Time Schedule:
Daniel Clarke Waugh
SIS 225
Seattle Campus
History of cultural and economic exchange across Eurasia from the early Common Era to modern times. Topics include spread of religions such as Islam and Buddhism, overland trade in rare commodities, interaction between nomadic and sedentary cultures, the role of empires, the culture of daily life, and the arts. Offered: jointly with HIST 225.
Class description
See course description for HIST 225 and last year's syllabus (link given below). Course in 2003 will be very similar. The course is an introduction to the history of cultural and economic interchange across Eurasia from approximately the beginning of the Common Era (CE=Christian Era [AD]) to approximately the beginning of the eighteenth century. The term "Silk Road" commonly designates the East-West overland trade routes, established around the beginning of the Common Era when Chinese silk began to reach the West and falling into disuse primarily because of Europeans' opening of sea routes to the East beginning in the late fifteenth century. The course will examine subjects such as the importance of Inner Asian physical geography, the interaction of nomadic and sedentary peoples, the spread of important religions and resulting cultural syncretism, and, of course, the mechanisms and products of trade.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
See syllabus.
Recommended preparation
See syllabus.
Class assignments and grading
Reading, map study, essays.
Map quiz, essays, final exam. See syllabus link below.
