World Civilization I

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Course Syllabus and Schedule

We begin our study rightly at the beginning of mankind.  In this module, we will investigate the evolution of man as far back as 8 million years ago to homo sapiens.  Moving out of Africa, modern humans populated the world during the Paleolithic Era and ultimately forever changed society during the Neolithic Era.  Around 8,000 BCE, the development of agriculture during the Neolithic Revolution will have intended and unintended consequences.  This fascinating time in history demonstrates how humans interact with their environment.  In this episode Dr. Juliet Brophy of Louisiana State University joins Lise Namikas. 

The first civilizations we will discuss will be Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Nubia. Egypt will be relatively protected and there will not be much political unrest. Mesopotamia however will not be so lucky; we see continuous turmoil in Mesopotamia.  Religion was foundational for each early civilization and we will see varying degrees of rights for women.

This module will explore the glories of the India through the examination of its ancient past to its late medieval period. This module begins with an introduction into the people and the terrain of the Indus Valley civilization. The learner will examine the ancient civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjo-Dara. The next topic that will be covered will be the Vedic Age and the coming of the Aryan people. The text will explore the impact that the Aryans had on India's religion and its culture.

This module will explore the glories of the China through the examination of its ancient past to its dynastic civilization. This module begins with an introduction into the people and the terrain of East Asia. The learner will examine the beginnings of the numerous dynasties in China's history. 

The Greeks have been considered the cornerstone of Western civilization. This is true in many respects. Both democracy and philosophy come from the Greeks. We also owe the study of history to the Greeks.  The Greeks were humanity-centered. 

As for dates, the peak of ancient Greece is generally considered around 450 B.C.E. (the Delian League) and the civilization generally closes around 323 B.C.E. (the death of Alexander the Great). Much of what the Greeks accomplished will not end with the downfall of Athens and Sparta because of Alexander the Great. He will create a massive empire. Alexander is one of the most intriguing figures in history. He has become a legend and distinguishing fact from fiction has become difficult, even for historians. Alexander is given credit for extending Greek culture throughout the world. Much of Greek society will continue through the Roman Empire and will be reborn again with the Renaissance.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. The Roman Republic (and later, the Roman Empire) was built on many of the achievements of its neighbors in the Mediterranean region—especially Greece. Rome struggled to address the challenges of governing a large area (and population), but its innovations in politics and religion continue to influence our world today. The Fall of (Western) Rome in 476 AD (CE) has long served as a reminder of how quickly our world can change.

This YouTube video is fully rendered in 3D, which means you can turn around in the video as it plays. Let's explore this remarkable building!

Many things changed in Europe after the Fall of (Western) Rome in 476 AD (CE). Governments broke down. People moved to the countryside. Cities fell into ruin. Engineering and architectural skills were forgotten. Raiding and warfare were common. But the early Middle Ages prepared the way for the emergence of new social and political structures in the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance era. And, in the eastern city of Constantinople, the Roman Empire survived for another 1000 years.

The Islamic world began in Arabia and grew with the vision of the prophet Muhammad. The chapter outlines Muhammad's experiences and the origins of Islam. It identifies the basic characteristics of Islam, its five pillars, community, and social aspects. The chapter then explains the growth and expansion of Islam, its empire building and conquest. It explains the empire building of Muhammad, and then those who followed, specifically the Umayyads and the Abbasids. Salwa and Saif Saeed, Louisiana Delta Community College students join Lise Namikas in this episode. Lise interviews Linda Midgett, independent director and producer of 2018 film:  Same God. 

African civilizations are more diverse than anywhere else in the world. Yet the general, western understanding of Africa is slim. Africa has faced a number of environmental challenges that have limited population growth, but it has still fostered great empires such as those in Ethiopia (Aksum), the western Sudanic empires, and south Africa. In this episode, Lise Namikas interviews Prince Lobo, owner/manager of Addis Nola restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

This module will explore the history of the Americas through the examination of the various groups of people who settled the continent.  This module begins with an introduction into the migration of people across the Bering Strait to North America. The learner will examine the three major civilizations of the Americas,the Maya, Aztecs and the Inca. 

This module will explore the history of the Americas through the examination of the various groups of people who settled the continent.  This module begins with an introduction into the migration of people across the Bering Strait to North America. The learner will examine the three major civilizations of the Americas,the Maya, Aztecs and the Inca. 

The Mongols were a unique force in world history, as nomadic pastoralists, they still created major and impactful empires. Beginning with Genghis Khan the Mongols moved west into South Asia, the middle east, and the lands of Rus, as well as founding the Yuan empire in China. They blended with the Turkic peoples, lead with a brutal form of conquest, and gradually will adopt Islam and settle more permanently. 

This virtual hall includes the world's most important collection of paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Pieter Bruegel the Younger. These paintings, important examples of the Northern Renaissance, are typically on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria.