WESTERN CIVILIZATION I: ANCIENT NEAR EAST TO 1648
SELF-PACED COURSE
1. About this Course
It reviews all of the substantive material that is usually taught in the first semester in Western civilization. This course covers the civilizations of Ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East; the Middle Ages; the Renaissance and Reformation; and early modern Europe.
The goal of the creator of this course – Modern States Education Alliance, a non-profit organization – is to prepare you to pass the College Board's CLEP examination and obtain college credit for free.
"Our lectures are built with elements that tie them to each other. In six modules, we will explore the changes in Western Civilization ranging from its origins in Asia and Africa through to the era of 1650. You will find it vital to watch the lectures multiple times, engage with the recommended readings, and review all sample questions", explains Dr. David D. Flaten, professor of History and Political Science
Our “Western Civilization I” course is completely self-paced. There are no prerequisites to take this course, and it is entirely free. Any student who wants to save time and money while completing freshman year in college can take it.
2. About the examination
This exam contains approximately 120 questions to be answered in 90 minutes.
• You may be asked to choose the correct definition of a historical term, select the historical figure whose political viewpoint is described, identify the correct relationship between two historical factors, or detect the inaccurate pairing of an individual with a historical event.
• Groups of questions may require you to interpret, evaluate, or relate the contents of a passage, a map, or a picture
This examination uses the chronological designations b.c.e. (before the common era) and c.e. (common era). The labels correspond to b.c. (before Christ) and a.d. (anno Domini), which are used in some textbooks.
3. Required Knowledge and Skills
The CLEP exam requires you to demonstrate one or more of the following abilities:
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Understanding important factual knowledge of developments in Western civilization.
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Ability to identify the causes and effects of major historical events.
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Ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate textual and graphic historical materials.
- Ability to reach conclusions on the basis of facts.
4. Course Modules
Following are the main topics and percentages of the exam’s questions, mostly based on the College Board's description of the course:
Module 1: Pre-History: Early Civilizations (8% – 17%)
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Pre-History: Stone, Neolithic, Bronze, Iron Ages
1.2 Early Empires in Mesopotamia (The Middle East)
1.3 Hammurabi's Law Code
1.4 Religion, Society and Literacy
1.5 Ancient Egypt: Pharaoh and the Nile
1.6 The Hebrews: Rise of Israel and Judah
1.7 Phoenicians, Assyrians and Persians
Module 2: Greece and its Legacy (15% – 17%)
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Early Greece: Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations
2.2 Polis: Sparta
2.3 Polis: Athens
2.4 The Persian Wars to 479 BCE
2.5 The Peloponnesian War, 431-404 BCE
2.6 The Golden Age of Athens
2.7 Philosophy and Religion
2.8 Macedonian Hegemony: Barbarian Unity
2.9 Campaigns of Alexander the Great
2.10 The Spread of Hellenistic Culture
2.11 Stoicism, Skepticism, Epicureanism
Module 3: Rome: Republic to Empire (15% – 17%)
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Foundational Elements of Roman Society: Power of Tradition
3.2 Roman Organizational Genius
3.3 Government and Law in the Republic
3.4 The Punic Wars: 264-146 B.C.E
3.5 Socio-Economic Trends of Imperialism
3.6 Decline of the Republic
3.7 The Principate of Augustus Caesar
3.8 Imperial Prosperity: Too Many Frontiers
3.9 Diocletian and Constantine
3.10 The Invasions and Challenge of Christianity
3.11 Church Fathers: Jerome and Augustine
Module 4: Development of Medieval Europe (23% – 27%)
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Byzantine Empire
4.2 Muhammad and the Spread of Islam
4.3 Sunni/Shia Schism and Caliphates
4.4 Charlemagne and Empire
4.5 Invaders, Raiders and Feudal Development
4.6 Agriculture, Trade and the Rise of Cities
4.7 Universities, Theology, Philosophy and the Arts
4.8 William of Normandy and the English Model
4.9 Papal Monarchy
4.10 Crusade Mentality, Reconquest of Iberia
4.11 Magna Carta as Game Changer
4.12 Mongols and Muscovy
4.13 Black Death
4.14 Socio-Economic Impact of the Black Death
4.15 The 100 Years' War
4.16 Impact of War
4.17 The Papal Schism
4.18 Europe in the Late Middle Ages
Module 5: Renaissance and Reformation (13% – 17%)
5.0 Introduction
5.1 Early Renaissance: Humanism and Classicism
5.2 Art and Patronage Perspectives
5.3 The Ottoman Empire Challenges Europe
5.4 Machiavelli: Political Norms, Government
5.5 Christian Humanism in Northern Europe
5.6 Consolidation of National Monarchies: England, France, Iberia
5.7 Reform of Christian Practice: Luther and Calvin
5.8 The Religious Reorganization of Europe
5.9 The English Change of Religious Models
5.10 Roman Catholicism and Council of Trent
Module 6: Early Modern Europe (10% – 15%)
6.0 Introduction to Early Modern Europe
6.1 Portugal: Prince Henry and Marco Polo
6.2 Columbus & the New World
6.3 Exploring, Settling, Exploiting the New World
6.4 Cortes & Pizarro vs. de Las Casas
6.5 Imperialism, Atlantic Trade & Slavery
6.6 30 Years' War, 1618-1648: Winners & Losers
6.7 England: 1603-1648
6.8 Rise of Absolutism in France & Russia to 1648
6.9 Intellectual Developments: Science to 1648
5. About Dr. David D. Flaten
Dr. David Flaten is Professor of History and Political Science
He won the Teaching Fellow of the Year award in 1994 at Fordham University, was nominated for teaching excellence at Plymouth State College in 2001, and at Tompkins Cortland Community College was awarded the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009. Dr. Flaten has been teaching Western Civilization courses since 1993 and is keenly interested in deploying primary source documents for students to interpret and learn the historian's craft.
He earned his BA degree at Gustavus Adolphus College, and holds both his MA and PhD degrees from Fordham University where his dissertation on English politics at the court of King George II was directed by Dr. Nancy J. Curtin.
6. How CLEP Works
Developed by the College Board, CLEP (College-Level Examination Program®) is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program.
CLEP’s credits are accepted by 2,900 colleges and universities, according to the College Board. These tests assess college-level knowledge in 33 subject areas.
Modern States Education Alliance is the non-profit organization behind these edX-style courses. Its project is called “Freshman Year for Free” and its mission is to make college more accessible and affordable through free, high-quality online education.
• CLEP® Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
• 'Passing the CLEP and Learning with Modern States' orientation course