Montclair State University

Department of Anthropology

 

ANTH 140: Nonwestern Contributions to the Western World                         Spring 2005

W   11:30–12:45                                                                                                College Hall 315

F     11:30–12:45                                                                                                      Dickson 175

Richard W. Franke                                                                             Professor of Anthropology

 

This course was developed as the 1995–96 University Distinguished Professor Course

The course syllabus is on line at: http://chss2.montclair.edu/anthropology/140franke.htm

 

Suggested supplementary readings – all are optional – for this course are available on line at:

 

      http://chss.montclair.edu/anthro/ANTH140supplementaryreadings.htm

 

Suggested website links relevant to most topics in the course are available on line at:

 

      http://chss.montclair.edu/anthro/ANTH140links.htm

 

 

This course fulfills both the                   Nonwestern Cultural Perspectives Requirement and

                                                           Multicultural Awareness Requirement

 

Why This Course?

 

      I have been thinking about this subject for many years. As an undergraduate, I was struck by the essay by anthropologist Ralph Linton, “One Hundred Percent American,” in which he surveys the daily routine of a middle class American who uses products invented from around the world without ever recognizing whence they came. Over the years, I have gradually accumulated a longer list of the non-US and Nonwestern elements in our lives and culture. I would like to introduce students to these many contributions. Today, a sufficient literature exists to survey the field.

 

The Concept of “Nonwestern”

 

      In anthropology, nonwestern cultures have traditionally been defined as belonging to people who speak a language outside the Indo-European family. For this course, I propose to expand the definition to the common folk-belief in US culture that it refers to cultures outside the main Judeo-Christian-Greek-European histori­cal sequence. Thus, for purposes of this course, Arabic and Islamic cultures will be considered nonwestern along with those so defined by anthropology.

 

      In the course this year, we will focus our attention on in­fluences from the following nonwestern cultural areas:

 

Native America

Africa

China

with less attention to

South Asia

The Middle East

The Pacific Islands

                                                  

In future years, I hope to balance the coverage better. It is partly influenced by which areas are covered by readable, afford­able books.

 

Assigned Readings—all should be purchased unless otherwise noted

 

Linton, Ralph. 1936. One hundred percent American. (Appears in several readers. Photocopy to be distributed)

 

Franke, Richard W. 1987. Power, class and traditional knowl­edge in Sahel food production. In I. L. Markovitz, ed. Studies in Power and Class in Africa. New York: Oxford University Press. Pages 257–285. To be distributed.

The Temple, Weatherford, and Zaslavsky books must be purchased.

 

Temple, Robert. 2002. The Genius of China: 3,000 Years of Science, Discovery and Invention. London: Prion.

 

Weatherford, Jack. 1988. Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World. New York: Fawcett Columbine.

 

Zaslavsky, Claudia. 1990. Africa Counts: Number and Pattern in African Culture. Brooklyn, New York: Lawrence Hill Books.

 

 

Course Requirements

 

      Grades will be based on 3 exams, class attendance, and participation.

 

      Attendance and participation                                 20 points.

      Midterm 1 February 18                                         25

      Midterm 2 April 1                                                25

      Final Exam (Wednesday May 11 1 pm to 3 pm)     30

      Total                                                                100

 

 

The 3 exams include 2 midterms each worth 25 points and a final worth 30 points. The final will include questions from the last section of the course and some extra credit questions from all sections of the course.

 

Office Hours:

 

      Come and discuss issues in the course or any materials you do not understand. My office is Dickson Hall 409, ext. 4133. Email: franker@mail.montclair.edu. You can reach me:

 

                       


Wednesday       10:30–11:15 am

Friday               10:30–11:15 am

…or other times at your request. I am on campus many hours and can be available beyond the official office times listed at left.

TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

 

Date                     Topic

 

Jan 19               Introduction: Why This Course?

                        The Concepts of Western and Nonwestern

 

Jan 21               Ethnocentrism—What It Is and Why Anthropologists Reject It.

 

                        READING: Linton. One Hundred Percent American. To be Handed Out.

 

                        Racism—the Genetic Version of Ethnocentrism and Why Anthropologists Reject It

 

                        Optional Readings:

 

                             Optional readings for all topics in this course are available on line at:

 

                             http://chss.montclair.edu/anthro/ANTH140supplementaryreadings.htm

 

Jan 26               Indian Silver and Gold on the World Market: How Native Americans Fueled the    Modern Economy

 

                        READING: Weatherford, chapters 1–2, pages 1–38.

 

Jan 28               Indian Contributions to Industrial Development

 

                        READING: Weatherford, chapter 3, pages 39-58.

 

Feb 2                The Foods Native Americans Gave Us                              

 

                        READING: Weatherford, chapters 4 and 6, pages 59–78 and 99–116.

 

Each exam will include multiple choice and essay questions. Some essays will be given out as advance study questions. You must write all essays in the blue examination books.

Feb 4                VIDEO—The Columbian Exchange

                         [Sprague Library #2324, Part 6]

 

Feb 9                Farming Technology from the Indians

 

                        READING: Weatherford, chapter 5, pages       79–98.

 

Feb 11              Native American Medicines That Still Save       Our Lives or Ease Our Pain

 

                        READING: Weatherford, chapters 10 and 11, pages 175–216.

 

Feb 16              The Native American Contribution to American Democracy: a Debate

 

                        READING: Weatherford, chapters 7–9, pages 117–174.

Feb 18             FIRST EXAMINATION

 

Feb 23              Peru and the Incas—Mathematical and Scientific Achievements           

 

                        READING: Weatherford, chapters 12–14, pages 217–255.

 

Feb 25              VIDEO—Irrigation in Ancient Peru                            

                        SLIDES—Inca Technology

 

March 2            Pre-Inca Achievements; The Lines at Nazca;

                        Maya Astronomy and Mathematics

 

March 4            The Non-European Origins of Writing

 

March 9            Egypt: The Geographical and Historical Background

                        Video: Ancient Egypt [Sprague Video No. 5267]

    

March 11          Scientific and Architectural, and Mathematical Achievements of Ancient Egypt

                        The Pyramids―Real Ancient Mysteries

 

                        READING: Zaslavsky, chapters 1–2, pages 1–28

 

March 14 to 18           SPRING VACATION

 

March 23          Egyptian Contributions? The Black Athena Debate

 

                        VIDEO: Black Athena [Sprague Library #2389]

 

March 25        Good Friday – NO CLASS

                                                                                    

March 30          The Black Athena Debate—Continued

 

April 1             SECOND EXAMINATION

 

April 6              VIDEO: The Lost City of Zimbabwe [Sprague Library #3034]

 

April 8              Serer Ecology—How to Preserve the Environment   

                        Fulani Medicine and the Origins of Vaccination    

                        Scientific knowledge and political organization in the West African empires of Ghana, Songhay, and Mali.

 

READING: Franke, Richard W. 1987. Power, class and traditional knowledge. In Sahel food production. In I. L. Markovitz, ed. Studies in Power and Class in Africa. New York: Oxford University Press. Pages 257–85. To be distributed.             

April  13           African Influences on American English

 

April  15           African Gifts to Western Music:

 

                        TAPE: Hear Africa’s sounds in Debussy, Dvořàk, Blues, and Rock

 

April 20            African Mathematics: Some of the Earliest Known Human Number Systems

 

                        READING: Zaslavsky, chapters 3–12, pages 29–151

 

April 20            African Architecture and Design

 

                        READING: Zaslavsky, chapters 13–14, pages 155–196

 

                        Powerpoint Presentation: Black Rice – How Africans Taught European Settlers in               North America to grow the first plantation crop.

 

April 22            Powerpoint Presentation: Coffee: An Afro-Arab Contribution to the World

 

April 27            VIDEO: Rise of the Dragon: The Genius That Was China [#2282, Part 1]

 

                        Chinese Agricultural, Engineering, and Industrial Achievements

 

                        READING: Temple, Introduction and Parts 1, 2, and 3; pages 6–13, 15–73.

 

April 29            Chinese Mathematical Achievements and Household Inventions

 

                        READING: Temple, Parts 4 and 6; pages 75–121 and 139–147.

 

May 3               Chinese Medicine, Transportation, and Military Technology

 

                        READING: Temple, Parts 5, 9, and 11: pages 123–137, 173–198, and 215–248

 

                        Note that May 3 is a Tuesday. This particular Tuesday has been designated by the University as a Friday class day. Tuesday, May 3, is the last class day for Anth140 in spring 2005.

 

May 11            Final Examination ― 1:00–3:00 pm

                        College Hall 315

 

 

 

Classroom Courtesy

Professor Richard W. Franke

 

       Please observe the following rules of classroom courtesy. By observing these rules you will help me—the instructor—to provide a better and more interesting course. You will also help yourself and your fellow students to achieve better concentration and therefore to get better grades. I do not curve, so the more you concentrate, the more you learn, and the better your grade, no matter how other students do. So, please—

 

1.     Be in your seat with your notebook open and your pen or pencil ready when the class starts.

 

2.     Do not start packing your materials until class is actually over.

 

3.     Do not eat or drink during class.

 

4.     Turn off all cell phones and pagers.

 

5.     Do not leave the room during class unless you plan to stay out for the period. Use the toilet and the drinking fountain before or after class.

 

6.     Do not whisper, rattle papers, or otherwise distract your fellow students during class, especially during videos or films. If you have seen the film previously and are bored, either try to see something new in it, or leave.

 

7.     Do not ask to discuss your grade or other matters at the beginning of class unless you feel your concerns are relevant to the entire class. In that case, please tell me you feel a public discussion is needed. Otherwise, use my office hours or make an appointment to see me privately.

 

8.     Let me know if special circumstances make it hard for you to follow any of these rules.

 

 

 

If you wish to read my advice about how to study more effectively, or wish to see examples of the kinds of questions typically found on exams for this course, take a look at:

 

Franke, Richard W. 1998. The Anthropology Student Guide to Better Grades. Department of Anthropology. Third edition. [http://chss2.montclair.edu/anthropology/bettergrades.htm]