The West in the World, Volume 1: To 1715

by Dennis Sherman, Joyce E. Salisbury

Connect students to the stories of history. Connect students to success in history. Connect students to the experience of history. At McGraw-Hill, we have spent the past few years deepening our understanding of the student and instructor experience. Employing a wide array of research tools including surveys, focus groups, and ethnographic studies, we've identified areas in need of improvement to provide an opportunity for greater learning and teaching experiences. The new edition of The West in the World is a direct result of this in-depth research. The West in the World's newest edition is also a first in the teaching and learning of Western Civilization. Its groundbreaking web-based digital solution, its unique mid-length and lively narrative, and its rich, outstanding visuals creates a unique teaching and learning environment propelling greater student success and overall improved course results. Instructors gain better insight into students' engagement and understanding as students develop a base of knowledge and construct stronger critical thinking skills. Unparalleled coverage of art and culture as well as science and technology sets the stage and provides rich insights into historical time periods and events. The captivating stories and lush images keep students turning the page, helping prepare for class discussion and course work while its groundbreaking digital learning solution enables students to confirm what they know and identify what they don't through engaging interactivities. The West in the World illustrates the significance of economic, political, social and cultural interactions that shaped Western civilization while asking students to analyze the events and themes in order to build a greater understanding of the past and an appreciation of history's influence on the present. With The West in the World, students are no longer simply reading; they are reading, interacting, and engaging in a visual, auditory, and

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Education

544 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2000

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another book that was used as a text for a course on Western Civ that I served as TA. I wouldn't recommend it as highly as The Western Experience (reviewed elsewhere). In comparison, it seems sort of a dumber version of that, and skips a lot of material that students might find interesting. The narrative is simple to follow, which may appeal to some students, but it achieves this by missing a lot, and the choices of cultural artifacts and documents to examine are much less challenging than I'd have liked. It does include good maps and chronologies, and is a serviceable text. I did particularly like the brief (and doubtless usually ignored) "Global Perspective" sections, which tie events in the West in to events elsewhere in periods when contact is often underestimated.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, the writing was underwhelming. My reaction may also have been colored by learning (at the end of reading) that this was no longer the assigned text for my class. Grrr.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pain. In. The. Butt. All I have to say. While it added contextual flavor at times, the lessons in class and this book didn't always line up. Plus McGraw Hill decided to be a jerk and word questions about the book in such a way as to confuse the person answering them. Seriously. I sat a computer for two hours before trying to decipher what the heck they meant--only to get an 80 something percent on a chapter I read MULTIPLE times.

Conclusion

Read if you dare. I know I'm not rereading it.