Western Civ. II

Course Description

Tracing the evolution of the West from Late Antiquity through the dawn of the Enlightenment, this course examines how civilization is preserved, transformed, and transmitted across eras. Students will navigate key historical shifts, including the Christianization and fall of the Western Roman Empire, the rise of Islam, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the religious upheaval of the Reformation. The curriculum also addresses the birth of the modern nation-state following the Thirty Years' War and the intellectual breakthroughs of the Scientific Revolution. While tackling a rich narrative of unfamiliar contexts and dense historical timelines, students will ultimately explore how the enduring legacy of Rome and the ancient world continued to shape the institutions and ideals of the modern West.