Comparative History of Civilization

Code of the subject: NBG_NT132_K5

Teacher: Zsámba Renáta, zsambarenata@yahoo.com

2 lectures+2 seminars

Description of the course

The aim of the course is to study and analyse the world’s most powerful countries with
special regard to their economical, political, cultural, demographic and social differences.
During the semester, civilizations which influence our present will be tightly examined as for
their cultural economics and social interaction with each other. The course is to pay special
attention to Twentieth Century Europe and its effects on the development of North-America.
Finally, we are to discuss the reasons for the success of the BRIC countries as well as the
recurring, renewing conflicts in The Middle East and Africa.

Course requirements in the seminar:

Classroom participation and active co-operation in the seminars are highly advised. Most of
the class sessions are to be based on the discussion of the topics at hand, introduced and
moderated by the instructor and/or a student giving a presentation and being in charge of that
topic. In addition, each student will give a 5-minute presentation during the semester on pre-
approved topics, prepared on the basis of the instructions discussed during the first class.
There will be short quizzes (not necessarily announced in advance), and an end-term paper.

PRESENTATIONS:

Presentations should be up to 10 minutes in length and should be interactive (with thought-

provoking questions to the class or various activities). A typed handout strictly not longer than
one page as well as the PPT presentation should be handed in to the instructor ONE WEEK
before the presentation for overview. Only handouts approved by the instructor can be presented.
The handout should be only a guideline to the presentation and not a word-by-word transcript.
You must not read out your presentation. The content of your talk, your performance and
presentation will be evaluated but you must also pay attention to your pronunciation. If someone
does not show up when his/her presentation is due and does not notify the instructor in advance,
he/she will lose all the credit points on the assignment.
EVALUATION:

The final grade will be calculated from the grades assigned on class participation (15%),
classroom performance (15%), presentation (20%), short quizzes (15%), and the end-
term paper (35%). More than three absences will result in a “not fulfilled” grade. Grades
will be assigned according to the following conversion formulae: 0-60% = fail; 61-70% =
satisfactory; 71-80% = average; 81-90% = good; 91-100% = excellent.

Topics for the lectures and seminars

1. What is civilization? What is culture?

Samuel P. Huntington: The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order

B. Comparing cultures
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory, Hall’s Cultural Factors (Internet)

2. North-American Culture
Carl N. Degler: Az élő múlt. Milyen erők formálták a mai Amerika képét? Európa
Könyvkiadó, Budapest, 1993., 17-41., 67-79., 86-105., 117-133., 146-163., 198-216.,
236-241., 246-276., 293-310., 312-317., 362-383., 384-397., 455-492.

3. Characteristics of Russian civilization

Internet source:
http://szlavintezet.elte.hu/szlavtsz/slav_civil/orosztortenelem.htm#_Toc136221454
Font Márta: Oroszország története, Budapest. Maecenas, 1997.

4. Religion and culture, society and politics in Islam. Islam and the challenges of the
West.
Irodalom: William Montgomery Watt: Islam: A Short History.

5. Characteristics of Jewish civilization

Irodalom: Goldschmidt, Arthur Jr.: A Concise History of the Middle-East.

6. Asia (Japan, China)

Gernet, J.: A History of Chinese Civilization.
Conrad Schirokauer: A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations b
 7. Characteristics of Indian civilization
1. Klaus K. Klostermaier: A Short Introduction to Hinduism

8. Characteristics of African civilization

Fage, J. D - Tordoff, W. (2004): Afrika története. Budapest, Osiris., 9-121., 187-211.,
273.-361., 391-417., 452-506. oldal

9. Characteristics of Latin-Americn Culture

Irodalom: Anderle Ádám: Latin-Amerika története. Pannonica, Budapest, 1998.

10. Értékelés