- Course Type CLEP
- Subject History and Social Sciences
- Level Introductory
- Length 6 Modules
- Video Length 12h 20m
- Reading Pages 433
- Institution Modern States
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Western Civilization I reviews the material typically taught in the first semester of a two-semester college-level survey of Western civilization. The course covers the civilizations of Ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East; the Middle Ages; the Renaissance and Reformation; and early modern Europe. Learners will also practice evaluating and interpreting historical data and primary sources.
This is a free, self-paced Modern States course with no prerequisites. It is aligned to the CLEP® Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 exam and is designed to prepare you to succeed on the test and earn college credit at no cost.
Modern States originally developed this course in collaboration with David Flaten, Ph.D. of State University of New York system. Professor Andrew Barnes of ASU supported course enhancements published in 2025.
Course Overview
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 Course Overview - Modern States
| Module | Topic | Video Length | Total pages of required reading |
| Module 1: Pre-History: Early Civilizations (8% – 17%) 01:37:49 total video length 107 total reading pages |
1: Pre-History and Early Civilizations | 0:03:18 | – |
| 1.1: Pre-History: Stone, Neolithic, Bronze, Iron Ages | 0:12:46 | 20 | |
| 1.2: Early Empires in Mesopotamia | 0:11:59 | 41 | |
| 1.3: Hammurabi’s Law Code | 0:12:04 | 46 | |
| 1.4: Religion, Society and Literacy | 0:14:56 | – | |
| 1.5: Ancient Egypt: Pharaoh and the Nile | 0:12:12 | – | |
| 1.6: The Hebrews: Rise of Israel and Judah | 0:15:44 | – | |
| 1.7: Phoenicians, Assyrians and Persians | 0:14:50 | – | |
| 1: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 2: Greece and its Legacy (15% – 17%) 02:16:49 total video length 46 total reading pages |
2: Greece and Its Legacy | 0:05:15 | – |
| 2.1: Early Greece: Minoan and Mycenaean Civilizations | 0:16:26 | 46 | |
| 2.2: The Polis: Sparta | 0:11:15 | – | |
| 2.3: The Polis: Athens | 0:13:15 | – | |
| 2.4: The Persian Wars to 479 BCE | 0:15:15 | – | |
| 2.5: The Peloponnesian War, 431–404 BCE | 0:11:09 | – | |
| 2.6: The Golden Age of Athens | 0:11:45 | – | |
| 2.7: Philosophy and Religion | 0:15:48 | – | |
| 2.8: Macedonian Hegemony: Barbarian Unity | 0:05:27 | – | |
| 2.9: Campaigns of Alexander the Great | 0:11:10 | – | |
| 2.10: The Spread of Hellenistic Culture | 0:11:24 | – | |
| 2.11: Stoicism, Skepticism, Epicureanism | 0:08:40 | – | |
| 2: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 3: Rome: Republic to Empire (15% – 17%) 02:14:31 total video length 49 total reading pages |
3: Rome—Republic to Empire | 0:04:19 | – |
| 3.1: Foundational Elements of Roman Society: Power of Tradition | 0:08:44 | 49 | |
| 3.2: Roman Organizational Genius | 0:08:33 | – | |
| 3.3: Government and Law in the Republic | 0:11:23 | – | |
| 3.4: The Punic Wars: 264–146 B.C.E. | 0:13:36 | – | |
| 3.5: Socio-Economic Trends of Imperialism | 0:06:49 | – | |
| 3.6: Decline of the Republic | 0:15:29 | – | |
| 3.7: The Principate of Augustus Caesar | 0:12:22 | – | |
| 3.8: Imperial Prosperity: Too Many Frontiers | 0:07:40 | – | |
| 3.9: Diocletian and Constantine | 0:19:31 | – | |
| 3.10: The Invasions and Challenge of Christianity | 0:08:49 | – | |
| 3.11: Church Fathers: Jerome and Augustine | 0:17:16 | – | |
| 3: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 4: Development of Medieval Europe (23% – 27%) 03:05:27 total video length 151 total reading pages |
4: Development of Medieval Europe | 0:08:32 | – |
| 4.1: Byzantine Empire | 0:08:16 | 30 | |
| 4.2: Muhammad and the Spread of Islam | 0:11:49 | 40 | |
| 4.3: Sunni/Shia Schism and Caliphates | 0:12:29 | 28 | |
| 4.4: Charlemagne and Empire | 0:16:06 | 53 | |
| 4.5: Invaders, Raiders and Feudal Development | 0:17:51 | – | |
| 4.6: Agriculture, Trade and the Rise of Cities | 0:11:21 | – | |
| 4.7: Universities, Theology, Philosophy and the Arts | 0:11:13 | – | |
| 4.8: William of Normandy and the English Model | 0:11:35 | – | |
| 4.9: Papal Monarchy | 0:09:44 | – | |
| 4.10: Crusade Mentality, Reconquest of Iberia | 0:09:15 | – | |
| 4.11: Magna Carta as Game Changer | 0:07:23 | – | |
| 4.12: Mongols and Muscovy | 0:04:04 | – | |
| 4.13: Black Death | 0:06:34 | – | |
| 4.14: Socio-Economic Impact of the Black Death | 0:07:27 | – | |
| 4.15: The 100 Years’ War | 0:08:51 | – | |
| 4.16: Impact of War | 0:04:58 | – | |
| 4.17: The Papal Schism | 0:09:22 | – | |
| 4.18: Europe in the Late Middle Ages | 0:08:37 | – | |
| 4: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 5: Renaissance and Reformation (13% – 17%) 01:47:08 total video length 34 total reading pages |
5: Renaissance and Reformation | 0:02:49 | – |
| 5.1: Early Renaissance: Humanism & Classicism | 0:07:56 | 11 | |
| 5.2: Art and Patronage Perspectives | 0:08:20 | 9 | |
| 5.3: The Ottoman Empire Challenges Europe | 0:07:29 | 10 | |
| 5.4: Machiavelli: Political Norms, Government | 0:07:17 | 4 | |
| 5.5: Christian Humanism in Northern Europe | 0:09:18 | – | |
| 5.6: Consolidation of National Monarchies: England, France, Iberia | 0:10:43 | – | |
| 5.7: Reform of Christian Practice: Luther & Calvin | 0:18:19 | – | |
| 5.8: The Religious Reorganization of Europe | 0:10:37 | – | |
| 5.9: The English Change of Religious Models | 0:12:59 | – | |
| 5.10: Roman Catholicism and Council of Trent | 0:11:21 | – | |
| 5: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 6: Early Modern Europe (10% – 15%) 01:18:48 total video length 46 total reading pages |
6: Early Modern Europe | 0:03:02 | – |
| 6.1: Portugal: Prince Henry & Marco Polo | 0:12:39 | 3 | |
| 6.2: Columbus and the New World | 0:09:10 | 11 | |
| 6.3: Exploring, Settling, Exploiting the New World | 0:08:04 | 10 | |
| 6.4: Cortés & Pizarro vs. de Las Casas | 0:11:02 | 12 | |
| 6.5: Imperialism, Atlantic Trade & Slavery | 0:05:09 | 10 | |
| 6.6: 30 Years’ War, 1618–1648: Winners & Losers | 0:07:15 | – | |
| 6.7: England: 1603–1648 | 0:08:09 | – | |
| 6.8: Rise of Absolutism in France & Russia to 1648 | 0:07:21 | – | |
| 6.9: Intellectual Developments: Science to 1648 | 0:06:57 | – | |
| 6: Summary | – | – | |
| Course Conclusion | – | – |
