I found this class very interesting and enjoyable, I highly recommend Dr. Munson to anyone to has to take history classes. In this class, we reviewed history relevant to the Western world from prehistory up to the reformation and enlightenment. This class helped me connect various events in history I learned in high school into a greater historical context. I was fuzzy on the hellenic periods and the dark ages, but now I have a basic summary of the European ancient and middle ages.

People sometimes struggle explaining why history is relevant to their everyday life. For me, history can explain why things are the way they are now. For instance, I now have context as to why North Africa is experiencing some of the struggles they now have. As the Roman emperors began to lose influence, Roman “bread and circuses” stopped flowing to roman territory in Africa. This led to deteriorating infrastructure and encouraged piracy of the mediterranean instead of an agrarian or feudal society.

For any curious people who wonder why the world is the way it is, I recommend taking Foundations of Western Civilization.

Below is my Final Paper for the class where I talked for a bit on the causes of the First crusade. Since history papers are generally done in Chicago format, I had to learn the format for this class and I can now say I am very comfortable with the style.