Global Military History Syllabus 2013-2014

 

Global Military History

Mr. Layne

Email:  tlayne@stuart-hall.orgP

Phone:  540-213-7744

Rm. 17

Course blog:  http://laynehistory.blogspot.com

 “Warfare is the greatest affair of state, the basis of life and death, the Tao to survival or extinction.  It must be thoroughly pondered and analyzed.”

                                    Sun Tzu, The Art of War

About me:

B.A. in History, Bridgewater College, 1998

M.A. in History, James Madison University, 2000

Dept. of History, Stuart Hall School, 2006-Present

Courses taught:  Ancient World History, Modern World History, A.P. World History, Global Military History

About the course:

Materials:

• Something (a folder or notebook) to keep your materials (homework, handouts, returned quizzes/tests) organized

• A section in a binder or a separate spiral notebook dedicated to note taking in this class

• Something to write with

Course Description and Goals:

Military History is an elective course with a global focus on the various aspects of warfare and its impact on the human experience.  This course will follow both a thematic as well as chronological approach, enabling students the opportunity to engage a wide variety of topics in addition to studying specific conflicts and time periods.  Upon successfully completing this class, students will have:

·         A strong working knowledge of military history, including an understanding of: major and minor conflicts; the underlying concepts of war; the relationship between technology and war; the relationship between war and the various aspects of society (economy, culture, religion, etc.); military institutions; causes and effects of war; types of war.

·         An understanding of military history as specific historical discipline, including familiarity with major military writers (theorists, historians) and the ability to construct and evaluate historical arguments and interpretations as they pertain to military history.

·         Critical and analytical reading and writing skills.

·         Research skills and the knowledge to effectively use of both primary and secondary sources as evidence.

“War is thus an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will.”

                                    Carl Von Clausewitz, On War

Class Policies:

• You are expected to arrive in class on time and prepared (bathroom breaks should be taken before class begins).
• You are expected to maintain a respectful and courteous classroom environment at all times.
• There is no eating or drinking in class; all food/drink containers are to remain closed (water bottles are the exception as long as they have lids/caps).

“A General who desires peace must be prepared for war.”

                        Maurice, Strategikon

What you can expect from me:

• I will work just as hard, or harder, than you do
• I will be available if you have questions concerning class, content, or any other related concerns
• I will respect all of you

“A prince, therefore, should have no other object, no other thought, no other subject of study, than war . . .”

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

Homework Policy:

Homework will be via weekly assignment posts, and will almost exclusively take the form of academic reading.  I do not assign frivolous homework or “busy work”—everything I ask you to do is intended to enable you to achieve our class goals and further develop your skills.  I expect you to have your homework completed at the beginning of the class period in which it is due.

Quizzes, Tests, and Projects:

• Quizzes:  Quizzes may take a variety of formats and may or may not be announced ahead of time.  They will always be based on material covered in class or through homework, and are intended to serve as an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of material or concepts. 
• Tests:  Tests will generally cover a “units” worth of material.  Test dates will always be announced well in advance and review materials will be provided to aid you in your preparation.
• Projects:  projects will give you the opportunity to engage the topics we are studying at a greater level of depth and detail.  I will provide you with a detailed overview of each project (along with my expectations) when it is announced.

Class Participation: 

 A major portion of this class will be dependent on your participation.  Class participation is based upon attentiveness, engagement, preparedness, and conduct during class sessions.  You begin each marking period with a 100% Class Participation grade.  Each day you engage in meaningful participation will maintain that average.  Being late to class will result in a 5 point deduction from your participation average for each occurrence.  Unexcused absences will result in a 10 point deduction for each occurrence.

Grading Policy:

Your grade for each marking period will be devised from the following:

·         Class participation: 15%

·         Homework and quizzes:  15%

·         Tests:  40%

·         Projects:  30%

______________

            100%

Note:  I do not “give” grades.  You, as students, earn them.

Attendance Policy (including make-up work):

This course follows the school policy of attendance.  Please refer to the Family Handbook for details.

The Honor Code:

It is expected that all students will adhere to and respect the Student Hall Honor Code.  All work completed in this class is to be completed in adherence to the Stuart Hall Honor Code.

 

Course Outline:

This course will begin with an examination of the underlying concepts of war before turning towards actual time periods and conflicts.  The purpose for this is to give you a theoretical understanding of war that you may then apply to global military history as we engage it.

The first unit of the course, entitled “Conceptualizing War” is designed to introduce the major concepts of military history and theory that will be foundational to our study of military history.  Topics will be drawn from the following:

·         Defining military history

·         Defining war

·         Causes and justifications of war

·         Leadership and command

·         Armies (warriors vs. soldiers; arms and branches)

·         Weapons and technology

·         Strategy and tactics

·         Battles and Sieges

Following the completion of this first unit, we will then begin to branch out into our larger study of military history.  While there are specific topics that I intend to cover, you as students will have significant input on what we study and to what depth we study it.  The following is a list of major conflicts/periods arranged chronologically that we may draw from.  We may also engage thematic topics, such as technology, leadership, guerilla warfare, air war, etc.

Case Studies in Ancient and Medieval War

·         The “first” wars—when does war begin?

·         China:  The period of the Warring States

·         Greece:  The Persian War; Peloponnesian War; Hellenistic war

·         Rome:  The Punic Wars; Barbarian invasions

·         The Byzantine Art of War

·         Jihad and the Crusades

·         The 100 Years War

·         The Japanese Art of War

·         The Mongols

Case Studies in Early Modern and Modern Warfare

·         The “Military Revolution”

·         The European 17^th Century (30 Years War, English Civil Wars)

·         Revolutionary Wars (American, French, Haitian)

·         Napoleonic War

·         The American Civil War

·         Prussia’s Wars

·         Imperialism and War

·         Russo-Japanese War

Case Studies in Total and “Post Modern” War

·         The Great War

·         World War II

·         Korea

·         Vietnam

·         Algeria

·         Afghanistan (USSR)

·         Arab-Israeli conflicts

·         Desert Storm

·         Somalia

·         The War on Terror