Student Question
What is Western Civilization?
Quick answer:
Western Civilization refers to the cultural heritage influenced by Greek and Roman civilizations, spreading westward through conquest, trade, and migration. It encompasses the historical development of Europe from ancient times through the Renaissance and Enlightenment. This civilization is contrasted with Eastern civilizations, like those in China, which developed independently. Today, Western Civilization courses focus on the historical context of European and Anglophone cultures, reflecting the curriculum's evolution rather than inherent cultural qualities.
This term, usually contrasted with Eastern civilization, refers to the part of the world that was directly influenced by the Greek and Roman civilizations of two thousand years ago. By conquest, by trade, and by nomadic civilization expansion, the languages, ethical standards, system of values, religious beliefs, and similar cultural influences spread westward to the Arlantic Ocean. At the same time or ealier, a civilization was developing east of the Himilayas, in what is now known as China, the Far East, etc. Their art, their attitude toward Nature, their natural resources (and spices and silks), their history of national expansion, their philosophies, their attitude toward nature, eyc. All took them in different directions; in the era of Western exploration, the two civilizations met and exchanged ideas, technologies (paper, gun powder, mathematics, astronomy were some of the East’s contributions to the West). Today, Western civilization usually means the historical setting of...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
Europe from the Greeks and Romans,through the Dark and Middle Ages, through the Renaissance, through the period of Enlightenment. By the time of the discovery of the American continent, and with it the creation of North and South American cultures, the term “Western Civilization” was strictly historical. Alan Watts, in the 1950’s and 19060’s, introduced Eastern literature and art to the West, although, of course, by that time the world was a mixture of “civilizations. Today, the financial term “global” clarifies that mixture.
What is Western civilization?
The reason they are TAUGHT togther in Western Civilization courses is that they consist of the background used in studies of European and Anglophone culture in subsequent courses. Thus your question really should be framed as one not about inherent qualities of the cultures but rather about the history of curriculum.
Western civilization is best defined as the civilizations that have contributed to and have sprung from Europe.
When we think of Western civilization, we generally think of the set of cultural attitudes and institutions that have developed on that continent. These attitudes and institutions have spread with colonization and so we would also say that the Americas, as well as Australia and New Zealand are generally part of the West.
In order to understand Western civilization, though, we have to also look back at how thise civilizations came to be. Some things that have influenced this civilization have come from outside of Europe. The most obvious example of this is the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Therefore, the study of Western civilization also includes the study of those civilizations (even outside of Europe) that have had a major impact on Europe.