Aspects of Western Civilization, Volume I: Problems and Sources in History

For freshman/sophomore level courses in Western Civilization from the ancient world to present, or Intro to Humanities or survey courses of a particular period. A two-volume chronologically arranged compilation of primary and some secondary sources in Western Civilization. Organized around eight major themes to provide direction and cohesion to the text while allowing for originality of thought in both written and oral analysis. Students are presented with basic questions regarding historical development, human nature, moral action and practical necessity while incorporating a wide variety of political, social, economic, religious, intellectual and scientific issues. The readings present history as a vehicle for better understanding in the present rather than a stagnant observation of past societies.

The Roman orator Cicero once remarked that "History is the witness of the times, the torch of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity." In spite of these noble words, historians have often labored under the burden of justifying the value of studying events which are over and done. Humankind is practical, more concerned with its present and future than with its past. And yet the study of history provides us with unique opportunities for self-knowledge. It teaches us what we have done and therefore helps define what we are. On a less abstract level, the study of history enables us to judge present circumstance by drawing on the laboratory of the past. Those who have lived and died, through their recorded attitudes, actions, and ideas, have left a legacy of experience. One of the best ways to travel through time and space and perceive the very "humanness" that lies at the root of history is through the study of primary sources. These are the documents, coins, letters, inscriptions, and monuments of past ages. The task of historians is to evaluate this evidence with a critical eye and then construct a narrative that is consistent with the "facts" as they have established them. Such interpretations are inherently subjective and are therefore open to dispute. History is thus filled with controversy as historians argue their way toward the "truth." The only way to work toward an understanding of the past is through personal examination of the primary sources. Yet, for the beginning student, this poses some difficulties. Such inquiry casts the student adrift from the security of accepting the "truth" as revealed in a textbook. In fact, history is too often presented in a deceptively objective manner; one learns "facts and dates" in an effort to obtain the "right answers" for multiple-choice tests. But the student who has wrestled with primary sources and has experienced voices from the past on a more intimate level, accepts the responsibility of evaluation and judgment. He or she understands that history does not easily lend itself to "right answers," but demands reflection on the problems that have confronted past societies and are at play even in our contemporary world. Cicero was right in viewing history as the "life of memory." But human memory is fragile and the records of the past can be destroyed or distorted. Without the past, people have nothing with which to judge what they are told in the present. Truth then becomes the preserve of the ruler or government, no longer relative, but absolute. The study of history, and primary sources in particular, goes far in making people aware of the continuity of humankind and the progress of civilization. Aspects of Western Civilizationoffers the student an opportunity to evaluate the primary sources of the past and to do so in a structured and organized format. The documents provided are diverse in nature and include state papers, secret dispatches, letters, diary accounts, poems, newspaper articles, papal encyclicals, propaganda flyers, and even wall graffiti. Occasionally, the assessments of modern historians are included to lend perspective. All give testimony to human endeavor in Western societies. Yet, this two-volume book has been conceived as more than a simple compilation of primary sources. The subtitle of the work,Problems and Sources in History,gives true indication of the nature of its premise. It is meant to provide the student with thoughtful and engaging material, which is focused around individual units that encompass time periods, specific events, and historical questions. Students learn from the past most effectively when posed with problems that have meaning for their own lives. In evaluating the material fromAspects of Western Civilization,the student will discover that issues are not nearly as simple as they may appear at first glance. Historical sources often contradict each other and truth