Western Civilization

his course is a survey of Western Civilization. The fall semester will begin in Ancient Greece and travel through history until roughly the seventeenth-century.  The spring semester will begin with the American and French Revolutions and travel through history until roughly the Cold War Era. Although this is a survey it is important that we examine the primary sources. We will not simply learn names and dates, but rather how Western civilization was formed ideologically through philosophy, theology, politics, et cetera.  The secondary source or textbook will be used to create a canvas for the historical landscape needed to root the issues and ideas we discuss and write about within the primary sources.

Students may register for the full year course or for either semester as a stand-alone class.

Fall Semester:
Readings will include, but are not limited to: Plato’s Trial and Death of Socrates, Cicero's Catilinarian Orations, Lucan's Pharsalia, as well excerpts from Livy's From the Founding of the City and Augustine's Confessions.

Spring Semester:
Readings will include, but are not limited to: Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Politics, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Machiavelli's The Prince, Hobbes's Leviathan, The Federalist Papers, Marx's Communist Manifesto, and Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morals.

Dual Enrollment:
This course may be taken either as a high school level history class or for dual enrollment credit through the University of St. Katherine.  High school students taking the course for dual enrollment credit will have additional reading and writing assignments and upon completion the University will issue the student a transcript with 3 college credits per semester. USK credits are transferable to other colleges and universities.

"This is my son's favorite class.  I’ve seen his discussion and writing abilities grow so much with this class. Thank you!"
- Carla E., Washington