Western World is a survey course that spans the entire history of Western Civilization. The “West,” as we will use the term, refers to cultures that contributed to the development of modern Europe. While this definition technically includes places like the western hemisphere and Australia, the history of Europe itself will be our main focus this year. Studying over 5,000 years of history in one year is a big job, but it is one that will be approached thematically as well as chronologically, with relevance to the present in mind. Many of the same forces that shape our own lives have been just as relevant to humans throughout history as they are to us today. We will begin with a look at Europe in the 20th and 21st centuries, when the continent was transformed by some of the most dramatic events in history. Then, starting with the origins of civilization itself, we will examine how Europe came to be the place it is today.