Mason Classical Academy – Western Civilization I

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

The study of history is based in the power of ideas. As you study history and geography you will learn who you are, you will make decisions about the kind of person you should be and decide the role you wish to play in today's world. This course will explore the elements and paths of "Western civilization" from its beginnings in the ancient Near East to the fall of Rome. We will begin by exploring what "Western civilization" is, or is perceived to be and then proceed from the origins of ancient civilizations in the Near East, through Greece, and then to Rome., with ancillary journeys exploring large ancient empires, including the Persian, Alexander the Great's, and Rome's. In this course, we will emphasize the important events, major texts and works of art that represent and clearly illustrate what is unique and central to the Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman traditions taken separately, then come to grips with the synthesis and opposition to synthesis between these traditions that occurred in antiquity. The course is designed to establish the religious, philosophical, political and economic contexts most crucial to the study of Western history and literature. As such, it will provide the foundation for our continued classical education at Mason Classical Academy that will take you historically through Western Civilizations II and III, art and music history, moral philosophy, economics and government.