Modern European History Curriculum

Modern European History Curriculum

Modern European history starts where the medieval period ends. The easy marker here is 1500 A.D. The Byzantine Empire fell in 1453 A.D., and the Reformation began in 1517 A.D. Both of these events brought great change to Europe. The makings of the Reformation had been brewing for centuries, with the humanist emphasis on the original sources being pivotal (in this case, the Bible). The invention of the printing press then allowed the Reformers to communicate their message with the masses.

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Medieval History Curriculum

Medieval History Curriculum

Medieval history is almost completely neglected in modern education. Its very title “Middle Ages” suggests it was a time between the more important ancient and modern worlds (medieval is a combination of the Latin for “Middle Ages,” medium aevum). But this was a pejorative label given by those of the Renaissance era. The period (and more specifically 300 to 1000 A.D.) is often mischaracterized as “the Dark Ages,” though this could not be further from the truth.

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The Case for Western Civilization

The Case for Western Civilization

Students cannot study every aspect of history in school. There is simply not enough time to do so. We must be selective in what we study, and so we must select that which is worthy of our attention. In this case, students ought to focus on the history of Western civilization. Not only is it America’s history, but it is also the history that built the modern Western world and continues to influence even non-Western countries.

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