This course examines the foundations of Western civilizations by focusing on major developments in the history of the ancient and medieval worlds between c. 500 and 1500 CE. The course will cover the history of the Mediterranean world—from Iberia to Persia—very broadly defined in considering the complex, diverse roots of the Western tradition(s). Among the topics considered will be the evolution of political systems; the development and spread of empires—Persian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Byzantine, Carolingian, and Ottoman; the emergence of Christianity and Islam and their interactions with Judaism; shifting conceptions of sex, gender, ethnicity, and freedom; and major trends in the evolution of science, medicine, philosophy, literature, art & architecture, and historiography. The course also provides an opportunity to learn, by doing, the work of the historian. Appropriate for first and second year students, majors and non-majors. Format: Two lectures per week, followed by Friday discussions of assigned primary texts. There will be an in-class midterm and a non-cumulative final examination, in addition to short analytical writing assignments.