Autumn 2006

SIS 200 States and Capitalism:  The Origins of the Modern Global System

http://courses.washington.edu/sis200

 

Professor Reşat Kasaba                                Office Hours: Monday:  1:30-3:20 p.m. & by appointment

email: kasaba@u.washington.edu                                                           322 Thomson Hall (543-6890)

 

Teaching Assistants:

                                      Greer Bevel, Will Buckingham, Alla Golovina, Maxime Gasteen, Tuna Kuyucu

CLUE Assistants: Libby Denkmann

Writing Course Instructor: John O’Neill

 

TA Office: 035F Thomson Hall  (897-1663)

 

Be sure to visit the web site for this course (http://courses.washington.edu/sis200) regularly. The site will have up-to-date announcements, links to resource readings, a link to a tutorial de­signed to help you with your papers, a place to post questions, and a link to e-submit for posting the first draft of your papers (see below).

 

DESCRIPTION

            SIS 200 addresses three questions that are related to the contemporary structure of the global system.  One, what are the historical processes that have created a world economy with integrated systems of production and trade that now cover the entire globe?  Two, how is it that this economically united world has become so divided and fragmented along ethnic, national, political, and cultural lines?  Three, through what mechanisms have Europeans and European culture come to play a dominant role in the global system since the sixteenth century?  This course examines these questions from a historical perspective by focusing on selected times, places, and events.

            Prior to the rise of Europe in the sixteenth century, an economic system that was centered in Asia and covered a large part of the globe was formed in the thirteenth century.  In the first part of SIS 200, we will study the rise and the fall of this early world system and explain why it was eclipsed in the sixteenth century by a new system that was centered in Europe.  The rest of the course is devoted to the study of the growth, expansion, and various economic and political set­backs in the modern world system between the fifteenth and the early twentieth centuries.  Through our readings we will also compare the different explanations scholars have advanced to account for the rise and persistence of European domination. 

            This course uses history to explain economic, political, sociological, and cultural realities of the modern world system but it is not a history course.  Particular events, dates, and places will enter into our discussions only to the extent that they have had lasting impact on the structure and the subsequent development of the global system. 

 

CLASS FORMAT

            SIS 200 will have two major components: lectures, which will be held three times a week (M, W, F), and discussion sections, which will be led by Teaching Assistants on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  My lectures will touch on the readings and provide background and clarification of difficult points.  In the discussion sections, the TAs will be reviewing material from the lectures and the readings and provide the direction you will need to complete the written assignments.  In addition, the TAs will be available during their office hours to respond to your questions.  I am also available to discuss the course material during my office hours. Our office hours will be posted on the web. You will also be able to use the class website to post questions to your section or to the whole class.

 

READINGS

            The reading assignments come from the following six books: 

Ø      R. Bulliet et. al. The Earth and Its Peoples

Ø      Janet Abu-Lughod, Before European Hegemony

Ø      J.H. Elliott, The Old World and the New

Ø      Philip D. Curtin, The Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex

Ø      Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Revolution

Ø      Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Empire

These books are available for purchase at the University Bookstore and are on reserve at the Odegaard Undergraduate Library. All the readings that are assigned for this class are considered to be outstanding analyses of the modern world system.  The Earth and Its Peoples is written as a textbook and contains information about some of the key events and developments in world his­tory between the thirteenth and the twentieth centuries.  The other five books present different arguments about why certain major changes took place and what their implications and conse­quences were.  As you will realize, not all of these scholars agree with each other, and I will be disagreeing with some of the arguments raised in their books.  You are expected to acquire a general knowledge of world history and understand, compare, and evaluate the arguments and analyses presented by these authors and in my lectures. 

 

REQUIREMENTS

            Reading, Attendance, Participation, Study Groups, Study Questions: 

            You must keep up with the daily reading assignments.  This is important because the course’s aim of learning how to present a persuasive explanation and analysis can be achieved only if you are developing some historical awareness and encountering alternative explanations.  My lectures will parallel the readings, and the readings will also be discussed specifically in weekly sections.

            Everyone is expected to attend lectures, films, and weekly sections regularly and be pre­pared to ask questions and participate in discussions in class and in sections.  Attendance will be taken regularly in weekly sections and through pop quizzes in lectures. 

Each student will participate in a Study Group of 4-6 students, all attending the same section.  Students may form these groups on their own or be assigned to them by TAs.  In either case, your TA should have a complete list of all the study groups by the time you meet with your sections during the second week of classes (Oct. 5).  Participation in a study group is mandatory.  These groups will play an important role in the completion of your research paper (see below).  The Study Groups should also meet outside the class at CLUE sessions and else­where to discuss and analyze readings and other course-related issues.

4.  Every other week or so I will post study questions on the class web site. These will help you in reviewing the readings and the lectures in preparation for the final examination.

 

            Written Assignments: 

1. Weekly papers:  Each student must write six weekly essays of no more than one and a half double-spaced typewritten pages each (12 pt type, one-inch margins). These papers will be based on the weekly reading assignments that come from Before European Hegemony, The Old World and the New, The Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex, The Age of Revolution or The Age of Empire.  You may not write reports on The Earth and Its Peoples.  You may choose the six weeks in which you will write assignments, but you must make sure you complete all six.  At the top of each weekly paper you turn in, in addition to your name and section, indicate the readings on which the report is based and provide the date on which you are turning in the assignment. 

The weekly papers should elaborate the author’s argument by considering the following questions:

Ø      What is the author trying to explain?

Ø      What is the explanation s/he offers?

Ø      What kinds of evidence does the author use to persuade the readers of her/his explanations? 

Ø      Is he/she persuasive?

When there are multiple authors, you must choose a common theme all the authors address, compare the explanations advanced and evidence used by each author, and assess their relative merits.  Whenever relevant, papers should refer to the arguments and methods of authors from previous weeks.

The weekly essays are to be handed in at the beginning of the section meetings on Thurs­days.  No papers may be turned in during the first week (Sep 27); you will be receiving in­structions from your TAs on the first day.  No late papers will be accepted and no papers will be accepted from students who do not attend the full section. These papers will be graded on the following scale:  +,  √+, √, √-, -, 0.  These correspond roughly to the following numerical grades:  4 (+), 3.5 (√+), 3.0 (√), 2.0 (√-), 1.8 (-), 0. 

 

2. Term Paper:  Each student will write a research paper of about 7-8 pages.  In this paper you will choose a geographical area (not necessarily a country) and identify a puzzle or an anomaly that is related to this region’s interaction with the broader world sometime between 1250 and 1914.  In most cases, the puzzle or anomaly will have an economic, political, or social dimension and should be stated in terms of a “why” question. You then will address the fol­lowing points.

 

Ø      Develop a possible explanation (hypothesis) of your puzzle or anomaly by reading about your period, region, and problem.

Ø      Collect and present data and information to support your hypothesis. 

Ø      Show how your data support your hypothesis and, together, they provide an explanation for the puzzle you are trying to solve in the paper.

 

You will write and be evaluated on two drafts of this research paper.  The due dates and requirements for these drafts are listed below.  Late drafts will not be accepted without a valid excuse. 

 

2.a:  Paper Topics:  The selection of the geographical area, time interval, and the prob­lem to be explained are very important for this assignment.  Keep in mind that some of the coun­tries that exist today did not exist in earlier times, and some that existed earlier have changed or disappeared since then.  In the spirit of the course, your paper should go beyond a simple de­scription of events and explain things.  The topic of your paper should be narrowly conceived and well-focused.  Big topics such as the Rise of the West, The Rise and Fall of China, American and French Revolutions, the U.S. Civil War, Opium War, Meiji Restoration, causes and conse­quences of World War One are not appropriate for this assignment.  On October 19, you will turn in a paragraph to your TA describing the topic of your paper.  You will need to get his/her approval before researching and writing your paper. 

 

2.b:  First draft will be about 4-6 pages.  It should include an introduction where you state your analytical (“why”) question (your puzzle), the thesis you are planning to use (your tentative answer to your “why” question), the beginnings of an argument where you provide evi­dence in support of your argument, and a preliminary bibliography of sources you plan to use. You will post the first draft of your paper electronically for the review and comments of the members of your study group. The due date for posting of these papers is Nov. 16. The mem­bers of your study group will read your draft and enter their comments and suggestions by Nov. 20. After receiving comments from your study group, you should also consult with your TA about ways to improve your draft and complete the assignment.

Submitting the topic proposal and the first draft and reading and commenting on your friends’ drafts by the due dates are mandatory.  The quality of your paper topic proposal, the first draft of your paper, and your comments on others’ papers will be evaluated as part of the atten­dance and participation portion of your grade and the overall grade you will receive from your paper.  You can check with your TA in the course of the quarter to find out how you are doing with respect to these requirements. 

           

2.c:  Second draft (approximately 7-8 pages) will have been revised on the basis of the suggestions and criticisms of your Study Group and your TA as well as additional research.  This draft is due in class on Dec 4.  You will submit this in hard copy clearly marked “second draft,” along with your paper topic statement that includes your  TA’s approval, a printed copy of the “first draft” and the comments by your Study Group.  Your paper will be considered incomplete without these attachments.

Please note that your term paper will be based on library research.  In writing this paper you will be expected to use at least four sources, which you will locate in the library.  These sources should be a combination of scholarly books and articles.  Websites, newspapers and magazines can be used as sources but only in addition to the four main sources.   

Everything you turn in should be typed (double-spaced, 12 pt type, with one-inch mar­gins).  Hand-written paper topic proposals, drafts, or papers will not be accepted.  Please keep extra copies of all the written assignments you turn in for grading.  In case of loss or other similar problems, it is your responsibility to provide us with additional copies of your work.  In terms of format and presentation your paper should comply with academic conventions as de­scribed in Strunk and White's Elements of Style, which is on the website for this course. You also may consult Kate Turabian’s Manual for Writers or another similar guide available from the University Libraries’ web site.  If you have any doubts about these, your TA, the JSIS Writing Center (Gowen 105), reference librarians at Odegaard Undergraduate Library, or I can help you.

 

3.      Final Examination  The final examination is scheduled for Wed. December 13, 2:30-4:20 p.m. Kane 220   The exam will cover the entire course material (including the films) and will be a combination of essay, short-answer, and map questions. You should use the study questions that will be posted on the course web page as guides in keeping up with your reading and preparing for the exam.

 

            Other:

1.      SIS 200 will have a CLUE (Center for Learning and Undergraduate Education) session that will meet every Wednesday, 6:30 PM -8:00 PM in Mary Gates Hall.  This will give you an opportunity to delve more deeply into the course material by studying, reviewing, and discussing actively with your classmates, under the guidance of a student who has taken this class in the past, 

2.      During autumn quarter there will be a number of public presentations relevant to the con­tents of this course. They will be announced in class and on the course webpage. I strongly en­courage you to attend these presentations. There will be a sign-up sheet at these events, and you will receive extra credit for attending them.

2.3.      You must familiarize yourself with the University of Washington Libraries.  You will make extensive use of their resources in researching and writing your paper.

3.4.      You should consult with tutors in the Jackson School/Political Science Writing Center in preparing your written assignments. The Center is located in Gowen 105 (phone 616-3354); email (pswrite@u.washington.edu) or check the web (http://depts.washington.edu/pswrite/) for more information.  Please note that the tutors in the Writing Center can help you with problems of composition and grammar only; they are not equipped to comment on the contents of your paper.

4.5.      You must read The New York Times daily.  You can subscribe to this news­paper at a special student rate at the HUB. The daily contents of the paper will be discussed in quiz sections and will be included in your quizzes.

5.6.      You must learn the basic map of the world (the geographic location of major states, cities, waterways, oceans, and mountain ranges) during each of the major historical periods we will be covering in class.  You should consult atlases regularly as you read about different places and hear about them in the Section. The following are good historical atlases that can be useful in this regard. You can find them in the reference section of the Odegaard Undergraduate Library:  Hammond Historical Atlas of the World, Times Atlas of World History, Penguin Atlas of Modern History, Penguin Atlas of Recent History. There will be a map question in the final exam.

 

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT DATES

                Study Groups                       Oct 5

Paper Topics                        October 19

                First Draft                            November 16

                Second Draft                        December 4

                Final exam                            December 13 (2:30-4:20 PM)

 

 

DISTRIBUTION OF GRADE

            Six weekly papers                                             25%

            Second draft of paper                                        30%

            Final exam                                                        30%

            Participation                                                      15%

(Participation includes paper topic proposals, peer review, participation, pop quizzes)

 

READING SCHEDULE

 

PART I: Introduction, The Rise and Fall of the Pre-Modern World System

Topics

WEEK ONE

(Sep 27-29)

Before European Hegemony, pp. 3-40

Introduction, Pre-Modern World

WEEK TWO

(October 2-6)

Before European Hegemony, pp. 41-134

The Earth and Its Peoples, pp. 267-337 (start)

Europe 125-1350, Champagne Fairs, Italian Cities, Northwest Ports

WEEK THREE

(October 9-13)

Before European Hegemony pp. 135-247

The Earth and Its Peoples, pp. 267-337 (continue)

Islamic World, Mongols

WEEK FOUR

(October 16-20)

Before European Hegemony, pp. 249-373

The Earth and Its Peoples, pp. 267-337 (finish)

Asia in Pre-Modern World, China, Crisis in Europe, Ottoman Empire Th eRrise of the Modern World

PART II:  Widening of the Capitalist World into the Americas, Africa, and Asia,

WEEK FIVE

(October 23-27)

The Old World and the New (all)

The Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex, Chapters. 1-5

The Earth and Its Peoples pp. 337-456 (start)

Iberians in America, The Impact of the Old World on the new World, The Impact of the New World On the Old.

WEEK SIX

(October 30-November 3)

The Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex, Chapters. 6-10

The Earth and Its Peoples pp. 337-456 (finish)

Slave trade, Origins in Africa, Development, Dimensions, Significance for the world, Asia 1450-1850.

PART IV: The Age of Revolution and the Age of Capital

WEEK SEVEN

(November 6- 10)

The Age of Revolution, pp. 7-145

The Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex, Chapters, 11-12

The Earth and Its Peoples pp.457-544 (start)

The Industrial Revolution, the French Revolution, Napoleon.

WEEK EIGHT

(November 13-17)

The Age of Revolution, pp.149-181, 297-308

The Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex, Chapters, 13,14

The Earth and Its Peoples pp.457-544 (finish)

The Age of Capital, the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, India, China, Japan

 

PART VI:  The Age of Empire

WEEK NINE

(November 20-22)

The Age of Empire, pp. 1-83

The Earth and Its Peoples pp.545-620 (start)

The Great Depression of the Nineteenth Century, the Age of Empire

WEEK TEN

(November 27-December 1)

The Age of Empire, pp.84-218

The Earth and Its Peoples pp.545-620 (continue)

Belle Époque, Revolutions

WEEK ELEVEN

(December 4-8)

The Age of Empire, pp. 262-340

The Earth and Its Peoples pp.545-620 (finish)

Towards the Great War, Conclusions

 

 

 

 

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If you would like to request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924 (V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Student Services indicating you have a disability that requires academic accommodations, please present the letter to me so we can discuss the accommodations you might need for this class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any concerns about the course or about your TA, please see the TA as soon as possible. If you are not comfortable talking with your TA or are not satisfied with the response you receive, you may contact me. My office location and e-mail are at the head of this syllabus.

If you continue to be dissatisfied with the response you receive, you may contact the Anand Yang, director of the Jackson School (406 Thomson Hall, ph: 685-3877), or the Graduate School (200 Gerberding Hall, ph: 543-5900).