HUM 101H: Humanities - Prehistory through the Medieval Period - Honors

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2024
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Prerequisite: Student must be eligible for the Citrus College Honors Program or obtain a recommendation from an Honors instructor.
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
District General Education: C2. Humanities
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

The humanities are approached on four levels: art, music, literature, and philosophy. Includes the beginnings in Egypt, Babylonia, and Greece and proceeds chronologically through the Medieval period. A critical in-depth reading of several primary sources is conducted in a discussion format. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • synthesize the developments and trends of the several arts and the social sciences
  • draw inferences from a unified view of the progress of the humanities
  • compare and contrast the purpose of the arts
  • evaluate and draw conclusions from the study of the humanities
  • compare and contrast various philosophical perspectives through the medieval period
  • discern perspectives in art/architecture, music/dance, literature, philosophy and history from various time periods and cultures

Major Course Content

  1. Introduction: Pre-history and the Rise of Civilization
    1. Mesopotamia
      1. Literature and Epic Poetry
      2. Legal Codes
      3. Monumental Art and Architecture
    2. Africa
      1. Literature and Poetry
      2. Monumental Art and Architecture
    3. India, China, and the Americas
      1. Literature and Poetry
      2. Political Philosophies
      3. Art and Monumental Architecture
  2. The Spirit of Classicism, Greece, Rome, and China:
    1. Greece
      1. Bronze Age, Heroic Age, Persian Wars, and Golden Age
      2. Greek Philosophy
      3. Humanist Philosophy
      4. Classical Style in Art and Architecture
      5. Classical Style in Poetry
      6. Classical Style in Music
    2. Rome
      1. Rise to Empire
      2. Contributions in Literature
        1. Rhetoric and Oratory
      3. Preservation of Classical style
      4. Contributions in Architecture 
    3. China
      1. Rise to Empire
      2. Confucianism
      3. Contributions in Literature
      4. Visual Arts and Music
  3. The Medieval Period: Contrasting the Spirit of the Middle Ages and that of the Ancient Classical World
    1. The Rise of World Religions and the Flowering of Faith
      1.  Christianity
        1. Rise to a State Religion
        2. Teachings of Jesus and Paul
        3. The symbolism and art of Christianity
        4. Early Music
      2. Buddhism
        1. The Emergence and Spread of Buddhism
        2. Teachings of the Buddha
        3. The Symbolism and Art of Buddhism
        4. Early Music
      3. Islam
        1. The Emergence and Spread of Islam
        2. The Tenets of Islam
        3. The Architecture and Art of Islam
        4. Early Music
    2. Medieval Life
      1. Germanic Influences in Art and Literature
      2. Carolingian Renaissance
      3. Feudal Society
      4. High Medieval Culture
    3. Medieval Philosophy
      1. Influence of Greek Thought
      2. Faith versus Reason, St. Thomas Aquinas
      3. Fusion of Greek and Christian attitudes/beliefs
    4. Medieval Art and Architecture
      1. Romanesque
        1. Abbeys
      2. Gothic
        1. Cathedrals
      3. Painting
      4. Medieval Music
        1. religious
        2. Secular
  4. The Medieval World Beyond Europe
    1. India
      1. Temples
      2. Literature
      3. Music
    2. Tang and Song China
      1. Literature and Poetry
      2. Art
      3. Music

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Primary Source readings will be provided for in-class analysis.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Students will write a substantial paper (8-12 pages) that synthesizes themes and trends considered in the works of art, literature, music, philosophy presented in the course. Students will demonstrate their understanding of human universals and their persistence through the ages.

Examples of Outside Assignments

See required writing.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities

3B. Humanities