This course aims to provide the fundamental background of the western world from the ancient time to the Middle Ages in the first semester in order to let the learners get familiar with intellectual, historical as well as cultural development of the western world. Besides the background information, some representative writers will be introduced briefly for letting the learners have some further research and studies on their own. The final goal of the course is to provide some necessary information to let the learners read literary works more meaningfully.

This course aims to provide the fundamental background of the western world from the ancient time to the Middle Ages in the first semester in order to let the learners get familiar with intellectual, historical as well as cultural development of the western world. Besides the background information, some representative writers will be introduced briefly for letting the learners have some further research and studies on their own. The final goal of the course is to provide some necessary information to let the learners read literary works more meaningfully.

The course introduces the History of Western Civilization from its origins in the Ancient Near East and the Greek and Roman world to approximately the age of the Industrial Revolution. The course will emphasize a pedagogical approach that is best suited to Chinese students of Western languages and literatures: The Hebrew tradition; the development of the Greek and Roman cultures; Christianity; the evolution of the Indo-European languages; European contacts with the East; Western concepts of self, other, home, identity, family, nation, state, and justice, divinity, etc. The Spring semester takes up with the early Middle Ages, and continues to the Industrial Revolution and the modern world.

The course introduces the History of Western Civilization from its origins in the Ancient Near East and the Greek and Roman world to approximately the age of the Industrial Revolution. The course will emphasize a pedagogical approach that is best suited to Chinese students of Western languages ​​and literatures: The Hebrew tradition; the development of the Greek and Roman cultures; Christianity; the evolution of the Indo-European languages; European contacts with the East; Western concepts of self, other, home, identity, family, nation, state, and justice, divinity, etc. The Spring semister takes up with the early Middle Ages, and continues to the Industrial Revolution and the modern world.

Horton, Rod W. and Vincent F. Hopper. History of European Literature: The Political, Social and Intellectual Development Behind the Great Books of Western Civilization. Taipei: Bookman

Horton, Rod W. and Vincent F. Hopper. History of European Literature: The Political, Social and Intellectual Development Behind the Great Books of Western Civilization. Taipei: Bookman