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Western Civilization II: Recommended Resources

The Age of Reason

The 18th Century is commonly called the Age of Reason because the philosophical trends at that time stressed the superiority of reason over superstition and religion. 

Thomas Paine was an English-born American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary. In 1794 he published the work, The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology, which argues for the philosophical position of deism (belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe). 

Here are some famous quotes from The Age of Reason

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. 

My own mind is my own church. 

Reason obeys itself, and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. 

A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody. 

Suggested databases for articles on Western Civilization

Google Scholar Search

Google Scholar includes both books and articles. Be careful when selecting that the source is reputable. If an article is not made freely available online, remember that you can use the BC3 Library's Request an Article service to request it and we will do our best to obtain it and email it to you - free of charge.

Rick Steves' Luther and the Reformation

 

Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther kicked off the Protestant Reformation, which contributed to the birth of our modern age. In this one-hour special — filmed on location in Europe — Rick Steves tells the story of a humble monk who lived a dramatic life. Rick visits key sites relating to the Reformation (including Erfurt, Wittenberg, and Rome) and explores the complicated political world of 16th-century Europe — from indulgences to iconoclasts, and from the printing press to the Counter-Reformation. It’s a story of power, rebellion, and faith that you’ll never forget.

A Brief History of the Scramble for Africa

The Spanish-American War

The Medici Family Tree

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Related Guides by the BC3 Library

The Academic Article

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Political cartoon depicting American Imperialism

Description: A woman (Hawai'i) and Uncle Sam are getting married, kneeling before the minister (McKinley) who is reading
from a book entitled "Annexation Policy". The bride seems ready to bolt. Behind the couple stands Morgan (jingo)
with a shotgun.

Courtesy of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Archives

Books

The BC3 Library has both print and electronic books for books on the Western Civilization period. They are all listed in the BC3 Library Catalog where you will find Dewey call numbers to locate books on the shelves (lower level of the library) and links to connect you to e-books. E-books can also be searched separately in our two e-book collections: e-Book Central by Proquest and e-Book Collection by EBSCO.

Browsing the Stacks

The call number for books on the Reformation is 270 (history of Christianity) and 280 (Christian denominations)

The call number for books on the Renaissance is 940.21

The call number for books on the Age of Exploration is 910.9

The call number for books on the Age of Reason is 211.5 

The call number for books on Empires is 321.03. The call number for books on Imperialism is 325.32

The call number for books on the Origins of the Modern State are 320.1

Books on famous individuals can be found in the 92 section (biographies) of the library.

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European Voyages of Discovery