Butler Community College
Humanities and Social Sciences Division
Tim Myers
Revised Spring 2015
Implemented Fall 2015
COURSE OUTLINE
History of Western Civilization I
Course Description
HS 121. History of Western Civilization I. 3 hours credit. This course will enable
the student to analyze and synthesize facts and concepts from the Paleolithic era
through the rise of early modern Nation States. The student will learn about the
past and be able to apply this knowledge to the present and future through the
use of terminology and application of facts and concepts.
Required Materials
McKay, J. Understanding western societies, Vol. 1 (bundle). Boston: MA.
MacMillan.
For complete textbook information, refer to https://bookstore.butlercc.edu
Supplemental Materials
YourHistoryClass is an on-line LMS that accompanies Understanding western
societies.
Butler-assessed Outcomes
The intention is for the student to be able to:
1. Analyze and synthesize basic historical facts and concepts from the
Paleolithic era through the Rise of Early Modern Nation States using primary
and secondary sources
2. Apply past ideas to current issues
3. Recognize the relationships and connections between civilizations of the
western world and the impact that exchange has played on the modern world
through the MSAT.
Learning PACT Skills that will be developed and documented in this course
Through involvement in this course, the student will develop ability in the
following PACT skill area(s):
Analytical Thinking Skills
Critical thinking - Through written essays, class discussion, and the MSAT, the
student will analyze the connections and relationships between civilizations
and cultures and the impact that exchange has played on the modern world.
Communication Skills
Creation and delivery of messages - Through the MSAT and written essays,
the student will develop effective communication skills.
Technology Skills
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General computer use - Through electronic-facilitated research and preparation
of computer-generated assignments, the student will develop basic computer
skills.
Major Summative Assessment Task(s)
These Butler-assessed Learning Outcomes and the Learning PACT skills will be
demonstrated by:
1. Completing a computer-generated (T skill) critical analysis (A skill) written
essay (C skill). The student will write an essay using and analyzing primary
and/or secondary sources on a topic relevant to the course at the discretion of
the instructor (but a minimum of 3 to 5 pages in length) and be able to explain
how this topic has impacted Western civilization.
Skills or Competencies
Actions that are essential to achieve the course outcomes:
1. Identify facts and concepts relating to learning units
2. Differentiate between primary and secondary sources
3. Provide evidence for the question asked rather than general information on
the overall topic.
Learning Units
Ancient Near East
I. Steps in the rise and development of the first civilizations
A. Requirements of a civilization
B. Characteristics of a mythmaking worldview
II. Significant religious, legal, political, military, and intellectual developments of
Mesopotamia
A. Characteristics of Hammurabi’s law code
B. Significant religious, political, military, and intellectual developments of
Mesopotamia
III. Significant political, religious, intellectual and military developments of Ancient
Egyptian civilization
A. Characteristics of Egyptian religion
B. Significant political, intellectual, and military developments of Ancient
Egyptian civilization
IV. Characteristics of the Hittite Empire, Phoenician society, Aramaean society,
Assyrian Empire, New Babylonian Empire, and Persian Empire
A. Characteristics/components/achievements of the Phoenicians and
Aramaean society
B. Characteristics/components/achievements of the Hittite, Assyrian, NeoBabylonian, and Persian Empires
V. Significant political and religious developments of Hebrew society
A. Hebrew leaders and patriarchs
B. Characteristics/components of ancient Hebrew religion/ancient Judaism
Ancient Greece
I. Characteristics of pre-Classical Greek civilizations
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A. Works (and characters) of Homer
B. Characteristics of Greek religion
II. Economic, intellectual, political and military developments of Sparta and
Athens
A. Characteristics of Spartan society
B. Characteristics of Athenian society and democracy
C. Greek political leaders and institutions
D. Characteristics/beliefs of Sophists
E. Characteristics/beliefs of Socrates
F. Characteristics/beliefs of Plato
G. Characteristics/beliefs of Aristotle
III. Political, social, philosophical, and scientific developments of Hellenistic
Greece
A. Steps/events in the rise of the Hellenistic empire
B. Intellectual achievements in Hellenistic Greece
Ancient Rome
I. Trace the rise, developments and fall of the Roman Republic
A. Characteristics of Roman Republican government
B. Trace the rise, development, and fall of the Roman Republic
II. Political, economic and literary developments of the Pax Romana
A. Political/economic/social achievements of the Pax Romana
B. Cultural and literary achievements of the Pax Romana
III. Trace the rise and fall of the Roman Empire
A. Rise of the Roman Empire
B. The causes of the fall of the Roman Empire
IV. Trace the emergence and spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire
A. Roots of Christianity within Judaism
B. Characteristics/components of Christian scriptures, doctrine and early
beliefs
C. People in the emergence and spread of Christianity
Middle Ages
I. Elements in the rise, fall and legacy of the Byzantine Empire
A. Rise, fall, and legacy of the Byzantine Empire
B. Religious beliefs of Eastern Orthodox
II. Steps in the rise and development of Islam
A. Islamic beliefs
B. Events leading to the emergence and spread of Islam
C. Muslim intellectual accomplishment
III. Events, leaders and characteristics of the Kingdoms of the Goths, AngloSaxons and the Franks and the church of Latin Christendom
A. Reasons Germanic tribes could not maintain Greco-Roman civilization.
B. Roles of the church in Latin Christendom
IV. Characteristics of the social and economic systems of feudalism and
manorialism
A. Reasons leading to the emergence of the systems of feudalism and
manorialism
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B. Culture of knighthood and chivalry
C. Culture of the medieval peasant
V. Political, social, religious, and economic changes in the High Middle Ages
A. The Magna Carta
B. Causes/events/results of the Crusades
C. Characteristics of medieval worldview/philosophy
D. Characteristics of Dante’s Divine Comedy
E. Characteristics of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
VI. Causes and ramifications of political, cultural, religious, social, and economic
decline during the Late Middle Ages
A. Causes/results of the Black Death
B. Causes/results of the Hundred Years’ War
Early Modern Europe
I. Aspects of Renaissance society, culture, and politics
A. Characteristics of Renaissance society and culture
B. Characteristics of Machiavelli’s Prince.
C. Renaissance authors and works
D. Renaissance artists and works
II. Causes/results of the emergence and spread of the Reformation beliefs
A. People involved in the emergence and spread of the Reformation
B. Beliefs of Calvinism/Lutheranism/Anglicanism
III. Aspects of early modern European economies
A. Causes/results of the rise of the slave trade
B. Conditions encouraging investments in early mercantile capitalist Europe
IV. Characteristics of early modern European popular culture and attempts to
reform it
A. Characteristics of early modern European popular culture
B. Results of European witch hunts
V. Aspects of early modern European monarchs’ attempts to consolidate power
in their respective nation-states
A. Requirements for early modern European rulers to consolidate power
within their nation-states
B. Steps in the rise and consolidation of monarchical/centralized power in
France
C. Steps in the rise and consolidation of centralized power in Russia
D. Steps toward the consolidation of power and the development of a
constitutional monarchy in England
Learning Activities
Learning activities will assist the student in achieving the intended learning
outcomes. These activities may include lecture, discussion, homework, group
projects, an individual project, quizzes, exams, and class writings.
Grade Determination
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The student will be graded on completion of assessment tasks, research papers,
tests, daily work, class participation, out-of-class assignments and other methods
of evaluation at the discretion of the instructor.
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