Roots of the WestRoots of the West

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

• Emphasis on Europe and America. Emphasis on Europe and America.

• Includes Western Europe, North America, Includes Western Europe, North America, Australia, and even parts of South Australia, and even parts of South America belongs to the “Western America belongs to the “Western Tradition” Tradition”

• 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 where which produced art and literature where later generations derived its inspiration. It later generations derived its inspiration. It includes Greece in the fifth and fourth includes Greece in the fifth and fourth centuries BCE, and Rome in the first centuries BCE, and Rome in the first century BCE and the first century CE.century BCE and the first century CE.

• Medieval Medieval = European history between about 500 and = European history between about 500 and 1500 CE1500 CE

• Early ModernEarly Modern = European history from about 1400 to = European history from about 1400 to 1789, and the French Revolution.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. They do not These definitions are centered on Europe. They do not apply to other parts of the world because other parts apply to other parts of the world because other parts of the world are on their own schedule of developmentof the world are on their own schedule of development

III. Egypt and III. Egypt and MesopotamiaMesopotamia

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

• Contributions: Contributions:

• -Religious ideas- Polytheism -Religious ideas- Polytheism -Architecture-Architecture-Math, especially geometry -Math, especially geometry

• Mesopotamia - also c. 4000 BC - in Mesopotamia - also c. 4000 BC - in Iraq- includes the cultures of cultures Iraq- includes the cultures of cultures of Sumeria, Babylonia, and Assyriaof Sumeria, Babylonia, and Assyria

ContributionsContributions• -Writing- “Code of Hammurabi”- first -Writing- “Code of Hammurabi”- first

written legal codewritten legal code -Numbers - use of base 12 - in time -Numbers - use of base 12 - in time (we still use 12 hour periods for days)(we still use 12 hour periods for days)-Astronomy and Astrology -Astronomy and Astrology

• These cultures influence us through These cultures influence us through two ways two ways -through the Jews and through the -through the Jews and through the GreeksGreeks

IV. IV. The People of IsraelThe People of Israel

• The Jews are the only ancient people that existThe Jews are the only ancient people that exist• Took ideas from Egypt and MesopotamiaTook ideas from Egypt and Mesopotamia

-e.g. the creation story, the flood story. -e.g. the creation story, the flood story.

• ContributionsContributions• Monotheism - Belief in one caring God.Monotheism - Belief 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 specifically- Most read Jews wrote the Bible (Old Testament specifically- Most read book in the world -parts are at least 3000 years old.book in the world -parts are at least 3000 years old.

• The Bible is one of the chief sources of western cultureThe Bible is one of the chief sources of western cultureThese 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.

Ideas more important than details of Ideas more important than details of its history- survive in literature and its history- survive in literature and art:- art:-

• From around 750BC.From around 750BC.Homer: The Iliad and The OdysseyHomer: The Iliad and The Odyssey

The idea of ORDERED COSMOS - vital The idea of ORDERED COSMOS - vital in Western ideas about science and in Western ideas about science and God. God.

• Invention of writing - for everyoneInvention of writing - for everyone

Greek ContributorsGreek Contributors• Thales of Miletus - asked for the first time what the Thales of Miletus - asked for the first time what the

world was made of - water - SCIENCE world was made of - water - SCIENCE

• Athens - The People, Democracy, natural art, Athens - The People, Democracy, natural art,

• Socrates: People as morally autonomousSocrates: People as morally autonomous

• Plato - Asked most of the Philosophical Questions -Plato - Asked most of the Philosophical Questions -how do we know what we know. how do we know what we know.

• Aristotle - Introduces observation into science. Aristotle - Introduces observation into science.

• Alexander the Great - c. 300BC. Conquers the Alexander the Great - c. 300BC. Conquers the whole Eastern Mediterranean. Greek ideas, and the whole Eastern Mediterranean. Greek ideas, and the Greek language dominate the area. Greek language dominate the area.

VI. Rome - Always a VI. Rome - Always a Western city.Western city. • Started to rise in influence around 300BCE Started to rise in influence around 300BCE • By year 1 CE, unified the Mediterranean into By year 1 CE, unified the Mediterranean into

one state. one state. • All elites spoke either Greek or Latin. All elites spoke either Greek or Latin.

• ContributionsContributions• Latin- AlphabetLatin- Alphabet• Took ideas from GreeceTook ideas from Greece• Roman Law is still the basis of laws in most of Roman Law is still the basis of laws in most of

Europe. Europe. • US law derives from English Law, but that also US law derives from English Law, but that also

is influenced by Rome. is influenced by Rome.

• The ideal of Unity and the Universal stateThe ideal of Unity and the Universal state

VII. ChristianityVII. Christianity

• Jesus Christ. Born c.6BC, d. Jesus Christ. Born c.6BC, d. c. 33AD.Founder of c. 33AD.Founder of Christianity. Christianity.

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

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

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

cultural area. When this collapsed it cultural area. When this collapsed it led to the development of the led to the development of the "West"."West".

• Roman Empire:Roman Empire:

– Invasions from the outsideInvasions from the outside– Economic problems internally. Economic problems internally. – Splits into the Western and Eastern Splits into the Western and Eastern

Empires in 330CEEmpires in 330CE

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

Constantinople.Constantinople.•

It was Christian and Roman and Greek. It was Christian and Roman and Greek.

• Most obvious heir to the culture of the Most obvious heir to the culture of the Classical world- Greek language and artistic Classical world- Greek language and artistic stylestyle

• The Byzantine Empire lasts until 1453- The Byzantine Empire lasts until 1453- Invasion of Constantinople by IslamInvasion of Constantinople by Islam

• Its culture still dominates Eastern Europe Its culture still dominates Eastern Europe and Russia, through Orthodoxy. and Russia, through Orthodoxy.

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).• They swept out of the Arabian peninsula. They swept out of the Arabian peninsula.

• Over time took control of all North Africa, Egypt, Over time 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, • 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 Dominated by Barbarians

(outsiders)- France, Spain, Italy, Britain, Germany.(outsiders)- France, Spain, Italy, Britain, Germany.

• The least developed of the three culturesThe least developed of the three cultures

• Dominated by the Church of Rome.Dominated by the Church of Rome.

• It was a Latin reading and speaking world. i.e It was a Latin reading and speaking world. i.e "Latin Christendom." "Latin Christendom."

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

VIII. The Western Middle VIII. The Western Middle AgesAges• A. From around 600 to 1000 AD conditions were A. From around 600 to 1000 AD conditions were

fairly bleak. fairly bleak. Around 800 Charlemagne.Around 800 Charlemagne.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 • Crusades - Westerners attack both Byzantium and Crusades - Westerners attack both Byzantium and

Islam in order to conquer Jerusalem. They succeed for Islam in order to conquer Jerusalem. They succeed for a time.a time.

• --Architecture develops. Architecture develops.

• Intellectual Life - Intellectual Life - great writers like St. Thomas Aquinas (13th. C.) great writers like St. Thomas Aquinas (13th. C.)

• Christianity becomes more like it is today.Christianity becomes more like it is today.– Devotion to MaryDevotion to Mary– Mass.Mass.– Development of all the religious orders. Development of all the religious orders.

• Art and MusicArt and Music

• Economically - From around 1050 a Commercial revolution.Economically - From around 1050 a Commercial revolution.– Money starts to be used instead of barterMoney starts to be used instead of barter– Trade starts up in local areas and far distant areas.Trade starts up in local areas and far distant areas.– Westerners even get as far as China. Westerners even get as far as China.

• In the Middle Ages- origin of a specifically Western civilization, based on the In the Middle Ages- origin of a specifically Western civilization, based on the Western lands of the entire continent.Western lands of the entire continent.