GEOL 102-6 Syllabus

GEOL 102-6 Section 20: Geological Impacts on Civilizations

Syllabus

Course

GEOL 102-6 Section 20: Geological Impacts on Civilizations (Freshman Seminar)

Class Meetings

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00-4:20 P.M., Locy Hall 109

Texts

Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel. W. W. Norton & Company: New York, 1997.

Andrews, Michael. The Birth of Europe. BBC/Parkwest Publications: Jersey City, New Jersey, 1991.
(Note that this book now has gone out of print. It is recommended that students try to purchase used copies on-line, perhaps through Amazon. A few copies may be available for borrowing from the Department.)

See also additional Reading List for references that may be useful in writing papers.

See also Electronic Reserve Reading for assigned articles available electronically. (Access to e-reserve materials is restricted and logged by NetID.)

See also Photographic Resource List for anotated photos available electronically.

See also the Note on Literature Citations for instructions on how to cite sources for your papers in this course.

Schedule of Important Dates (as of 2006.02.10)

1/03:: First day of Winter Quarter classes.
1/09:: Last day to Add any course.
1/10:: Paper #1 (1-2 pages) due by 3:00 P.M.
1/31:: Paper #2 (5 pages) due by 3:00 P.M.
2/10:: Last day to Drop any course.
2/21:: Paper #3 (5 pages) due by 3:00 P.M.
2/23:: Student Peer Reviews of Paper #3 due by 3:00 P.M.
3/07:: Any Early Drafts of Paper #4 (5 pages) due by 3:00 P.M.
3/07:: WCAS Reading Period begins.
3/14:: Final Paper #4 (5 pages) due by 3:00 P.M.

Schedule of Readings and Discussions (as of 2006.01.10)

1/03,05 Environmental Change; Early Man:: Some Questions for Discussion
Gore (1992) pp. 57-80 [general environmental effects]
Diamond (1997) ch. 1-3
Andrews (1991) ch. 1
Monastersky (1999a) [early extinctions: Australia]
Pickrell (2002) [early extinctions: New Zealand]
Bower (2005a) [early extinctions: Australia]
Perkins (2005) [early extinctions: Caribbean]
Roebroeks (2005) [early occupation of Britain]
1/10,12: Beginnings of Agriculture:: Some Questions for Discussion
Written Questions Due 1/12
Diamond (1997) ch. 4-10
Andrews (1991) ch. 2
Kerr (1998) [floods and farming]
Stone (1999) [floods and farming]
Castro Romano dos Carvalhelhos photo [early stone grain silos]
1/17,19: Metal Ores and Stone:: Initial Discussion Leaders
Some Questions for Discussion
Andrews (1991) ch. 3
Monastersky (1994a) [metal pollution: lead in Swedish lake sediments]
Monastersky (1994b) [metal pollution: lead in Greenland ice cores]
Monastersky (1996a) [metal pollution: copper in Greenland ice cores]
Nriagu (1998) [metal pollution: lead in Swiss bogs]
Keay (1988) pp. 63-67 [Roman mines in Iberia]
King (1990) pp. 119-123 [Roman mines in Gaul]
Potter and Johns (1992) pp. 12-15 [British tin mines]
Bower (1998b) [American metallurgy]
Bower (1998a) [Mesopotamian rocks]
Bower (1996a) [Polynesian tool trade]
Gorman (2000) [Mesopotamian stone carving]
1/24,26: Trade (Minoans, Greeks, Romans):: Some Questions for Discussion
Andrews (1991) ch. 4-6
Correspondent (1991) [Minoan civilization]
Skindrud (1996) [Thera eruption]
Keay (1988) p. 49 [control of Iberia by roads]
Keay (1988) p. 103 [amphora refuse]
Potter (1987) pp. 125-140 [Italian road network]
King (1990) pp. 73-74 [towns located at road bridges]
Von Hagen (1967) p. 160 [road cutting on Danube]
Via Domitia photo [Roman road]
Milliarium photo [Roman road milepost]
1/31;2/02: Water Supply and Subsidence:: Some Questions for Discussion
Hamblin (1985) pp. 239-247 [groundwater, drainage, subsidence]
Potter (1987) pp. 140-147 [Italian aqueducts]
King (1990) pp. 78-80 [aqueducts in Gaul]
Keay (1988) pp. 128-130, 137-138 [Spanish aqueducts]
Alarcão et al. (1989) pp. 62-65 [Conimbriga aqueduct]
Kekeç (1989) pp. 43-44 [earthquake and Pergamon aqueduct]
Von Hagen (1967) pp. 94-100, 104-105 [Sahara desert]
Anonymous (1998) [Colorado river management]
Anonymous (1999b) [London water table]
Anonymous (1999d) [Aral Sea islands]
Pergamon photo [Roman aqueduct]
Pont du Gard photo [Roman aqueduct bridge]
Calcium deposits photo [Roman aqueduct deposits]
Castellum Divisiorum photo [Roman aqueduct distribution tower]
Water pipes photo [Roman water pipes]
Hypocausts photo [Roman bath heating]
2/07,09: Sedimentation and Land Reclamation:: Hamblin (1985) pp. 164-171, 195-199 [sedimentation, deltas]
Özeren (1992) pp. 8-9, 22-23, 82 [Ephesus harbor silting]
Freely (1990) p. 47 [Ephesus harbor silting]
Turekian (1996) pp. 112-113 [Troy harbor silting]
Monastersky (1993) [Nile delta subsidence]
Thomas (1993) [Nile delta subsidence]
Stanley (1993) [Nile delta sediment]
Berner and Berner (1996) pp. 181-184 [human effects on sediment load]
Potter (1987) pp. 100, 121, 147-151 [Italian canals and drainage]
Potter and Johns (1992) pp. 94, 97 [British Fens and Wentlooge Levels]
Anonymous (1999a) [Everglades restoration]
Classis port photo [Roman port in Italy]
Ephesus port photo [Roman port in Turkey]
Lelu port photo [Micronesian seawall]
Etang de Montady photo [reclaimed lakebed]
2/14,16: Climate Changes:: Andrews (1991) ch. 7-8
King (1990) pp. 202-211 [invasions]
Iseminger (1996) [agricultural crisis]
Monastersky (1996c) [El Niño: Peruvian mollusk middens]
Monastersky (1999b) [El Niño: Ecuadorian lake sediments]
Groenman-van Waateringe (1988) [population and resources]
2/21,23: Technological Developments:: Diamond (1997) ch. 11-14
King (1990) pp. 100-101 [Roman mills]
Hodge (1990) [Roman mills]
NewsWire (1997) [Roman mills]
2/28;3/02: A World Tour:: Diamond (1997) ch. 15-19
3/07,09:: W.C.A.S. Reading Week

Schedule Notes

No scheduling anomalies are anticipated at this time.

Other Important Information

Freshman seminars aim to foster the ability to read critically. You are expected to read the assigned material prior to class discussions.
Freshman seminars aim to foster the ability to think logically and to speak effectively. You are expected to attend class regularly and to participate in discussion. Noting topics of importance or of interest to you during your reading will aid you in preparing for class discussions.
Freshman seminars aim to foster the ability to write clearly and concisely. You are expected to submit completed writing assignments in a timely manner. You are encouraged to use word processing software to prepare your papers, in order to simplify subsequent editing and revision, and to save printed copies of your work.
You may be offered opportunities to revise some of your papers. When submitting revised papers, remember to attached the original, marked-up paper as well.
You are expected to do your own research and writing. Possible instances of plagiarism will be referred to the office of the Dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Violations of the principles of academic integrity can result in severe penalties, including expulsion from the University. All students should review College guidelines on Academic Integrity.
Course grades will be based upon written papers, any class presentations, participation in class discussion, quizzes, and homework assignments. Late assignments will not be accepted without prior approval from the professor. Failure to properly cite sources will negatively affect your writing scores.
At the end of the quarter, the professor is required to submit brief ratings of your writing skills to the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Some class papers may also be submitted by the professor to the Weinberg College's competition for writing awards.
You are encouraged to make use of the facilities of The Writing Place, located in the Reserve Room of the Main Library, in practicing and improving your writing skills.
Electronic devices such as cellular phones, laptop computers, and iPods are not to be used during class.

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