Western Civilization II covers the political, economic, scientific and cultural events that shaped the modern history of the West (primarily Europe). This course focuses on the outcomes which emerged from scientific thought, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and both World Wars. It is a broad survey introduction to the history of Europe from the 17th century to the present day.
The Western Civilization II CLEP exam covers material that is usually taught in the second semester of a two-semester course in Western Civilization.
The exam contains 120 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored. The College Board provides the parameters for the exam which we have listed below.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WESTERN CIVILIZATION II:
- Understanding important factual knowledge of developments in Western civilization
- Ability to identify the causes and effects of major historical events
- Ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate textual and graphic materials
- Ability to distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant
- Ability to reach conclusions on the basis of facts
The subject matter of the Western Civilization II exam is drawn from the following topics.
ABSOLUTISM and CONSTITUTIONALISM, 1648-1715: 7-9% of the exam
Absolutism emerges when a monarch exerts absolute power to rule by ‘divine right’. Constitutional governments are limited by law and all citizens are subject to those laws.
- The Dutch Republic
- The English Revolution
- France under Louis XIV
- Formation of Austria and Prussia
- The “westernization” of Russia
COMPETITION FOR EMPIRE and ECONOMIC EXPANSION: 4-6% of the exam
- Global economy of the eighteenth century
- Europe after Utrecht, 1713-1740
- Demographic change in the eighteenth century
THE SCIENTIFIC VIEW OF THE WORLD: 5-7% of the exam
The Scientific ‘Revolution’ is use to describe the emergence of modern science.
- Major figures of the scientific revolution
- New knowledge of man and society
- Political theory
PERIOD OF ENLIGHTENMENT: 7-9% of the exam
The Enlightenment (aka Age of Enlightenment or the Age of Reason) was an intellectual movement which dominated the world of ideas in Europe in the 18th century.
- Enlightenment thought
- Enlightened despotism
- Partition of Poland
REVOLUTION and NAPOLEONIC EUROPE: 10-13% of the exam
- The Revolution in France
- The Revolution and Europe
- The French Empire
- Congress of Vienna
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: 7-9% of the exam
The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from 1760-1840s.
- Agricultural and industrial revolution
- Causes of revolution
- Economic and social impact on working and middle class
- British reform movement
POLITICAL and CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS, 1815-1848: 6-8% of the exam
- Conservatism
- Liberalism
- Nationalism
- Socialism
- The Revolutions of 1830 and 1848
POLITICS and DIPLOMACY IN THE AGE OF NATIONALISM, 1850-1914: 8-10% of the exam
Nationalism is a concept involving a shared communal identification within a nation. The mid 19th century to the early part of the 20th saw a rise in nationalism across Europe.
- The unification of Italy and Germany
- Austria-Hungary
- Russia
- France
- Socialism and labor unions
- European diplomacy, 1871-1900
ECONOMY, CULTURE, and IMPERIALISM, 1850-1914: 7-9% of the exam
- Demography
- World economy of the nineteenth century
- Technological developments
- Science, philosophy, and the arts
- Imperialism in Africa and Asia
THE FIRST WORLD WAR and THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: 10-12% of the exam
- The causes of the First World War
- The economic and social impact of the war
- The peace settlements
- The Revolution of 1917 and its effects
EUROPE BETWEEN THE WARS: 7-9% of the exam
- The Great Depression
- International politics, 1919-1939
- Stalin’s five-year plans and purges
- Italy and Germany between the wars
- Interwar cultural developments
THE SECOND WORLD WAR and CONTEMPORARY EUROPE: 8-10% of the exam
- The causes and course of the Second World War
- Postwar Europe
- Science, philosophy, the arts, and religion
- Social and political developments
Each college sets their own credit-granting policies for the exam, so check with your college admissions office, test center, or academic adviser before taking the test.
