Social Studies Curriculum

History/Social Sciences Electives

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Adopted January 1999

Humanities of Western Civilization

Course Description:

Humanities of Western Civilizations will explore the roots of western society from the rise of Greece through the formation of modern Europe. In this course, students will examine western history, philosophy, arts, and theology. The contributions of Western culture in the international arena and the effects of these interactions will also be examined.

Students will investigate the following topics in Humanities of Western Civilizations:

• Contributions of the ancient classical civilizations in Greece and Rome
• The role of Western culture in creating democratic traditions
• Scientific and artistic advancements that made up the Renaissance
• The roles that Judaism and Christianity have played in shaping the Western world and beyond

The course title and description have been approved by the Anchorage School Board.  This course outline is meant to serve as an example of one possibility for organizing this class.  It does not represent the only way the course may be organized.  Each course outline has been written by a different teacher so there will be differences in the approach used from one course to another.

Course Goals:

Through this course students will:

• Understand the importance of the contributions of the ancient classical civilizations in Greece and Rome and the role that they have played in shaping the legalistic and philosophical underpinnings of the modern world.
• Recognize the role of Western culture in creating the gradual evolution of democratic traditions as they are presently being practiced both in individual nation states and in the international arena.
• Appreciate the scientific and artistic advancements that made up the Renaissance and the importance of these achievements in creating the environment in which knowledge in a vast number of disciplines was able to progress so rapidly in following years.
• Develop an understanding of the role Judaism and Christianity have played in shaping the institutions, moral fiber, and basic norms of culture in the Western world and beyond.

Course Objectives:

The student will:

• Describe the contributions of the Greeks in the area of philosophy with particular attention to the area of democracy.
• Explain the importance of Alexander the Great in spreading Greek culture during the Hellenistic Age.
• Compare and contrast the arts (visual arts, literature, and theater) in Greece and Rome.
• Trace the roots of religion from Judaism to Christianity.
• Analyze the political transformation of Rome from a republic to an empire, and describe the factors that lead to the fall of the Empire
• Summarize the major events that transpired in Europe with the fall of the Roman Empire.
• Chart the reactions of medieval Europe to the lack of a centralized government paying particular attention to feudalism.
• Explain the role of the Byzantine Empire in preserving Western culture during the Dark Ages.
• Examine the evolution of democratic systems in England starting with the Magna Carta and ending with the creation of Parliament.
• Describe European interactions with the Islam world.
• Summarize the cultural and philosophical underpinnings of the Renaissance, and its effects on Europe during the late Middle Ages.
• Describe the evolution of Christianity that took place during the Reformation, and why it strengthened the role of secular government.
• Analyze the political and economic conditions that lead to world wide colonialism by the Europeans.
• Summarize the contributions of the Enlightenment to science and contemporary thought.
• Compare and contrast the American and French revolutions and their long term effects.
• Describe the role of industrialization on the evolving economic systems in the post 18th century world with particular emphasis on Marxism and capitalism.
• Explain the background for the conflicting political systems of liberalism, democracy, absolutism, and totalitarianism.
• Summarize the motivations for imperialism and drives toward world power in the 19th century.
• Describe the nature of the evolving relationships between colonizers and colonies as the colonial system weakened.
• Explain the causes and effects of the formation of the political alliances that developed in the late 19th century in Europe.
• Analyze the effects of the two world wars on the changing political atmosphere of the West.
• Summarize the major long term effects of the great depression on the European political and economic systems.
• Describe the movements for political unity in Europe that have transpired during the second half of the 20th century.

Course Outline:

1. Rise of Greece
   1. Contributions to civilization
      1. Visual arts
      2. Literature
      3. Theater
      4. Philosophy
2. The Hellenistic world
   1. Rise of Alexander the Great
   2. Effects of his empire
      1. Interactions and effects on conquered civilizations
      2. Administrative and political systems
3. Rise of Rome
   1. Etruscan influences
   2. Expansion of territory
   3. Military and governmental adaptations
   4. Contributions to civilization
      1. Engineering and construction
      2. Visual and performing arts
      3. Literature and linguistics
   5. Influence on religion
   6. Fall of the empire and long term effects of the fall
4. Rise of feudalism as an alternative to centralized government
   1. France
   2. Germany
   3. England
   4. Role of the Roman Catholic Church in medieval governments
5. Expansion of the Eastern sector of the Roman Empire as the Byzantine E.
   1. Preservation of the heritage of Greece and Rome.
   2. Rise of Russia
6. Expansion of civil liberties under the English monarchy
   1. Drafting of the Magna Carta
   2. The Glorious Revolution
   3. Development of a constitutional monarchy
7. The Renaissance
   1. Literature and the arts
   2. Science and medicine
   3. Revival of classical studies and humanism
8. The Reformation
   1. Rise of protestantism
   2. Change and reform within the Roman Catholic Church
   3. Effect on nationalism
9. The Age of exploration
   1. Technological advances the expanded the scope of exploration
   2. Creation of colonial networks through the world
   3. Effects of expansion of trade
10. The enlightenment
    1. Major contributors to the expansion of thought
    2. Advances in science and technology
11. The age of revolutions
    1. American revolution
    2. French revolution
12. The industrial revolution starts in Europe
    1. Changes in economic thought
       1. Capitalism
       2. Marxism
    2. Effects on colonialism
13. Expansion in the realm of political philosophy
    1. Liberalism and democracy
    2. Absolutism and totalitarianism
14. Rise and decline of the imperial powers
    1. Evolution of colonialism into global trade
15. Formation of the major political alliances in Europe
    1. Effects on arms production and military preparedness
    2. Destabilization of the balance of power
16. Effects of the two world wars
    1. The lost generation
       1. Growth in literature, theater, and the arts
    2. Attempts at the formation of a global organizations
    3. Political reorganization in Europe
17. Movements for unification in Europe
    1. Common Market
       1. restructuring of tariffs
    2. European Economic Community

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