Western Experience

by Mortimer Chambers

This survey for the Western Civilization course has attained much prestige and a reputation for excellence over the last six editions. It offers a strong political narrative with balanced coverage of social, cultural/intellectual, economic and women's history. The scholarship is second to none. THE WESTERN EXPERIENCE provides an interpretive and analytical approach which will appeal to professors who want their students to come away from their courses with not only a grasp of the "facts," but also having been challenged by interpretations, having analyzed assumptions, and having used their critical thinking skills. The lavish map and illustration program provides visual sources to aid students in learning, and the carefully chosen art program with its long explanatory captions provides a strong art history element to the text. The book presents a chronological survey of the history of the West while weaving the narrative around several recurring themes: social structure, the body politic, organization of production and the impact of technology, evolution of the family and changing gender roles, war, religion and cultural expression. This helps students to understand the continuing thread of development that exists throughout history. In developing the seventh edition, the authors focused on increasing the coverage of women and the family throughout the text in an integrated fashion, increasing the coverage of popular culture, and increasing the number of "historical debate" boxes that proved so popular in the sixth edition. The Medieval chapters (6-11) have been significantly revised by new author Barbara Hanawalt. Also, attention to the flow of the narrative led to breaking down long paragraphs into shorter ones with new explanatory headings, increasing accessibility for students.

Genres: History, Textbooks, Nonfiction

672 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is for a much older edition (1979?) that was the primary textbook for the western history survey course I took in college. I don't understand why something that covers a period that ended 400 years ago has to be updated every few years - for political reasons, perhaps? I thought this was wonderful, for what it is - I liked it back then, and I enjoyed rereading it also. This covers the entire sweep of western history, from the appearance of the first settlements in Asia Minor and Sumeria to the threshold of the industrial age. It is well illustrated and includes good maps and charts, so things never grow dull. It is not a mere recitation of dates and battles, but delves into ideas, cultures, movements, and personalities. There are sections on art, science, and religion. I think every educated person should read this, or something like it, in college, and then reread it, more than once, when they get into their postgraduate existences. History is important!

So far as flaws go - well, this is totally centered on Western history, especially European history. Asia and Africa barely get a mention, except for when they impinge upon Western life, as with the conquests of Genghis Khan. Other than that, I thought this was superbly done.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this as the textbook for a course on Western Civilization for which I was TA. For me, it was primarily useful as a reference to see whether the kids got their facts straight in their papers and on exams. I did read a chunk of the beginning, and found that it wasn't bad, as such things go - it was, of course, a summary of past events that left a lot out, but it did take into account some of the debates and alternative viewpoints that exist in the field. Particularly interesting were sidebars which included primary source quotations, such as "Sappho's Love Poetry" and "Socrates is Sentenced to Death." There are also many colorful maps and images, which add to the narrative well, and help ground the text in a sense of reality. Students probably still won't enjoy it much, but they may find it useful and less painful than other textbooks, while specialists may get something out of the suggested works in each chapter.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

AP European History is the best class i've taken in my life to date, the reason I was a history major, really the reason for so many decisions in my life. i love and miss ms.guth. i guess this book gets some of the credit :)

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

A typical European history textbook.

[Rachel L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long, but good test prep for Western Civ I.

[Van Cao]

useful for me to study