|
Western Civilization |  | Author: Jackson J. Spielvogel
Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $189.95
Buy Used: $44.95
as of 9/6/2010 03:17 MDT details
You Save: $145.00 (76%)
New (7) Used (71) from $44.95
Seller: Bookbyte123
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 31109
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 6th
Pages: 960
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.9
Dimensions (in): 11 x 8.5 x 1.5
ISBN: 0534646026
Dewey Decimal Number: 909.09821
EAN: 9780534646028
ASIN: 0534646026
Publication Date: January 7, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Best-selling text, WESTERN CIVILIZATION has helped over one million students learn about the present by exploring the past. Jack Spielvogel's engaging, chronological narrative weaves the political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military aspects of history into a gripping story that is as memorable as it is instructive. Each chapter offers a substantial introduction and conclusion, providing students a context for these disparate themes. The clear narrative of a single gifted author makes it easy for students to follow the story of Western civilization. Spielvogel gives the book depth by including over 150 maps and excerpts of over 200 primary sources--including official documents, poems, and songs--that enliven the past while introducing students to source material that forms the basis of historical scholarship. Available in many split options: WESTERN CIVILIZATION, Comprehensive, 6th Edition (Chapters 1-29), ISBN: 0534646026; WESTERN CIVILIZATION, Volume I, To 1715, 6th Edition (Chapters 1-16), ISBN:0534646034; WESTERN CIVILIZATION, Volume II, Since 1500, 6th Edition (Chapters 13-29), ISBN:0534646042; WESTERN CIVILIZATION, Volume A: To 1500, 6th Edition (Chapters 1-12), ISBN: 0534646050; WESTERN CIVILIZATION, Volume B: 1300-1815, 6th Edition (Chapters 11-19), ISBN:0534646069; WESTERN CIVILIZATION, Volume C: Since 1789, 6th Edition (Chapters 19-29), ISBN: 0534646077; WESTERN CIVILIZATION, Since 1300, 6th Edition (Chapters 11-29), ISBN:0534646085.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 For CLEP- Not dry OR boring February 14, 2009
Bethany S (Hawaii)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I actually love this book. First, I used it to prepare for the Western Civ 1 CLEP (I will be using it for Western Civ 2 CLEP, as well). I read once through with a hi-liter and then I did three practice tests from petersons.com. I passed the CLEP with a 70 (out of 80).
Second, I found it to be very interesting!!! This author did such a good job of presenting a timeline, so that I could organize the ideas easily in my head. This is obviously necessary if you are to keep your facts straight. He did a better job than the history books I have read previously (high school mainly). He also took great care to regularly present the status of women, slaves and minorities (or oppressed majorities) throughout the book and even included very interesting blurbs of ancient writings to illustrate many of these things. I learned more about the status of WOMEN in the history of Western Civ, than I ever have in any other book before. And it was all there organized for me.
I am a military history/studies major, and I have already used this book once to familiarize myself with the Punic Wars, for a project. It really helped me get a basic grip on it, and provided quite a bit of what I needed to know.
I really like this book. ;)
Very good overview of European history January 15, 2009
D. Chow (Swarthmore, PA USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I used this text in my AP European History course. It is a great book. What I like about this book especially is that it is very readable. I remember being amazed at how quickly I could read the text, and without having to struggle too much with it. I switched teachers for AP Euro halfway in the year. My first semester teacher had us read The Western Heritage by Kagan, and although Kagan is a relatively well-known scholar, the text was very difficult to comprehend, and it had too much information that I honestly didn't care about. Western Civilization is a great book for AP European History, or an equivalent college-level course in modern European history, because it is both readable and focuses on the information that's important for the exam.
Of course, it's not possible to cover all of Western civilization in one book, but it's a great survey of modern European history. I didn't read the chapters on ancient Europe. I only read from the Renaissance on. So for those who are taking a college-level course in modern European history, I can't recommend this book more.
 longer version May 15, 2007
Deann Redmiles
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
this book is packed with info.. it's the longer version of "a brief history" and how your prof. has so much info..that's not showing up in your shorter text (if you're getting the brief version) it has a lot of pics..and maps..and is easy to read.. very informative ..text book
Well done and good prep for CLEP June 2, 2006
Leslie S. (New Hampshire)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
This book is an excellent resource for preparing for the Western Civ. CLEP exam. There is a website for the book that has review games and excercises (including my favorite flashcards) for each chapter. My daugher used this book in her freshman year of high school and enjoyed it a lot. She passed the exam with a 67! I recommend using REA's guides as well for the CLEP.
 This is a decent (but dry and disorganized) history book May 11, 2006
Amy Wong
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
If I could give this book three and a half stars, I'd rather do that, because the rating truly falls between "It's OK and I liked it."
The main reason for this less-than-steller rating is that the book effectively makes an interesting subject boring. Another reviewer from Barnes and Noble remarked that, though they loved history, they detested this book. That about sums up my sentiment. History had long been one of my favorite subjects, yet I found myself slogging through this book--while others held me spellbound. Of course, if your prof assigns this book, you really have no choice; the author does cover the ENTIRE history of western civ (from the homo erectus to Bush's Iraq war), but in a certain way.
In this book, emphasis is placed on MODERN history, specifically the nineteenth century and the various wars of the twentieth century. Pre-history through the collapse of the Roman Empire is covered--but those subjects only get seven chapters, or less than 25% of the book's length (of 29 chapters). Before chapter seven is even finished, the author moves on to early Christianity and "the dark ages." The Middle Age period continues until chapter 11.
From chapter twelve on, the author focuses more on THEMES than time periods, though he tries to present these themes in appropriate chonological order. For a simple breakdown of the chapters:
1--First Civilizations
2--Ancient Near East
3--Greeks
4--Hellenistic World
5--Roman Republic
6--Roman Empire
7--Medieval World
8--Early Middle Ages 750-1000
9--Growth: High Middle Ages
10--Rise of Kingdoms
11--Crisis: Later Middle Ages
12--Renaissance
13--Reformation
14--World Exploration 1500-1800
15--Search for Order: 1600's
16--Scientific Revolution
17--"Enlightenment"
18--Wars and Social Change: 1700's
19--Revolution--French and American Revolutions
20--Industrial Revolution
21--More Revolution and Romanticism 1815-50
22--Nationalism and Realism 1850-71
23--"Age of Progress" 1871-94
24--Anxiety and Imperialism 1894-1914
25--World War I 1914-1918
26--Between the Wars 1919-39
27--World War II
28--the Cold War
29--Modern World Since 1973
As you can see, a full third of the book is devoted to the past 200 years, so there is clearly a modern history focus. My biggest critism of this book is that is author is much more concerned with themes than presenting the information in a logical way. For instance, the Reformation of the 1500's is covered in chapter 13, but world travel (which began in the 1400's) is covered in the NEXT chapter! When the author turns his attention to modern times, he's all over the place, going from Watergate to 9/11 and then going back and covering the stuff in between.
To be fair, a survey course like the ENTIRE history of western civ is lot of information. However, I've seen this task much better handled by other (more organized) authors. Hopefully, you will be assigned one of THEIR books!
|
|
|
Contact History Edition
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
