The second of a two semester sequence, this course covers the historical development of the Western civilization from the Age of Enlightenment to the present.
Our topics of discussion will include the following: The Scientific Revolution, The Enlightenment Period, The Industrial revolution, Age Romanticism, Nationalism, The Rise of Nation-States, Colonialism and Imperialism, The Age of Mass Consumption, and finally The current period of Deconstructionism in Global Socio-Political Construction.
Focus areas:
1. Broad cultural history (periodization)
2. Formation of cultural heritage (phenomena of complex evolving systems)
Enduring Questions:
Our exploration will be guided by the following enduring question/inquiry themes:
-How has the “West” been defined and redefined? -How is the West constructed? -How has Science, Reason, and ideas of Humanity shaped the concept of the West? -How has the concept of the West change through the development of technology and consciousness, and through the historical march of capitalism? -How has the West been reconstructed as a consequence of colonialism? -How has the rest of the world developed in accordance with the ideological framework of "The West"? -Who benefits from the process of globalization?
Let us now post comments on the following questions:
What is the West?
Is it purely a geographical concept?
How has the concept of the West shaped the modern world?
Is the "West" synonymous with the idea of "American Empire"?
Why, or why not?
Discuss these questions, drawing information from and your understanding of our introductory lecture.
