WESTERN CIVILIZATION II 1500CE-PRES
HIS 132- Section: [Insert]
[Insert other course information (optional): blended, honors]
Credit Hours: 3.00
Lab Hours: 0.00
Lecture Hours: 3.00
IAI Core: S2 903
IAI Majors:
Semester: [Insert]
Course Begins: [Insert]
Course Ends: [Insert]
Days: [Insert]
Times: [Insert]
Room: [Insert]
Instructor: [Insert]
Email: [Insert your @mchenry.edu email address or LMS information]
Phone: [Insert]
Office Hours: [Insert]
Office Location: [Insert]
Other contact information: [Insert]
Website (optional): [Insert]
Required course:
Textbook(s): [Insert]
Supplies (if desired): [Insert]
Course Description:
Western Civilization II (1500 CE-Present) explores the development of Western civilization from the
Renaissance of the late 15th century to the present. Students discuss the political, economic, social,
religious, intellectual and cultural activities of Western civilization and the trends that have transformed
the West and the world.
Course Note: This course fulfills MCC’s Social & Behavioral Science general education requirement;
prior to Fall 2000, course was known as HIS 152.
Section Notes:
[Insert if applicable]
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate Historical Perspective
2. Recognize and understand the important features of a historical period;
3. Recognize and understand the relationships among historical periods, including the present.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking skills
5. Communicate effectively through reading, writing, and speaking
6. Define and analyze Historiography through an understanding of: political, cultural, economic,
social, intellectual histories and historical research and scholarship
7. Define Renaissance Humanism
8. Synthesize the economic, social, religious and cultural components of the Renaissance
9. Explain the reasons for European overseas exploration and expansion
10. Debate the pros and cons of the Columbian Exchange
11. Debate the origins of Globalization
12. Identify the major figures of the Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter Reformation
13. Compare and Contrast Limited and Absolute Monarchy
14.Analyze the major tenants and figures of the Enlightenment
15. Define revolution and compare and contrast the American and French Revolutions
Page 1 of 5
16. Analyze the major tenants and figures of the Industrial Revolution
17. Debate the benefits and costs of the Industrial Revolution
18. Evaluate Marxism
19. Define Nationalism
20. Analyze the reasons for World War I
21. Discuss the impact of the World Depression of the 1930's
22. Explain what accounted for the rise of Fascism in Italy and Germany
23. Analyze the reasons for World War II
24. Debate whether or not the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan to end the war was correct
25. Discuss the Cold War
26. Debate who or what was responsible for starting the Cold War
27. Debate who or what was responsible for ending the Cold War
28. Discuss the impact of globalization, the environment, and terrorism on the world
29. Analyze modern societies and cultures
Course Outline:
I. Unit1: The Renaissance: Discussion Topics:
A. What is "Humanism"? How does it relate to the Renaissance and the modern world?
B. How did the special (or peculiar) economic, social, and political conditions in the cities of
Italy lead to the emergence of the Renaissance there? (as opposed to anywhere else)
Would Michaelangelo have been some kind of peasant field worker rather than a great
painter if the poverty of the Dark Ages had persisted?
II. Unit 2: European Overseas Expansion to 1600 ;Discussion Topics:
A. Why Europe? Why not China or India? What factors led to European exploration,
discovery, & eventual domination of the modern era?
B. Which side benefited or suffered most from the “Colombian Exchange” – the Old World
or the New World? Why? For the first time human beings were in contact around the
globe – the origins of “Globalization”. Was this good for us and our planet in the long
run? What do you think of Globalization?
III. Unit 3: The Reformation ; Discussion Topic:
A. Who was more correct in approach for reformation: Erasmus or Luther?
IV. Unit 4: Europe in the Age of Religious Wars, 1560-1648 ; Discussion Topics:
A. Which Hunts; What fueled them? Why did they stop?
B. Holy War? (Religion or Politics as the cause of the 30 Years War)
V. Unit 5: Europe in the Age of Louis XIV, ca. 1640-1715 :Discussion Topic:
A. Limited vs. Absolute Monarchy: Which is better? For whom?
VI. Unit 6: A Revolution in World View; The Scientific Revolution :Discussion Topic:
A. Copernican Revolution; “Paradigm Shift”
VII. Unit 7: Europe on the Threshold of Modernity, ca. 1715-1789; The Enlightenment: Discussion
Topic:
A. What is the Enlightenment all about? Is it relevant today?
VIII. Unit 8: Revolutionary Europe, 1789-1815 :Discussion Topic:
A. What is your definition of a “Revolution”? Which revolution is more revolutionary: The
American or The French? Does the American Revolution even qualify under your
definition?
IX. Unit 9: The Industrial Transformation of Europe, 1750-1850; Restoration, Reform, and
Page 2 of 5
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
Revolution, 1814-1848 : Discussion Topics:
A. Positive effects of the Industrial Revolution vs. Negative Ones. Which side wins?
B. Marxism: What is it? And is it really all that bad?
C. Are you a Luddite? Should society tolerate Luddites, or just force them to “get with it”?
Unit10: Nationalism and Political Reform, 1850-1880; The Age of Optimism, 1850-1880 :
Discussion Topic:
A. Alexander II of Russia’s emancipation of the serfs & Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation
Proclamation for American slaves occurred at about the same time. Which one was more
significant or more difficult?
Unit 11:Escalating Tensions, 1880-1914; War and Revolution, 1914-1919 : Discussion Topics:
A. What caused WWI? Was it “inevitable”?
B. What is “nationalism” and did it play a part in the outbreak of the war?
Unit12: The Illusion of Stability, 1919-1930; The Tortured Decade, 1930-1939 : Discussion
Topics:
A. What accounted for the rise of Fascism in Italy and Germany? If you take away the
Great Depression, does Hitler then become only a crazy guy on the street corner that
everyone ignores?
B. Which is more exploitive: Fascism/Nazism or Communism?
Unit13: The Era of the Second World War, 1939-1949; : Discussion Topics:
A. Should historians 100 years from now view WWI & WWII as the same “30 Year War”
with a pause in between? Are the players & issues fought over pretty much the same?
OR Are the two wars totally unique?
B. Was the U.S. right in dropping the atom bomb on Japan to end the war & avoid the
“Invasion of Japan” which may have taken 2 years and 100,000 American lives? Did it
set a bad precedent?
Unit14: An Anxious Stability: The Age of the Cold War, 1949-1989 : Discussion Topics:
A. Which side (if any) is more responsible for starting the Cold War – the U.S. or USSR?
B. Who is more responsible for the fall of the USSR: Reagan or Gorbechev?
Unit15: The West and the World Since 1989 : Discussion Topic:
A. Which issue is the most significant for our future and why?
i. Terrorism
ii. Globalization
iii. The Environment
Assignments and Grading Criteria
[Insert. Must include the value of each project, skill, exam, etc. as it relates to the final grade.]
Policies
Attendance policy: [Insert]
Late work/make-up policy: [Insert]
Weekly Course Schedule
Page 3 of 5
[Insert date of each class meeting, topics to be covered, assignment due dates, testing dates, final exam
date, etc. Table format below is optional.]
Dates of
Class
Meetings
Week #1
Week #2
Week #3
Week #4
Week #5
Week #6
Week #7
Week #8
Week #9
Week #10
Week #11
Week #12
Week #13
Week #14
Week #15
Week #16
Course Schedule
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
{Tentative Activity}
Teaching Schedule
The scheduling of the activities and teaching strategies on this syllabus, but not the objectives or content,
may be altered at any time at the discretion of the instructor.
Withdrawals: The last day to drop this course is [Insert date according to Important Class Dates for term
https://catalog.mchenry.edu/syllabi/Pages/default.aspx]. Failure to attend class does not constitute official
withdrawal. If students are considering a withdrawal, they should consult directly with the instructor and an
academic advisor. Students may withdraw from a class through the Registration Office, either in person or by
fax: (815) 455-3766. In their request, students should include their name, student ID number, course prefix,
number and section, course title, instructor, reason for withdrawing, and their signature. Withdrawal from a
course will not be accepted over the telephone.
Academic Support for Special Populations Students
Students with Disabilities:
It is the policy and practice of McHenry County College to create inclusive learning environments. If you
are a student with a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act – Amended
(ADAA) and require accommodations, please contact the Access and Disability Services office for
information on appropriate policies and procedures for receiving accommodations and support.
Disabilities covered by ADAA may include learning, psychiatric, and physical disabilities, or chronic
health disorders. Students should contact the Access and Disability Services office if they are not certain
whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. To receive accommodations, students must make a
formal request and must supply documentation from a qualified professional to support that request.
However, you do not need to have your documentation in hand for our first meeting. Students who
believe they qualify must contact the Access and Disability Services office to begin the accommodation
process. All discussions remain confidential. The Access and Disability Services office is located in
Page 4 of 5
Room A260 in A Building in the Atrium. To schedule an appointment to speak with the manager, please
call (815) 455-8766. Information about disabilities services at MCC can be found at:
www.mchenry.edu/access
Additional syllabus information and resources can be found at www.mchenry.edu/syllabusinfo.
STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING ALL SYLLABUS INFORMATION.
Page 5 of 5