Description
Book SynopsisMichael Burger's goal in this inexpensive overview is to provide a brief, historical narrative of Western civilization. Not only does its length and price separate this text from the competition, but its no-frills, uncluttered format and well-written, one-authored approach make it a valuable asset for every history student.
The Shaping of Western Civilization begins with the ancient Near East and ends with globalization. Unlike other textbooks that pile on dates and facts, Shaping is a more coherent and interpretive presentation. Burger's skills as writer and synthesizer will enable students to obtain the background required to ask meaningful questions of primary sources. In addition to suggestions for further reading, this overview includes over 50 images and 22 maps.
Table of ContentsList of Figures List of Maps Preface Notes on references, further reading, and dates 1. Foundations: The Ancient Near East 2. The Greeks: Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic 3. Rome: From Republic to Empire 4. Rome's Fall? Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages 5. The High and Late Middle Ages 6. The Early Modern West I: The Reformation, the great consolidation, and the end of Christendom 7. The Early Modern West II: Science, society, and the state 8. The Early Modern West III: Enlightenment, industrialization, and an unraveled compromise 9. The West, 1815-1914: The search for community, and responses to the Enlightenment and revolution 10. From ca. 1914 to the present: The search for community, global conflict, and the harvest of the modern West 11. Coda: The Shaping of Western Civilization Sources Index
