I wouldn't say this was an easy class because I had to put in a lot of work to get an A. However, even though I'm not remotely interested in history, I enjoyed this class because Professor Langdon was an engaging lecturer and was very passionate about the topics in the class (especially Roman history).

Materials you need for the class:
1. Required textbooks: you'll need about five in total (a main history book that supplements his lessons and four books for primary sources. The ones listed in this Bruinwalk are pretty much the ones we used in class).

2. Required course reader: this is the most important material you need in the class. If you don't have it, it's very difficult to follow what he's saying and to take note of all the details he mentions in class (he doesn't use slides). Everything you need to know in the class is in the course reader, and most of the details there are what he would expect you to write down during the exam. During lecture, he would draw on the concepts on the course reader and offer a more detailed explanation of it, often tying it with other concepts and bigger themes in the class. Halfway through the quarter, I just used the reader and the primary sources (for discussion and the paper) and did not use the supplemental book he often asks us to read, since he usually mentions everything you need to know.

3. No clickers needed. Lecture is simply you listening to him talk, and discussion is you discussing the primary source you have to read for that week.

Exams/Research Paper:
1. You have one research paper for the class that's about 4 pages long double-spaced. You'll be given plenty of time (we were given the prompt around week 6 or earlier and it was due around week 9) and you get a lot of help from your TA. I had a good TA (s/o to Chris), so it wasn't as stressful.

2. We had one midterm and then the final. Both are pretty much structured the same way, and to me this was the most stressful part of the class. The exam is all written parts, and you don't really have any idea what the prompt might be, so the best way to study is to cover as much topics as you can. From what I remember, you will have:
- 3-5 identification questions where he gives you a list of notable figures and you have to explain their significance in like 2-3 sentences.
- 2 compact paragraphs where you are given a topic to write about (about a paragraph long)
- and 2 essay questions (probably 12 sentences or longer)

You get a lot of choices for all parts. I remember for the ID questions you get about 10 or more figures to choose from, though the catch is that some of the terms might be like "Person A AND Person B" and that counts as one term, so you have to mention both in your answers (if you know one but not the other, you'll be marked down). For the paragraph and essay prompts, you get about 4 choices for each part, all of which cover different areas of the material so sometimes it's okay to not know everything. The most important part is to connect your answers with bigger themes in the class (ie. "There is truth in folklore" or the Ibn Khaldun Law) as the prompt will also be centered around that.

You'll have to memorize a lot of information especially when the final comes around, but if you're on top of your readings it shouldn't be that bad. I wasn't, so I had to cram a lot and it was pretty horrible lol

Your TA will grade all of your work. This is probably better than him grading because he looks for very specific answers sometimes, and at one point in class he was saying that if he had to grade our work we'd probably get a lower grade than what our TAs gave us (they were very generous).

I'd take a class with him again because he's an engaging professor and I enjoyed his class. I miss the fun lectures, but not the workload.

Good luck anyhow. If I can do it, so can you!

Currently selling the course reader (VERY IMPORTANT FOR CLASS!) for this class along with 2 other textbooks required! Text me at **********

Selling the course reader for this class (it is essential) for $30! Text me at ********** if you want to buy it

Take it! I took it over a year ago and still find it so valuable! You see, when Langdon tells you history he embeds little life lessons we can gain from it within his words. He never does it directly but you can just tell by how he explains the subject.

Honestly, not the easiest class and he does expect a lot. But did you go to UCLA for a number or for an education? It's been a while and I still use those hidden lessons. Truth in Folklore!

The class was difficult. If you're looking for an easy GE, this is definitely not it. Or I suppose the issue is that if you're not a history person, this class probably isn't for you. And even if you are a history person, my friend actually adores history and said she wish she had taken a different class. There was just too much content that Prof. Langdon was trying to cover in too little time.
The exams were very difficult in the sense that they required too much detail. It's a great set up in the way that he provides multiple things you can choose from to answer, but the grading was very harsh. I provided immense amounts of detail and was still marked off points.
The readings are a little heavy, both in terms of content and quantity. The weekly assignments are really simple, though. And the paper is made very simple by Langdon and the TAs--the system forces you not to procrastinate, which I found very helpful.
Go to the review sessions that Langdon holds before each exam! They're helpful. Unfortunately, I was never able to attend either because my discussion for the class itself was during that time. But Prof. Langdon was very kind and provided an audio recording! He is a very, very kind man. And he does want to help you succeed. The class is just tough.

I'm selling Classics of Western Thought, The Life of Charlemagne, The Twelve Caesars, and The Western Experience. Text me if you are interested: **********.

Selling course reader & Introduction to Western Civilization
Text me **********

This class is a very hard GE, but if you are a history major or really interested in history, you'll learn a lot in this class. Dr. Langdon is extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

Professor Langdon is a great teacher! But this is a tough GE. Not an easy A, so don't take it if that is what you are looking for. But his lectures are very engaging and he really cares about each student. All the readings are necessary because they appear on the final exam essay question. The course reader is your LIFE!

I'm selling Classics of Western Thought for $20. Text me **********.

The course reader is your life in this class. All of his lectures are hand written in the course reader. This is a hard GE, covering more than 4000 years, but worth it because Langdon relates a lot of the course back to present day. I would take the class if you want to learn more, not a "easy" GE though.

SELLING Einhard and Course Reader (that's two years old but is still usable for the the class, it has annotations, highlights, and key notes I jotted down for the class. )All for $20. Text me at **********