1. Introduction to Western Civilization
Lecture 1: Class Introduction; What is "Western Civilization" and How Can We Study It?
Introduction to Western Civilization

2. Syllabus, Website, and Grading
Course website:
lingmentum.org
Please download the course syllabus from this website. Any other important information will be posted there.

3. What is “Western Civilization”?
It’s surprisingly hard to define!

4. There isn’t really one agreed-upon definition of the “Western world”

5. What is “Western Civilization”?
It’s surprisingly hard to define!
What is “Civilization”?
Usually defined by a concentration of people in cities and towns, more complex economic structures, and often written records
But not necessarily….can one really say that one group is more “civilized” than another?

6. How To Study History History is not an exact science!
Historians constantly are coming up with new ideas and theories to explain the past - even the recent past

7. A Brief Note about B.C., A.D., BCE and CE

8. Remember, most of the people we will discuss didn’t speak English!