Skip to main content
CF

Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Wester

24h 29m 59s
English
Paid

Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Wester is a 48-lesson 24 hours 29 minutes self-paced course by Dr. Robert Bucholz, Wondrium (The Great Courses). Discover the remarkable journey of Western civilization and delve into an era that shaped the modern world.

Course facts

Lessons
48
Duration
24 hours 29 minutes
Level
All levels
Language
English
Updated
Instructor
Dr. Robert Bucholz, Wondrium (The Great Courses)
Price
Premium

Discover the remarkable journey of Western civilization and delve into an era that shaped the modern world. With an expert historian as your guide, explore this unprecedented period in world history.

Course Overview

More than just a chronological account, Foundations of Western Civilization II offers a deep exploration of what it means to be part of a civilization. Taught by Professor Robert Bucholz, this course provides profound insights into the development of Western civilization over the past five centuries.

What You Will Learn

  • A comprehensive narrative of social progress from the Renaissance to modern times.
  • The evolution of political systems and how they have shaped contemporary governance.
  • Insights into industrialization and its economic impact on society.
  • The ability to contextualize historical events and understand their ongoing legacies.

Why This Course Matters

Understanding the history of Western civilization provides a coherent context for major events and trends that continue to influence our world today. This course not only clarifies these legacies but also enhances your appreciation of the forces that have shaped society.

Who teaches Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Wester?

Dr. Robert Bucholz

Dr. Robert Bucholz thumbnail

Dr. Robert Bucholz is a US history professor (Loyola University Chicago) specialising in early modern English and European history. His teaching material has been published as on-demand video courses for general adult audiences through The Great Courses / Wondrium.

His CourseFlix listing carries Foundations of Western Civilization II — A History of the Modern Western World — the second part of a comprehensive lecture series on Western civilisation, covering the modern era from the Renaissance through the twentieth century.

Material is paid and aimed at general adult learners interested in world history. The course sits in the broader History and Culture catalog on CourseFlix.

Wondrium (The Great Courses)

Wondrium (The Great Courses) thumbnail

Wondrium (formerly The Great Courses Plus and originally The Great Courses) is a US online education platform that has been publishing university-level video lecture series since 1990. The platform's distinctive contribution is the depth and production quality of its courses — each is taught by a tenured university professor with the production values of a documentary series, not a YouTube tutorial.

The catalog covers academic disciplines rather than technical-skill training: history, philosophy, science, mathematics, literature, music theory, religion, economics. Material is taught by faculty from Stanford, Yale, Princeton, the University of Chicago, MIT, and similar institutions. Wondrium is typically used by intellectually-curious adult learners filling in the liberal-arts side of their education.

The CourseFlix listing under this source carries over 19 Wondrium / Great Courses titles spanning that range — sitting in the broader CourseFlix catalog as general-interest reference rather than as a software-engineering track. Material is paid; Wondrium itself runs on a monthly / annual subscription on the original platform.

What lessons are included in Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Wester?

This is a demo lesson (10:00 remaining)

You can watch up to 10 minutes for free. Subscribe to unlock all 48 lessons in this course and access 10,000+ hours of premium content across all courses.

View Pricing
0:00
/
#1: 1 The Importance of the West
All Course Lessons (48)
#Lesson TitleDurationAccess
1
1 The Importance of the West Demo
32:21
2
2 Geography is Destiny
30:38
3
3 Culture is Destiny
30:26
4
4 Renaissance Humanism 1350-1650
31:17
5
5 Renaissance Princes 1450-1600
30:49
6
6 The New World & the Old 1400-1650
30:43
7
7 The Protestant Reformation 1500-22
30:54
8
8 The Wars of Religion 1523-1648
31:00
9
9 Rational & Scientific Revolutions 1450-1650
30:09
10
10 French Absolutism 1589-1715
30:47
11
11 English Constitutionalism 1603-49
30:50
12
12 English Constitutionalism 1649-89
30:15
13
13 War, Trade, Empire 1688-1702
31:02
14
14 War, Trade, Empire 1702-14
30:15
15
15 War, Trade, Empire 1714-63
30:56
16
16 Life Under the Anciem Regime 1689-1789
30:59
17
17 Enlightenment & Despotism
30:34
18
18 The American Revolution
30:32
19
19 The French Revolution 1789-92
30:38
20
20 The French Revolution 1792-1803
30:18
21
21 The Napoleonic Empire 1803-15
30:28
22
22 Beginnings of Industrialization 1760-1850
30:13
23
23 Consequences of Industrialization 1760-1850
30:24
24
24 The Liberal Response 1776-1861
30:59
25
25 The Romantic Response 1789-1870
31:02
26
26 The Socialist Response 1813-1905
30:45
27
27 Descent of Man; Rise of Woman 1830-90
30:50
28
28 Nationalism 1815-48
30:26
29
29 Nationalism 1848-71
30:13
30
30 Imperial Rivalry 1870-1914
30:43
31
31 Industrial Rivalry 1870-1914
30:26
32
32 The Alliance System 1872-1914
29:50
33
33 Decadence & Malaise - circa 1900
30:03
34
34 The Great War Begins 1914-16
29:55
35
35 Breaking the Deadlock 1915-17
30:31
36
36 The Russian Revolution 1917-22
30:38
37
37 The End of the War 1917-22
31:11
38
38 Recovery & Depression in the West 1919-36
30:15
39
39 Totalitarian Russia 1918-39
29:58
40
40 Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany 1922-36
30:14
41
41 The Holocaust 1933-45
30:42
42
42 The Failure of Diplomacy 1935-39
30:53
43
43 World War II 1939-42
30:13
44
44 World War II 1942-45
30:46
45
45 American Hegemony, Soviet Challenge 1945-75
30:14
46
46 Rebuilding Europe 1945-85
30:06
47
47 The New Europe 1985-2001
30:15
48
48 The Meaning of Western Civilization
32:23
Unlock unlimited learning

Get instant access to all 47 lessons in this course, plus thousands of other premium courses. One subscription, unlimited knowledge.

Learn more about subscription

Books

Read Book Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Wester

#TitleTypeOpen
1Foundations of Western Civilization II A History of the Modern Western World PDF

What courses are similar to Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Wester?

  • The Foundations of Western Civilization thumbnailUpdated 2y ago

    The Foundations of Western Civilization

    By: Wondrium (The Great Courses), Dr. Thomas F. X. Noble
    In this sweeping course, you get the classic grand tour of ancient Western civilization, taught by an award-winning professor of history at Notre Dame. You can
    24h 40m
  • Rediscovering the Age of Dinosaurs thumbnailUpdated 2y ago

    Rediscovering the Age of Dinosaurs

    By: Wondrium (The Great Courses), Kristi Curry Rogers
    Journey to Jurassic times. Dinosaurs fascinate people of all ages and are icons of our natural history. In this course, you’ll learn about the diversity of dino
    10h 11m
  • The Middle East in the 20th Century thumbnailUpdated 2y ago

    The Middle East in the 20th Century

    By: Wondrium (The Great Courses), Eamonn Gearon
    Gain insight into the history of one of the most complicated yet consequential regions in our world today. In The Middle East in the 20th Century, you will gain
    11h 3m

Frequently asked questions

Are there any prerequisites for taking this course?
There are no formal prerequisites for this course. However, a general interest in history and an understanding of basic historical timelines may be beneficial. The course covers a wide range of historical developments from the Renaissance through modern times, so prior exposure to Western history might enhance your learning experience.
What historical periods will be covered in this course?
The course spans five centuries, beginning with the Renaissance and extending to the early 21st century. Key periods include the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, both World Wars, and the Cold War era. Each period is explored in the context of its impact on Western civilization.
Who is the target audience for this course?
This course is ideal for anyone interested in understanding the evolution of Western civilization and its influence on the modern world. It's suitable for students of history, political science, and related fields, as well as lifelong learners who want to deepen their knowledge of Western historical contexts.
How does this course compare to other history courses?
Unlike some history courses that may focus on specific events or narrow timeframes, this course provides a broad narrative of Western civilization over five centuries. It emphasizes understanding the social, political, and economic forces that have shaped modern governance and societal structures.
What specific topics are not covered in this course?
The course does not cover non-Western civilizations in detail. While it provides context for global interactions, such as the New World encounters and imperial rivalries, the primary focus remains on Western developments and their global impacts. It does not delve deeply into contemporary history post-2001.
How much time should I expect to commit to this course?
The course consists of 48 lectures. The total runtime is not specified, but given the typical structure of such courses, you might expect each lecture to be around 30 minutes to an hour. Allocating time for additional readings and reflections will enhance your understanding of the material.
What skills or knowledge can I carry over to other courses or careers?
The course enhances your ability to contextualize historical events and understand their legacies, which is valuable in fields like history, political science, and international relations. The insights into industrialization, political systems, and social progress can also benefit careers in education, policy-making, and cultural studies.