A Survey of Western Civilization Why should Chinese students of English bother about Western...

A Survey of Western

Civilization

Why should Chinese students of English bother about Western civilization?

What do you think are the basic elements in Western Civilization?

An introduction to Western Civilization

1. Requirements to the course 2. Learning methods 3. Relevant theories 4. The main contents in a

chronological order 5. Reference books

Teaching/learning methods

1. Presentation

2. Drama play

3. Movie watching

Relevant theories

1. Definition of civilization2. The relationship between culture and c

ivilization3. The significance to learn Western civiliza

tion

The word civilization comes from Latin civis, meaning a citizen or resident of city.

“An advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, and government has been reached.”—Webster’s Universal College Dictionary

Civilization versus Culture

The term civilization is similar to and often interchangeable with culture, but the former refers mostly to cultures that have complex and advanced economic, governmental, and social systems.

Culture is any way of life, be it simple or complex, advanced or not advanced.

Western civilization—European civilization

The main contents 1. Greek culture 2. Roman culture 3. Greek and Roman Mythology 4. Christianity and Bible 5. The Middle Ages 6. Renaissance and Reformation 7. The Age of Enlightenment 8. Romanticism, Realism and

Modernism

References [ 美 ] Robert E. Lerner, et, Western Civilizations, 11th edition, Volume

I, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. , NEW YORK, 1984;

[ 美 ] Robert E. Lerner, et, Western Civilizations, 11th edition, Vol. II,

W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. , NEW YORK, 1984;

[ 美 ] Dennis Sherman, World Civilizations, 4th edition, 中国人民大学出版社，北京， 2007 年 7 月；

[ 美 ] William H. McNeill, A World History, 4th edition, 北京大学出版社， 2008 年 9 月；

[ 英 ] Duncan Sidwell, A Survey of European Culture, 外研社， 200

8 年 6 月； [ 英 ] Duncan Sidwell, A Survey of European Culture, 外研社， 200

8 年 6 月；

Greece: the origin of

western civilization

Warm-ups When we mention the Greek culture,

what will jump to your mind

immediately?

Watch part of the opening ceremony of

Athens Olympic Games and try to find

the elements of Greek civilization.

Greek Culture History Social and political structure Poetry Philosophy Architecture Sculpture Impact

1.The Historical Context

1200 B.C. a war of Troy 5th century B.C. Greek culture reached a high point of devel

opment—successful repulse of Persian's invasion.

In the second half of the 4th century B.C. all Greece was brought under the rule of Ale

xander, king of Macedom. Greek culture was spread wherever they went.

In 146 B.C. the Romans conquered Greece.

Trojan War Two sides: The Greek allies and the Troy Cause of the war: Helen? Main characters in the war Influence of the war

Who caused the war?

Thetis’ wedding

Eris—goddess of discord

The apple of discord

Paris to decide

Revenge of Athena

Abduction of Helen

Thetis’ wedding

Trojan War Two sides: The Greek allies and the Troy Cause of the war: Helen? Main characters in the war Influence of the war

Greece: Menelaus King of Sparta, Helen’s husband

Greece: Agamemnon

The king of Mycenae, brother of Menelaus, and leader of the Greeks in the Trojan War.

He killed his daughter as a sacrifice to sea god and later was killed by his wife.

Greece: Achilles

The greatest hero in the war of Troy.

He killed Hector, brother of Paris, and later was killed by Paris.

Achilles’ heel

dipping into the river Styx

Greece: Odysseus

He advised

to build a

Trojan Horse

and caused

the

destruction

of Troy.

Penelope’s Web

Sailing home from Troy

Troy: Priam

King of Troy;

Father of Paris and

Hector;

The last king of

Troy and was killed

in the Trojan War.

Troy: Hector

Prince of Troy and the greatest hero in Troy.

He was the biggest rival of Achilles and was killed by Achilles.

Troy: Paris

Prince of Troy He abducted

Helen. He killed Achilles.

Aeneas

Think about it:

Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, and burnt the topless towers of Ilium?—Christopher Marlowe

Is woman the real reason for raging a war? Don’t you think it is unfair that historians always attribute the fall of kingdoms to Helen?

Can you list other similar women figures in China’s history?

1.The Historical Context

1200 B.C. a war of Troy 5th century B.C. Greek culture reached a high point of devel

opment—successful repulse of Persian's invasion.

In the second half of the 4th century B.C. all Greece was brought under the rule of Ale

xander, king of Macedom. Greek culture was spread wherever they went.

In 146 B.C. the Romans conquered Greece.

Greek and Persian War City-states of Greece—more than 200 poleis King Darius of Persia In 499 B.C. some poleis rebelled from the

Persians. With the help of Athens and the Greek allies,

the Persians were defeated and drove out of the Asia Minor.

After the war, Athens emerged as the most dominant political and economical force in the Greek world.

Conflicts between Athens and Sparta

Rise of Macedon Philip II took advantage of the political dis

order in Greece and brought all Greece under his control.

Philip II was murdered by one of his officer, also his lover, Pausanias.

Wife of Philip II—Olympias, promised Pausanias high glory and rewards if he killed Philip II.

Alexander the Great Son of Zeus. His idol—Achilles He was greatly influenced by his mother. He was tutored by Aristotle. Taming of a horse He gained the throne when he was 20. In 334 B.C., he and his troops marched

into Asia and launched a war against Persia.

Result: Drove the king out of Asia Minor and Egypt. Darius III was murdered.

His died when he was only 33.

Greek Culture

History Social and political structure Poetry Philosophy Architecture Sculpture Impact

2. Social and Political Structure

Politics Athens was a democracy.

Democracy means “exercise of power by the whole people.”

Economy—slave labor Sports Greeks loved sports.

Mount Olympus ---- Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games revived in

1896.

3.  Poetry--Homer

Greek poet blind bard He probably lived

around 750 B.C. or 850 B.C.

Two epics: Iliad Odyssey

4. Philosophy and Science

Socrates

Plato

Aristotle

What made the universe?

Love of wisdom

Socrates (470-399 B.C.)

Dialogue & The Apologies of Socrates—recorded by Plato

Greek philosopher who initiated a question-and-answer method of teaching as a means of achieving self-knowledge.

Socrates was tried for corrupting the minds of Athenian youth and subsequently put to death in 399 B.C.

The Apologies of Socrates Let us reflect and we shall see that there is

great reason to hope that death is a good; for one of two things--either death is a state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness, or, as men say, there is a change and migration of the soul from this world to another. Now if you suppose that there is no consciousness, but a sleep like the sleep of him who is undisturbed even by dreams, death will be an unspeakable gain…

…to die is a gain; for eternity is then only a single night. But if death is the journey to another place, and there, as men say, all the dead abide, what good, my friends and judges , can be greater than this?

…I am not angry with my condemners, or with my accusers; they have done me no harm, although they did not mean to do me any good; and for this I may gently blame them.

The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways - I to die, and you to live. Which is better only God knows.

Know yourself.

Life is compared to a voyage.

One should eat to live, not live to eat.

All I know is that I know nothing.

All things in their being are good for

something.

Education is the kindling of a flame, not

the filling of a vessel.

Socrates VS Confucius

Plato A follower of Socrates. Plato founded his own school, the Acade

my. The Republic( 理想国）— the lengthy dial

ogue, dealing with questions including the nature of justice, ethics and politics.

Physical world—not reliable Ideal world—higher world Idealist

The Republic

How to live a good life;

What is justice?

Inquiry of morality

What's the point of being good?" when the wicked are apparently so much happier and more successful.

Aristotle

Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth.

Plato &Aristotle

5. Architecture

1) Doric style masculine sturdy (strong and

firm) powerful, severe looking, showing a good

sense of proportions and numbers.

Parthenon temple

2) the Ionic Style

feminine style graceful elegant

3) Corinthian Style: Ornamental luxury

6. Sculpture

(1). Discus Thrower

(2). Venus de Milo

Impact

(1). Supreme Achievement

(2). Lasting effect

恩格斯 (Engels) 把希腊人称作“天才的小民族”；

英国诗人雪莱 (Shelley) 认同自己和所有英国人“都是希腊人”；

黑格尔 (Hegel) 也曾经说过：“一提到希腊这个名字，在有教养的欧洲人心中，尤其在我们德国人心中，自然会引起一种家园之感。”

There is nowhere but Greece. Captive Greece took her rude conqueror (Ro

me) captive.