西方文化导论UNIT 2

西方文化导论_课后习题答案(1) Give a brief account of the major achievements of Greek culture, such as those in religion, philosophy, literature and science.Greek religion really took shape during the Homeric Age and featured polytheism with gods taking human form and feeling. Greek religion made a great contribution to Greek literature, philosophy and art. It is an important origin of Greek mythology which was fully developed by the religious tales of the Homeric epic and thus affected the later development of all kinds of Greek culture.Greek philosophy started with Thales (640 BC–547 BC) who believed that the material world originated in water. His philosophy was materialism. He was followed by Pythagoras who assumed that the key to the understanding of the world is numbers, on the opposition of the spokesman for idealism.The core Greek philosophers are Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates had scant regard for material wealth, but was keen on probing into the definition of some ethical and behavioral issues, such as “friendship”and “courage”.Plato established the Academy －the first Greek institution of higher learning. His contributions included his theory of ideas and his arguments on “republic”which was supposed to embrace his ideals about a future state where humans could enjoy a happy life. Aristotle is also a learned man and his work covers wide-ranging areas. His reputation as a philosopher largely depends on his argument on metaphysics which he tried to achieve a compromise between matter and divinity.Literary representation centred round the two epic poems ofthe Iliad and the Odyssey, lyrical poetry by Sappho and Pindar and drama by Aeschylus, Euripides andAristophanes. Their works combined Greek myths and social life and won much appreciation and enthusiasm from the public.In science the mathematician Euclid established plane geometry and Archimedes discovered the ratio of radius of a circle and the relationship between the volume and surface of a sphere.(2) What do you think of the influence Greek culture has exerted on Western civilization as a whole? Give examples.Greek culture is often termed the cradle of the Western civilization and has had an enormous impact on Western culture. The specific contributions are found in the areas of philosophy, politics, literature, art, science and architecture.Greek politics was one of the greatest influences on the Western civilization. The Greeks were the first to successfully create a government based on the consensus of the people and thus provided a foundation for Western democracy.The second significant influence was that of philosophy. The Socratic idea about ethics and knowledge helped the Westerners care more for the effect of knowledge and value of morality, both of which give sound guidance to people in the later years to improve and change the world outside themselves, i.e., human society and the natural world. Later generations of Westerners have benefited a lot from Greek culture, such as those in painting, sculpture, architecture, drama, poetry and historical works. Classicism had Greek culture as one of the crucial sources, and this has helped Westerners so much that they ascribed the origin of the Renaissance to it. This changed the intellectual conditions of the later medieval period and opened the way to the modernera in the West.Chapter 21. Tell briefly the major characteristics and contributions of Roman culture, as are demonstrated in religion, poetry, history and architecture.In the early period, Roman culture often depended heavily on the introduction and imitation of other cultures, particularly, Greek culture. Thus Romans created their own powerful culture, laying the foundation for subsequent Western culture in many fields. According to Greek culture and others’ culture; they created their own gods and myth, In poetry, ancient Rome made brilliant achievements,Livy was responsible for the great History of Rome in 142 volumes. His work has always been cited by later statesmen, writers or scholars,The architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the Greek style for its own purposes, but the Romans also developeda new kind.2. In what sense do you think Roman culture owed its accomplishments to the benefits obtained from Greek culture? Give examples.Roman culture learned and inherited a lot from Greek culture.,religion, philosophy and literature.In religion, Rome had its own system of beliefs which had been simple and could hardly compare with the plurality of Greek religion. The same is true of Roman philosophy where we could find examples ,In literature, Roman men of letters also borrowed a All in all, the two cultures are closely linkedgreat deal from Greek culture.Chapter 31. How was the Jewish civilization developed after a tortuoushistory of split and unification?The major explanation for the development of the Jewish civilization is its strong cohesiveness and vitality,they put into effect their Judaist beliefs and what they read of Judaist scriptures.From then on Jews have begun to become aware of the necessicity to liberate themselves from the restrictive laws and acquire new knowledge and modern ideas from the Europeans, Most of Jews thus received a good education, fully armed with cultural and scientific knowledge and did well in their own position they could quickly turn it into a well developed nation in spite of its small size and small population .2．Say something about Judaism and The Old Testament.The Old Testament is the Judaist Bible. It was written in Hebrew, including the three parts：Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographa and Apocrypha. After The Old Testament was translated into Greek by Jewish scholars，many westerners began to understand Judaism by reading this book. It is not only of religious value but also of literatry value. Chapter 41. What are the main components of Christianity and why could it be accepted as the official religion first by the Roman Empire and then by the following kingdoms or empires in Europe?(1)The main components of Christianity are ：1) The Bible as the only Christian scripture;Major Christian doctrines about Trinity and Redemption;3) Other doctrines or events of Christianity:(2 )Christianity is accepted and popular in Europe because of these factors:1).For the common people in the empire ,they needed something to fill up their spiritual vacuum. Christianity could playsuch a role.2). It could work together with any secular regimes to offer necessary assistance.3). The name and influence of Christiaity would be a symbol of sacredness and justification,4) Christianity is also a kind of culture, it could be tolerated because their life and property could thus be secured in the changed circumstances.2. What are the basic differences between Christianity and Judaism?In spite of the fact that the two religions derived from Jewish culture, there are some basic differences between them.First is the different image of God.Second is different view of God. Jehovah is viewed He is like fire or wind .God is kinder and more helpful, Third is the different position each religion is located in and hence would make different contribution. Fourth is Jehovah was important to Jews only in theory and affect them in spirit occasionally while Christianity moved into secular life for the Westerner as Pope and churches became very powerful .Chapter 61.Tell simply the background and development of the Renaissance.It was no accident that it first occurred in Florence and Italy where the early signs ofcapitalism had appeared at the same time as social chaos, political disputes and military clashes , more and more people began to suspect the justification for those who held the power,Painting and sculpture were the first area to reflect the change of subjects and tastes.(2) What are the major features and achievements of theRenaissance? Give examples.The Renaissance is characterised by seeking ideological emancipation, intellectual freedom and political awareness, based on cultural production and religious reformation. All these were undertaken or unfolded gradually but widely, extending its influences to every corner of Europe, with more and more people getting involved.The achievements were seen principally in six areas, namely, painting, sculpture, poetry, fiction, drama and religious reformation as well as the change in the cultural and intellectual climate. Instances could be located in these areas, such as the huge change of subjects and styles in painting. The medieval painting used to centre on depicting Jesus Christ and other Christian subjects, not only effecting similar and the limited subject matter, but also depicting stylistically facial expressions and manners. The great artists in the Renaissance started to focus on the images with individualistic temperament, highlighting humanity instead of divinity, thus breaking away from the medieval frozen models and linking classicalism with human nature as the centre of their representational work.。

Western Culture: An Introduction（西方文化导论）Chapter 1 Culture in Ancient Greece （古希腊文化）1.Cradle of western civilization （西方文明的摇篮）---Ancient Greek“We are all Greeks.”------Percy Bysshe Shelley (珀西·比希·雪莱)When Shelley said “We are all Greeks”, he is expressing his buy-in（认同）to the then current belief that European culture could trace its roots back （追根溯源于）to the Greek ideals and customs. This would include everything: architecture, education, medicine, our basic myths and memes, government, etc.2.Phases of development )（发展阶段）Delphi 特尔斐(希腊古都)Three Ages:ca.3000-1200 BC, the Heroic Age（英雄时代）(ca. 1200-750 BC), the Greek City-State （希腊城邦）and the Persian Wars（波斯战争）(ca. 750-480 BC), the Golden Age （黄金时代）(Ca. 480-430 BC).Bronze Age Civilizations of the Aegean (ca. 3000-1200 BC):1.1Minoan[miˈnəuən] civilization 克里特文明flourished between 2000-1400 BC, when itseems to be absorbed or destroyed by the Mycenaeans.The most famous of the leg ends of Minoan culture is Minotaur [ˈmaɪnətɔ:(r)] 人身牛头怪/弥诺陶洛斯, a being “part man and part bull”.Where did the Renaissance start with the flowering of paintings, sculpture and architecture?In Florence 佛罗伦萨（意大利都市名）and Venice()意大利港市.1.2Mycenae[maiˈsi:ni:]迈锡尼/Mycenaean [maisiˈni:ən] culture (ca. 1600-1200).By 1600 BC, the Mycenaeans had established themselves in the Aegean（爱琴海）.Around 1200 BC, the Mycenaeans attacked Troy, a commercial stronghold on the northwest coast of Asia Minor小亚细亚半岛. The ten-year-long war between Mycenae and Troy would provide the historical context for the Iliad [ˈɪliəd] （伊利亚特）and the Odyssey [ˈɒdəsi]（奥赛德）. ------ Homer（荷马）, the blind Greek poetTrojan war (特洛伊战争)------ Penelope’s web 珀涅罗珀的织物；故意拖延的策略；永远做不完的工作1.2.1The Heroic Age (ca. 1200-750 BC): after 1200 BC, more powerful, iron-bearing tribes of Dorians (多利亚人约于前1200-1000年间从巴尔干半岛北部迁入希腊，后来建立了斯巴达（Sparta）、科林斯（Corinth）、阿尔戈斯（Argos）等城邦，更多时候是作为入侵者和征服者被看待，荷马认为其野蛮黑暗), a Greek-speaking people from the north, destroyed Mycenaean civilization.Peloponnesian Wars 伯罗奔尼撒战争(431-404 BC)between Athens(雅典) and Sparta(斯巴达)；Years of internal wars weakened the once powerful Greek city-states of Sparta, Athens, Thebes（底比斯）, and Corinth（科林斯）. Philip II of Macedonia （马其顿）(northern Greece) rose to power and, in 338 BC, he rode south and conquered the cities of Thebes and Athens, uniting most of Greece under his rule. Upon Philip II ‘s death, his son, Alexander the Great（亚历山大大帝）, took control and proceeded to conquer all of the lands between Greece and India including Egypt.After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, Macedonia was defeated by Roma（罗马）at the Battleof Cynoscephalae（基诺斯山战役）in 197 BC and then again at the Battle of Pydna（皮德纳战役）in 168 BC. The Greeks were finally defeated at the Battle of Corinth in 146 BC. Rome completely destroyed and plundered（掠夺）the city of Corinth as an example to other Greek cities.1.2.2The Greek City-State and the Persian Wars (ca. 750-480 BC)In 490 BC, Battle of Marathon 马拉松战役In 480 BC, Battle of the Hot Gates and Battle of Salamis 萨拉米斯海战Persian Wars(希波战争): Herodotus 希罗多德(ca. 485-425 BC), the father of history 历史之父。

西方文化导论课程设计一、课程简介本课程旨在让学生对西方文化有一个全面、深入的了解，了解西方文化的发展历程、主要特征、哲学思想、艺术及音乐等方面的内容。

通过学习本课程，学生能够更好地理解西方文化的内在逻辑和精神内涵，并在此基础上进行跨文化的交流和沟通。

二、课程目标1.掌握西方文化的基本发展历程和主要特征；2.理解西方哲学思想的基本概念和核心内容；3.熟悉西方文艺（尤其是绘画和音乐）的主要流派和代表作品；4.能够运用所学知识分析和解读西方文化中的现象和事件；5.增强对跨文化交流的认识和能力。

三、课程大纲第一章西方文化的发展历程1.西方文化的来源和演变2.古典文化和中世纪文化3.文艺复兴和宗教改革4.现代时代和当代文化第二章西方哲学思想1.古希腊哲学思想2.基督教哲学思想3.文艺复兴以后的哲学思想4.当代哲学思想第三章西方文艺1.绘画艺术–文艺复兴时期的艺术–印象派和后印象派画家–现代派和当代艺术家2.音乐艺术–古典音乐的发展–流行音乐和摇滚乐–当代音乐和音乐创作四、教学方法本课程采用多种教学方法，包括但不限于：1.讲授2.群体讨论3.个案分析4.视频观看5.案例分析五、教学评估本课程考核包括平时成绩和期末考试两个部分，具体如下：1.平时成绩（50%）–课堂表现（20%）–课程作业（20%）–小组讨论和辩论（10%）2.期末考试（50%）–笔试（40%）–口试（10%）六、参考资料1.《西方文化：历史与文化》（郭晓勇）2.《西方哲学史》（戴季陶）3.《西方音乐史》（约瑟夫·科辛斯基）七、结语本课程为一门全面、系统地介绍西方文化的课程，旨在激发学生的跨文化兴趣和能力。

应用多种教学手段，培养学生的独立思考和创造能力，使其在未来的学习和工作中更具有竞争力。

(1) Give a brief account of the major achievements of Greek culture, such as those in religion, philosophy, literature and science.Greek religion really took shape during the Homeric Age and featured polytheism with gods taking human form and feeling. Greek religion made a great contribution to Greek literature, philosophy and art. It is an important origin of Greek mythology which was fully developed by the religious tales of the Homeric epic and thus affected the later development of all kinds of Greek culture.Greek philosophy started with Thales (640 BC–547 BC) who believed that the material world originated in water. His philosophy was materialism. He was followed by Pythagoras who assumed that the key to the understanding of the world is numbers, on the opposition of the spokesman for idealism.The core Greek philosophers are Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates had scant regard for material wealth, but was keen on probing into the definition of some ethical and behavioral issues, such as “friendship”and “courage”.Plato established the Academy －the first Greek institution of higher learning. His contributions included his theory of ideas and his arguments on “republic”which was supposed to embrace his ideals about a future state where humans could enjoy a happy life. Aristotle is also a learned man and his work covers wide-ranging areas. His reputation as a philosopher largely depends on his argument on metaphysics which he tried to achieve a compromise between matter and divinity. Literary representation centred round the two epic poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey, lyrical poetry by Sappho and Pindar and drama by Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes. Their works combined Greek myths and social life and won much appreciation and enthusiasm from the public.In science the mathematician Euclid established plane geometry and Archimedes discovered the ratio of radius of a circle and the relationship between the volume and surface of a sphere.(2) What do you think of the influence Greek culture has exerted on Western civilization as a whole? Give examples.Greek culture is often termed the cradle of the Western civilization and has had an enormous impact on Western culture. The specific contributions are found in the areas of philosophy, politics, literature, art, science and architecture.Greek politics was one of the greatest influences on the Western civilization. The Greeks were the first to successfully create a government based on the consensus of the people and thus provided a foundation for Western democracy.The second significant influence was that of philosophy. The Socratic idea about ethics and knowledge helped the Westerners care more for the effect of knowledge and value of morality, both of which give sound guidance to people in the later years to improve and change the world outside themselves, i.e., human society and the natural world.Later generations of Westerners have benefited a lot from Greek culture, such as those in painting, sculpture, architecture, drama, poetry and historical works. Classicism had Greek culture as one of the crucial sources, and this has helped Westerners so much that they ascribed the origin of the Renaissance to it. This changed the intellectual conditions of the later medieval period and opened the way to the modern era in the West.Chapter 21. Tell briefly the major characteristics and contributions of Roman culture, as are demonstrated in religion, poetry, history and architecture.In the early period, Roman culture often depended heavily on the introduction and imitation of other cultures, particularly, Greek culture. Thus Romans created their own powerful culture, laying the foundation for subsequent Western culture in many fields. According to Greek culture and others’ culture; they created their own gods and myth, In poetry, ancient Rome made brilliant achievements,Livy was responsible for the great History of Rome in 142 volumes. His work has always been cited by later statesmen, writers or scholars,The architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the Greek style for its own purposes, but the Romans also developed a new kind.2. In what sense do you think Roman culture owed its accomplishments to the benefits obtained from Greek culture? Give examples.Roman culture learned and inherited a lot from Greek culture.,religion, philosophy and literature. In religion, Rome had its own system of beliefs which had been simple and could hardly compare with the plurality of Greek religion. The same is true of Roman philosophy where we could find examples ,In literature, Roman men of letters also borrowed a All in all, the two cultures are closely linkedgreat deal from Greek culture.Chapter 31. How was the Jewish civilization developed after a tortuous history of split and unification? The major explanation for the development of the Jewish civilization is its strong cohesiveness and vitality,they put into effect their Judaist beliefs and what they read of Judaist scriptures.From then on Jews have begun to become aware of the necessicity to liberate themselves from the restrictive laws and acquire new knowledge and modern ideas from the Europeans, Most of Jews thus received a good education, fully armed with cultural and scientific knowledge and did well in their own position they could quickly turn it into a well developed nation in spite of its small size and small population .2．Say something about Judaism and The Old Testament.The Old Testament is the Judaist Bible. It was written in Hebrew, including the three parts：Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographa and Apocrypha. After The Old Testament was translated into Greek by Jewish scholars，many westerners began to understand Judaism by reading this book. It is not only of religious value but also of literatry value.Chapter 41. What are the main components of Christianity and why could it be accepted as the official religion first by the Roman Empire and then by the following kingdoms or empires in Europe?(1)The main components of Christianity are ：1) The Bible as the only Christian scripture;Major Christian doctrines about Trinity and Redemption;3) Other doctrines or events of Christianity:(2 )Christianity is accepted and popular in Europe because of these factors:1).For the common people in the empire ,they needed something to fill up their spiritual vacuum. Christianity could play such a role.2). It could work together with any secular regimes to offer necessary assistance.3). The name and influence of Christiaity would be a symbol of sacredness and justification,4) Christianity is also a kind of culture, it could be tolerated because their life and propertycould thus be secured in the changed circumstances.2. What are the basic differences between Christianity and Judaism?In spite of the fact that the two religions derived from Jewish culture, there are some basic differences between them.First is the different image of God.Second is different view of God. Jehovah is viewed He is like fire or wind .God is kinder and more helpful, Third is the different position each religion is located in and hence would make different contribution. Fourth is Jehovah was important to Jews only in theory and affect them in spirit occasionally while Christianity moved into secular life for the Westerner as Pope and churches became very powerful .Chapter 61.Tell simply the background and development of the Renaissance.It was no accident that it first occurred in Florence and Italy where the early signs of capitalism had appeared at the same time as social chaos, political disputes and military clashes , more and more people began to suspect the justification for those who held the power,Painting and sculpture were the first area to reflect the change of subjects and tastes.(2) What are the major features and achievements of the Renaissance? Give examples.The Renaissance is characterised by seeking ideological emancipation, intellectual freedom and political awareness, based on cultural production and religious reformation. All these were undertaken or unfolded gradually but widely, extending its influences to every corner of Europe, with more and more people getting involved.The achievements were seen principally in six areas, namely, painting, sculpture, poetry, fiction, drama and religious reformation as well as the change in the cultural and intellectual climate. Instances could be located in these areas, such as the huge change of subjects and styles in painting. The medieval painting used to centre on depicting Jesus Christ and other Christian subjects, not only effecting similar and the limited subject matter, but also depicting stylistically facial expressions and manners. The great artists in the Renaissance started to focus on the images with individualistic temperament, highlighting humanity instead of divinity, thus breaking away from the medieval frozen models and linking classicalism with human nature as the centre of their representational work.最新文件---------------- 仅供参考--------------------已改成word文本--------------------- 方便更改。

Chapter 2 Ancient Greece CivilizationI. Translate the following words or phrasesthe Apennine Peninsula Augustus Triumvirate Roman Empire Seven Hill Ally Punic Wars Romulus and Remus Carthage Octavian Law of the Twelve Tables The Colosseum Epicureanism Stoicism Jupiter Venus Mars NeptunePluto Metamorphoses consul dictatorship plebpaternalism gladiators aqueduct the Etruscans Ligurians亚平宁半岛；奥古斯都三头统治罗马帝国七丘联盟布匿战争罗穆卢斯和瑞摩斯迦太基屋大维十二铜表法罗马圆形斗兽场伊比鸠鲁学派斯多葛学派朱庇特/木星维纳斯/金星战神/火星海神尼普顿/海王星冥王普鲁托/冥王星《变形记》执政官专政;独裁平民家长式统治角斗士高架渠伊特鲁里亚人利古里亚人II Geographic feature:Italy is located in the south of _______and surrounded on ______ sides by the seas，Italy occupies the_______，one of the three major land masses of the northern Mediterranean.Abundant ______have produced much volcanic ashes，which helped to fertilize the soil and，along with good weather and rich_______，benefited the development of agriculture. Consequently，Italy has built up its fame all over the world for the production of wheat，corn,______，and fruits.The earliest inhabitants of Italy could have been________.They belonged to the _______family and migrated from the northeast of Italy.(the European continent; the Apennines Peninsula; three; volcanoes; rain water ; barley; Ligurians; Indo-European)III History1.Ancient Rome originated from small village in________.Seven-Hill Ally took shape during _______and cities and tribes came into being.2. ____ were the orphaned twins suckled by a she-wolf, the founders of Rome in the history.It is said that early Rome was ruled by______.3.In_______, Augustus built up Roman Republic. After three Punic wars, in the________, a vast unified Roman Empire was established with territory stretching across three continents.4. Ancient Roman culture is the culture from the formation of ____to the end of the Roman Empire, which had lasted about 1200 years throughout.5. ____was the first emperor in Roman Empire from 27 BC to 14 AD, who called himself _____and built up a centralized Rome In 27 BC.6.The First Triumvirate consisted of _______, ______ and ______while the second Triumvirate refers to _____, ______and ________.7.Punic wars are a series of wars between Rome and ____ from 264 BC to 146 BC.8.In _______, Roman Empire was divided into two parts. In 476, _______was defeated by German troops and came to an end. Its east part with its capital established in _________(renamed from Byzantium in AD 330 is called Istanbul at present)，developed into another independent state called ________or Byzantine Empire (AD 395-1453).9.Roman society was established as a ______based on legal distinctions between the ruling class and the ruled，the rich and the poor，aristocracy and the ordinary people, the citizen and non-citizen.10.The most systematic and complete summary of laws was undertaken under the ______ based on a collection of legal documents from both Rome and the provinces.（1. central Italy ,700- 800 BC; 2. Romulus and Remus；seven kings; 3. 509 BC ; 4th century BC ; 4. Roman Republic；5. Octavian；Augustus6.Julius Caesar，Pompeius Magnus, Licinius Crassus;M. Antonius the consul，Julius Caesar Octavianus(Octavian ) Lepidus;7.Carthage8. 33 AD, West Rome, Constantinople, the Easter Roman Empire;9. Hierarchy；10. Emperor Justinian）IV. Social and economic conditionsIV True or false question.1. In ancient Rome, freed slaves could become Roman citizen without any restrictions on their legal rights.2. All free-born citizens could get married in Roman society.3. All Romans got their daily needs from war ravages and looting in other defeated countries or areas.4. In Roman society, women had more chances to do some social activities than those in the East.5. The Romans usually entertained at the risk of slaves’ lives.F F F T T。

(1) Give a brief account of the major achievements of Greek culture, such as those in religion, philosophy, literature and science.Greek religion really took shape during the Homeric Age and featured polytheism with gods taking human form and feeling. Greek religion made a great contribution to Greek literature, philosophy and art. It is an important origin of Greek mythology which was fully developed by the religious tales of the Homeric epic and thus affected the later development of all kinds of Greek culture.Greek philosophy started with Thales (640 BC–547 BC) who believed that the material world originated in water. His philosophy was materialism. He was followed by Pythagoras who assumed that the key to the understanding of the world is numbers, on the opposition of the spokesman for idealism.The core Greek philosophers are Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates had scant regard for material wealth, but was keen on probing into the definition of some ethical and behavioral issues, such as “friendship”and “courage”.Plato established the Academy －the first Greek institution of higher learning. His contributions included his theory of ideas and his arguments on “republic”which was supposed to embrace his ideals about a future state where humans could enjoy a happy life. Aristotle is also a learned man and his work covers wide-ranging areas. His reputation as a philosopher largely depends on his argument on metaphysics which he tried to achieve a compromise between matter and divinity. Literary representation centred round the two epic poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey, lyrical poetry by Sappho and Pindar and drama by Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes. Their works combined Greek myths and social life and won much appreciation and enthusiasm from the public.In science the mathematician Euclid established plane geometry and Archimedes discovered the ratio of radius of a circle and the relationship between the volume and surface of a sphere.(2) What do you think of the influence Greek culture has exerted on Western civilization as a whole? Give examples.Greek culture is often termed the cradle of the Western civilization and has had an enormous impact on Western culture. The specific contributions are found in the areas of philosophy, politics, literature, art, science and architecture.Greek politics was one of the greatest influences on the Western civilization. The Greeks were the first to successfully create a government based on the consensus of the people and thus provided a foundation for Western democracy.The second significant influence was that of philosophy. The Socratic idea about ethics and knowledge helped the Westerners care more for the effect of knowledge and value of morality, both of which give sound guidance to people in the later years to improve and change the world outside themselves, i.e., human society and the natural world.Later generations of Westerners have benefited a lot from Greek culture, such as those in painting, sculpture, architecture, drama, poetry and historical works. Classicism had Greek culture as one of the crucial sources, and this has helped Westerners so much that they ascribed the origin of the Renaissance to it. This changed the intellectual conditions of the later medieval period and opened the way to the modern era in the West.Chapter 21. Tell briefly the major characteristics and contributions of Roman culture, as are demonstrated in religion, poetry, history and architecture.In the early period, Roman culture often depended heavily on the introduction and imitation of other cultures, particularly, Greek culture. Thus Romans created their own powerful culture, laying the foundation for subsequent Western culture in many fields. According to Greek culture and others’ culture; they created their own gods and myth, In poetry, ancient Rome made brilliant achievements,Livy was responsible for the great History of Rome in 142 volumes. His work has always been cited by later statesmen, writers or scholars,The architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the Greek style for its own purposes, but the Romans also developed a new kind.2. In what sense do you think Roman culture owed its accomplishments to the benefits obtained from Greek culture? Give examples.Roman culture learned and inherited a lot from Greek culture.,religion, philosophy and literature. In religion, Rome had its own system of beliefs which had been simple and could hardly compare with the plurality of Greek religion. The same is true of Roman philosophy where we could find examples ,In literature, Roman men of letters also borrowed a All in all, the two cultures are closely linkedgreat deal from Greek culture.Chapter 31. How was the Jewish civilization developed after a tortuous history of split and unification? The major explanation for the development of the Jewish civilization is its strong cohesiveness and vitality,they put into effect their Judaist beliefs and what they read of Judaist scriptures.From then on Jews have begun to become aware of the necessicity to liberate themselves from the restrictive laws and acquire new knowledge and modern ideas from the Europeans, Most of Jews thus received a good education, fully armed with cultural and scientific knowledge and did well in their own position they could quickly turn it into a well developed nation in spite of its small size and small population .2．Say something about Judaism and The Old Testament.The Old Testament is the Judaist Bible. It was written in Hebrew, including the three parts：Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographa and Apocrypha. After The Old Testament was translated into Greek by Jewish scholars，many westerners began to understand Judaism by reading this book. It is not only of religious value but also of literatry value.Chapter 41. What are the main components of Christianity and why could it be accepted as the official religion first by the Roman Empire and then by the following kingdoms or empires in Europe?(1)The main components of Christianity are ：1) The Bible as the only Christian scripture;Major Christian doctrines about Trinity and Redemption;3) Other doctrines or events of Christianity:(2 )Christianity is accepted and popular in Europe because of these factors:1).For the common people in the empire ,they needed something to fill up their spiritual vacuum. Christianity could play such a role.2). It could work together with any secular regimes to offer necessary assistance.3). The name and influence of Christiaity would be a symbol of sacredness and justification,4) Christianity is also a kind of culture, it could be tolerated because their life and propertycould thus be secured in the changed circumstances.2. What are the basic differences between Christianity and Judaism?In spite of the fact that the two religions derived from Jewish culture, there are some basic differences between them.First is the different image of God.Second is different view of God. Jehovah is viewed He is like fire or wind .God is kinder and more helpful, Third is the different position each religion is located in and hence would make different contribution. Fourth is Jehovah was important to Jews only in theory and affect them in spirit occasionally while Christianity moved into secular life for the Westerner as Pope and churches became very powerful .Chapter 61.Tell simply the background and development of the Renaissance.It was no accident that it first occurred in Florence and Italy where the early signs of capitalism had appeared at the same time as social chaos, political disputes and military clashes , more and more people began to suspect the justification for those who held the power,Painting and sculpture were the first area to reflect the change of subjects and tastes.(2) What are the major features and achievements of the Renaissance? Give examples.The Renaissance is characterised by seeking ideological emancipation, intellectual freedom and political awareness, based on cultural production and religious reformation. All these were undertaken or unfolded gradually but widely, extending its influences to every corner of Europe, with more and more people getting involved.The achievements were seen principally in six areas, namely, painting, sculpture, poetry, fiction, drama and religious reformation as well as the change in the cultural and intellectual climate. Instances could be located in these areas, such as the huge change of subjects and styles in painting. The medieval painting used to centre on depicting Jesus Christ and other Christian subjects, not only effecting similar and the limited subject matter, but also depicting stylistically facial expressions and manners. The great artists in the Renaissance started to focus on the images with individualistic temperament, highlighting humanity instead of divinity, thus breaking away from the medieval frozen models and linking classicalism with human nature as the centre of their representational work.。

(1) Give a brief account of the major achievements of Greek culture, such as those in religion, philosophy, l i t e r a t u r e a n d s c i e n c e.Greek religion really took shape during the Homeric Age and featured polytheism with gods taking human form and feeling. Greek religion made a great contribution to Greek literature, philosophy and art. It is an important origin of Greek mythology which was fully developed by the religious tales of the Homeric epic and thus affected the later development of all kinds of Greek culture.Greek philosophy started with Thales (640 BC–547 BC) who believed that the material world originated in water. His philosophy was materialism. He was followed by Pythagoras who assumed that the key to the understanding of the world is numbers, on the opposition of the spokesman for idealism.The core Greek philosophers are Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates had scant regard for material wealth, but was keen on probing into the definition of some ethical and behavioral issues, such as “friendship”and “courage”.Plato established the Academy －the first Greek institution of higher learning. His contributions included his theory of ideas and his arguments on “republic”which was supposed to embrace his ideals about a future state where humans could enjoy a happy life. Aristotle is also a learned man and his work covers wide-ranging areas. His reputation as a philosopher largely depends on his argument on metaphysics which he tried to achieve a compromise between matter and divinity.Literary representation centred round the two epic poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey, lyrical poetry by Sappho and Pindar and drama by Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes. Their works combined Greek myths and social life and won much appreciation and enthusiasm from the public.In science the mathematician Euclid established plane geometry and Archimedes discovered the ratio of radius of a circle and the relationship between the volume and surface of a sphere.(2) What do you think of the influence Greek culture has exerted on Western civilization as a whole Give examples.Greek culture is often termed the cradle of the Western civilization and has had an enormous impact on Western culture. The specific contributions are found in the areas of philosophy, politics, literature, art, science and architecture.Greek politics was one of the greatest influences on the Western civilization. The Greeks were the first to successfully create a government based on the consensus of the people and thus provided a foundation for Western democracy.The second significant influence was that of philosophy. The Socratic idea about ethics and knowledge helped the Westerners care more for the effect of knowledge and value of morality, both of which give sound guidance to people in the later years to improve and change the world outside themselves, ., human society and the natural world.Later generations of Westerners have benefited a lot from Greek culture, such as those in painting, sculpture, architecture, drama, poetry and historical works. Classicism had Greek culture as one of the crucial sources, and this has helped Westerners so much that they ascribed the origin of the Renaissance to it. This changed the intellectual conditions of the later medieval period and opened the way to the modern era in the West.Chapter 21. Tell briefly the major characteristics and contributions of Roman culture, as are demonstrated in religion, poetry, history and architecture.In the early period, Roman culture often depended heavily on the introduction and imitation of other cultures, particularly, Greek culture. Thus Romans created their own powerful culture, laying the foundation for subsequentWestern culture in many fields. According to Greek culture and others’ culture; they created their own gods and myth, In poetry, ancient Rome made brilliant achievements,Livy was responsible for the great History of Rome in 142 volumes. His work has always been cited by later statesmen, writers or scholars,The architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the Greek style for its own purposes, but the Romans also developed a new kind.2. In what sense do you think Roman culture owed its accomplishments to the benefits obtained from Greek culture Give examples.Roman culture learned and inherited a lot from Greek culture.,religion, philosophy and literature.In religion, Rome had its own system of beliefs which had been simple and could hardly compare with the plurality of Greek religion. The same is true of Roman philosophy where we could find examples ,In literature, Roman men of letters also borrowed a All in all, the two cultures are closely linkedgreat deal from Greek culture. Chapter 31. How was the Jewish civilization developed after a tortuous history of split and unificationThe major explanation for the development of the Jewish civilization is its strong cohesiveness and vitality,they put into effect their Judaist beliefs and what they read of Judaist scriptures.From then on Jews have begun to become aware of the necessicity to liberate themselves from the restrictive laws and acquire new knowledge and modern ideas from the Europeans, Most of Jews thus received a good education, fully armed with cultural and scientific knowledge and did well in their own position they could quickly turn it into a well developed nation in spite of its small size and small population .2．Say something about Judaism and The Old Testament.The Old Testament is the Judaist Bible. It was written in Hebrew, including the three parts：Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographa and Apocrypha. After The Old Testament was translated into Greek by Jewish scholars，many westerners began to understand Judaism by reading this book. It is not only of religious value but also of literatry value.Chapter 41. What are the main components of Christianity and why could it be accepted as the official religion first by the Roman Empire and then by the following kingdoms or empires in Europe(1)The main components of Christianity are ：1) The Bible as the only Christian scripture;Major Christian doctrines about Trinity and Redemption;3) Other doctrines or events of Christianity:(2 )Christianity is accepted and popular in Europe because of these factors:1).For the common people in the empire ,they needed something to fill up their spiritual vacuum. Christianity could play such a role.2). It could work together with any secular regimes to offer necessary assistance.3). The name and influence of Christiaity would be a symbol of sacredness and justification,4) Christianity is also a kind of culture, it could be tolerated because their life and property could thus be secured in the changed circumstances.2. What are the basic differences between Christianity and JudaismIn spite of the fact that the two religions derived from Jewish culture, there are some basic differences between them.First is the different image of is different view of God. Jehovah is viewed He is like fire or wind .God is kinder and more helpful, Third is the different position each religion is located in and hence would make different contribution. Fourth is Jehovah was important to Jews only in theory and affect them in spirit occasionally while Christianity moved into secular life for the Westerner as Pope and churches became very powerful .Chapter 6simply the background and development of the Renaissance.It was no accident that it first occurred in Florence and Italy where the early signs of capitalism had appeared at the same time as social chaos, political disputes and military clashes , more and more people began to suspect the justification for those who held the power,Painting and sculpture were the first area to reflect the change of subjects and tastes.(2) What are the major features and achievements of the Renaissance Give examples.The Renaissance is characterised by seeking ideological emancipation, intellectual freedom and political awareness, based on cultural production and religious reformation. All these were undertaken or unfolded gradually but widely, extending its influences to every corner of Europe, with more and more people getting involved.The achievements were seen principally in six areas, namely, painting, sculpture, poetry, fiction, drama and religious reformation as well as the change in the cultural and intellectual climate. Instances could be located in these areas, such as the huge change of subjects and styles in painting. The medieval painting used to centre on depicting Jesus Christ and other Christian subjects, not only effecting similar and the limited subject matter, but also depicting stylistically facial expressions and manners. The great artists in the Renaissance started to focus on the images with individualistic temperament, highlighting humanity instead of divinity, thus breaking away from the medieval frozen models and linking classicalism with human nature as the centre of their representational work.。

(1) Give a brief account of the major achievements of Greek culture, such as those in religion, philosophy, literature and science.Greek religion really took shape during the Homeric Age and featured polytheism with gods taking human form and feeling. Greek religion made a great contribution to Greek literature, philosophy and art. It is an important origin of Greek mythology which was fully developed by the religious tales of the Homeric epic and thus affected the later development of all kinds of Greek culture.Greek philosophy started with Thales (640 BC–547 BC) who believed that the material world originated in water. His philosophy was materialism. He was followed by Pythagoras who assumed that the key to the understanding of the world is numbers, on the opposition of the spokesman for idealism.The core Greek philosophers are Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates had scant regard for material wealth, but was keen on probing into the definition of some ethical and behavioral issues, such as “friendship”and “courage”.Plato established the Academy －the first Greek institution of higher learning. His contributions included his theory of ideas and his arguments on “republic”which was supposed to embrace his ideals about a future state where humans could enjoy a happy life. Aristotle is also a learned man and his work covers wide-ranging areas. His reputation as a philosopher largely depends on his argument on metaphysics which he tried to achieve a compromise between matter and divinity. Literary representation centred round the two epic poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey, lyrical poetry by Sappho and Pindar and drama by Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes. Their works combined Greek myths and social life and won much appreciation and enthusiasm from the public.In science the mathematician Euclid established plane geometry and Archimedes discovered the ratio of radius of a circle and the relationship between the volume and surface of a sphere.(2) What do you think of the influence Greek culture has exerted on Western civilization as a whole? Give examples.Greek culture is often termed the cradle of the Western civilization and has had an enormous impact on Western culture. The specific contributions are found in the areas of philosophy, politics, literature, art, science and architecture.Greek politics was one of the greatest influences on the Western civilization. The Greeks were the first to successfully create a government based on the consensus of the people and thus provided a foundation for Western democracy.The second significant influence was that of philosophy. The Socratic idea about ethics and knowledge helped the Westerners care more for the effect of knowledge and value of morality, both of which give sound guidance to people in the later years to improve and change the world outside themselves, i.e., human society and the natural world.Later generations of Westerners have benefited a lot from Greek culture, such as those in painting, sculpture, architecture, drama, poetry and historical works. Classicism had Greek culture as one of the crucial sources, and this has helped Westerners so much that they ascribed the origin of the Renaissance to it. This changed the intellectual conditions of the later medieval period and opened the way to the modern era in the West.Chapter 21. Tell briefly the major characteristics and contributions of Roman culture, as aredemonstrated in religion, poetry, history and architecture.In the early period, Roman culture often depended heavily on the introduction and imitation of other cultures, particularly, Greek culture. Thus Romans created their own powerful culture, laying the foundation for subsequent Western culture in many fields. According to Greek culture and others’ culture; they created their o wn gods and myth, In poetry, ancient Rome made brilliant achievements,Livy was responsible for the great History of Rome in 142 volumes. His work has always been cited by later statesmen, writers or scholars,The architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the Greek style for its own purposes, but the Romans also developed a new kind.2. In what sense do you think Roman culture owed its accomplishments to the benefits obtained from Greek culture? Give examples.Roman culture learned and inherited a lot from Greek culture.,religion, philosophy and literature. In religion, Rome had its own system of beliefs which had been simple and could hardly compare with the plurality of Greek religion. The same is true of Roman philosophy where we could find examples ,In literature, Roman men of letters also borrowed a All in all, the two cultures are closely linkedgreat deal from Greek culture.Chapter 31. How was the Jewish civilization developed after a tortuous history of split and unification? The major explanation for the development of the Jewish civilization is its strong cohesiveness and vitality,they put into effect their Judaist beliefs and what they read of Judaist scriptures.From then on Jews have begun to become aware of the necessicity to liberate themselves from the restrictive laws and acquire new knowledge and modern ideas from the Europeans, Most of Jews thus received a good education, fully armed with cultural and scientific knowledge and did well in their own position they could quickly turn it into a well developed nation in spite of its small size and small population .2．Say something about Judaism and The Old Testament.The Old Testament is the Judaist Bible. It was written in Hebrew, including the three parts：Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographa and Apocrypha. After The Old Testament was translated into Greek by Jewish scholars，many westerners began to understand Judaism by reading this book. It is not only of religious value but also of literatry value.Chapter 41. What are the main components of Christianity and why could it be accepted as the official religion first by the Roman Empire and then by the following kingdoms or empires in Europe?(1)The main components of Christianity are ：1) The Bible as the only Christian scripture;Major Christian doctrines about Trinity and Redemption;3) Other doctrines or events of Christianity:(2 )Christianity is accepted and popular in Europe because of these factors:1).For the common people in the empire ,they needed something to fill up their spiritual vacuum. Christianity could play such a role.2). It could work together with any secular regimes to offer necessary assistance.3). The name and influence of Christiaity would be a symbol of sacredness and justification,4) Christianity is also a kind of culture, it could be tolerated because their life and property could thus be secured in the changed circumstances.2. What are the basic differences between Christianity and Judaism?In spite of the fact that the two religions derived from Jewish culture, there are some basic differences between them.First is the different image of God.Second is different view of God. Jehovah is viewed He is like fire or wind .God is kinder and more helpful, Third is the different position each religion is located in and hence would make different contribution. Fourth is Jehovah was important to Jews only in theory and affect them in spirit occasionally while Christianity moved into secular life for the Westerner as Pope and churches became very powerful .Chapter 61.Tell simply the background and development of the Renaissance.It was no accident that it first occurred in Florence and Italy where the early signs of capitalism had appeared at the same time as social chaos, political disputes and military clashes , more and more people began to suspect the justification for those who held the power,Painting and sculpture were the first area to reflect the change of subjects and tastes.(2) What are the major features and achievements of the Renaissance? Give examples.The Renaissance is characterised by seeking ideological emancipation, intellectual freedom and political awareness, based on cultural production and religious reformation. All these were undertaken or unfolded gradually but widely, extending its influences to every corner of Europe, with more and more people getting involved.The achievements were seen principally in six areas, namely, painting, sculpture, poetry, fiction, drama and religious reformation as well as the change in the cultural and intellectual climate. Instances could be located in these areas, such as the huge change of subjects and styles in painting. The medieval painting used to centre on depicting Jesus Christ and other Christian subjects, not only effecting similar and the limited subject matter, but also depicting stylistically facial expressions and manners. The great artists in the Renaissance started to focus on the images with individualistic temperament, highlighting humanity instead of divinity, thus breaking away from the medieval frozen models and linking classicalism with human nature as the centre of their representational work.。

Essentials of British and American CulturesChapter 2. English HistoryI. Focal Points:Parliamentthe Glorious Revolutionthe clashes between England and France in the 18th centurythe Industrial Revolutionthe progress and reforms in the 19th centuryVictorianismCharles Darwinmajor events in the 20th centuryII. Questions and Answers on the Text1. What is considered to be the clearest historical item in the general knowledge of most British people?It is the year 1066, when the French-speaking Normans under William the Conqueror invaded England from France, defeating the Saxon king Harold at the Battle of Hastings.2. What do the average people in Britain know about English history before the year1066?They know about the Romans and they are sure to know the story of the fine Saxon king, Alfred the Great, and the legendary stories of the still earlier king Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.3. Who was the most famous of the English Crusaders?The most famous of the English Crusaders was the Norman king, Richard Lion-Heart.4. In the Middle Ages, who were the great rivals of the king's authority?The great rivals of the king's authority were the Church and the powerful local chiefs, called barons.5.Why was the Pope in the Middle Ages so powerful?Because the Pope in Rome could always inspire the fear of eternal damnation by "excommunicating" (i. e. expelling from the Church) a king or even a whole nation; the Pope also wielded great political power over the whole of Western Europe.6.How did the French drive the English from their country at the end of the One-hundred-year War?The French drove the English from their country partly through the inspiration of the brave girl Joan of Arc, and partly through the effective use of guns, which had only just been invented.7. In English history, what language did the kings of the Middle Ages speak as their mother tongue? What changes took place after the Hundred Years' War?All the kings of the Middle Ages spoke French as their mother tongue. After the Hundred Years' War, England became completely severed from France, and the English language finally took the place of French in all classes of society.8.What were the characteristics of the sixteenth century as the beginning of the modern period in English history and European history?In the sixteenth century, the invention of printing made books much easier to produce and therefore much cheaper, so that ideas could spread quickly. It was the age of the great voyages of discovery and the beginning of the imperialist expansion; it was also the beginning of freedom of thought in the Christian religion.9.In the sixteenth century, what changes took place in religion?The sixteenth century was the beginning of the freedom of thought in the Christian religion, when the decline in the Pope's political power was followed by a decline in his religious authority.10. What was the result of the decline in the Pope's political power and religious authority in the sixteenth century?As a result of the decline in the Pope's political power and religious authority, Protestant churches sprang up in Northern Europe in opposition to the established Roman Catholic Church, and Protestant-Catholic hatred became a constant theme in European history.11. Who delivered the first great blow to the Roman Catholic Church in England?It was Henry VIII who delivered the first great blow to the Roman Catholic Church in England.12. How did the English Church break away from the central organization of Christianity?The long quarrel between the Pope and Henry VIII on the matter of Henry VIII's divorce ended in Henry VIII's declaring that he and not the Pope was the head of the Church in England. As a result, the English Church broke away from the central organization of Christianity.13. What is meant by "heresy" in the sixteenth century?It refers to any revolt against the traditional Christian faith. It was held by Catholics that "heresy" was the work of the devil and should be resisted by the most violent means.14. When did Protestantism gradually become the dominant faith in Britain?Protestantism gradually became the dominant faith in Britain in the reign of Elizabeth I, whose main interest lay in creating a strong united country in which there should be no more religious persecution.15. What were the characteristics of the Elizabethan age?It was an age of literature, especially the literature of Shakespeare, and an age of adventure on the sea.16. Which country was the biggest enemy of England in the sixteenth century?Spain was the biggest enemy of England in the sixteenth century.17. What was the most important event in the English history in the seventeenth century?The most important event in the English history in the seventeenth century was the English Revolution.18. What was the conflict between King Charles I and Parliament before the Civil War?Charles I believed he had a "Divine Right" to govern, while Rarliament believed he was a human being answerable to the people. For a time, Charles I actually ruled without parliament, and levied taxes without Parliament's approval.19. Who were the "Roundheads"? Why were they nicknamed "Roundheads" ?The "Roundheads" were the nickname of the "Puritan" elements, those with very strict Protestant principles. They were supporters of the Parliament. They were nicknamed the "Roundheads" because of the bare look of their shorn heads contrasted with the long, curly wigs of the King's more fashionable supporters, the "Cavaliers". 20. Who were the "Cavaliers"?The "Cavaliers" were the supporters of King Charles I, those who had long, curly wigs.21. Who was the Roundhead leader?The Roundhead leader was Oliver Cromwell.22. What was the consequence of the English Civil War?The Civil War led to the execution of Charles I and the temporary overthrow of the monarchy, when the country became for more than ten years a sort of republic founded by Oliver Cromwell.23. When did the Glorious Revolution take place?The Glorious Revolution took place in 1688.24. Who was the Britain's great enemy during the whole of the eighteenth century?Britain' s great enemy during the whole of the eighteenth century was France.25. What were the two most famous victories that Britain had over France during the eighteenth century?The two most famous victories were the Battle of Waterloo over the great Napoleon, and the Battle of Trafalgar over Napoleon' s fleet.26. What is meant by "meet one' s Waterloo"? What is the origin of the phrase?The phrase "meet one's Waterloo" means "encounter final disaster''. It comes from the Battle of Waterloo, the famous victory won by Britain over Napoleon.27. What is considered to be the most important event in the eighteenth century in Britain?The Industrial Revolution is considered to be the most important event in the eighteenth century in Britain.28. What was the most important invention during the Industrial Revolution?The most important invention during the Industrial Revolution was the invention of the steam engine.29. What was Britain's main historical interest after the Battle of Waterloo?Britain's main historical interest was in the efforts made (a) to overcome social problems, (b) to make Parliament more representative of the people, and (c) to improve local government and social services.30. What do "Peelers" or "bobbies" refer to?The word "Peeler" or "bobby" comes from the name of a person, Sir Robert ("Bobby") Peel, who founded the modern police force of Britain. So policemen are called "Peelers", or rather affectionately "bobbies."31. What is meant by "franchise"?Franchise means the right to vote in elections.32. How long did the Victorian age last?The Victorian age lasted 64 years from 1837 to 1901.33. What impact did Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species have on the Victorian age?Darwin's theory of evolution caused violent reaction from the religious Victorians who believed every deeply in God as the Creatorr of Man and in the life after death.Furious debates were Held both in private and in public, and Darwin's theory was destined to outlive Victorianism and contribute to its decay.34. How did the Victorian stability collapse after the death of Queen Victoria ?The Victorian stability collapsed within a few years of the death of Queen Victoria. The working classes rose up to fight for their rights and the women woke up to fight for the right to vote. Meanwhile the trouble in Ireland was going from bad to worse.35. According to the author, how did Britain get involved in World War I?Britain became involved because she had made friends with her old enemy, France, who was being attacked by Germany.36. What were the two most disasterous events in British economy between the two World Wars?They were the General Strike in 1926 and the great "slump" of the early 1930s.37. What became the threat of the international situation after the great "slump" ?After the great "slump", fascism became the threat of the international situation.38. Who were the two big fascists before and during the Second World War?The two big fascists were Mussolini in Italy and Hitler in Germany.39. What was the consequence of Hitler' s constant thirst for power?What was the basis of Hitler's constant thirst for power?Hitler's constant thirst {or power led Europe into the Second World War. The basis of Hitler's constant thirst for power was the idea of a German "master-race".40. How long did the First World War last? How long did the Second World War last?The First World War lasted 4 years from 1914 to 1918. The Second World War lasted 6 years from 1939 to 1945.41. What is meant by the "blitz" of 1940?It refers to the bombing of Britain by German planes in 1940, when Hitler sent his bombers day after day to bomb airfields and towns in the south, and then night after night, to bomb London.III. Explanations1.King HaroldThe Saxon king who was defeated and killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, when the French-speaking Normans under William the Conqueror invaded England from France.2. Alfred the Great(1)He was a fine Saxon king who successfully defeated the invading Danes.3. King Arthur( 1 ) He was the king of England in the sixth century. (2) Little was known about him,except that he was associated with Corn- wall and is the central figure of many legends about him and his Knights of the Round Table.4. The CrusadesThe Crusades were a series of wars in the Middle Ages in which armies from all over Europe tried to snatch the "Holy Land" ( i.e. Palestine, where Jesus Christ once lived) from the Infidels (i.e. the Muslims).5. Richard Lion-Heart( 1 ) He was a Norman king in the Middle Ages. (2) He was also the most famous of the English Crusaders at that time. (3) Many stories have been told about him and his enemy Saladin.6. the Magna Carta( 1 ) The Magna Carta (or Great Charter) was a document signed in 1215 by King John under compulsion by the powerful barons. (2) The purpose of the Charter was to make King John to recognize the rights of the barons. (3) The Magna Carta is now in the British Museum, London.7. the Hundred Years' War(1) A war between England and France which lasted, on and off, for a hundred years from 1337 to 1453. (2) It was fought entirely in France, and the whole of France very nearly fell into English hands in the famous battles of Crecy and Agincourt. (3) Eventually, partly through the inspiration of the brave girl Joan of Arc, and partly through the effective use of guns, the French drove the English from their land for good.8. Joan of Arc(1) She was a French saint and national heroine. (2) During the Hundred Years' War, her bravery and inspiration provided spirit and morale for French armies. (3) Later she was captured and burned at the stake.9. the Wars of the Roses(1) It is the name given to the struggle (1455--1485) for the throne of England between two branches of the English royal family: (2) the houses of Lancaster, whose badge was a red rose, and York, whose badge was a white rose. (3) The wars weakened both the nobility and the monarch.10. the Catholic Church(1) It refers to the Christian church headed by the Pope. (2) All members of the church accept the gospel of Christ and the teachings of the Bible. Any revolt against the traditional Christian faith was "heresy." (3) In the Middle Ages, the Pope was extremely powerful. (4) In the sixteenth century, some of the actual beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church Were questioned by Protestant doctrines and there was a great deal of presecution by Catholics.11. the Protestant Church( 1 ) It refers to the Christian church whose faith and practice originated with the principles of the Reformation. (2) As the Pope’s political power and religious authority declined in the sixteenth century, Protestant churches sprang up in Northern Europe in opposition to the established Roman Catholic Church. (3) In Britain, Protestantism gradually became the dominant faith in the Elizabethan age.12. bloody Mary( I ) It was the nickname given to Mary I, Henry III' s elder daughter. (2) She was a devout Catholic, and had so many Protestants burnt to death that she is remembered less by her official title Mary I than by her nickname Bloody Mary. (3) She was succeeded by Elizabeth I.13 the Elizabethan age(I) It refers to the period during the reign of Elizabeth I in British history. (2) It was an age of real literary achievement, especially that of Shakespeare, and (3) it was an age of adventure on the sea.14. the "Gunpowder Plot"(1) It refers to the most famous of a number of Catholic conspiracies in English history which occurred in the reign of James I (2) It was the plot to blow up the King and Parliament, in which a man called Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the House of Commons in the very act of preparing the explosives. (3) "Guy Fawkes' Night" is still celebrated on November 5th each year.15. the English Civil War(1) One of the most important events in the whole of British history. (2) It is a bitter power struggle (1642--1648) between the monarchy and Parliament. (3) The victory of the Parliament led to the execution (1649) of Charles I and the temporary overthrow of the monarchy, and (4) the country became for more than ten years a sort of republic founded by Oliver Cromwell.16. King Charles I(1) An English king in the seventeenth century. He believed that he had a "Divine Right" to govern. (2) For a time, Charles actually ruled without Parliament, and levied taxes without Parliament's approval. (3) This aroused the opposition of the Roundheads , and the great Civil War broke out, in which he was defeated, tried as a traitor to his country, and condemned to death.17. Oliver Cromwell(1) Oliver Cromwell was the Roundhead leader during the English Civil War. (2) He defeated King Charles I and condemned him to death. (3) The monarchy was overthrown, and the country became for more than ten years a republic.18. the Glorious Revolution(1) It refers to the event of 1688 in the English Revolution, when the Catholicking James II was forced to flee with his baby son to France. (2) The throne was offered to his Protestant daughter and her husband Dutch king William. (3) The bill of Rights was passed by Parliament to restrict the power of the Monarchy. (4) This was the beginning of the Constitutional Monarchy in Britain.19. the Industrial Revolution( 1 ) It refers to the period in British history from 1750 to 1850. (2) Great changes took place with the invention of the steam engine. (3) More factories and big towns were built. (4) It made Britain stronger and richer, and at the same time it also created entirely new social class, the industrial workers.20. the Victorian age(I) It refers to the monarch of Britain under the great Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, the longest reign in British history. (2) The Victorian age was an age of national development and national optimism. (3) The Victorians were very religious and conservative in family life. (4) It was also, in its later stages, an age of imperialism.21. the "suffragette" movement( 1) A term refers to the movement in the early twentieth century by the British women, who had been meek and submissive in Victorian's reign. (2) They rose up to gain their right to vote. (3) This was not simply a political campaign but a profound revolt against an inferior status.22. Charles's Darwin( I ) The famous British scientist who wrote the important book "The Origin of Species". (2) His theory of evolution caused violent reaction of the Victorians against the book, and furious ,debates were held in private and in public. (3) Darwin's theory contributed to the decay of Victorianism.。

西方文化导论(第二版)概述西方文化导论是一本系统介绍和探讨西方文化的教材，第二版在第一版的基础上进行了内容的更新和扩充。

本文档将对第二版的主要章节进行概述和简要介绍。

第一章：文化概念与西方文化特点第一章主要介绍了文化的概念以及西方文化的特点。

通过对文化的定义和内涵进行探讨，帮助读者建立对文化的基本理解。

接着，本章列举了西方文化的特点，包括个人主义、进步和创新、法治精神等方面。

通过对西方文化特点的分析，读者将更好地理解西方社会的价值观和行为准则。

第二章：古希腊文化的形成与发展第二章主要讲述了古希腊文化的形成与发展。

通过对古希腊城邦制度、民主思想、哲学和艺术的详细介绍，读者可以了解到古希腊对西方文化的深远影响。

本章还探讨了古希腊神话、奥林匹克运动会等与古希腊文化相关的重要话题。

第三章：罗马文化的兴盛与衰落第三章主要介绍了罗马文化的兴盛与衰落。

通过对罗马帝国的建立、法律制度、建筑艺术等方面的讲解，读者可以了解到罗马文化的辉煌。

同时，本章还探讨了罗马帝国的衰落原因，包括内外因素的影响，为读者呈现了一个全面的罗马文化画卷。

第四章：基督教与中世纪文化第四章主要探讨了基督教与中世纪文化的关系。

通过对基督教教义、圣经、修道院制度等方面的介绍，读者可以更好地理解基督教对于西方文化的影响。

本章还讲解了中世纪文化的典型特征，包括封建制度、骑士精神等，为读者呈现了一个中世纪文化的全景图。

第五章：文艺复兴与人文主义第五章主要介绍了文艺复兴与人文主义运动。

通过对文艺复兴时期的艺术、文学、科学等方面的讲解，读者可以了解到文艺复兴对于西方文化的重要意义。

本章还探讨了人文主义的核心观点与价值观，为读者呈现了一个充满思想与创新的时代。

第六章：启蒙运动与近代西方文化第六章主要探讨了启蒙运动与近代西方文化。

通过对启蒙运动的起源、思想家以及影响的介绍，读者可以了解到启蒙运动对于近代西方文化的深刻影响。

本章还讲解了近代西方文化的主要发展特点，包括科学理性主义、人权思想等方面。

Enjoy the cool 纳凉乘凉Take a part from the whole 片面Vessel 船Genesis 创世纪World engulfing flood 世纪洪水Swear 发誓Descendant 后代Nomadic 游牧的Shepherds 牧羊人Uprooting 连根拔起的Bondage = enslave 奴役Passover 逾越Commandment 契约Garden of Eden 伊甸园Earthly 人间的Biblical earthly paradise 圣经中的人间天堂Prior to 在…之前Bliss 极乐狂喜Sin 罪恶Misery 悲惨的Covenant 契约Articulate 清楚表达Prophecy 预言Redeemer 救世主Legitimize 立法Gospel 真理Make a covenant with sb. 与…定契约Lapse into doing 转向lapse 流失Fertile 肥沃Flourish 繁荣Sw. saw/witnessed the rise of sth. 见证了Unearth 发掘Clay tablets 陶土片The annals of 编年史Cult 狂热信徒Merchant 商人Legacy 遗产Alphabet 字母表Scatter 播撒scattered 分散的Herdsmen 牧人Grazing 草地Flocks 牛群Famine 饥荒Divine 神圣的Precede 在…之前Refuge 避难Seductive seduce 诱惑的/诱惑In Outlook观念上Reside resident 居住/居民Collective全面的Domestic家庭内部的Be fated to do 注定Be destined to doBe doomed to doStrife 争吵Sanctuary避难所Even worse 更糟的是What’s worseTo make matters worse Outrage 暴行Curse 诅咒Pursuit 追求Provoke 激怒Tangled 错综复杂的Plot 情节Raw material 原材料Expedition 远征Fictitious 虚构的Wholesale 批发Equivalent 对等的Marvel at 感叹。

西方文化导论课后习题答案（优.选）(1) Give a brief account of the major achievements of Greek culture, such as those in religion, philosophy, literature and science.Greek religion really took shape during the Homeric Age and featured polytheism with gods taking human form and feeling. Greek religion made a great contribution to Greek literature, philosophy and art. It is an important origin of Greek mythology which was fully developed by the religious tales of the Homeric epic and thus affected the later development of all kinds of Greek culture.Greek philosophy started with Thales (640 BC–547 BC) who believed that the material world originated in water. His philosophy was materialism. He was followed by Pythagoras who assumed that the key to the understanding of the world is numbers, on the opposition of the spokesman for idealism.The core Greek philosophers are Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Socrates had scant regard for material wealth, but was keen on probing into the definition of some ethical and behavioral issues, such as “friendship”and “courage”.Plato established the Academy －the first Greek institution of higher learning. His contributions included his theory of ideas and his arguments on “republic”which was supposed to embrace his ideals about a future state where humans could enjoy a happy life. Aristotle is also a learned man and his work covers wide-ranging areas. His reputation as a philosopher largely depends on his argument on metaphysics which he tried to achieve a compromise between matter and divinity. Literary representation centred round the two epic poems of the Iliad andthe Odyssey, lyrical poetry by Sappho and Pindar and drama by Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes. Their works combined Greek myths and social life and won much appreciation and enthusiasm from the public.In science the mathematician Euclid established plane geometry and Archimedes discovered the ratio of radius of a circle and the relationship between the volume and surface of a sphere.(2) What do you think of the influence Greek culture has exerted on Western civilization as a whole? Give examples.Greek culture is often termed the cradle of the Western civilization and has had an enormous impact on Western culture. The specific contributions are found in the areas of philosophy, politics, literature, art, science and architecture.Greek politics was one of the greatest influences on the Western civilization. The Greeks were the first to successfully create a government based on the consensus of the people and thus provided a foundation for Western democracy.The second significant influence was that of philosophy. The Socratic idea about ethics and knowledge helped the Westerners care more for the effect of knowledge and value of morality, both of which give sound guidance to people in the later years to improve and change the world outside themselves, i.e., human society and the natural world.Later generations of Westerners have benefited a lot from Greek culture, such as those in painting, sculpture, architecture, drama, poetry and historical works. Classicism had Greek culture as one of the crucial sources, and this has helped Westerners so much that they ascribed the origin of the Renaissance to it. This changed the intellectual conditions of the later medieval periodand opened the way to the modern era in the West.Chapter 21. Tell briefly the major characteristics and contributions of Roman culture, as are demonstrated in religion, poetry, history and architecture.In the early period, Roman culture often depended heavily on the introduction and imitation of other cultures, particularly, Greek culture. Thus Romans created their own powerful culture, laying the foundation for subsequent Western culture in many fields. According to Greek culture and others’ culture; they created their own gods and myth, In poetry, ancient Rome made brilliant achievements,Livy was responsible for the great History of Rome in 142 volumes. His work has always been cited by later statesmen, writers or scholars,The architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the Greek style for its own purposes, but the Romans also developeda new kind.2. In what sense do you think Roman culture owed its accomplishments to the benefits obtained from Greek culture? Give examples.Roman culture learned and inherited a lot from Greek culture.,religion, philosophy and literature. In religion, Rome had its own system of beliefs which had been simple and could hardly compare with the plurality of Greek religion. The same is true of Roman philosophy where we could find examples ,In literature, Roman men of letters also borrowed a All in all, the two cultures are closely linkedgreat deal from Greek culture.Chapter 31. How was the Jewish civilization developed after a tortuous history of split and unification? The major explanation for thedevelopment of the Jewish civilization is its strong cohesiveness and vitality,they put into effect their Judaist beliefs and what they read of Judaist scriptures.From then on Jews have begun to become aware of the necessicity to liberate themselves from the restrictive laws and acquire new knowledge and modern ideas from the Europeans, Most of Jews thus received a good education, fully armed with cultural and scientific knowledge and did well in their own position they could quickly turn it into a well developed nation in spite of its small size and small population .2．Say something about Judaism and The Old Testament.The Old Testament is the Judaist Bible. It was written in Hebrew, including the three parts：Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographa and Apocrypha. After The Old Testament was translated into Greek by Jewish scholars，many westerners began to understand Judaism by reading this book. It is not only of religious value but also of literatry value.Chapter 41. What are the main components of Christianity and why could it be accepted as the official religion first by the Roman Empire and then by the following kingdoms or empires in Europe?(1)The main components of Christianity are ：1) The Bible as the only Christian scripture;Major Christian doctrines about Trinity and Redemption;3) Other doctrines or events of Christianity:(2 )Christianity is accepted and popular in Europe because of these factors:1).For the common people in the empire ,they needed something to fill up their spiritual vacuum. Christianity could play such a role.2). It could work together with any secular regimes to offer necessary assistance.3). The name and influence of Christiaity would be a symbol of sacredness and justification,4) Christianity is also a kind of culture, it could be tolerated because their life and propertycould thus be secured in the changed circumstances.2. What are the basic differences between Christianity and Judaism?In spite of the fact that the two religions derived from Jewish culture, there are some basic differences between them.First is the different image of God.Second is different view of God. Jehovah is viewed He is like fire or wind .God is kinder and more helpful, Third is the different position each religion is located in and hence would make different contribution. Fourth is Jehovah was important to Jews only in theory and affect them in spirit occasionally while Christianity moved into secular life for the Westerner as Pope and churches became very powerful .Chapter 61.Tell simply the background and development of the Renaissance.It was no accident that it first occurred in Florence and Italy where the early signs of capitalism had appeared at the same time as social chaos, political disputes and military clashes , more and more people began to suspect the justification for those who held the power,Painting and sculpture were the first area to reflect the change of subjects and tastes.(2) What are the major features and achievements of the Renaissance? Give examples.The Renaissance is characterised by seeking ideologicalemancipation, intellectual freedom and political awareness, based on cultural production and religious reformation. All these were undertaken or unfolded gradually but widely, extending its influences to every corner of Europe, with more and more people getting involved.The achievements were seen principally in six areas, namely, painting, sculpture, poetry, fiction, drama and religious reformation as well as the change in the cultural and intellectual climate. Instances could be located in these areas, such as the huge change of subjects and styles in painting. The medieval painting used to centre on depicting Jesus Christ and other Christian subjects, not only effecting similar and the limited subject matter, but also depicting stylistically facial expressions and manners. The great artists in the Renaissance started to focus on the images with individualistic temperament, highlighting humanity instead of divinity, thus breaking away from the medieval frozen models and linking classicalism with human nature as the centre of their representational work.最新文件---------------- 仅供参考--------------------已改成word文本--------------------- 方便更改。