Course Preparation:

Students are expected read all of the materials in a timely fashion, complete approximately ten pages of written work for each game, and participate actively in the presentations, debates, and discussions. Students enjoy considerable latitude in how and when they fulfill these requirements: this independence and flexibility should not be mistaken for laxity. This course is unusually demanding. Students who fall behind in the reading, writing assignments, or class presentations, or who miss class sessions will find themselves hopelessly lost in many different respects.

Reading:

In addition to the introductory paper handed out in the first class, students should purchase game packets, major texts and supplementary reading texts. Read each game packet in its entirety before the first meeting of that game.

Packets (required):

• The Threshold of Democracy: Athens in 403 B.C. (Longman, 3rd edition)
• Confucianism and the Succession Crisis of the Wanli Emperor (Longman, 3rd edition)

Texts (required):

• Plato, The Republic (Penguin)
• Confucius, The Analects (Penguin)
• Ray Huang, 1587, A Year of No Significance: the Ming dynasty in decline (Yale)
• Robin Osborne, Classical Greece (Oxford)

Supplementary Text:

• Patricia Ebrey, The Cambridge Illustrated History of China

Students will conduct specialized research as necessary for the successful performance of their roles. In writing an essay attacking the democratic pretensions of the Radical Democrats in ancient Athens, for example, a student may wish to discuss Athenian slavery at some length, a subject that is not developed in detail in the game packet or accompanying readings. Although the Internet contains tremendous volumes of data on recent subjects, and even plenty of famous historical texts and documents, what is available online on the subjects of these games is inconsequential compared to the holdings of a major research library, such as the main library of the University of Georgia. Rather than waste time on the internet, where much of what you read will be neither comprehensive nor accurate, we expect that you will visit the main library and consult with a reference librarian for help in researching papers for this class.

Grading:

In grading we will place equal emphasis on classroom performance and written work. Bonus points for performance in the game may be awarded at the discretion of the professors instructing the class.

Questions and Comments:

Feel free to discuss questions, comments or problems with any of the instructors.

This course syllabus is a general plan and may be subject to change.