Class Discussions

A focus on ancient civilizations and their relevance to the present.

"Civilization" is not just a term applied to the past. It has relevance to our contemporary situation. The Discussion Forum for each module includes many "thought-provoking" questions to stimulate your reflection on the state of civilization. Feel free to submit comparable questions of your own.

Many of the issues raised in the Discussion Forum reflect a concern that we have failed to learn from the past. Our leaders of the recent past and present have failed to stem the tide of decline. Overpopulation, pollution, and human-caused climate change all threaten the planet itself. Fundamentalism, sectarianism and unrestrained greed provide fuel for the every hotter fires of armed conflict. In the US, the excess of freedom over responsibility leads to homicide, accidental death and incarceration rates on a staggering scale. Anti-intellectualism, anti-science and demagoguery are becoming more popular, while academic test scores, graduation rates and the health of the economy decline.

In short, it will be up to the current rising generation to take seriously the many threats to civilization and to begin to make the painful decisions that previous generations have failed to make.

The class discussions give you an opportunity to connect what you are learning about the past to our present situation. These discussions should entice you to move out of your comfort zone and to think and write critically about the issues that threaten the viability of our civilization, our entire way of life.

There are three unique discussion questions for each Module. Complete instructions and grading criteria can be found in the "Assignment Instructions" section.