In this course students will study the origins and development of Western civilization from the ancient Greeks to the early Middle Ages. They will be introduced to the contributions made by the Greeks, the Romans, the Jews and the early Christians, all of whom contributed to the synthesis that was in place by AD 600 and that continues to form the basis of our culture today. Particular attention will be paid to features that distinguished each of these traditions and whose interaction (and conflict) transformed the ancient world into a Christian society. The Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution, and the rise and developments of modern attitudes about the self, society, and culture will also be explored.