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Table of Contents

The Combined Volume includes all chapters.　
Volume 1 includes Chapters 1-16.　
Volume 2 includes Chapters 14-30.

Preface
Maps and Figures
Special Features

Chapter 1: Origins, to 1200 B.C.E.
What do we mean by “the West” and “Western civilization”?
  Describing the West
  What Is Civilization?
How did early human societies create new technologies and cultural forms?
  From the First Hominids to the Paleolithic Era
  Domestication
  Implications of Agriculture
  Trade and Cross-Cultural Connections
What kind of civilization did the Sumerians build in Mesopotamia?
  Environment and Mesopotamian Development
  The Invention of Writing and the First Schools
  Religion in Mesopotamia
  Sumerian Politics and Society
How did the Akkadian and Old Babylonian empires develop in Mesopotamia?
  The Akkadians and the Babylonians
  Life Under Hammurabi
  Cultural Exchange in the Fertile Crescent
How did the Egyptians establish a prosperous and long-lasting society?  
  The Nile and the God-King
  Egyptian Religion
  Egyptian Society and Work
  Egyptian Family Life
  The Hyksos and New Kingdom Revival
  Conflict and Cooperation with the Hittites
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD  
Chapter 1 Review

Chapter 2: Small Kingdoms and Mighty Empires in the Near East, 1200–510 B.C.E. 
How did iron technology shape new states after 1200 B.C.E.?  
  Iron Technology
  The Decline of Egypt and the Emergence of Kush
  The Rise of Phoenicia
How did the Hebrews create an enduring religious tradition?  
  The Hebrew State
  The Jewish Religion
  Hebrew Family and Society
How did the Assyrians and Neo-Babylonians gain and lose power?  
  Assyria’s Long Road to Power
  Assyrian Rule and Culture
  The Neo-Babylonian Empire
How did the Persians conquer and rule their extensive empire?  
  Consolidation of the Persian Empire
  Persian Religion
  Persian Art and Culture
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD  
Chapter 2 Review

Chapter 3: The Development of Greek Society and Culture, ca. 3000–338 B.C.E. 
How did the geography of Greece shape its earliest kingdoms?  
  Geography and Settlement
  The Minoans
  The Mycenaeans
  Homer, Hesiod, and the Epic
What was the role of the polis in Greek society?  
  Organization of the Polis
  Governing Structures
  Overseas Expansion
  The Growth of Sparta
  The Evolution of Athens
How did the wars of the classical period shape Greek history?  
  The Persian Wars
  Growth of the Athenian Empire
  The Peloponnesian War
  The Struggle for Dominance
  Philip II and Macedonian Supremacy
What ancient Greek ideas and ideals have had a lasting influence?  
  Athenian Arts in the Age of Pericles
  Households and Work
  Gender and Sexuality
  Public and Personal Religion
  The Flowering of Philosophy
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD  
Chapter 3 Review

Chapter 4: Life in the Hellenistic World, 338–30 B.C.E. 
How and why did Alexander the Great create an empire, and how did it evolve?
  Military Campaigns
  The Political Legacy
How did Greek ideas and traditions spread to create a Hellenized society?
  Urban Life
  Greeks in Hellenistic Cities
  Greeks and Non-Greeks
What characterized the Hellenistic economy?   
  Rural Life
  Production of Goods
  Commerce
How did religion, philosophy, and the arts reflect and shape Hellenistic life?  
  Religion and Magic
  Hellenism and the Jews
  Philosophy and the People
  Art and Drama
How did science and medicine serve the needs of Hellenistic society?
  Science
  Medicine
Chapter 4 Review

Chapter 5: The Rise of Rome, ca. 1000–27 B.C.E. 
How did the Romans become the dominant power in Italy? 
  The Geography of Italy
  The Etruscans
  The Founding of Rome
  The Roman Conquest of Italy
What were the key institutions of the Roman Republic?  
  The Roman State
  Social Conflict in Rome
How did the Romans build a Mediterranean empire?  
  The Punic Wars
  Rome Turns East
How did expansion affect Roman society and culture?  
  Roman Families
  New Social Customs and Greek Influence
  Opposing Views: Cato the Elder and Scipio Aemilianus
What led to the fall of the Roman Republic?  
  The Countryside and Land Reforms
  Political Violence
  Civil War and the Rise of Julius Caesar
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD  
Chapter 5 Review

Chapter 6: The Roman Empire, 27 B.C.E.–284 C.E.
How did Augustus and Roman elites create a foundation for the Roman Empire?
  Augustus and His Allies
  Roman Expansion
  Latin Literature
  Marriage and Morality
How did the Roman state develop after Augustus?
  The Julio-Claudians and the Flavians
  The Nerva-Antonine Dynasty
What was life like in the city of Rome and in the provinces?
  Life in Imperial Rome
  Approaches to Urban Problems
  Popular Entertainment
  Prosperity in the Roman Provinces
  Trade and Commerce
How did Christianity grow into a major religious movement?
  Factors Behind the Rise of Christianity
  The Life and Teachings of Jesus
  The Spread of Christianity
  The Growing Acceptance and Evolution of Christianity
What political and economic problems did Rome face in the third century C.E.?
  Civil Wars and Military Commanders
  Turmoil in Economic Life
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 6 Review

Chapter 7: Late Antiquity, 250–600
  How did Diocletian and Constantine try to reform the empire?
  Political Measures
  Economic Issues
  The Acceptance of Christianity
How did the Christian Church become a major force in the Mediterranean and Europe?
  The Church and Its Leaders
  The Development of Christian Monasticism
  Monastery Life
  Christianity and Classical Culture
  Christian Notions of Gender and Sexuality
  Saint Augustine on Human Nature, Will, and Sin
What were the key characteristics of barbarian society?
  Village and Family Life
  Tribes and Hierarchies
  Customary and Written Law
  Celtic and Germanic Religion
How did the barbarian migrations shape Europe?
  Celtic and Germanic People in Gaul and Britain
  Visigoths and Huns
  Germanic Kingdoms and the End of the Roman Empire
How did the church convert barbarian peoples to Christianity?
  Missionaries’ Actions
  The Process of Conversion
How did the Byzantine Empire preserve the legacy of Rome?
  Sources of Byzantine Strength
  The Law Code of Justinian
  Byzantine Learning and Science
  The Orthodox Church
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 7 Review

Chapter 8: Europe in the Early Middle Ages, 600–1000
What were the origins of Islam, and what impact did it have on Europe as it spread?
  The Culture of the Arabian Peninsula
  The Prophet Muhammad
  The Teachings and Expansion of Islam
  Sunni and Shi’a Divisions
  Life in Muslim Spain
  Muslim-Christian Encounters
  Cross-Cultural Influences in Science and Medicine
How did the Franks build and govern a European empire?
  The Merovingians
  The Rise of the Carolingians
  The Warrior-Ruler Charlemagne
  Carolingian Government and Society
  The Imperial Coronation of Charlemagne
What were the significant intellectual and cultural developments in Charlemagne’s era?
  The Carolingian Renaissance
  Northumbrian Learning and Writing
How did the ninth-century invasions and migrations shape Europe?
  Vikings in Western Europe
  Slavs and Vikings in Eastern Europe
  Magyars and Muslims
How and why did Europe become politically and economically decentralized in this period?
  Decentralization and the Origins of “Feudalism”
  Manorialism, Serfdom, and the Slave Trade
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 8 Review

Chapter 9: State and Church in the High Middle Ages, 1000–1300
How did monarchs try to centralize political power?
  England
  France
  Central Europe
  Italy
  The Iberian Peninsula
How did the administration of law evolve in this period?
  Local Laws and Royal Courts
  The Magna Carta
  Law in Everyday Life
What were the political and social roles of nobles?
  Origins and Status of the Nobility
  Training, Marriage, and Inheritance
  Power and Responsibility
How did the papacy reform the church, and what were the reactions to these efforts?
  The Gregorian Reforms
  Emperor Versus Pope
  Criticism and Heresy
  The Popes and Church Law
What roles did monks, nuns, and friars play in medieval society?
  Monastic Revival
  Life in Convents and Monasteries
  The Friars
What were the causes, course, and consequences of the Crusades and the broader expansion of Christianity?
  Background and Motives of the Crusades
  The Course of the Crusades
  Consequences of the Crusades
  The Expansion of Christianity
  Christendom
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 9 Review

Chapter 10: Life in Villages and Cities of the High Middle Ages, 1000–1300
What was village life like in medieval Europe?
  Serfdom and Social Mobility
  The Manor
  Work
  Home Life
  Childbirth and Childhood
How did religion shape everyday life in the High Middle Ages?
  Christian Life in Medieval Villages
  Saints and Sacraments
  Muslims and Jews
  Rituals of Marriage and Birth
  Death and the Afterlife
What led to Europe’s economic growth and reurbanization?
  The Rise of Towns
  Merchant and Craft Guilds
  The Revival of Long-Distance Trade
  Business Procedures
  The Commercial Revolution
What was life like in medieval cities?
  City Life
  Servants and the Poor
  Popular Entertainment
How did universities serve the needs of medieval society?
  Origins
  Legal and Medical Training
  Theology and Philosophy
  University Students
How did literature and architecture express medieval values?
  Vernacular Literature and Drama
  Churches and Cathedrals
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 10 Review

Chapter 11: The Later Middle Ages, 1300–1450
How did climate change shape the late Middle Ages?
  Climate Change and Famine
  Social Consequences
How did the plague affect European society?
  Pathology
  Spread of the Disease
  Care of the Sick
  Economic, Religious, and Cultural Effects
What were the causes, course, and consequences of the Hundred Years’ War?
  Causes
  English Successes
  Joan of Arc and France’s Victory
  Aftermath
Why did the church come under increasing criticism?
  The Babylonian Captivity and Great Schism
  Critiques, Divisions, and Councils
  Lay Piety and Mysticism
What explains the social unrest of the late Middle Ages?
  Peasant Revolts
  Urban Conflicts
  Sex in the City
  Fur-Collar Crime
  Ethnic Tensions and Restrictions
  Literacy and Vernacular Literature
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 11 Review

Chapter 12: European Society in the Age of the Renaissance, 1350–1550
How did political and economic developments in Italy shape the Renaissance?
  Trade and Prosperity
  Communes and Republics of Northern Italy
  City-States and the Balance of Power
What new ideas were associated with the Renaissance?
  Humanism
  Education
  Political Thought
  Christian Humanism
  The Printed Word
How did art reflect new Renaissance ideals?
  Patronage and Power
  Changing Artistic Styles
  The Renaissance Artist
What were the key social hierarchies in Renaissance Europe?
  Race and Slavery
  Wealth and the Nobility
  Gender Roles
How did nation-states develop in this period?
  France
  England
  Spain
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 12 Review

Chapter 13: Reformations and Religious Wars, 1500–1600
What were the central ideas of the reformers, and why were they appealing to different social groups?
  The Christian Church in the Early Sixteenth Century
  Martin Luther
  Protestant Thought
  The Appeal of Protestant Ideas
  The Radical Reformation and the German Peasants’ War
  Marriage, Sexuality, and the Role of Women
How did the political situation in Germany shape the course of the Reformation?
  The Rise of the Habsburg Dynasty
  Religious Wars in Switzerland and Germany
How did Protestant ideas and institutions spread beyond German-speaking lands?
  Scandinavia
  Henry VIII and the Reformation in England
  Upholding Protestantism in England
  Calvinism
  The Reformation in Eastern Europe
What reforms did the Catholic Church make, and how did it respond to Protestant reform movements?
  Papal Reform and the Council of Trent
  New and Reformed Religious Orders
What were the causes and consequences of religious violence, including riots, wars, and witch-hunts?
  French Religious Wars
  The Netherlands Under Charles V
  The Great European Witch-Hunt
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 13 Review

Chapter 14: European Exploration and Conquest, 1450–1650
What was the Afro-Eurasian trading world before Columbus?
  The Trade World of the Indian Ocean
  The Trading States of Africa
  The Middle East
  Genoese and Venetian Middlemen
How and why did Europeans undertake ambitious voyages of expansion?
  Causes of European Expansion
  Technology and the Rise of Exploration
  The Portuguese Overseas Empire
  Spain’s Voyages to the Americas
  Spain “Discovers” the Pacific
  Early Exploration by Northern European Powers
What was the impact of European conquest on the New World?
  Conquest of the Aztec Empire
  The Fall of the Incas
  Portuguese Brazil
  Colonial Empires of England and France
  Colonial Administration
How did Europe and the world change after Columbus?
  Economic Exploitation of the Indigenous Population
  Society in the Colonies
  Population Loss and the Ecological Impacts of Contact
  Sugar and Slavery
  Spanish Silver and Its Economic Effects
  The Birth of the Global Economy
How did expansion change European attitudes and beliefs?
  Religious Conversion
  European Debates About Indigenous Peoples
  New Ideas About Race
  Michel de Montaigne and Cultural Curiosity
  William Shakespeare and His Influence
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 14 Review

Chapter 15: Absolutism and Constitutionalism, ca. 1589–1725
What were the crises and achievements of seventeenth-century European states?
  The Social Order and Peasant Life
  Environmental, Economic, and Social Crisis
  The Thirty Years’ War
  State-Building and the Growth of Armies
  Baroque Art and Music
What was absolutism, and how did it evolve in western and central Europe?
  The Decline of Absolutist Spain in the Seventeenth Century
  The Foundations of French Absolutism
  Louis XIV and Absolutism
  Life at Versailles
  Louis XIV’s Wars
  The French Economic Policy of Mercantilism
What explains the rise of absolutism in Prussia and Austria?
  The Return of Serfdom
  The Austrian Habsburgs
  Prussia in the Seventeenth Century
  The Consolidation of Prussian Absolutism
What were the distinctive features of Russian and Ottoman absolutism?
  Mongol Rule in Russia and the Rise of Moscow
  Building the Russian Empire
  The Reforms of Peter the Great
  The Ottoman Empire
What were alternatives to absolutism in early modern Europe?
  The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
  The Failure of Absolutism in England
  The Puritan Protectorate
  The Restoration of the English Monarchy
  Constitutional Monarchy
  The Dutch Republic in the Seventeenth Century
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 15 Review

Chapter 16: Toward a New Worldview, 1540–1789
What revolutionary discoveries were made in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
  Contributions from the Muslim World
  Scientific Thought to 1500
  The Copernican Hypothesis
  Brahe, Kepler, and Galileo: Proving Copernicus Right
  Newton’s Synthesis
  Natural History and Empire
  Magic and Alchemy
What intellectual and social changes occurred as a result of the Scientific Revolution?
  The Methods of Science: Bacon and Descartes
  Medicine, the Body, and Chemistry
  Science and Religion
  Science and Society
How did the Enlightenment emerge, and what were major currents of Enlightenment thought?
  The Early Enlightenment
  The Influence of the Philosophes
  Enlightenment Movements Across Europe
How did the Enlightenment change social ideas and practices?
  Global Contacts
  Enlightenment Debates About Race
  Women and the Enlightenment
  Urban Culture and Life in the Public Sphere
What impact did new ways of thinking have on politics?
  Frederick the Great of Prussia
  Catherine the Great of Russia
  The Austrian Habsburgs
  Jewish Life and the Limits of Enlightened Absolutism
LOOKING BACK / LOOKING AHEAD
Chapter 16 Review

Glossary
Index
About the Authors

Authors

Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks

Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks(Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Madison) is Distinguished Professor of History, emerita, at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She is the long-time Senior Editor of the Sixteenth Century Journal and the author or editor of more than thirty books, including A Concise History of the World. From 2017 to 2019 she served as the president of the World History Association.

Clare Haru Crowston

Clare Haru Crowston (Ph.D., Cornell University) is Professor of history at the University of Illinois. She is the author of Credit, Fashion, Sex: Economies of Regard in Old Regime France and Fabricating Women: The Seamstresses of Old Regime France, 1675–1791, which won the Berkshire and Hagley Prizes. She edited two special issues of the Journal of Women’s History, has published numerous journal articles and reviews, and is a past president of the Society for French Historical Studies.

Joe Perry

Joe Perry (Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) is Associate Professor of modern German and European history at Georgia State University. His book Christmas in Germany: A Cultural History appeared in 2010. He is currently writing a history of the Berlin Love Parade and the electronic dance music scene in Germany in the 1990s and 2000s.

John P. McKay

John P. McKay (Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley) is professor emeritus at the University of Illinois. He has written or edited numerous works, including the Herbert Baxter Adams Prize-winning book Pioneers for Profit: Foreign Entrepreneurship and Russian Industrialization, 1885-1913.

Related Titles

Achieve for A History of Western Society (1-Term Access)

Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks; Clare Haru Crowston; Joe Perry | Fourteenth Edition | 2023 | ISBN:9781319480615

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