Western Civilization – A Concise History, vol. 3
Introduction: The Idea of Western Civilization
1. Why is term “Western Civilization” problematic? Your answer should be at least one
paragraph long.
The term Western Civilization is problematic because from the inception of the Western
Civilization by the Greeks, there was no clear indication what was east and west. Also, the
Greeks did not include any nations other than themselves and barbarians.
it would be misleading
to start with the Greeks and skip places like Mesopotamia, because those areas were the
heartland of civilization in the whole western part of Eurasia.
2. List the things the Mesopotamians invented and provide at least one example of each you see
around you today. For each example be sure to state why it’s important, and don’t forget to
include the ones the author did not bullet-point.
Mesopotamians invented agriculture, cities, bureaucracy, large-scale warfare, mathematics,
astronomy, empires, writing, literature, and organized religion.
3. Who did those living during the Renaissance view as their precursors, their source of
inspiration and ideas? Why is this important? Your answer should be at least one paragraph.
Based on the statement, “
The beauty of Renaissance art is directly connected to its inspiration
in Roman and Greek art. The scientific discoveries of the Renaissance were inspired by the same spirit of
inquiry that Greek scientists and Roman engineers had cultivated. Perhaps most importantly, Renaissance
thinkers proudly linked together their own era to that of the Greeks and Romans, thus strengthening the
concept of Western Civilization as an ongoing enterprise.”, t
hose living during the Renaissance
viewed the Romans and the Greeks as their precursors and their source of inspiration and ideas.
Renaissance thinkers created a new program of education called humanist education. It
celebrated the inherent goodness and potentialities of humankind. This was important because by
combining the practical and original studies of subjects such as languages, history, mathematics,
and rhetoric, the ethical code the humanistics was cultivated. Tracing back to the Greeks,
humanistic education ultimately created a curriculum meant to create well-rounded, virtuous
individuals.
4. What “ironic” role does disease play in the conquest of Africa versus the Americas? How was
Europe viewed by the rest of the world prior to the Industrial Revolution? Your answer should be
at least a paragraph long.
The ironic role disease played in the conquest of Africa versus the Americas was instead of
soldiers and colonizers getting sick and dying while trying to take land from the owners during
the Africa invasion. However, during the Americas invasion, the Natives were being infected
