Course Description
This course traces the development of Western civilization from ancient times to the religious wars of the 17th century. It focuses on the rise of civilizations in the Middle East, the influence of classical Greece and Rome, the rise and spread of Christianity and Islam, European society in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the causes and effects of the Protestant and Catholic Reformations. IAI: H2 901.
Prerequisite(s)
Appropriate assessment score or ENGL 1422 with a grade of C or better - Must be taken either prior to or at the same time as this course.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Define and explain important political, economic, social, and intellectual developments from ancient times through the 17th century.
- Distinguish between primary and secondary sources as the foundation of modern historical scholarship.
- Interpret primary sources critically by analyzing their historical contexts.
- Formulate historical interpretations, both orally and in writing, and defend them critically with reference to primary and secondary sources.
- Compare and contrast different political systems and religions and identify ways that they have influenced each other.
Topical Outline
1. The rise of civilizations in the Ancient Near East
2. The culture and politics of ancient Greece and Rome
3. Major ancient Greek philosophers
4. Hellenistic culture
5. The Roman Empire
6. The growth of Christianity in the ancient world
7. The political, religious, and economic development of medieval Europe
8. The Renaissance
9. The Protestant and Catholic Reformations