Roots of the WestRoots of the West

I. What is the West. . . I. What is the West. . .

• Centers on Europe and America. Centers on Europe and America. – Includes Western Europe, North Includes Western Europe, North

America, Australia, and even parts of America, Australia, and even parts of South AmericaSouth America

• Has ideas and elements that are Has ideas and elements that are thousands of years old. thousands of years old.

II. Chronology and PeriodsII. Chronology and Periods "Ancient" "Classical", "Medieval", "Early Modern", and " "Ancient" "Classical", "Medieval", "Early Modern", and " Modern“Modern“

AncientAncient = all of history before 500 CE = all of history before 500 CE {"CE" means "common era" "BCE" means {"CE" means "common era" "BCE" means "Before the Common Era".}"Before the Common Era".}

• ClassicalClassical = Periods in ancient history = Periods in ancient history which produced art and literature that which produced art and literature that inspired later generations. inspired later generations. – Greece in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, Greece in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, – Rome from the 1Rome from the 1stst century BCE to the 1 century BCE to the 1stst century century

CE.CE.

• Medieval Medieval = European history between about 500 = European history between about 500 and 1500 CEand 1500 CE

• Early ModernEarly Modern = European history from about 1400 = European history from about 1400 to 1789, and the French Revolution.to 1789, and the French Revolution.

• Modern Modern = History since the French, American and = History since the French, American and Industrial revolutions in the late 18th century. Industrial revolutions in the late 18th century.

• These definitions are centered on Europe. Other parts These definitions are centered on Europe. Other parts of the world are on their own schedule of of the world are on their own schedule of developmentdevelopment

III. EgyptIII. Egypt

• Egypt - c. 4000 BCEgypt - c. 4000 BCLongest continuous civilizationLongest continuous civilization

• Contributions: Contributions: – Religious ideasReligious ideas

• PolytheismPolytheism

– ArchitectureArchitecture– MathMath

– Geometry Geometry

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

• c. 4000 BCE - in Iraq- includes c. 4000 BCE - in Iraq- includes the cultures of Sumeria, the cultures of Sumeria, Babylonia, and AssyriaBabylonia, and Assyria

ContributionsContributions• -Writing-Writing

– ““Code of Hammurabi”- first written legal Code of Hammurabi”- first written legal codecode

• Numbers - use of base 12 Numbers - use of base 12 – (12 hour periods for days)(12 hour periods for days)

• Astronomy and Astrology Astronomy and Astrology

Code of Hammurabi

IV. IV. The People of IsraelThe People of Israel• The Jews are the only ancient people that still existThe Jews are the only ancient people that still exist

– Took ideas from Egypt and MesopotamiaTook ideas from Egypt and Mesopotamia– Controlled by both the Greeks and RomansControlled by both the Greeks and Romans

•

• ContributionsContributions• MonotheismMonotheism

– Belief in one caring GodBelief in one caring God– Unity of cult and ethics Unity of cult and ethics

• A belief in history – sense of the futureA belief in history – sense of the future

• Jews wrote the Bible (Old Testament specificallyJews wrote the Bible (Old Testament specifically– The Bible is one of the chief sources of western cultureThe Bible is one of the chief sources of western culture– Spread by religious schools created by RabbisSpread by religious schools created by Rabbis– Translated into Greek Translated into Greek

• These IDEAS pass into Christianity and Islam.These IDEAS pass into Christianity and Islam.

V. GreeceV. Greece• A major source of Western IDEAS.A major source of Western IDEAS.

– Survive in literature and art Survive in literature and art

• ContributionsContributions– DemocracyDemocracy– Natural style artNatural style art– Philosophy- Philosophy- Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Socrates, Plato, Aristotle – Early definitions of government and science Early definitions of government and science

• Alexander the Great - c. 300BC.Alexander the Great - c. 300BC.– Conquers the whole Eastern Mediterranean. Greek ideas, Conquers the whole Eastern Mediterranean. Greek ideas,

and the Greek language dominate the area. and the Greek language dominate the area.

VI. RomeVI. Rome• Started to rise in influence around Started to rise in influence around

300BCE 300BCE • By year 1 CE, unified the By year 1 CE, unified the

Mediterranean into one government. Mediterranean into one government. – All elites spoke either Greek or Latin. All elites spoke either Greek or Latin.

• ContributionsContributions– Latin- AlphabetLatin- Alphabet– Roman Law Roman Law

• Basis of laws in most of Europe.Basis of laws in most of Europe.• US law is influenced by Rome. US law is influenced by Rome.

– The ideal of Unity and the Universal The ideal of Unity and the Universal statestate

VII. ChristianityVII. Christianity • Jesus Christ. Born c.6 BCE, Died Jesus Christ. Born c.6 BCE, Died

33CE.33CE.– Founder of Christianity. Founder of Christianity.

• St. Paul, St. Paul, – A Greek-speaking Jew A Greek-speaking Jew – Main apostle of the Faith.Main apostle of the Faith.– United Jewish and Greek ideas in United Jewish and Greek ideas in

Christianity. Christianity.

• Christianity becomes religion of Christianity becomes religion of Mediterranean area c. 400. CE Mediterranean area c. 400. CE

VII. The collapse of VII. The collapse of the Classical Worldthe Classical World • The Mediterranean was a united cultural The Mediterranean was a united cultural

area, and then it fell apart. area, and then it fell apart.

• Roman Empire:Roman Empire:– Invasions from the outsideInvasions from the outside

• Barbarian culturesBarbarian cultures

– Economic problems internally.Economic problems internally.• Too big and too expensive Too big and too expensive

– Splits into the Western and Eastern Empires in Splits into the Western and Eastern Empires in 330CE330CE

ByzantiumByzantium• The Empire in the East continued, The Empire in the East continued,

based in Constantinople.based in Constantinople.– Greek language and artistic styleGreek language and artistic style

• The Byzantine Empire lasts until 1453- The Byzantine Empire lasts until 1453- Invasion of Constantinople by IslamInvasion of Constantinople by Islam– Culture still dominates Eastern Europe and Culture still dominates Eastern Europe and

Russia, through the Greek and Russian Russia, through the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches. Orthodox Churches.

• ContributionsContributions– Legal Code organized by Emperor JustinianLegal Code organized by Emperor Justinian

– Laws apply to everyone, equallyLaws apply to everyone, equally

IslamIslam

• The religion of Arab townsmen. The religion of Arab townsmen. – Led by Mohammad (d. c. 640, Hijira 622).Led by Mohammad (d. c. 640, Hijira 622).– Eventually took control of all North Africa, Egypt, Eventually took control of all North Africa, Egypt,

Anatolia (under the Turks) and for a time Spain.Anatolia (under the Turks) and for a time Spain.

• Islam is an heir to classical civilization.Islam is an heir to classical civilization.– Mathematics from Mesopotamia Mathematics from Mesopotamia

• Algebra Algebra – Philosophy from the Greeks Philosophy from the Greeks – Monotheism from the Jews.Monotheism from the Jews.

Western EmpireWestern Empire• Latin Christendom Latin Christendom

– Dominated by Barbarians (outsiders)- French, Dominated by Barbarians (outsiders)- French, Spanish, Italians, British, Germans.Spanish, Italians, British, Germans.

– The least developed of the three culturesThe least developed of the three cultures– The most competitive for land and powerThe most competitive for land and power

• Dominated by the Church of Rome.Dominated by the Church of Rome.– It was a Latin reading and speaking world. It was a Latin reading and speaking world.

• This area became the This area became the WestWest. .

VIII. The Western Middle VIII. The Western Middle AgesAges• A. From around 600 to 1000 CE.A. From around 600 to 1000 CE.

– Most people lived on the land- Subsistence farming.Most people lived on the land- Subsistence farming.– No towns larger than around 10,000 .No towns larger than around 10,000 .

• B. 1050 - Latin Christendom comes to life.B. 1050 - Latin Christendom comes to life.– States begin to pull themselves togetherStates begin to pull themselves together– England, France, Germany (for a time)England, France, Germany (for a time)– Concept of Kingship and what a king should be and do Concept of Kingship and what a king should be and do

--Architecture develops. Architecture develops.

• Christianity becomes more like it is today.Christianity becomes more like it is today.– Devotion to Mary (Catholics)Devotion to Mary (Catholics)– Mass.Mass.– Development of all the religious orders (monks and Development of all the religious orders (monks and

nuns). nuns).

X. The Renaissance X. The Renaissance End of 14End of 14th Century th Century to mid 16 to mid 16thth Century Century

• The re-birth of classical cultureThe re-birth of classical culture– Started in ItalyStarted in Italy

– Rediscovery of classical knowledge Rediscovery of classical knowledge – Led to new ideas in literature, Led to new ideas in literature,

architecture and sciencearchitecture and science– Led to the Scientific Revolution (17Led to the Scientific Revolution (17thth

Century)Century)•Study of Natural Laws Study of Natural Laws

– Galileo, Copernicus, and NewtonGalileo, Copernicus, and Newton

•New Inventions- Telescope, Printing PressNew Inventions- Telescope, Printing Press

XI- Age of ExplorationXI- Age of Exploration• From 1300s to 1800s From 1300s to 1800s

– Europeans expanded their knowledge of the worldEuropeans expanded their knowledge of the world

• Borrowed ideas and resources from non-Borrowed ideas and resources from non-Western culturesWestern cultures– China: Gunpowder, printing, paper moneyChina: Gunpowder, printing, paper money– North and South America: chocolate, corn, potatoes, North and South America: chocolate, corn, potatoes,

tobacco. tobacco. – Africa: ivory, diamonds, cotton, Africa: ivory, diamonds, cotton,

• Pushed their cultural ideas through superior Pushed their cultural ideas through superior technology, technology,