Western Civilization II will give students an overview of the history of the Western world from the Renaissance to the Cold War. The class will discuss colonialism, religions, human nature, philosophy, culture, politics, war, and the rise and fall of nations. We will explore the world of philosophers such as Locke, Hobbs, and Descartes; we will study the empirical tactics of Napoleon, and deeds of Copernicus; we will read religious texts from Martin Luther, Francis Bacon, and Kant, to works of politics like The Prince, and The Communist Manifesto. All the while we will be asking ourselves the questions that mankind has been asking since the beginning of time. Who am I? What is my purpose? Is there a Deity, and if there is, what is my relationship with a supreme being? What is the nature of man and government? Using the Socratic Method, students will learn how to think, pursue truth, and apply what they have learned to their own lives.