Discovery: The History, Politics, and Future of Human Exploration

Transcription

1 GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES Fall 2014 Time and Location: Wednesdays, 5:20 to 7:50 pm, classroom TBA Discovery: The History, Politics, and Future of Human Exploration Overview This course uses an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating the sciences and the humanities, to explore the history and future of human exploration and discovery. It begins with the most distant story we can tell of early Homo sapiens venturing out of Africa some 60,000 years ago and ends with our reach into space speculating on the future of human discovery. What are the catalysts for human beings to leave one place for another into the unknown? Often this has come as a response to climate changes, disasters, disease, and/or changes in food sources. In other cases the movement is caused by human conflict, seeking out new wealth and trade, or the development of a new technology that reduces the risks of travel. On some occasions the impetus has been simple human curiosity. In most cases these movements have had lasting effects on human politics and culture. This course takes a global approach in some cases literally out of this world to study the causes and effects of these human journeys. It also looks to the future to all that has not yet been explored to answer where we might go next and what impacts this may have. Texts include scientific studies, historical narratives, and primary source documents. This is a hybrid (i.e., combination of in-person and online meetings) and a non-western course. NASA Faculty Mark M. Gray, Ph.D. Research Associate Professor Georgetown University and the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) Office Hours: Thursday 5-6 p.m. and by appointment Telephone: ; mmg34@georgetown.edu 1

2 Learning Objectives After completing this course a student should be able to: 1. Utilize physical anthropology and biology to understand evolution and mobility of early humans and their biological ancestors 2. Conceptualize the importance of climate change, disaster, food source issues, and disease in human migrations 3. Describe the circular connection between technological development and discovery cultures 4. Explain economic and political motivations behind human journeys of discovery 5. Describe cultural and political problems arising from migration and contact between civilizations 6. Compare travel literatures to historical experience. Describe the impact of travel narratives on popular cultures 7. Explain the development of colonial systems and international slavery as well as the historical, social, and economic consequences arising from these institutions 8. Compare and contrast the history of human explorations undersea and in air/space. Describe the impact of military conflict on the development of undersea and air/space technologies 9. Describe the cultural importance of pseudo-journeys (e.g., in digital worlds, transcendental experiences through meditation or medication) 10. Demonstrate the linkages between trade and travel historically and in the present day 11. Compare the science fiction of space exploration to the real challenges posed by physics and human biology 12. Map out visions of the future of human explorations Textbooks (required) The Incredible Human Journey: The Story of How We Colonised the Planet Alice Roberts Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (April 5, 2010) ISBN-10: / ISBN-13: Pathfinders: A Global History of Exploration Felipe Fernández-Armesto W. W. Norton & Company (October 17, 2007) ISBN-10: / ISBN-13: Encounters in World History: Sources and Themes from the Global Past, Volume One & Two Thomas Sanders, Samuel Nelson, Stephen Morillo, and Nancy Ellenberger McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; (April 21 and May 10, 2005) Vol. I: ISBN-10: / ISBN-13: Vol. II: ISBN-10: / ISBN-13: Mankind Beyond Earth: The History, Science, and Future of Human Space Exploration Claude A. Piantadosi Columbia University Press (January 1, 2013) ISBN-10: / ISBN-13: Note: Additional journal articles are discussed in the course and available on JSTOR. These are noted in the course schedule by week and listed at the end of the syllabus. 2

3 Grading The final grade will be determined as follows: 93% to 100% = A, 90% to 92% = A- 87% to 89% = B+, 83% to 86% = B, 80% to 82% = B- 77% to 79% = C+, 73% to 76% = C, 70% to 72% = C- 67% to 69% = D+, 63% to 66% = D, Below 62% = F Grades will be based on a combination of assignments, an exam, and a project/paper: Class assignments represent 20% of your overall grade. One exam will be given at the end of the semester gauging your grasp of the material. This is 25% of your grade. The examination is open-book and open-note. The centerpiece of the course is a research project. These can be done individually (single-investigator) or in groups (i.e., co-investigators). The topic will be determined by you or your group in consultation with your professor. This project must focus on a non-western topic (note: this could include the experiences and impacts of Europeans in the non-western world). Each project will be summarized in a research paper. Throughout the semester we will be discussing and developing these projects together as a class. Results will be presented at the end of the semester in an informal presentation session. This presentation and other in-class participation will account for 15% of your grade. The final paper should consist of a minimum of 3,000 words. 1 This is worth 40% of your grade (due by Dec 22 through electronic submission). Plagiarism & the Georgetown Honor System The sources for all information and ideas in your papers must be documented using the style followed by the American Psychological Association (APA). In addition, all quotations must be identified as quotations, using quotation marks and documentation of the source of the quotation. Anything less than these standards is plagiarism and will be treated as such. Plagiarized work will be reported to Georgetown s Honor Council (see below). If the council finds that the work has been plagiarized, the work will receive an F for a first offense; a second plagiarism will earn an F for the course. All students are expected to follow Georgetown s honor code unconditionally. We assume you have read the honor code material located at and in particular have read the following documents: Honor Council Pamphlet, What is Plagiarism?, Sanctioning Guidelines, and Expedited Sanctioning Process. Submitting material in fulfillment of the requirements of this course means that you have abided by the Georgetown honor pledge: In the pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life, I commit myself to respect and uphold the Georgetown Honor System: To be honest in any academic endeavor, and to conduct myself honorably, as a responsible member of the Georgetown community, as we live and work together. Disabilities If you are a student with a disability who requires accommodations or if you think you may have a disability and want to inquire about accommodations, please contact the Academic Resource Center at or arc@georgetown.edu. 1 The paper should use a 12-point Times New Roman font and be double spaced with standard margins (1 top and bottom and 1.25 left and right). With these parameters a 3,000 word paper will be approximately 10 pages in length 3

4 Attendance, snow and other emergencies During inclement weather or other emergencies, check or call (202) for information on whether the university is open. We have nine in-person class meetings together and five online sessions via Blackboard. Attendance in class for in-person meetings is very important. If you are going to be missing a class please let the instructor know ahead of time. You are responsible for obtaining course material missed during any absence. Consistent with the policies of the Liberal Studies program, having two or more absences may result in failure of the course. Online courses are intended to be viewed live and students to participate through Blackboard. However, these will also be recorded for those who may miss one of these sessions. Note that no participation credit will be given to sessions not viewed live and this would be considered an absence. Course Schedule Class Distant Journeys Sept. 3: I. Introduction: George Bailey, Walter Mitty, and Rockwell s Crackers in Bed ; II. The Unremembered Journey Out of Africa: Physical Anthropology, Human Origin, and Migration Sept. 10: I. Ancient Seas: Early Asian and European Explorers; II. On Ancient Roads; III. Growing Empires and War; IV. Encounters with the Other Sept. 17 (online): I. Exploration in Early Literature; II. Spread of Salvation Religions: Evangelization and Pilgrimage Classical Explorations Sept. 24 (online): I. Europeans Meet New Worlds ; II. Globalization and the Spread of Disease Oct. 1: Theater of the Mind: The impact of the printing press in Asia and Europe, expanding literacy, and the travel/quest tale Oct. 8: Frontiers: Colonialism and culture clash around the world; International slavery Oct. 15 (online): I. Enlightenment age and travel technology; II. Emergence of global capital markets, commodities, and trade Topics, readings, and assignments Readings: Roberts, Chs. 1-3; Sanders I, Ch. 1; Ward article Media discussion: The Incredible Human Journey Readings: Roberts, Chs. 4-5; Sanders I, Chs. 5 and 7; Chang-Qun article Media discussion: Tower of Babel Assignment: Personal Travel Diary and Map Readings: Fernández-Armesto, Chs. 1-2; Sanders I, Chs. 8-9, 10 (pgs ); Christian and Davies articles Media discussion: The Art of War, Journey to Mecca: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta, Arabian Nights Readings: Fernández-Armesto, Ch. 3; Sanders I, Chs ; Zumthor and McGhee articles Media discussion: The New World, Apocalypto Readings: Fernández-Armesto, Ch. 4; Sanders II, Ch. 1; Clanchy and McElroy articles Media discussion: Life and Voyages of Columbus, Gulliver s Travels Readings: Fernández-Armesto, Ch. 5; Sanders II, Chs. 2-3; Wheeler article Media discussion: The Mission, Amistad Assignment: Essay: Cultural Importance of Travel Literature Readings: Fernández-Armesto, Ch. 6; Sanders II, Chs. 4 and 6 Media discussion: Moby Dick, The Voyage of the Beagle, Two Years Before the Mast 4

5 Modern Explorations Oct. 22: I. A New World Below: Under the seas; II. The National Geographic Generation; III. Travel in the Industrial Age Oct. 29: I. Dawn of Flight: balloons, dirigibles, gliders, and planes; II. World at War Nov. 5 (online): I. Race to the Poles: North and South; II. World at War, cont. Nov. 12: Other Modern Journeys : Quantum worlds, birth of the vacation, ideas of afterlife, and tripping out Journeys Ahead Nov. 19: The Final Frontier?: Early journeys into space; International competition and the Space Race Nov. 26 (online): I. Second Lives: Traveling in digital worlds; II. Post-modern Globalization Dec. 3: What s Next?: The global race to get off the planet; Presentation discussions TBA: Final Exam meeting Readings: Fernández-Armesto, Ch. 7; Sanders II, Ch. 7; Roland and Corbin articles Media discussion: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in Eighty Days Readings: Fernández-Armesto, Ch. 8; Sanders II, Ch. 9; van Muffling article Media discussion: Wings, High Road to China Readings: Fernández-Armesto, Ch. 9; Sanders II, Ch. 8 and 12; Amundsen article Media discussion: Lawrence of Arabia, Seven Years in Tibet Assignment: Discovery/Travel Film Review Readings: Piantadosi, Intro & Chs.1-2; McLaughlin article Media discussion: The Elegant Universe, Altered States, Flatliners Readings: Piantadosi, Chs. 3-5; Koman article Media discussion: A Trip to the Moon, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Communion, Gravity Readings: Piantadosi, Chs. 6-10; Sanders II, Ch. 8 and 12; Stone article Media discussion: The Matrix, Digital Nation, Plato s Allegory of the Cave Assignment: Essay: Future of Space Travel Readings: Piantadosi, Chs ; Fong article Presentations Exam during scheduled time of finals week; Paper due by Dec. 22 (electronic submission) Journal Articles to Be Discussed in Class (sequential order; all available on JSTOR) Ward, Carol The Evolution of Human Origins in American Anthropologist, Vol. 105, No. 1, (Mar., 2003), pp Chang-Qun, Duan, Gan Xue-Chun, Jeanny Wang, and Paul K. Chien Relocation of Civilization Centers in Ancient China: Environmental Factors in Ambio, Vol. 27, No. 7 (Nov., 1998), pp Christian, David Silk Roads or Steppe Roads? The Silk Roads in World History in Journal of World History, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Spring, 2000), pp Davies, Hugh E. H Designing Roman Roads in Britannia, Vol. 29 (1998), pp Zumthor, Paul and Catherine Peebles The Medieval Travel Narrative in New Literary History, Vol. 25, No. 4, 25th Anniversary Issue (Part 2) (Autumn, 1994), pp

6 McGhee, Robert Contact between Native North Americans and the Medieval Norse: A Review of the Evidence in American Antiquity, Vol. 49, No. 1 (Jan., 1984), pp Clanchy, M.T Looking Back from the Invention of Printing in The Quarterly Journal of the Library of Congress, Vol. 39, No. 3 (SUMMER 1982), pp McElroy, John Harmon The Integrity of Irving's Columbus in American Literature, Vol. 50, No. 1 (Mar., 1978), pp Wheeler, Valerie Travelers' Tales: Observations on the Travel Book and Ethnography in Anthropological Quarterly, Vol. 59, No. 2, Ethnographic Realities/Authorial Ambiguities (Apr., 1986), pp Roland, Alex Bushnell's Submarine: American Original or European Import? in Technology and Culture, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Apr., 1977), pp van Muffling, Adrian Human Flight throughout the Ages in Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 131, Aviation (May, 1927), pp Amundsen, Roald Amundsen's Expedition to the South Pole in Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, Vol. 44, No. 11 (1912), pp McLaughlin, Steven A. and H. Newton Malony Near-Death Experiences and Religion: A Further Investigation in Journal of Religion and Health, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Summer, 1984), pp Koman, Rita G Man on the Moon: The U.S. Space Program as a Cold War Maneuver in Organization of American Historians (OAH) Magazine of History, Vol. 8, No. 2, Rethinking the Cold War (Winter, 1994), pp Stone, Richard A New Dawn for China's Space Scientists in Science, New Series, Vol. 336, No (29 June 2012), pp , Fong, Kevin The Next Small Step in BMJ: British Medical Journal, Vol. 329, No (Dec , 2004), pp