A Beginner’s Guide to Western World History

Western world history is the study of Western culture, which combines Judeo-Christian values and classical Greco-Roman thinking. It also incorporates a long lineage of European art and culture. For some people, the term “western world” has a geographic meaning – those places in the world that have a European heritage and are part of the NATO-allied countries – while for others it is more a political term, referring to those parts of the world that were once under the Soviet sphere of influence.

A broad range of topics can be explored in a western world history essay, from the impact of Alexander the Great on Greek culture to the rise and fall of the Knights Templar. The Age of Exploration and Colonization, with the establishment of the Portuguese, Spanish, and English Empires, and the colonial subjugation of India, Africa and the Americas, also makes a fascinating topic to examine. The growth of Europe’s monarchies and the rise of nationalism can also be studied in this essay, as can the conflict between Catholicism and Protestantism in Europe.

This period was marked by the formation of nations, a time when the concept of private ownership of land began to take hold, and when the idea of equality between men and women was born. It was a time when explorers discovered new continents, while warring European powers battled each other for control of natural resources and the rights to their own colonies.

Religion had a major impact on the events of this period, as missionaries spread Christianity throughout the globe and theological conflict raged between Catholicism and Protestantism. The Reformation was an important turning point in Western history, as it shifted the emphasis from collective religious community to personal spirituality. In doing so, it opened the door for secular societies to grow.

The 19th and 20th centuries saw a global explosion in industrialization, with the development of steam power, railroads, ships, cars and airplanes. The resulting economic and social changes helped transform the world into the modern world.

The end of the Cold War brought a new definition to the term “the West.” In this case, it refers to the countries in the western hemisphere that are members of NATO and the European Union. As more and more former Soviet-bloc countries join the EU and NATO, this definition of the West will become even more expansive. Historically, it has also included Europe, up to the western borders of Russia. In a more general sense, the phrase has sometimes been used to refer to the countries whose governments are aligned with the United States, including Canada and Australia. Other times, it has been used to refer to all of the democratic countries in the world. Regardless of the precise definition, a western world history essay is an excellent way to understand the evolution of human society and the ideas that have shaped it. A careful study of this history can help to bridge the gap between past and present, shedding light on patterns, mistakes, victories and transformations that shape the world we live in today.