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Gavin Walton
- October 20, 2024
Welcome to study.com History 102: Western Civilization II! Here you will find what you’re looking for, whether it is credits, passion for history, or plain and simple, ease in passing through the course. This course is about one of the most interesting historical eras, starting mid the seventeenth century and ending in the present time. The topics have been divided into the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, both world wars, and the Cold War. When you are done, you will get to know how Western civilization has developed into what we know today.
What makes study.com Western 102: History of Western Civilization II fun (yes, history can be fun) is that it doesn’t overboard you with names and dates. It is more about appreciating how political, economic, and sociological structures impacted the kind of world we are in today. If you are here to review for an exam, or just browsing in and want to take in some history, this class will present some of the most crucial incidents in Western history. Let’s dive in!
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What to Expect from Study.com History 102 Class 📖
Buckle up, because study.com History 102: Western Civilization II is indeed the roller coaster ride through history where you cover over 350 years in a limited span of time. It will help you about the political turbulence following the Thirty Years’ War resulting in the hegemony of countries like France and England and how wars like the English Civil War led to the formation of modern systems of governments and politics. Overall, by the end of this course, you will come to grasp how all of it – starting from the Enlightenment and ending in the Industrial Revolution – brought us to today’s world.
Among the significant topics you’re going to be taught about are the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. These periods became significant with regard to how people started to consider science, philosophy, and even governing bodies. Hint: expect to see these topics come up often in exams! You’ll cover how thinkers like Newton and Locke challenged old beliefs and how these ideas directly influenced political movements like the American and French Revolutions. So, if you’re wondering what topics might be “heavily tested,” make sure you dive deep into these intellectual movements.
It is not limited to the past European wars and the philosophical discussions to come, it goes even as far as the Industrial Revolution and the enormous societal shifts this period entailed. You will also note how machines revolutionized the economies, how imperialism organization of international relations, and how political factors such as socialism and nationalism emerged from such changes. I assure you that it will be helpful to learn how these notions are connected to each other once you get to that point in your exam when a number of questions are asked to think of how history is connected to the existing society.
Are you ready to embrace these issues? Good, because now that you have an idea of what is in store for you, it is about time that you began contemplating how you will deal with this course week by week. Let’s get to it!
Week-by-Week Study Plan to Ace Study.com History 102 Exam📝
Alright, let me suggest a stress-free plan that we can use to plan for study.com History 102: Western Civilization II. If you study this way week by week, you will be good to go by the time the examinations take place!
Week 1: Get the Big Picture
- Focus on Chapters 1 & 2: From the Thirty Years’ War to the rise of powerful European nations like France and England.
- Watch a general overview video on YouTube about the Thirty Years’ War and its significance. Here’s a great one: YouTube Link.
- Create flashcards for key events like the Peace of Westphalia and major figures such as Louis XIV.
- Make sure to skim through these Quizlet flashcards on European Absolutism: Quizlet Link.
Week 2: Dive into the Enlightenment
- Major themes for review: The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, reviewed in chapters 3 & 5.
- Devote additional time to studying the works of Enlightenment Thinkers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau. Let me tell you these guys are going to pop up again and again in this examination!
- Watch this YouTube playlist that breaks down the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment: YouTube Link.
- Complete a quick Quizlet session for philosophers and their key ideas: Quizlet Link.
Week 3: Revolution Time!
- Focus on Chapters 6 & 7: The French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte, plus Industrialization.
- Watch a quick video overview of the French Revolution: YouTube Link. You should focus carefully on the Reign of Terror and Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Examine how development in the form of the Industrial Revolution impacted Europe’s economy and society.
- Go through the Quizlet cards on the French Revolution and Napoleon:
Week 4: Political Shifts & Imperialism
- Focus on Chapters 8 & 11: Political Developments and Imperialism.
- The revolutionary political movements that you should understand include; ◦ Liberalism, ◦ Socialism and how they shaped the 19th century.
- Watch a YouTube video on the Scramble for Africa and how imperialism shaped the world: YouTube Link.
- Practice with these Quizlet flashcards on Imperialism: Quizlet Link.
Week 5: World Wars and Between the Wars
- Focus attention on the 12 & 13 chapters which are World War I, Interwar, and World War II.
- Make sure you grasp the causes of WWI (remember: It also talks about the causes of World War II (Military, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism) and how the Treaty of Versailles led to WWII.
- Watch this excellent summary video on WWI and WWII: YouTube Link.
- Do a Quizlet session on key events of both wars: Quizlet Link.
Week 6: Post-War & Cold War Tensions
- Read Chapters 14 & 15: The Cold War, Decolonization, and the Modern Western Society.
- From this point, some important terms should be mentioned in the evaluation notes:
- Marshall Plan; and the Iron Curtain—these are large topics that you will most likely face in the exam.
- Watch this video playlist on the Cold War and its global effects: YouTube Link.
- Review Quizlet flashcards on Cold War terms and events
Week 7: Review & Practice
- It’s crunch time! Go over your flashcards, review notes, and revisit tricky topics.
- Complete some practice quizzes that are on study.com to check the specific areas where you have to dedicate more of your efforts.
- Check out this Quizlet set that covers the entire Western Civilization II course for a comprehensive review.
This way, you will not cram with your materials at the last minute by adhering to the following study plan. You got this!
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Expand Your Horizons: Free External Resources for History Enthusiasts📂
Since you are already subscribed to study.com, you have lots of useful material at your disposal. That being said, it is always great to approach the materials from a different angle or review a concept from another source. The good news? As far as a range of sources available on the net, you can easily find many free and reliable ones that would explain the study concepts more easily:
YouTube Channels & Playlists:
- CrashCourse (World History)
This channel is appropriately well-liked because guess what – it’s entertaining, quick, and informative! It has a series on world history where it discusses aspects that are important on your exam such as the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and the two World Wars among others.
Watch here: CrashCourse World History Playlist - OverSimplified
Want history explained in the simplest way possible? OverSimplified uses humor and animations to explain complicated events like the French Revolution and WWII.
Watch here: OverSimplified YouTube Channel - History with Hilbert
This channel is all about European history and is very helpful for such topics as The Crimean War, Napoleon, the Industrial Revolution, and others.
Watch here: History with Hilbert
Quizlet Study Flashcards:
- World Events Flashcards (1648-1740)
Get your dates, events, and people in order for the early parts of Western Civilization II with these flashcards.
Study here: Quizlet: World Events 1648-1740 (In the last chapter) - Industrialization & Political Movements Flashcards
While creating these flashcards, knowledge about figures linked to the Industrial Revolution phase was targeted along with the important events that happened during this historical period, and general principles of liberalism and socialism were included as well.
Study here: Quizlet: Industrialization & Political Movements (In the last chapter) - World Wars Flashcards
Upgrade your knowledge of the causes, events, and consequences of the First and Second World Wars with this compact set of informative flashcards.
Study here: Quizlet: WWI and WWII (In the last chapter)
Websites & Articles:
- Khan Academy (World History)
On the site, you can also learn about the major historical events and movements such as the Enlightenment, Imperialism, and the two World Wars among others free of charge. The content they produce in the form of videos and articles is great for revision purposes because they are simple to understand. - Explore here: Khan Academy: World History
- HistoryExtra
There are many interesting articles on this site that provide the readers with detailed information about European history such as the History of the French Revolution and the Historical Background of the Industrial Revolution.
Read here: HistoryExtra - BBC Bitesize
BBC Bitesize is an excellent resource for students covering topics like the rise of the Soviet Union, World War II, and European imperialism.
Explore here: BBC Bitesize History
These are free and will help you to acquire a big picture of the important issues that are being taught in your course as well as the chance to practice more. There is a note of advice here – if you go deeper into these, you will feel more comfortable in handling the concepts!
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Historical Hotspots: Key Topics You Should Master 🔑
Let’s break down some of the most important topics in study.com History 102: Western Civilization II that you’ll definitely want to focus on for the exam. These are key concepts that have complex elements, but I’m here to make them easier for you. We’ll use tables and comparisons to help clarify these ideas.
1. The French Revolution vs. The American Revolution
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Aspect
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French Revolution
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American Revolution
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Main Cause
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Economic crisis, inequality, and demand for social change
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Colonial resistance to British taxes and desire for independence
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Key Figures
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Maximilien Robespierre, Louis XVI
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George Washington, Thomas Jefferson
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Outcome
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Overthrew monarchy, led to the rise of Napoleon
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Gained independence from Britain, established a republic
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Global Impact
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Inspired revolutions across Europe, spread ideas of democracy
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Inspired other colonies, set a precedent for democratic governance
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Both revolutions are critical, but while the American Revolution was a fight against external rule, the French Revolution was more about overthrowing internal power structures. Understanding these contrasts will help you grasp how each revolution influenced the modern world.
2. Industrial Revolution: Positive vs. Negative Impacts
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Positive Impacts
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Negative Impacts
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Increased production and economic growth
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Harsh working conditions in factories
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Technological advancements (steam engine, etc.)
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Urbanization led to overcrowding and poor sanitation
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Rise of a middle-class
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Child labor and exploitation of workers
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Improved transportation (railways, roads)
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Environmental degradation due to industrialization
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Although the growth of the Industrial Revolution brought many positive changes, it also brought a lot of social and environmental problems. Don’t forget that, during the exam, you are expected to defend both of the parties involved!
- World War I vs. World War II: Causes and Consequences
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Aspect
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World War I
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World War II
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Main Causes
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Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism (MAIN)
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Treaty of Versailles, Fascism, Expansionism, Appeasement
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Trigger Event
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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
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Invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany
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Outcome
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Treaty of Versailles, the creation of the League of Nations
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United Nations formed, the Cold War began, decolonization
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Global Impact
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Set the stage for WWII, the rise of nationalism
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Shifted global power to the U.S. and Soviet Union, started the atomic age
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These two wars reshaped global politics, so understanding their causes and consequences is crucial. For your exam, expect to compare these conflicts and how each war changed the world order.
- Communism vs. Capitalism
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Feature
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Communism
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Capitalism
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Core Principle
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State ownership of property and means of production
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Private ownership and free markets
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Economic Equality
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Seeks to eliminate class differences
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Wealth inequality is accepted as part of the system
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Role of Government
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Government controls the economy
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Government plays a limited role in the economy
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Example
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Soviet Union, China
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United States, United Kingdom
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Communism and Capitalism are two polarized systems of social and economic organization that defined many aspects of the twentieth century. These ideas will reoccur many times into your study of both the World Wars and the Cold War so it will be best if you keep these differences in mind.
These are just four of the key topics you’ll need to know for study.com History 102: Western Civilization II. Understanding these core concepts and how they compare will make your study sessions more effective. Keep these in mind as you prepare for your exam, and you’ll have a solid grasp of the material!
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Study.com History 102 FAQ❓
- How much time should I dedicate to studying each week?
At least 3-5 hours a week is ideal, depending on how comfortable you are with the material. Consistency is key, so try to stick to a study schedule. - Which topics are most important for the exam?
Focus on the Scientific Revolution, French Revolution, World War I, and Western Civilization since 1945. These are usually heavily tested. - Are the quizzes on study.com enough for preparation?
They’re a great start but use additional resources like YouTube videos or flashcards for more in-depth understanding. It’s good to supplement study.com with outside resources. - What happens if I fall behind on the weekly study plan?
Don’t panic! Try to catch up by doubling your study time for the following week or focusing on the most critical topics. - Do I need to memorize dates and names?
Some memorization is needed, but understanding the key events and their significance is far more important for the exam.
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Final Thoughts: Wrapping Up Your Historical Learning Adventure📄
You have read through to the very end of this guide and that means you are all set to take on study.com History 102: Western Civilization II! Guess what – in the right state of mind a plan in place this course can be passed within even the shortest time possible. Thus, following the weekly schedule, supplemented with the use of external sources for a better understanding of the studied material, and concentration on the most important areas that may be covered, you will come to the exam fully confident and prepared.
You need to understand that history is not only the list of events and dates that you have to memorize but also the story that made today’s world possible. This prepares you to engage in the material, seek a way to find it appealing (even to the extent of using YouTube or any other source), and ensure that you set ample time to revise. Oh, and by the way, just a reminder, students, a lot of resources await you out there in order to support you throughout your endeavors!
It only takes effort and strategizing now that you have this guide to help you when preparing for the exam. Good luck with your study.com History 102 trip and make sure to have fun while taking the trip!
