Course Description

This course deals with the recurring political, economic, intellectual, diplomatic, and social themes in the history of the Western world from the time of the ancient Greeks until the middle of the seventeenth century.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: none

Additional Details

Western Civilization is a term that is often used but rarely discussed in-depth in the modern world. In this course, we will explore the roots of Western Civilization and seek to start to form an answer as to what it is and is not.  In order to do so, we will look at the Biblical, Greek, and Roman strands of Western Civilization and discuss how they culminated in medieval Europe.  Covering a period of time that stretches from the creation of the world through the Protestant Reformation is daunting, but also provides for invigorating discussion of the intellectual, religious, and political roots of the world we live in today. In addition to reading a textbook and the professor’s lectures, students will also consider primary source documents. A key feature of the course is frequent exchanges between the professor and students as well as student-to-student discussion. Students will take several exams and will write one major paper.