Major Problems in Western Civilization, Volume I (Paperback)

The emphasis on historical context and narrative for Spielvogel/Spielvogel's "Major Problems in Western Civilization, Volume I" 1st Edition, allows students to easily situate each document within relevant time periods. Students assess the purpose of each document and answer carefully designed questions that provoke critical reflection. An array of sources are introduced such as law codes, military records, liturgical writings, examples from art and literature, personal correspondence and government records. This collection was crafted to address various political, social, economic and cultural issues that characterize history. The diversity of material demonstrates how multifaceted resources shaped Western Civilization. Students engage in the complexity of Western Civilization in a format that is accessible and inclusive.

Jackson J. Spielvogel is Associate Professor Emeritus of History at The Pennsylvania State University. He received his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, where he specialized in Reformation History under Harold J. Grimm. His articles and reviews have appeared in journals such as Moreana, Journal of General Education, Catholic Historical Review, Archiv Für Reformationsgeschichte and America Historical Review. He also has contributed chapters or articles to THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF REFORMATION, THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE: A DICTIONARY HANDBOOK, THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER ANNUAL OF HOLOCAUST STUDIES and UTOPIAN STUDIES. His work has been supported by fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation and the Foundation for Reformation Research. At Penn State, he helped inaugurate the Western Civilization course as well as a popular course on Nazi Germany. His book, HITLER AND NAZI GERMANY, was first published in 1987 (8th Edition, 2020). In addition, he is the author of WESTERN CIVILIZATION, first published in 1991 (11th Edition, 2021) and co-author (with William Duiker) of WORLD HISTORY, first published in 1994 (9th Edition, 2019). Professor Spielvogel has won five major university-wide teaching awards. During the 1988-1989 year, he held the Penn State Teaching Fellowship, the university's most prestigious teaching award. He won the Dean Arthur Ray Warnock Award for Outstanding Faculty member in 1996 and received the Schreyer Honors College Excellence in Teaching Award in 2000.

Kathryn E. Spielvogel earned a B.A. in history, and M.A. in art history, from The Pennsylvania State University. She continued her graduate studies in history at the University at Buffalo, SUNY, before working as research editor on history textbooks for the past fifteen years. Kathryn also works in historical preservation and economic development.