Brief History of Western Brief History of Western CivilizationCivilization

World Lit IIWorld Lit II

Classical Age: Ancient Greece Classical Age: Ancient Greece 1200BC-300BC: 1200BC-300BC:

from Kings, to from Kings, to Democracies, to EmperorsDemocracies, to Emperors

The Height: The Height: Alexander the Great Alexander the Great (336BC-323BC):(336BC-323BC):

Founding of Alexandria Founding of Alexandria and burning of Persepolisand burning of Persepolis

Campaign as far as IndiaCampaign as far as India Rules as a divine, absolute Rules as a divine, absolute

monarchmonarch

Classical Age – the Roman Classical Age – the Roman EmpireEmpire

500 BC – 500AD: 500 BC – 500AD: from Kings, to from Kings, to

Republics, to Republics, to EmperorsEmperors

The Height: The Height: Emperor Emperor Trajan (53AD-117AD)Trajan (53AD-117AD) From Brittania to From Brittania to

Aegyptus Aegyptus Christianized under Christianized under

Emperor Constantine the Emperor Constantine the Great (272-337AD)Great (272-337AD)

Map of the Roman Empire at Map of the Roman Empire at the Death of the Justinian Ithe Death of the Justinian I

The Middle Ages: Fall of the Roman Empire, The Middle Ages: Fall of the Roman Empire, Rise of the Roman Catholic ChurchRise of the Roman Catholic Church

500AD-1500AD500AD-1500AD Roman Empire split between East Roman Empire split between East

(Byzantine Greek Orthodox) and West (Byzantine Greek Orthodox) and West (Roman Catholic) beginning 500 AD, (Roman Catholic) beginning 500 AD, officially by 1100 AD.officially by 1100 AD.

Western part mostly divided into little Western part mostly divided into little Christianized kingdoms, with Christianized kingdoms, with allegiance to Roman Catholic Church. allegiance to Roman Catholic Church. (Exception: Spain conquered by (Exception: Spain conquered by Muslim Moors through Africa, around Muslim Moors through Africa, around 800 AD).800 AD).

11stst crusade (ordered by Pope Urban) crusade (ordered by Pope Urban) to take back Holy Land from the to take back Holy Land from the Muslims, 1095 AD.Muslims, 1095 AD.

800-early 1490’s: Muslim rule of 800-early 1490’s: Muslim rule of Spain; ends with the “Reconquista”, Spain; ends with the “Reconquista”, which also supported Christopher which also supported Christopher Columbus’ exploration to the New Columbus’ exploration to the New World.World.

Renaissance and ReformationRenaissance and Reformation

1500s AD-1600s AD1500s AD-1600s AD Rediscovering Rediscovering

Ancient Greek and Ancient Greek and Roman scienceRoman science

Rising Protestantism, Rising Protestantism, weakening of Roman weakening of Roman Church.Church.

Rising “democratic” Rising “democratic” principles.principles.

Enlightenment, Romanticism, Enlightenment, Romanticism, and Empire: 1600-1800sand Empire: 1600-1800s

Increased exploration leads Increased exploration leads to nationalism, colonialism, to nationalism, colonialism, and capitalism.and capitalism.

Rise of technology, Rise of technology, science, individualism, science, individualism, “progress.”“progress.”

Revolutions leading to Revolutions leading to more “democratic” forms of more “democratic” forms of government – examples: government – examples: French republic, British French republic, British constitutional monarchconstitutional monarch

The British Empire: The British Empire:

Early 1700s-Early1900sEarly 1700s-Early1900s

Map of Europe: 1797Map of Europe: 1797

Map of Europe: 1900Map of Europe: 1900

Modernism & Post-Modernism: Modernism & Post-Modernism: The 20The 20thth & early 21 & early 21stst Centuries Centuries

Things Fall Apart & Then Things Fall Apart & Then Come TogetherCome Together World War I 1914-1918World War I 1914-1918 World War II 1939-1945World War II 1939-1945 Official end of Empire Official end of Empire

(1945-1970): (1945-1970): independence, post-independence, post-colonialism & its colonialism & its aftermathaftermath

Cold War 1945-1991Cold War 1945-1991 Globalization & World Globalization & World

MarketsMarkets 9/11/2001 & aftermath9/11/2001 & aftermath