前言
Part One: The Cradle of Western Civilization
1.1 Overview
1.2 Mesopotamian Civilization
1.2.1 History and Society
1.2.2 Cultural Achievements
1.3 Egyptian Civilization
1.3.1 History and Society
1.3.2 Cultural Achievements
1.4 The Hebrew Culture
1.4.1 History and Society
1.4.2 Cultural Significance
1.5 Selected Reading
Part Two:Grik Culture
2.1 Overview
2.2 The Dark Ages
2.3 The Archaic Period
2.3.1 History and Society
2.3.2 Cultural Aspects
2.3.3 Excursuses: Sparta and Athens
2.4 The Classical Age
2.4.1 History and Society
2.4.2 Literature
2.4.3 Visual Arts
2.4.4 Philosophy
2.5 The Hellenistic Age
2.5.1 History and Society
2.5.2 Literature
2.5.3 Visual Arts
2.5.4 Philosophy and Science
2.6 Selected Readings
2.6.1 Greek Mythology
2.6.2 Homer
2.6.3 Sophocles
2.6.4 Plato
Part Three: Roman Culture
3.1 Overview
3.2 The Roman Republic
3.2.1 Political Reforms
3.2.2 Roman Conquests
3.2.3 Decline of the Roman Republic
3.2.4 Excursus. The Roman Law
3.3 The Roman Empire
3.3.1 The Pax Romana
3.3.2 Decline of the Roman Empire
3.3.3 Rise of Christianity
3.4 Cultural Achievements
3.4.1 Literature and Philosophy
3.4.2 Visual Arts
3.5 Selected Readings
3.5.1 Cicero
3.5.2 Julius Caesar
3.5.3 Virgil
Part Four: Christian Culture
4.1 Overview
4.1.1 Origins and Development
4.1.2 Divisions of Christianity
4.2 The Bible
4.2.1 The Old Testament
4.2.2 The New Testament
4.3 Literature and Arts Influenced by Christianity
4.3.1 Literature
4.3.2 Visual Arts
4.4 Selected Readings
4.4.1 Guide to the Reading
4.4.2 Genesis (Excerpts)
4.4.3 The Song of Solomon (Excerpts)
4.4.4 Matthew (Excerpts)
Selected Bibliography
Appendix: Glossary