An Overview of Western History
An Overview of Western History
Western history is the history of Europe as a whole and much of Western history can be seen in Rome, Mesopotamia, China and ancient Egypt. Western civilization traces its origins back to ancient Greece and the Mediterranean. It is intimately connected to ancient Rome, medieval Christendom that developed in the Middle Ages and with Medieval Western Christendoms that emerged in the twelfth century from the reconquest of Western Europe. It was also linked to the rise of the Thirty Years’ War that destroyed most of Christendom’s influence in the region. Western history is the background to many conflicts such as the Seven Years’ War, The Crusades, World War I and World War II that shaped the world as we know it today.
The early years of Western European history can be seen in the wall paintings of medieval Europe. These pictures of medieval Europe depict the era when the majority of the region’s people were Christian. The progress of Christianity as it spread throughout the region became part of everyday life as it encompassed every aspect of everyday life from clothes and possessions to banking and government. It was during this time that the term “western civilization” came about as a collective description for all those who practiced or lived by the west’s moral and intellectual teachings.
Early on, there were two major influences in Western European history that remain prominent to this day. The first was the Roman Empire, which stretched its influence across the entire continent. Another was the spread of Islam, which reached the entirety of what is now known as Europe. Islamic religious beliefs and practices brought about much intolerance towards other religions and caused the loss of Christian territory to Islam. A lot of the early Crusaders were captured and put to death in the name of Islam, thus, bringing western civilization to what it is today.
In modern history, there has been a new wave of immigration to the Western part of the world. Some have joined the European societies while others have chosen to settle in the former Eastern countries of the world. The most successful of these immigrants are the ones who chose to leave behind their homeland and travel to what is now known as the West. As more of the ancient cultures of the Western world become absorbed into the realm of history, Western Europeans have adopted many of the traditions, beliefs, and ideas of the old East while adding to them with their own culture and way of life. This has allowed for a significant evolution of the civilization as a whole, making it what it is today.
There is a great deal of debate as to whether the United States of America is a Western country or not. This nation was created through the efforts of many European countries, most notably the French, English, and Native Americans. Because of this, some argue that the United States is a part of Europe, though it is a Northern European country by descent. On the other hand, there are those who would argue that the United States does not fall into this category because it was a slave-holding country prior to the American revolution. Regardless of which side of the argument you choose to believe in, you can look at various aspects of this historic event and put your own opinion to the test. One thing is for sure, and that is that the history of the west certainly did play a huge role in the shaping of the world as we know it today.
No matter what your opinion may be on western history and how it has affected the rest of the world, there is no disputing the facts about this time in history. From the big buildings of the American west, to the most famous men of the west, to the myths and legends that surrounded western people during this time, western history is filled with amazing stories to tell. It is even possible for you to learn about some of the most influential figures from this era, and this is certainly something that anyone interested in learning all about this era needs to consider doing. Western history is certainly one of the most intriguing areas of study, and is definitely worth the effort anyone gives to research this subject.