Foundations of Western Civilization

In this course of 48
lectures, we will explore the essential contours of the human experience in
what has come to be called “Western civilization,” from its humble beginnings
in the ancient Near East to the dawn of the modern world; we will range from
about 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1600. We will begin by asking just what “Western
civilization” is, or what it has been thought to be. Throughout the course, we
will pause to reflect on where Western civilization and its primary locus at
any given moment. That is, we’ll begin in the ancient Near East and move to
Greece, then to Rome; we will explore the shape and impact of large ancient
empires, including the Persian, Alexander the Great’s, and Rome’s. When we take
our leave of Rome, we’ll move to Western Europe. We’ll watch Europe gradually
expand physically and culturally. Finally, we’ll see the globalization of
Western civilization with the Portuguese and Spanish voyages of exploration and
discovery.