History 4520‑01   CRN: 24860   Fall 2004                                       Dr. Jeffrey A. Johnson

The World in the 20th Century I                                                        SAC 440, X97404

T-Th. 4:00-5:15 pm in TOLENT 317                                                 Hrs. T-Th 11am-noon,

website:  http://www11.homepage.villanova.edu/jeffrey.johnson/                Th 2:30-3pm,& by appt.

                                                                                                email:  Jeffrey.Johnson@villanova.edu

 

AIM:  This undergraduate elective course is designed to examine aspects of the history of the world from the turn of the century to the eve of the Second World War.  We will selectively examine the high tide of European nationalism and global imperialism and the impact of the First World War on both; the beginnings of global revolution and resistance in Russia, Mexico, China, and India; the failure to achieve a lasting peace and international organization in 1918-19; Japanese modernization and imperialism in Asia; the counter-revolutions in Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, and Franco’s Spain; the global economic crisis of the 1930s and its political-economic impact; and social and cultural changes including increased rights for women, the emergence of mass culture and mass consumption, and modernism in science and art.  Our approach will be topical and thematic; through reports on specific topics, students will have the opportunity to explore areas of special interest in greater depth.

MATERIALS:  Readings will be selected from the following paperback books, available  in the bookstore, and from some additional materials to be placed on paper or online course reserve (there will also be some films to be shown in class).

Modris Eksteins, Rites of Spring:  The Great War and the Birth of the Modern Age

Sheila Fitzpatrick, The Russian Revolution, 2d ed.

Mahatma Gandhi, Selected Political Writings, ed. Dennis Dalton

José Ortega y Gasset, The Revolt of the Masses

Oliver Zimmer Nationalism in Europe, 1890-1940

Harold James, The End of Globalization:  Lessons from the Great Depression

Barbara H. Sato, The New Japanese Woman:  Modernity, Media, and Women in Interwar Japan

WORK AND EVALUATION:  This course will meet for two lecture‑discussion sessions each week; your participation in these will be graded (10% of total grade for general participation, 10% for oral presentations).  Written work will include an in-class midterm (10%) and final essay examination (20%) as well as two take-home short (5-page) essays (25% each), which may be revised.  In each part of the course, each student will choose, in consultation with the instructor, a particular topic for a written case study and oral report.  At the end of each part, after the oral presentations, the class will discuss each of the cases presented.  Guidelines with full explanations of procedures will be distributed with the first assignment. 

LATE WORK AND MAKE‑UPS:  In case you must miss an assignment, notify Dr. Johnson by phone or email (see information above) BEFORE the due date, so that special arrangements can be worked out.  If you do not complete an assignment within the first week it is due, and if you do not present an appropriate written excuse (e.g. a serious medical condition), your maximum possible grade must be reduced one letter grade after each week the assignment is overdue. 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:  The instructor will not tolerate plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty; students handing in work which is demonstrably not their own can expect to be disciplined according to standard university procedures.  If you are not certain how to carry out an assignment properly, please consult with the instructor WELL BEFORE the due date.

LEARNING DISABILITIES:  It is Villanova University’s policy to make reasonable academic accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.  This may include special arrangements for note-taking, taking examinations, etc.  If you will need such arrangements, please discuss privately with Dr. Johnson and consult the Office of Learning Support Services in Geraghty Hall (610-519-5636).

History 4520-01 (World in 20th Century I)                                                 J. Johnson, Fall 2004

 

OUTLINE AND READING SCHEDULE (reading assignments in parentheses): 

 

Week 1 (8/26) Introduction; begin reading for next week

 

Week 2 (8/31-9/2)  European nationalism and imperialism to the First World War

          Tues.:  Origins of modern nationalism & imperialism Read Zimmer 1-49

          Thurs.:  Racism & nationalism (Zimmer 50-59)  FIRST REPORT TOPICS to be announced

 

Week 3 (9/7-9)  Origins of the First World War

          Tues.:  Prewar modernist culture and violence (read Eksteins, 1-94)

          Thursday:   St. Thomas of Villanova Day; CLASS WILL NOT MEET TODAY

 

Week 4 (9/14-16)  The Great War and its impact

          Tues.:   (read Eksteins, 95-238)

          Thurs.:  (Eksteins, 275-299)

 

Week 5 (9/21-23)  Global revolution?

           Tues.:  Marxism, Russia, & revolutions (read Fitzpatrick, 1-67)

          Thurs.:  Civil wars and the revolutionary stalemate (read Fitzpatrick, 68-119)

 

Week 6 (9/28-30)  Reports on special topics

          Tues.-Thurs.  First set of reports (times to be assigned)

          Thurs.:   FIRST PAPER DRAFTS DUE

 

Week 7 (10/5-7)  Midterm in-class essays

          Tues.:    Review             

          Thurs.   In‑class essays; PICK UP COMMENTED PAPER DRAFTS FOR REVISION

SEMESTER BREAK (Oct. 11-15)

Week 8 (10/19-21)   Interwar nationalism and fascism

          Tues.:  Origins of Fascism & Nazism (Zimmer, 59-106) - REVISED PAPER DRAFTS DUE 

          Thurs.: Fascism vs. socialism (Zimmer, 107-123; Fitzpatrick, 120-172)  SECOND REPORT topics to be assigned 

Week 9 (10/26-28)  Interwar mass culture

          Tues.:  (Ortega y Gasset, chs. 1-6, 8, 10-12) 

          Thurs.: (Ortega y Gasset, chs. 14-15) 

Week 10 (11/2-4)  Interwar economic developments

          Tues.:  (James, ch. 1)

          Thurs.:  (James, ch. 2; other reading TBA)

Week 11 (11/9-11)   From globalism to global war:  the 1930s

          Tues.:  (James, ch. 3-4)

          Thurs.:  (James, ch. 5; other reading TBA)

Week 12 (11/16-18)  Modernism, mass culture, & global feminism

          Tues.:  (Sato, Prologue & chs. 1-2; note color plates following p. 82)

          Thurs.:  (Sato, chs. 4-5)

Week 13 (11/23)  Non-violent resistance to imperialism (Gandhi, 1-29, 40-83, 97-107, 113-121, 139-151 [note the chronology & glossary, 155-162])

THANKSGIVING BREAK (Nov. 25-26)

Week 14 (11-30-12/2)  Reports on special topics

          Tues.-Thurs.:  Second set of reports (times to be assigned)

          Thurs.:  SECOND PAPER DRAFTS DUE

Week 15 (12/7-9)  Concluding discussion & review

          Tues.:  General discussion; PICK UP COMMENTED DRAFTS FOR REVISION

          Thurs.:  Review 

Final Examination Week (Dec. 15-21) Exam will be on Monday, Dec, 20, (4:15 - 6:45pm)

          Reading Day (12/14)  FINAL PAPER REVISIONS DUE  (to Dr. Johnson's mailbox in SAC 401 by 4:30 pm on 12/14)

 

          THE FINAL ESSAY EXAM IN THIS COURSE WILL BE:  Monday, Dec, 20, (4:15 - 6:45pm)

Please do NOT ask to have the date or time changed due to vacation plans, etc.; you are expected to be present at the assigned time and should notify your family to this effect.