Persons and Communities:

Pax Romana, Pax Hispaña, Pax Nipponica

UNIVERSITY CORE 2300-01,  SUMMER I  2002


Dr. Robert Pace Dr. Bob Wettemann
Office: OM 205  Office:  OM 207
Phone # 793-3865  Phone # 793-3864
pacer@mcmurryadm.mcm.edu wettemar@mcmurryadm.mcm.edu


This is a study of past and present empires, emphasizing their similarities and differences in a multi-cultural perspective.  It is a team-taught course using a comparative approach and original (primary) sources.  The central focus is on the question of how individuals and societies have defined their identity and how, given that identity, they have encountered and dealt with other societies holding different (and often clashing) values.  While any number of social groupings might be chosen for examination, the course this term will look at the rise and fall of empires throughout world history:  Rome, Spain and Japan. The rise and fall of these empires are obviously events that have all taken place in the past.  However, all hold some contemporary relevance for Americans living in a multi-cultural world and having to deal with it. PREREQUISITES:  At least one course in the following areas:  the fine arts, the humanities, or the social sciences;  CORE 1200, Ethics.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES:

The student will:

Study the historical and intellectual foundations of three empires that have affected and continue to affect our own Western culture.
Examine analytically different value structures and their application in society.
Investigate the ways in which art, literature, music, and urban life express cultural values.
Explore how religion fits within a culture and connects with the mysteries of life:  birth, death, interpersonal relations, etc.
Think critically about contacts and conflicts between different empires at various periods in world history.
Examine distinctive characteristics of what it means to be human (a person) living within an empire, and how humans within an empire relate to each other.


READINGS:

Miguel Leon-Portillo, ed.,  The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the   Conquest of Mexico
E.B. Sledge, With the Old Breed:  Peliliu and Okinawa
Further material which will be distributed in the course of the semester, including:
Selections from Michael Curtis, The Great Political Theories, volume 1 (handout)


COURSE  REQUIREMENTS:
1.  For each of the empires discussed in class, you will write a brief, typed, double-spaced paper, of no less than two and no more than four pages in which you address one of the following sets of questions.  You may not use the same set of questions more than once (i.e., for each empire you will use a different set of questions).

  a.  What are the essential questions raised for human within the empire (life, death, immortality, ethics, loyalty)? What does it mean to be a citizen in the empire?  Is individual behavior shaped by the empire, or does individual behavior shape the empire?
b. What is the role of the divine within the empire? How omnipotent is the divine within the empire?  What is the understanding of the supernatural and the relationship of such a concept to the rise of the empire?
c.  What is the nature of community and social relationships within an empire?  What is suggested about inter-community interaction?  How are outsiders or enemies determined and treated?  What can be inferred about values concerning war and expansion?


2.  There will be a final exam of a comprehensive nature, for which you will need to provide an unmarked Blue Book.

3.  Attendance is required.  An excess of two unexcused absences will result in grade reduction.

4.  Participation and discussion will be expected.

Your final course grade will be weighted as follows:

20% for each paper for a total of 60%
20% for the final exam
20% for participation
 The professors in this course expect students to do original work.  Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated and will result in an automatic failure for the assignment in question and may result in dismissal from and failure of the course.

COURSE OUTLINE

UNIT I:  Pax Romana
JUNE
3-Course Introduction:  Just "Roman" around
4-Republic to Empire:  Those guys have Gaul!
5-Give to Caesar what is Caesar's (or maybe he'll just have a salad)
6-The Fall of the Roman Empire.  Be prepared to discuss excerpts from Curtis, Great Political Theories.

UNIT II:  Pax Hispaña
10-Paper I Due-The Reconquista:  The Inquisition (what a show)
11-Rise of the Aztecs (a bunch of bleeding hearts?)
12-The Conquest of Mexico
13-Fall of the Spanish Empire:  Be prepared to discuss Broken Spears

UNIT III:  Pax Nipponica
14- Paper II Due-Origins of Modern Japan
15-Matthew Perry wants to be "Friends"
16-"I'll be there for you":  Asia for the Asiatics
17-The Rising (and setting) Sun:  Be Prepared to discuss With the Old Breed

UNIT IV:  Pax Cinematica
24- Paper III Due-Do you like Gladiator movies?
25-Your Mission, should you choose to accept it . . .
26-The Real Magnificent Seven
27-A date which will live in Infamy

JULY
1-And the rest . . .
2-Making sense of it all
3-The Empire Strikes Back -- Bring a blue book