AC: 85-116. BB Wk 7.

Wk 8: 10/17 & 21   	Global Capitalism and Culture, c. 1850-1914: The Americas and Europe. East Asia.			
SB: 242-273; BB Wk 8.	

Wk 9: 10/24 & 28	Global Capitalism and Culture, c. 1850-1914: East and South Asia.  Southeast Asia.
			SB: 274-311; BB Wk 9.
			Note: Last day to drop or PNC is 10/28.	

Wk 10: 10/31 & 11/4	Global Capitalism and Culture, c. 1850-1914: Africa and Western Asia.  South Asia.
			SB: 312-378; BB Wk 10.
		
Wk 11: 11/7 & 11	Total War and International Law. Southwest Asia.
			SB: 379-426; BB Wk 11.

Wk 12: 11/14 & 18	Global Depression and Big History War.  Central Asia.
			AC: 117-146 [146-158 optional]; BB Wk 12.

Wk 13: 11/21 		Exam II.
							
Wk 14: 11/28 & 12/2 Decolonization and International Law. Europe.
			BB Wk 14.	

Wk 15: 12/5 & 12/9	Reflections on the Anthropocene.
			AC: 159-166; SB: 427-443; BB Wk 15.

Final Paper due December 16th.