Catalog Description

Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1A
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Introduction to the western cultural tradition through a survey of its religion, art, philosophy, literature, music, and architecture; covers prehistory through the Middle Ages. (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Identify and describe diverse cultural artifacts and values from the ancient through medieval eras.
  • CSLO #2: Analyze and explain diverse cultural artifacts and values from the ancient through medieval eras.
  • CSLO #3: Compare and contrast diverse cultural artifacts and values within and/or across cultures from the ancient through medieval eras
  • CSLO #4: Communicate effectively orally or in writing on a topic in the humanities from the ancient through medieval eras.

Effective Term

Fall 2022

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

Students will, through oral and written work:
1. Describe the art, architecture, literature, music and philosophy from the ancient through the medieval world;
2. Chart figures, movements and themes on a timeline from the ancient through the medieval world;
3. Describe themes, styles and techniques of art in the ancient world and the medieval world;
4. Compare and contrast themes, styles and techniques of art in the ancient world and the medieval world;
5. Describe architecture in each of the aforementioned worlds and compare these architectural trends and styles with the trends and styles in art;
6. Compare and contrast architectural styles between the major relevant eras;
7. List and describe the literature created in the ancient world through the medieval world;
8. Compare and contrast the literature created in the various eras and between the literature and the art, architecture, philosophy and historical circumstances of these eras;
9. List and describe notable composers and their compositions in the ancient through the medieval world;
10. Compare and contrast the musical styles created in the various eras and between the musical styles, art, architecture, history and philosophy of the various eras;
11. List major philosophers from each era, describe their philosophical systems and compare and contrast philosophical trends through the various eras;
12. Discuss themes underlying the art, architecture, history, literature, music, and philosophy in the ancient through the medieval world.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Fine Arts
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - C1 Arts
    • CSUGE - C2 Humanities
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
      • IGETC - 3B Humanities

    Articulation Information

    • CSU Transferable
    • UC Transferable

    Methods of Evaluation

    • Classroom Discussions
      • Example: After learning about the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations, students will be prompted to discuss (1) what they consider to be its most important artistic, religious and cultural elements, and (2) compare and contrast these with Mycenaean civilization. Based on these discussions, students will write a short paragraph reflecting on what they learned through the discussion. These reflection paragraphs will be evaluated by whether they include relevant concepts and coherent reasoning.
    • Essay Examinations
      • Example: In a short essay, describe why in Dante's Interno fraud is considered to be the most serious sin? Use examples and cite passages from the text to support your interpretation.
    • Objective Examinations
      • Example: A. Students will take a multiple-choice examination that asks students to identify themes found in ancient world literature. For example: In Dante's Inferno, Virgil distinguishes between three types of sin: incontinence, violence, and fraud. What is the most serious of the three?
    • Projects
      • Example: Create a poster board that presents the art, architecture, literature, music and/or philosophy from the ancient through the medieval world.

    Repeatable

    No

    Methods of Instruction

    • Lecture/Discussion
    • Distance Learning

    Lecture:

    1. Using a slide-presentation for an on-ground lecture format, the instructor will present various works of art and model how to identify and describe themes, styles, and techniques of art from the ancient world. Through an interactive discussion, students will be presented with new and different images and invited to identify and describe themes, styles, and techniques of art in the ancient world.

    Distance Learning

    1. In an online modality, students will watch a video of the instructor presenting various works of architecture modelling how to identify, and compare and contrast styles between different eras in the ancient and medieval worlds. In a discussion board assignment, students will be presented with two images from different eras and asked to identify and describe its themes, and compare and contrast their styles.

    Typical Out of Class Assignments

    Reading Assignments

    1. Read Book 1 of Homer's Iliad, and be prepared to discuss the ancient Greek value system in terms of the importance of personal honor. 2. Read Dante's Inferno, Canto XXXIV, and be prepared to discuss why fraud is one of the worst of sins and how it helps define evil as an act contrary to God’s greatest gift to mankind; namely, love.

    Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

    1. Pick a topic from the European Middle Ages (c. 500 - 1300 AD) and write a 6-8 page research paper on it. 2. In a three page paper, describe the difference between Aristotelian virtue ethics and contemporary ethics. Provide examples from the Nichomachean Ethics or the Eudemian Ethics supporting your claims about virtue ethics. Finally, pick one sculpture from the ancient world and describe the relationship between the sculpture and Aristotle's characterization of the exemplary man.

    Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

    Required Materials

    • Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities, Vol. 1
      • Author: Lawrence S. Cunningham, John J. Reich, and Lois Fichner-Rathus
      • Publisher: Cengage
      • Publication Date: 2017
      • Text Edition: 9th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Humanities: Culture, Continuity & Change, Vol. 1
      • Author: Henry M. Sayre
      • Publisher: Pearson
      • Publication Date: 2014
      • Text Edition: 3rd
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • The Odyssey
      • Author: Homer
      • Publisher: Atria Books
      • Publication Date: 2014
      • Text Edition: 1st
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • The Inferno
      • Author: Dante Alighieri
      • Publisher: Signet Classics
      • Publication Date: 2009
      • Text Edition: Reprint
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities, Volume I
      • Author: Janetta Rebold Benton and Robert DiYanni
      • Publisher: Prentice Hall
      • Publication Date: 2011
      • Text Edition: 4th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:

    Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.