MCCCD Program Description

History of Western Civilization Middle Ages to 1789

Course: HIS101

First Term: 2006 Spring

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Survey of origin and development of Western civilization and its institutions from the Renaissance and Reformation through Age of Enlightenment

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Employ historical method to analyze patterns of continuity and change which have shaped American and European society. (I-VII) 2. Describe the impact of European tradition on American society. (I-VII) 3. Describe the origins of European culture, capitalism, and the nation state in the Middle Ages. (I) 4. Critique and defend the thesis that the Renaissance was the beginning of the modern world. (II) 5. Explain the process by which the unity of Christianity in European society was shattered by the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. (III) 6. Analyze the theories that link Protestantism to the rise of capitalism. (III) 7. Explain the influence of the Protestant/Puritan ethic on contemporary American life. (III) 8. Compare and contrast the development of European nation states. (IV) 9. Describe the impact of English institutions and historical development on American life. (IV) 10. Contrast the success of French Absolutism with the failure of Stuart Absolutism. (V) 11. Describe the reign of Peter I and the westernization of Russia. (VI) 12. Describe the stages of the scientific revolution and its impact upon the thought of the Enlightenment. (VII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. The early Middle Ages A. Charlemagne B. Feudalism and manorialism C. The Papacy and its relations with secular authority D. The Crusades E. Commerce and trade F. Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism II. The Renaissance A. The Renaissance in Italy B. Erasmus and Christian Humanism III. Reformation and Counter Reformation A. Martin Luther and the roots of the Reformation in Germany B. Calvinism and the risk of capitalism C. The Counter Reformation D. Henry VII and the establishment of the House of Tudor E. Henry VIII and the English Reformation IV. The Rise of Absolute Monarchy A. Elizabeth I of England B. Queen of Scots C. England and Spain D. Rise of absolute monarchy in France V. French Absolutism A. Development of French Absolutism 1. Cardinal Richelieu and the French monarchy 2. Mercantilism 3. Louis XIV B. Stuart Absolutism 1. The English Civil War 2. Commonwealth and protectorate 3. The Restoration 4. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 VI. Peter I and the westernization of Russia VII. The scientific revolution and its impact on the Enlightenment

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 2/22/1994

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.