HIS-109 is Southern New Hampshire University's survey of Western history from antiquity to the discovery of the New World.
The catalog says students examine the ancient world, Greece, Rome, the European medieval period and the Italian Renaissance. It also marks the course as writing intensive and required for history majors and social studies education majors with a history concentration.
The scope is wide, so the real task is choosing what matters and building arguments, not covering everything.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
| Course code | HIS-109 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Credits | 3 |
| Format note | Writing intensive |
| Subject area | Ancient and medieval European history |
| Typical work | Essays, source analyses and discussions |
What HIS-109 Covers
| Period | Themes you can expect to explore |
|---|---|
| The ancient world | Early states, law, religion and early writing |
| Greece | City-states, citizenship, philosophy and conflict |
| Rome | Republic, empire, administration and decline |
| Medieval Europe | Feudal society, the Church, towns and crises |
| Italian Renaissance | Humanism, art, city politics and new learning |
Your course materials set the exact readings and emphasis; this table follows the periods named in the catalog.
Key Concepts Explained
Continuity and Change
Historians ask what stayed the same and what changed across a period. A strong essay on Rome might argue that republican institutions persisted in form under the empire even as real power shifted.
Cause and Consequence
Events rarely have a single cause. Separate long-term conditions from immediate triggers, and rank them if you can.
Worked example: "Why did the Roman Republic fall?" A weak answer lists many reasons. A stronger one groups them (political rivalry, military loyalty to generals, social strain), argues which carried most weight, and uses a named source or event for each.
Writing-Intensive Expectations
Writing-intensive means your writing is part of what is assessed. Clear thesis statements, organized paragraphs and accurate citations carry real weight, so allow time to revise.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Essays | Argument and evidence across a period | Make a specific claim and support it with named events and sources |
| Primary source analysis | Interpreting ancient or medieval texts | Identify author, audience and purpose first |
| Discussion | Engagement with ideas | Link a source to a theme and answer a peer's point |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Too much to cover. Choose a theme and follow it through.
- Dates without argument. A chronology is not an essay.
- Anachronism. Judge people by their own world first.
- Weak sourcing. Use scholarly works and cite primary texts properly.
Revision and Writing Plan
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Timeline | Build one page covering all five periods |
| 2. Themes | Pick three themes, such as power, belief and trade |
| 3. Evidence bank | Note two examples per theme per period |
| 4. Draft | Write thesis, three body points, conclusion |
| 5. Revise | Check each paragraph begins with its main point |
What a Strong Essay Looks Like
Because the course is writing intensive, essay quality carries weight. The table shows common differences between weaker and stronger essays.
| Weaker response | Stronger response |
|---|---|
| Narrates a period in order | Argues a claim about the period |
| Lists causes | Ranks causes and explains the ranking |
| Uses generic examples | Uses named events, people and sources |
| Long paragraphs with several ideas | One idea per paragraph, opening with its main point |
A Second Illustration
Invented prompt: "How did Christianity change life in medieval Europe?" A strong essay defines the area it will cover, such as everyday religious practice, institutions or learning, argues that one of them changed most, and supports the claim with a source from each.
Before You Submit
Writing-intensive courses mark the writing itself, so give your draft a final check.
- Does the thesis answer the prompt directly?
- Does each paragraph open with its main point?
- Are names, dates and terms accurate?
- Have you cited primary and secondary sources consistently?
- Have you read the essay aloud once for clarity?
Leaving the draft overnight before the final read often reveals clumsy sentences that were invisible when you wrote them.
Where HIS-109 Fits in the Program
HIS-109 is the first half of SNHU's Western civilization pair, with HIS-110 covering the period since 1500. The catalog says it is required for history majors and social studies education majors with a history concentration.
Because it is writing intensive, you can expect the essays here to set the standard for later history writing. Learn from the first piece of feedback: a clear thesis, evidence and citation habits formed now will carry forward.
Make use of SNHU's writing resources and library guides for citation help, rather than leaving formatting to the end.
Study Tips for HIS-109
- Use maps to place events; geography explains a lot.
- Compare two societies side by side in a table.
- Keep quotations short and always explain them.
- Check your essay against the rubric before submitting.
How We Help with HIS-109
Send the prompt, readings, rubric and any draft. We can explain historical context, help shape a thesis, prepare a custom essay for study, or review your draft for argument, evidence and citation style.
Work you submit must be your own under SNHU's academic integrity policy. GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with Southern New Hampshire University.
Make Sense of HIS-109
Share the prompt, readings and feedback. We prepare a custom essay you can study and compare with your own.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The ancient world, Greece, Rome, the European medieval period and the Italian Renaissance.
Yes, the catalog marks it as a Writing Intensive Course.
SNHU's catalog lists 3.
The catalog says majors in history and social studies education with a concentration in history.
The catalog also lists HIS-110, Western Civilization Since 1500.
Yes. We can help with thesis, structure, evidence and citations.