HIS-1010 Western Civilization I
This course is the first semester of a two-semester survey of the history of Western societies, institutions, and ideas, and the impact they have had on global culture over time. Starting with the emergence of a European civilization that was distinct from the classical world on whose foundations it was partly built, this course traces the major developments in the formation of Western civilization to the final defeat of Napoleon in 1815. Western Civilization I offers a broad overview of events that played an important role in shaping the development of western thought, culture, and tradition as we know them today. The course synthesizes various approaches to the telling of history by focusing on political as well as social events. Integrating such diverse disciplines as religion, government, and economics, it aims to provide a foundation of knowledge that will allow students to better understand the origins of social, political, and religious institutions of the present day.