Trace the development of ancient civilizations starting from those in the Middle East and continuing to Ancient Greece and Rome. The contributions, influence, and functions of these societies will be discussed in depth. The course will also cover the empires, cultures and societies that followed the fall of the Roman Empire such as the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire and the rise and spread of Islam. It will include the interactions between European society and the Islamic world and the results of such encounters as well as developments made by those societies. A research paper/project is required.