HIS 3660 - THE SILK ROAD: A PRE-HISTORY OFGLOBALIZATION

credits: 3.0
Globalization did not begin with Starbucks in the Forbidden City, but began over a millennium and a half earlier with the Chinese playing music on a Persian lute, while the Romans were wearing Chinese silks. Then over the next millennium the Europeans borrowed Chinese technology such as printing and gun powered. How did this happen? This is a central question that this course will explore. This course will examine the history of interactions between East Asia, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean world that has in recent history been described as the history of the “Silk Road.” These interactions should be seen as the first period of globalization setting the stage for the rise of the Mongol Empire as well as subsequent periods of global activity. The course will focus on using primary sources to examine four major categories of interaction: language, religion, trade, material culture. The time frame of the course will focus on the period from the second century CE to the twelfth century. Objectives: A) Identify and describe the key people, movements and events in the history of Silk Road; B) Identify and describe the impact of the interaction via the Silk Road on the cultures examined; C) Describe the development of the social, cultural, and religious traditions that have defined the Silk Road; D) Analyze and evaluate a variety of historical data especially primary source materials; E) Communicate effectively, in writing and speaking, about historical developments associate with the Silk Road. Method of Instruction: Class time will be split between lecturing and discussion. Method of Evaluation: Discussion leader: 15%, Research briefs: 25%, Quizzes: 10%, and Research papers: 50%. Meets *GLP Distribution Requirement.