World Civilizations presents a brief but broad account of the history of humans, which begins with a group of sparse and disconnected communities responding creatively to their natural environments. Over time, these small communities experienced increasingly intensive stages of contact, cultural diffusion, and amalgamation. The study of world history engages five broad themes: society and economy, law and government, patterns of belief, science and technology, and arts and culture. All these topics will be addressed, but since this class is taught from an anthropological perspective, it is deliberately tilted toward social and cultural topics, rather that the detailed battles of captains and kings. We open at a time when humans have discovered how to domesticate plants and animals; we then explore the development of social stratification, the growth of the city and state, politics, and the development of institutions and legal systems, slavery and foreign invasions, the rise of Empires and widespread cultural domination. Other topics include ancient technologies, the development of medicine and magic, sex, marriage and the varied place of women across time and culture, art and architecture, ancient tourism, supernatural belief systems, rites of passage, and much more. We will look at fascinating historical figures from a range of cultures—some inspiring, some highly creative, some malevolent. Understanding the past puts us, and the present, into a larger context, enabling us to see the common challenges and problems that connect us with our ancient ancestors. Knowing where we have come from helps us move forward with informed purpose.
The course will meet twice weekly in the lecture format, and every student must attend a weekly one-hour “recitation” section. This enables all students to hear the same presentations by the principal lecturer, with the benefit of interactive small group discussions with a TA. The lectures do not necessarily repeat what is in the assigned readings: they interpret, clarify, enliven, and add other interesting and relevant material. Where films are used, some of these will be accompanied by a question sheets to be filled in as students watch the films.
Attendance is expected at all lectures and recitations. Reading assignments must be annotated and handed in on the day they are due. Marks will be deducted for all late assignments and unexcused absences. Exams will be based on assigned readings, films, and the instructor’s lectures.
Texts: 1). World Civilizations; Volume 1: To 1700 (5d edition). Adler and Pouwels, 2008. 2). Annual Editions: World History; Volume 1 (9th edition). McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2008. Both books are available at the College Book Store.
Victoria Razak was born in England, and lived in Malaysia, Aruba, and the United States. Victoria received her PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University at Buffalo (UB) in 1998, following an MA in Anthropology, UB, 1990; and a MA Humanities (Art and Anthropology), UB, 1989. Since graduation, she has taught at Niagara County Community College, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Brockport, The Center for the Americas, UB; as Assistant Visiting Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Studies, UB; and now in American Studies, UB. Victoria is also a Research Associate for the University of Aruba, and the Center for Urban Studies, UB. Her teaching at the graduate and undergraduate level includes Qualitative Research Methods; Immigrant Settlement Patterns and Ethnic Urban Enclaves; Fieldwork in Urban Cultures; Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, World Civilizations; and Visual Anthropology. Her principal research interests include Caribbean identity politics and migrant communities; indigenous music and carnival in Aruba; and cultural heritage tourism. Recent publications include: (books and book chapters): Carnival in Aruba: A Feast of Yourself. In Trinidad Carnival: The Cultural Politics of a Transnational Festival. Garth L. Green and Philip W. Scher, eds. Indiana University Press, 2007; Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. In Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Vol.3 Caribbean and Latin America. Part 1, Caribbean. John Shepherd, David Horn and Dave Laing, eds. London and New York: Continuum Publishing, 2005; From the Canvas to the Field: Envisioning the Future of Culture. In, The Views of Futurists: Vision and Methods, Vol. 4. Melbourne: Foresight International, 2001; Carnival in Aruba, Cenda Publishing, 1998. (Edited Journals): Editor, Can Indigenous Cultures Survive the Future? Futures, 2003, 35:907-915 London: Elsevier; Editor, Essays in Anticipatory Anthropology, Futures, 2000, 32(8):717-727, London: Elsevier. (Refereed papers): From Culture Areas to Ethnoscapes: An Application to Tourism Development. Journal of Regional Studies, 2008, 37(3):199-212. In preparation: (book) Road on Fire: Players, Critics, and Rivals in Aruba’s Carnival; (paper) Patinas, Pragmatics and Paramountcy: A Processual Model of Hybrid Native Identity.