Capstone Project Mastery Assessment
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Capstone Project Mastery Assessment
Western civilization refers to a group of European civilizations with common cultural goals, intellectual foundations, and ancestral values. The idea is that those civilizations have a common past that has impacted their emergence. This concept is often used in contrast to the supposed Eastern civilization to highlight the basic differences between Asian and European cultures. The most important element of Western civilization is that it is delineated by the impression of a collective heritage or cultural origins. The two main forces that created the heart of Western civilization are Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian factors. The Greeks and Romans, two of Europe’s oldest major, founded civilizations were the very first powerful factors on what would constitute Western civilization. This paper seeks to delve into the reason why Western Civilization has been so productive and dynamic by going through the major periods we have covered and identifying the important concepts and occurrences that have aided Western Civilization’s advancement.
Classical Period
The Classical Period encompasses the interwoven cultures of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, referred to as the Greco-Roman civilization, from the 8th century BC to the 6th century AD, and is focused on the Mediterranean Sea.
Unique talents thrived in Greece at this time. Pericles, a great general and statesman was voted into power in 443 B.C., and Athens attained the pinnacle of cultural splendor during his rule (Drogin, 2008). The Parthenon, for example, was built during Pericles’ reign, and it represents the Greek concepts of reason, moderation, order, and beauty. Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles composed their dramas and comedy throughout this time, setting patterns for centuries of artists. Many of their storylines were inspired by tales about legends and gods, however, their works tackled important moral problems and dealt with universal topics (Sunshine, 2009). Their plays are so ageless that you may see one on Broadway or in London almost every evening.
For the first time in the West, Herodotus, known as “the father of history,” chronicled occurrences, including the Persian wars. Thucydides, a younger colleague of Herodotus, wrote about the Peloponnesian War and became the first historian to objectively examine his sources with a view to the future (Sunshine, 2009). The civil war between Sparta and Athens was chronicled by Thucydides. These ancient Greek authors were the first genuine historians of Western culture when they collaborated.
Great philosophers arose as well, including Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates, who posed such fundamental issues as “What is happiness?” “What is truth?” and “What is the ideal form of government?” (Drogin, 2008). Socrates (469-399 B.C.) seldom wrote down his insights, which he conveyed most frequently in his discussions with others—hence the term “Socratic dialogue.” Plato (427-347 B.C.) was his disciple who recorded Socrates’ discussions. Plato thought that everything is a flawed mirror of the ideal concept that lies behind it. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), Plato’s most famous student, may be considered the first scientist who utilized experience and thought to better comprehend the physical universe.
Early Modern Period (1300-1600)
The late Middle Ages of the post-classical era are followed by the early modern period of modern history. Historians divide it into four periods: the Ottoman conquering of Constantinople in 1453, the Renaissance in Europe and Timurid Central Asia, Muslim conquests in India, and the end of the Reconquista and the Age of Enlightenment (particularly Christopher Columbus’ adventures starting in 1492 and also Vasco da Gama’s exploration of the sea route to India in 1498).
Historians have claimed in the past few decades that the most significant characteristic of the early modern era from a global perspective was its expanding globalizing nature (Sunshine, 2009). Over the course of the era, new industries and structures arose, becoming increasingly complex and internationally defined. In the west, this dynamic started in the medieval North Italian city-states of Milan, Venice, and Genoa. The early modern era also saw the development of mercantilism as the dominant economic philosophy (Drogin, 2008).
The Aztec Empire, the Inca civilization, the Maya civilization, and its cities, and the Muisca civilization were all constructed by pre-Columbian citizens in America. During the early modern era, European colonization of the Americas started, as did the development o