BC3 Library: Western Civilization II: Web resources

Heaven & Hell: The Birth of the Italian Renaissance

General Websites on Western Civilization II period

"Expansion was everything"
To imperialists, "expansion was everything." Imperialism is the policy of expanding the rule of a nation or empire over foreign countries by force. In the 1800s, European nations acquired great wealth and power from both the natural resources of the lands they conquered and the forced labor of the people from whom they took the land.
10 of the most important Renaissance buildings in Italy
Originating in Florence in the early 15th century, Renaissance architecture reflected the "rebirth" of Classical culture. The style spread throughout Europe, replacing the medieval Gothic style. Key architectural elements of Renaissance buildings included columns, pilasters, pediments, entablatures, arches, and domes.
The 1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii
When the Hawaiian islands were formally annexed by the United States in 1898, the event marked the end of a lengthy internal struggle between native Hawaiians and non-native American businessmen for control of the Hawaiian government. The previous year, an annexation treaty was blocked when the newly-formed Hawaiian Patriotic League, composed of native Hawaiians, successfully petitioned the U.S. Congress to oppose it.
African history: from colony to independence
Our first African module is concerned with the history of Africa between the 19th and 20th centuries and focuses on the development of European colonial holdings and their transition into independent states.
After Imperialism--what?
An article originally published prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor in the summer of 1941 that talks of America's changing role in world affairs (when the world was at war and it was proving highly likely that America would be ultimately joining in as well).
The Age of Exploration
The Age of Exploration (also known as The Age of Discovery) is an informal and loosely defined term for the early modern period, largely overlapping with the Age of Sail, approximately from the 15th century to the18th century in European history, in which seafaring Europeans explored regions across the globe.
American Enlightenment Thought
From the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy--although there is no consensus about the exact span of time that corresponds to the American Enlightenment, it is safe to say that it occurred during the 18th century among thinkers in British North America and the early United States and was inspired by the ideas of the British and French enlightenments.
American Imperialism in the Philippines
The Donald Hiram Stilwell Photograph Collection and the Fred M. Greguras Papers contain materials related to the United States' colonization and military presence in the Philippines. These materials primarily document the first half of the 20th century, and provide perspectives on American imperialism and expansionism as experienced by U.S. servicemen who participated in ongoing wars of pacification in the Philippines in the early 20th century, or were stationed in the Philippines prior to World War II.
Architecture in Renaissance Italy
From The Metropolitan Museum of Art--Italian Renaissance architects based their theories and practices on classical Roman examples. During the Renaissance, architects trained as humanists helped raise the status of their profession from skilled laborer to artist.
Asia's anti-colonialist journey
After the Russian Revolution, a host of activists saw Communism as a way to end European imperialism. Their diverse fates provide an unexpected key to Asian politics.
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason shaped philosophical, political, and scientific discourse from the late 17th to the early 19th century. This was a period of huge change in thought and reason, which in the words of historian Roy Porter was 'decisive in the making of modernity.'
How imperialism set the stage for World War I
Many of the powers in World War I were competitive in overtaking territories in Europe and Africa.
How Martin Luther changed the world
Five hundred years after he started the Reformation, his ideas and his ornery personality remain as potent as ever.
Imperialism (Internet History Sourcebooks Project)
Part of Fordham University, the Internet History Sourcebooks Project is a collection of public domain and copy-permitted historical texts. The site contains general content related to the topic and history of imperialism but is also further broken down by geographical region.
The Legacy of Henry the Navigator
For good and for ill, Henry the Navigator helped set the stage for the modern world. Besides finding new trade routes and connecting various peoples, Henry's expeditions began the process of European colonization and the transatlantic slave trade.
Political cartoons from the age of imperialism
A collection of political cartoons from the age of imperialism. (Please note: many of these are significantly inappropriate and offensive by today's standards; however, they are historically accurate primary sources that help us to understand the time period that they were drawn in.)
The Post Modern State
The Protestant Reformation, explained
Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther changed Christianity--and the world.
The Renaissance-an overview
The Renaissance was an "extraordinary wave of artistic and cultural innovation that shattered medieval society and brought European culture reluctantly into the modern era."
U.S. Imperialism Map
For nearly a century, the year 1898 has been regarded as the unmistakable line of demarcation for American imperialism. It took a variety of forms in the early 20th century, ranging from colonies in Puerto Rico and the Philippines to protectorates in Cuba and Panama, and a territory in Hawaii.
Visit the Enlightenment Gallery of the British Museum
Explore the grandeur of the British Museum's Enlightenment Gallery through Google Arts and Culture. Peer into the display cases that line the walls to find a fascinating and eclectic collection that inspired an age.

Age of Enlightenment: The Age of Reason Explained

Colonial Africa on the eve of World War I

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Open Educational Resources

For more OER Resources, see the Open Educational Resources LibGuide.

African imperialism: scramble for Africa
Knowing the motivations for Imperialism in Africa is essential to develop an understanding of cultural diffusion and forces of conflict in that part of the world. In this lesson, students will uncover the consequences, both positive and negative, that result from this historical event.
America and the World-foreign affairs in political cartoons, 1898-1940
America and the World presents 63 political cartoons by Clifford K. Berryman that invite students to discuss American foreign policy from the Spanish American War to the start of World War II.
The Digital Atlas of Roman and Medieval Civilizations
From Harvard University, Mapping Past Societies (MAPS), makes freely available on the Internet the best available materials for a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approach to mapping and spatial analysis of the Roman and medieval worlds, and beyond.
The Enlightenment, The French Revolution, and Romanticism
History of Western Civilization II
This OER textbook covers historical time periods including The Age of Enlightenment, Enlightened Despots, The French Revolution, Napoleon, Post-Napoleonic Europe, The Industrial Revolution, and more.
Imperialism, Colonialism, and Responses
From the Khan Academy, learn about the differences between colonialism and imperialism as well as key figures and events that occurred during these two historical eras in different parts of the world.
Internet Medieval Sourcebook
Both a classroom resource and the largest collection of online texts, the goal of Fordham University's Sourcebook series is to provide and organize primary texts for use in classroom situations.
Italian Renaissance
"Find out more about the history of the Italian Renaissance, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features, and more." From History.com
The Medici Family and the Florentine Renaissance
The Medici, an art-loving family of wealthy bankers (and three popes), helped fund the Renaissance. It was the Medici wealth--along with their passion for art, and their super-sized egos that helped Florence fund the Renaissance and make the city the art capital of the Western World.
Perry-Castañeda Library Historical Maps Collection
The Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL) Map Collection from the University of Texas at Austin includes full-color historical maps from around the world.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
This entry describes the main tendencies of Enlightenment thought in the following main sections: (1) The True: science, epistemology, and metaphysics in the Enlightenment; (2) The Good : political theory, ethical theory, and religion in the Enlightenment; (3) The Beautiful: aesthetics in the Enlightenment

Western Civilization II: Web resources

American Imperialism

Heaven & Hell: The Birth of the Italian Renaissance

General Websites on Western Civilization II period

Age of Enlightenment: The Age of Reason Explained

Colonial Africa on the eve of World War I

Open Educational Resources

"Object of Plunder: The Congo through the Centuries" by Adam Hochschild

The Modern State, Francis Fukuyama on The American Mind

Reformation Europe-c. John Calvin's death in 1564