ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION (ARCH/ANTH 3650.001)

Spring 2011 - T-Th 3:30- 4:50 PM, ENV. 241

Instructor

Dr. Reid Ferring

Office: 242 ENV

Office Hours: M-Tu 11:00-12:30 (or appointment)

Texts:Diamond, Jared. 1999 “Guns, Germs and Steel” Norton, NY.

Wright, Robert 2000 “Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny” Pantheon, NY.

Course objectives

The main purpose of this course is to stimulate you think about the nature of humans and their cultures, their differences and similarities, and the possible explanations for those differences. Our inquiry will center about considering the patterns of change we see in the records of both extinct and living cultures, ranging from those with “simple” modes of technology and social organization, and to those in different times and places, in large urban populations, characterized as “civilizations”. At the end of this semester of inquiry and discussion, I hope that we will have gained a better understanding of human nature, of the patterns and processes of culture change, of the history of ancient and otherwise invisible cultures, and even an improved basis for looking at ourselves and the world around us.

Grading

This course carries three semester hours credit. Your grade for this course, will be based on three exams, and four short essays. The topics for these will be distributed soon. They will each be typed, no more than four pages in length, and will highlight themes in the course. Attendance is required, and students missing five classes without authorized excuses will be dropped from the class. Grading for the course will be:

ItemPercent of course grade

EssaysFour at 10% each

ExamsThree at 20% each

Notes: 1) The Department of Geography does not allow any extra credit assignments

2)A grade of incomplete will be assigned only in the event of unavoidable, adverse circumstances

3)There will be serious point penalties for late submission of Essays

Disability Accommodations

The Department of Geography, in cooperation with the Office of Disability Accommodation, complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for students with qualified disabilities. Please present your written accommodation request before the 12th class day (January 30, 2011).

Classroom Environment

Students are expected to respect the teaching environment, especially as it relates to those around them. Use of cell phones during the class, including text messaging, is rude and strictly prohibited, and cell phones must be turned off and out-of-sight. Repeat offences will result in 10 point deductions from the next exam.

Attendance

Attendance in this class is necessary to do well on the essays, because you will need materials presented in lecture which are not covered in your assigned readings. Attendance will be monitored by your performance on the quizzes, which count 25% of your course grade.

Academic Dishonesty

Students who cheat or plagiarize on any essay or quiz (see UNT Undergraduate Catalog for definitions), will be given a grade of F for the course, and will be referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for possible further penalty.

ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION (ARCH/ANTH 3650) SPRING 2011

Dr. Reid Ferring Tu-Thurs 3:30-4:50 PM 241 ENV

DATETOPICSTEXT

January

18Introductionlecture

20Yali’s questionJD*-Prologue; RW Intro

25Zero Sumness and Cultural EvolutionRW*-Ch. 1

27

February

1Environment and CultureJD Ch. 2-3 RW Ch. 2-4

3

8After the Ice AgeJD Ch. 1

10assigned articles

15Origins of Food ProductionJD Ch. 4,5

17RW Ch. 6

22EXAM I

24Early Villages, Tribes and ChiefdomsRW Ch. 7; articles

March

1

3The Spread of Food ProductionJD Ch. 6-10

8

10Evolution of GermsJD Ch. 11

14-18++++++SPRING BREAK++++++

22Technology and Writing JD Ch. 12,13

24

29EXAM II

31From Towns to CitiesRW Ch. 8

April

5On to KleptocracyJD Ch. 14

7

12Film/Guest Lecture

14Film/Guest Lecture

19Old World CivilizationsRW Ch. 9

21New World Civilizationsassigned articles

26China and the ChineseJD Ch. 16

28Hemispheres CollidingJD Ch. 18

May

3AfricaJD Ch. 19

5Guns, Germs and Steel TodayJD afterword

10FINAL EXAM1:30-3:30 PM

  • JD= Jared Diamond’s “Guns, Germs and Steel”
  • RW= Robert Wright’s “Nonzero”