LibGuides: Shaping the World: Overview

Shaping the World

Statement of Inquiry

The Arts reflect and preserve cultural ideas, beliefs and values.

Lumen Learning: Western Civilisation
Key people, events and influences in the history of Western Civilisation.
Spark Notes: History
Pivotal periods in European and American History

Can a banana stuck to a wall really be called art?

Who decides what is art, and what isn't? And what does the answer to that question say about society?

A Concise timeline of Western Art History
Click on the genres to learn more about key characteristics and leading contributors of Western art’s pivotal periods.
Wikipedia: Periods in Western Art History
Chronological list of identifiable periods in Western art history with click-through links for further information.
Wikipedia is a great starting point to give you ideas for further investigation - you should not use it as a reference for your assignment.

This Wikipedia page has been evaluated as reliable. What does this mean?

The Art Story
Search for an artist, movement of period to get a quick introduction.

Captivating History - Series
Series of short videos exploring history all the way from ancient civilizations to the wars that shaped the future of our planet.
Inventions that shook the world - series
A decade-by-decade look at the most amazing inventions of the 20th Century.

Crash Course Art History #1.

This video starts at 8:10min, explaining how history is shaped by what survives.

Watch from the very beginning for an overview of why we study art.