The Middle East, with its intricate history and diverse cultures, has played a pivotal role in shaping the course of human civilization. Situated at the crossroads of continents, this region has been a cradle of ancient civilizations, the birthplace of major religions, and a hub of trade and cultural exchange. Exploring the history and cultures of the Middle East reveals a fascinating tapestry woven with a myriad of influences and legacies that continue to resonate in the present day.

This course will provide an introduction to the study of world cultures. The strategy used is two different historical models: the developmental and functional. The developmental approach deals with how a culture successfully responds to its geographic environment over time. The functional approach addresses how a culture’s political, social, economic, intellectual, diplomatic, and military institutions become an integrated operational whole.

As for the course’s central theme, we will be debunking the title, “Western Civilization.” These two words offer a Eurocentric view of several different civilizations, only one of which was Europe. The area of study is the Cradle of Civilization, which first emerged in the Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, traveled to Europe, and added the Middle East.  In this set of complex geographic zones, I seek to analyze the multicultural composition of the so-called “Western Civilization.”  Starting from the Middle Ages and evolving into the Modern Era.

Each section of this course will emphasize the institutional ingredients that contributed to forming what we call “Europe” and “the Middle East & North Africa” [MENA]

The study of these two human civilizations will show how “culture” itself is an extremely complex entity. The goal of our study will be to see how political, economic, social, religious, and intellectual institutions complement one another to create a dynamic, complementary, and functional set of conditions in each culture studied. The accumulation of all sections covered should provide a sense of the major factors that explain the origins of modernization.

Let’s Begin The Adventure:

GSPC – Lectures

GSPC – CWC – Faltas Topic # 1 – An Introduction to The Western Civilization

GSPC – CWC – Faltas Topic # 2 – The Nomads Invasion and the Fall of W Roman Empire

GSPC – CWC – Faltas Topic # 3 – The Middle Eastern Ethnicities Arabians & Arabs

GSPC – CWC – Faltas Topic 4 – Persians & Palestianians

LBCC – Lectures:

CWC – Faltas Topic # 1 – An Introduction to The Western Civilization

CWC – Faltas Topic # 2 – The Rise of Christianity and its Effect on the Fall of the Roman Empire

CWC – Faltas Topic # 3 – The Germanic Nomads’ invasions and the Fall of the Western Roman Empire.

CWC – Faltas Topic # 4 – The Middle Eastern Ethnicities Arabs & Turks

CWC – Faltas Topic # 5 – The Hebrews

CWC – Faltas Topic # 6 – The Persians

CWC – Faltas Topic # 7 – Native Ethnic Minorities in the M.E

CWC – Faltas Topic # 8 – The Rise of Islam Part 1

CWC – Faltas Topic # 9 – The Rise of Islam Part 2

CWC – Faltas Topic # 10 – The M.Ages. Part 1

CWC – Faltas Topic # 11 – M.Ages P2

CWC – Faltas Topic # 12 – Renaissance & Reformation in Western Europe

CWC – Faltas Topic # 13 Simultaneous Revolutions – Scientific & Enlightenment

CWC – Faltas Topic # 14 – Industrial Revolution

CWC – Faltas Topic # 15 – Ideologies of Change in Europe & Nation Formation

CWC – Faltas Topic # 16 – The Middle Eastern Culture