Students will write a 1,000 word (approximately 3 pages) response on the following topic: Trace the ideas of Western Civilization from their origins in Greece to the Twentieth Century.

This is a standard research assignment and you may use MLA, APA, or Chicago style (footnotes). The assignment must be between 1,000 – 1,250 words.

Requirements:

A minimum of 3 sources (you can use more if you wish)
No general encyclopedias or Wikipedia
No webpages (any internet-related Journal articles found through the Library system are okay)

Formatting of the research:

The Word document should conform to the following standards:

1 inch margins on all sides
12 point Times New Roman font
Double-spaced
Page numbers in the top, right corner
Ragged edge on the right (this is usually the default setting for Word)
Place a word count at the end
A Bibliography/Works Cited page with all of your sources properly cited

Rubric for the Research Assignment:

For every 50 words below or above the requirement -5 points.
For every 5 grammar/spelling errors -3 points
Only 2 sources -10 points. / Only 1 source -20 points. / No sources -40 points.
For every formatting instruction not followed -3 points.
Staying on topic – at the discretion of the Instructor

SOLUTION

The Development of Western Civilization: From Greece to the Twentieth Century

Introduction
Western civilization has been shaped over thousands of years by a dynamic interplay of philosophy, religion, politics, economics, and social structures. Its roots trace back to the ancient Greeks, who emphasized rational inquiry, political participation, and cultural achievement. These ideas were inherited, adapted, and transformed through the Roman Empire, the medieval Christian tradition, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Industrial and political revolutions of modern times. By the twentieth century, Western civilization embodied a combination of rational science, democratic politics, industrial progress, and cultural pluralism. This paper will trace the key intellectual and cultural developments that connect ancient Greece to the twentieth century, showing how Western thought evolved and retained its foundations across different historical contexts.

Greek Foundations of Western Thought
Ancient Greece (c. 800–323 BCE) is widely regarded as the birthplace of Western civilization because of its contributions to philosophy, politics, and culture. Philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle emphasized rational inquiry, ethical reasoning, and the pursuit of truth. Greek democracy, particularly in Athens, pioneered the idea of participatory governance, albeit limited to free male citizens. Moreover, Greek literature, drama, and art emphasized human agency and moral complexity, shaping the Western emphasis on individual dignity. According to Cartledge (2016), the Greek emphasis on reason and civic responsibility created a legacy that would later influence Roman law, Christian theology, and Enlightenment political thought.

Roman Contributions and the Spread of Christianity
The Roman Empire absorbed and expanded upon Greek ideas, particularly in the fields of law, governance, and engineering. Roman law established principles such as equality before the law, citizenship, and codification, which remain foundational in Western legal traditions. With the rise of Christianity in the first centuries CE, Western civilization began to integrate religious and ethical dimensions into its cultural identity. Christianity emphasized the moral worth of the individual, compassion, and justice, blending Greco-Roman rationalism with a theocentric worldview. As Brown (2012) notes, the fusion of Roman structures with Christian values laid the groundwork for medieval Europe and the development of institutions such as the Church and universities.

Medieval Synthesis and Scholastic Thought
The Middle Ages (c. 500–1500 CE) often are portrayed as a period of stagnation, but in reality, they were critical in preserving and transforming classical thought. Monasteries safeguarded ancient texts, while universities became centers of learning that developed scholastic philosophy. Thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas sought to reconcile Aristotelian reason with Christian faith, producing a synthesis that would influence theology, philosophy, and politics. Feudalism structured society around obligations and land, but the growth of trade and towns foreshadowed economic transformation. The medieval emphasis on community, hierarchy, and divine order both preserved classical legacies and set the stage for Renaissance individualism.

The Renaissance and Humanism
Beginning in the fourteenth century, the Renaissance revived classical learning and emphasized human potential, artistic creativity, and empirical observation. Humanism, a key intellectual movement, sought to place humans rather than divine authority at the center of inquiry, though it did not reject religion. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo expressed ideals of beauty and proportion, while scholars like Erasmus emphasized education and reform. The invention of the printing press accelerated the spread of knowledge, empowering individuals to engage critically with texts. Burke (2019) argues that the Renaissance represented a cultural rebirth that celebrated individual achievement and laid the foundations for modern science and secular politics.

The Reformation and Scientific Revolution
The Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and emphasized individual interpretation of Scripture. This movement reshaped European politics, culture, and religion, fostering values of personal responsibility and skepticism of centralized authority. Parallel to this was the Scientific Revolution, where figures like Galileo, Newton, and Copernicus challenged traditional cosmology and advanced a systematic method of inquiry. The scientific method became a cornerstone of Western thought, prioritizing evidence and experimentation over tradition. These developments reinforced the Western trajectory toward individual freedom, rational inquiry, and secular governance.

The Enlightenment and Political Revolutions
The eighteenth-century Enlightenment was a pivotal moment when reason, liberty, and progress became dominant cultural ideals. Philosophers such as Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau articulated concepts of natural rights, separation of powers, and social contracts, influencing modern democracy. Enlightenment thinkers also emphasized religious tolerance, scientific advancement, and economic liberalism. These ideas fueled revolutions, most notably the American Revolution (1776) and the French Revolution (1789), which sought to institutionalize equality, rights, and representative government. The Enlightenment firmly established the intellectual framework for modern Western societies.

Industrialization and Nineteenth-Century Ideologies
The Industrial Revolution transformed Western civilization in the nineteenth century, reshaping economies, social relations, and political ideologies. Industrialization brought unprecedented technological innovation but also deep social inequality, urbanization, and labor unrest. In response, ideologies such as liberalism, socialism, and nationalism emerged, each offering competing visions for social order. As Hobsbawm (1996) explains, the nineteenth century was an “age of extremes,” balancing industrial progress with political revolution and cultural upheaval. The Western tradition of rational progress continued, but it was increasingly contested by debates about equity, identity, and power.

Western Civilization in the Twentieth Century
The twentieth century tested the ideals of Western civilization through world wars, totalitarian regimes, and struggles for civil rights. World War I and II revealed the destructive potential of modern technology and nationalism. At the same time, democratic ideals and human rights gained global recognition, particularly with the founding of the United Nations in 1945. The Cold War divided Western thought between capitalist democracy and communist ideology, highlighting competing visions of progress. Movements for decolonization, gender equality, and racial justice further expanded the scope of Western values by including voices long excluded from its narrative. By the century’s end, Western civilization was marked by scientific advancement, political pluralism, and cultural diversity, all rooted in the legacies of Greece and Rome.

Conclusion
From the rational inquiry of the Greeks to the global conflicts and reforms of the twentieth century, Western civilization reflects a continuous evolution of ideas. While each era introduced new perspectives, the underlying emphasis on reason, individual dignity, and progress remained central. Greece provided the intellectual foundations, Rome institutionalized them, Christianity moralized them, and the Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment transformed them into the principles of modernity. The twentieth century tested and expanded these values, leaving a complex but enduring legacy. Tracing this history reveals not only the continuity of Western ideals but also their adaptability in the face of profound change.

References
Brown, P. (2012). Through the eye of a needle: Wealth, the fall of Rome, and the making of Christianity in the West, 350–550 AD. Princeton University Press.

Burke, P. (2019). The European Renaissance: Centres and peripheries (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.

Cartledge, P. (2016). Democracy: A life. Oxford University Press.

Hobsbawm, E. (1996). The age of revolution: 1789–1848. Vintage.

Word Count: 1,087

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