Western Civilization I Course Structure

ANCIENT NEAR EAST: 8-10%

The Fertile Crescent is known as the cradle of civilization whose region includes the modern-day countries of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine Egypt, and parts of Turkey and Iran.

• Political evolution
• Religion, culture, and technical developments in and near the Fertile Crescent

ANCIENT GREECE and HELLENISTIC CIVILIZATION: 15-17%

Ancient Greece has heavily influenced Western cultures in the areas of politics, philosophy, the arts, literature, science and language. Its legacy is foundational to European civilization.

• Political evolution to Periclean Athens
• Periclean Athens through the Peloponnesian Wars
• Culture, religion, and thought of Ancient Greece
• The Hellenistic political structure
• The culture, religion, and thought of Hellenistic Greece

ANCIENT ROME: 15-17%

Ancient Rome was a civilization that rose along the Italian Peninsula, centered on the city of Rome. Its Empire was one of the largest of the ancient world, encompassing much of Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa.

• The political evolution of the Republic and of the Empire (economic and geographical context)
• Roman thought and culture
• Early Christianity
• The Germanic invasions
• The late empire

MEDIEVAL HISTORY: 23-27%

The Middle Ages are commonly dated from the fall of the Roman Empire to the 15th century. It is marked by the rise of power of the Catholic Church and feudalism.

• Byzantium and Islam
• Early medieval politics and culture through Charlemagne
• Feudal and manorial institutions
• The medieval Church
• Medieval thought and culture
• Rise of the towns and changing economic forms
• Feudal monarchies
• The late medieval church

RENAISSANCE and REFORMATION: 13-17%

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that heavily influenced literature, philosophy, the arts, politics, science and religion. The Protestant Reformation began as a schism from the Roman Catholic Church and directly changed the politics and power structures throughout Europe.

• The Renaissance in Italy
• The Renaissance outside Italy
• The New Monarchies
• Protestantism and Catholicism reformed and reorganized

EARLY MODERN EUROPE, 1560-1648: 10-15%

The early modern period in European history saw the rise of secularized civic politics and the nation-state.

• The opening of the Atlantic
• The Commercial Revolution
• Dynastic and religious conflicts
• Thought and culture