HIST 101 - Western Civilization to 1648 (GEKH)
A topical survey of western civilization from its Greco-Roman origins to the 17th century. Cultural development and institutional growth are emphasized. Greco-Roman contributions, the Judeo-Christian heritage, Byzantine and Islamic cultures, European expansion and militarism, the Renaissance and the Reformation are among the major topics considered.
Credit Hours: 3 hrs
Terms Offered: Fall, Winter and Summer
History 101 explores the cultural development of Western Europe from the classical world through the religious reformation of the sixteenth century, through the examination of literary, philosophical and religious texts. Students in this class will be given a solid grounding in the major political and social developments of the civilizations that flourished across Europe and the Mediterranean prior to 1648. This context will prepare them to explore various literary, philosophical and religious texts, to understand how they were both products of their age and powerful shapers of their cultures. Many texts will reflect how political and social power was structured and projected, and these texts will offer students ample opportunity to reflect upon issues of class, gender and race. Through an exploration of philosophical and religious writings students will gain an understanding of how men and women in various western societies viewed human nature and attempted to make sense out of good and evil, life and death. Students will leave this course having gained an appreciation for the past cultures of Western Europe and will have developed a sensitivity to the dynamic interplay between social and cultural institutions and values, and the writing and thought produced within the framework of those values and institutions.
Last Updated: Course Rotation 1/15
Winter 2025 Course Sections
Fall 2024 Course Sections
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