In weaving together the varied and interrelated strands of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century discourse and events, this course focuses on the contributions to Western history that bear the most responsibility for shaping the world of today. Among these contributions are such vital, yet markedly different documents as the Federalist Papers and the Communist Manifesto. New styles of art and literature are also given a stunning treatment, as the professors delve into discussions on Romantic trends in both art and literature. But perhaps most important of all is the single most influential event in the last five hundred years-the scientific revolution-which serves as the engine of progress driving much of the social, political, and cultural change seen in this dramatic period.