Sun disk chariot, Denmark, 1800-1600 BCE*

Western Culture 101.01

Beginnings to 900 C.E.

Study Links for Readings

See also: Syllabus

Instructor:  M. Prevo

Schedule and Requirements

Topics and Readings

EARLY HUMANS
Homo erectus to Homo sapiens
Language and art
Becoming Human

PALEOLITHIC HUMANS
Chauvet, France
Caves of Lascaux, France

NEOLITHIC HUMANS
Çatal Hüyük, Turkey
Stonehenge,  Britian

MESOPOTAMIA/EGYPT
Ur, Iraq
Saqqara, Egypt

GENESIS, The Bible
Babylon, Iraq
Palace at Nimrud, Iraq

HOMER, THE ILIAD
Mycenae, Greece
Troy, Turkey

SOPHOCLES, OEDIPUS
Theatre of Dionysus, Athens, Greece

PLATO, THE APOLOGY
The Acropolis/Parthenon, Athens                   Persepolis, Iran

AUGUSTUS
Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome

GOSPEL OF MARK

AUGUSTINE, CONFESSIONS

ISLAM/BYZANTIUM
Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem
Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey)

EINHARD, CHARLEMAGNE
Imperial Palace and Chapel, Aachen, Germany

First questions

Why?

• "Since liberally educated people and good citizens must have an understanding and appreciation of their culture (that which has made them what they are) Hampden-Sydney College requires that all students complete a three-semester sequence of courses on Western Culture."

How?

• These courses investigate the events, people, and ideas that have shaped western civilization. The Western Culture courses are interdisciplinary in nature and provide an overview of the western experience-its history, religion, philosophy, literature, and arts, from its roots in the early civilizations of the Middle East to the present day.--Hampden-Sydney College, Western Culture
• Interdisciplinary?  What disciplines?

What?

• Common topics and events are civilization in the Fertile Crescent, the rise of Athens and democracy, the Roman Empire and its aftermath, Hebrew culture, and the rise of Christianity. Common texts are Homer, Iliad (selections); Sophocles, Oedipus The King; Plato, Apology; Genesis (selections) and one gospel (selections); Augustine, Confessions (selections). For specifics, see sidebar.  To these requirements I add a reading from Ancient Rome and the Early Middle Ages.

Where?

• We often make assumptions that we are all talking about the same thing.  Take a moment to write down what the "west" in Western Culture means to you.

To what end?  Here are the outcomes assessment goals for the Western Culture Core: 

Goal 1--Students will demonstrate familiarity with (a) historical events and (b) intellectual issues of Western Culture.

Goal 2--Students will develop their ability to read and analyze important texts and artifacts, such as music, art and architecture, produced throughout the sweep of their culture’s history.

Goal 3--Students will learn to explore in class discussions and written assignments questions provoked by their study of events as well as texts. 

Goal 4--Students will demonstrate an understanding of historical events and cultural achievements as products of their time and as precursors of the present.

Goal 5--Students will demonstrate an understanding of the connections between the events and achievements of the past and the way we live now.

Goal 6--Students will articulate the value of the course for them.

First Assignment:

1. What is the difference between culture and civilization? Get a dictionary definition of each word.  Think about it and come to class ready to talk about an answer.
2. Where does the text think our topic starts (Hunt, The Making of the West)?
3. What does our text think our topic includes (Hunt)

   Hint:  2 and 3 can be answered by skimming the table of contents of the text.

Supplemental reading for those who are interested:

Human evolution from Homo Erectus to Homo Sapiens Sapiens.