Western Civilization: The Growing Power of Western Europe 1500-1715

Social Science/History | Available (Membership Required)

12535 W. Smokey Dr. Surprise, AZ 85378 United States
1011
2/13/2025 (one day)
10:00 AM-1:00 PM MST (Arizona) on Th
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Western Civilization: The Growing Power of Western Europe 1500-1715

Social Science/History | Available (Membership Required)

As the struggle between Catholics and Protestants continued, as the Reformation spread throughout Europe, other events were happening that would shape the growing power of Western Europe.

In this chapter of Western Civilization, we will first look at the following:
1. The opening of the Atlantic, European Exploration, and Conquest. Subtopics include: the causes for expansion, the Portuguese Overseas Empire, Spanish conquests in the New World, Early English and French settlements in North
America, and the impact of conquest.
2. Our second topic will concentrate on the growing power of Western Europe and the two competing forms of governing, Absolutism vs Constitutionalism, Monarchy vs Republicanism. Subtopics include: The Grand Monarch, Louis the XIV and the balance of power, the Dutch Republic, Britain and the triumph of Parliament, Absolutism in Austria, Spain, and Prussia, the France of Louis the XIV, 1643-1715, and the “Westernizing” of Russia.

As with any phase of our study of Western Civilization, we’ll place emphasis on “life at the time” with selected readings and audio/visual presentations.
Note: this course is a part of a chronological series in Western Civilization.

  • Salvatore DiLiberto is a retired educator from Denver, Colorado.  For over 35 years he has held various teaching and administrative positions at the secondary level and most recently, in higher education, at the University of Colorado at Denver.  


    In 2002, Mr. DiLiberto retired from the University of Colorado at Denver, moving to Surprise, Arizona. Beginning in 2003, he began volunteering as an instructor for the OSHER Life-Long Learning Program for the community of Sun City Grand. Since that time, to the present, Mr. DiLiberto has taught Western Civilization courses, two semesters each year, for residents of Sun City Grand now re-named “The Grand."

Salvatore DiLiberto