Western Civilization I
This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the development of early civilizations from Neolithic times to 1715. Early and contemporary Western cultures are compared and contrasted, as are major religious, social, and political reforms. Other topics include the religious influence of Judaism and the Bible, the rise and fall of ancient Greece, and the transformation of Rome from a republic to an empire. The Crusades, the origins of feudalism, and the evolution of Christianity are examined, as is the evolution of the European economy during Westward expansion. The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment period are also discussed.
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Course Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Identify the major concepts, persons, and events that contributed to the development of early civilizations from Neolithic times to 1715.
- Compare and contrast early and contemporary Western cultures.
- Describe the religious influence of Judaism and the Bible on early Near Eastern political, social, and economic organization.
- Explain the rise, fall, and legacy of Ancient Greece.
- Describe the transformation of Rome from a republic to an empire.
- Examine the secularization of religious authority to develop a deeper understanding of the political underpinnings of the Medieval world.
- Explain how the Crusades contributed to the establishment of a stable political order in the Western World.
- Define and describe the origins of feudalism.
- Compare and contrast the major religious, social, and political reforms that contributed to the rise of Papal Supremacy in the late Middle Ages.
- Describe the evolution of Christianity during the Reformation.
- Explain the evolution of the European economy during westward expansion.
- Explain both the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment.
Topic | Topic Title | Subtopics | Objectives |
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1 | Early Civilizations and the Ancient World |
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2 | Classical Greece |
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3 | The Hellenistic World |
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4 | The Rise of Rome |
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5 | The Roman Empire |
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6 | The Early Middle Ages |
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7 | Islam in the Medieval World |
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8 | The Restoration of Order |
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9 | The Crusades |
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10 | The Late Middle Ages |
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11 | The Renaissance |
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12 | The Reformation of the Church |
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13 | The New World |
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14 | The Age of Revolution |
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15 | Review Topic |
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There are no prerequisites to take Western Civilization I.
The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost. More information on StraighterLine eTextbooks
Prefer the hard copy? Simply purchase from your favorite textbook retailer; you will still get the eTextbook for free.

The West in the World, Fifth Edition, prompts students to take an active, analytical approach to understanding history and historical change. Readers will come to appreciate that history does not happen in isolation but rather is the consequence of a complex set of intersecting events, forces, and human actions among which there are cause-and-effect links that extend into the present day. As it compellingly tells the story of Western civilization, The West in the World encourages a critical examination and analysis of major events and themes. The fifth edition retains the medium length of previous editions, long enough to present a comprehensive, rich narrative but concise enough to give instructors the flexibility to supplement reading with other sources and books.
Sherman, Dennis and Salisbury, Joyce. The West in the World, 5th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2014, ISBN: 9780073407036.
StraighterLine provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.
If you have chosen a Partner College to award credit for this course, your final grade will be based upon that college's grading scale. Only passing scores will be considered by Partner Colleges for an award of credit.
There are a total of 1000 points in the course:
Topic | Assessment | Points Available |
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4 | Graded Exam 1 | 125 |
7 | Graded Exam 2 | 125 |
7 | Midterm Exam | 200 |
11 | Graded Exam #3 | 125 |
14 | Graded Exam #4 | 125 |
15 | Final Graded Exam | 300 |
Total | 1000 |
Final Proctored Exam
The final exam is developed to assess the knowledge you learned taking this course. All students are required to take an online proctored final exam in order complete the course and be eligible for transfer credit.
Learn more about Proctored Exams
This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the development of early civilizations from Neolithic times to 1715. Early and contemporary Western cultures are compared and contrasted, as are major religious, social, and political reforms. Other topics include the religious influence of Judaism and the Bible, the rise and fall of ancient Greece, and the transformation of Rome from a republic to an empire. The Crusades, the origins of feudalism, and the evolution of Christianity are examined, as is the evolution of the European economy during Westward expansion. The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment period are also discussed.