"One day we went to the Temple of Poseidon where we read excerpts of Plato -- it was amazing. I am going to tell all my friends about this program." Hilary, student - Short Hills, NJ
"I called my parents from Greece, and they asked what I was doing and I said 'Oh nothing much ... today just went swimming ... in THE AEGEAN SEA!" Brendon, student - Randolph, VT
"Kathryn had a wonderful experience in the Western Civilization program. In fact, I feel she learned more on this trip than in her past three years of high school! Thanks for all you gave her." Pam, mother - Phoenix, AZ
Western Civilization
Academic Journey to Ancient Greece and Rome, Renaissance Florence and the French Enlightenment
Program Overview
Itinerary:
Athens, Rome, Florence, Paris
Dates:
June 30 - July 29, 2008
Key Excursions:
Delphi, Pompeii, Siena, Versailles
Focus:
History of Western Civilization
Housing:
Hotels
Level:
Grades 9-12
Availability is becoming limited for many programs.
We encourage serious students to call us to find out if there is availability for their program of interest.
Call us today at 888-462-2239.
Our pioneer program on Western Civilization is designed for serious, motivated and adventurous students who are eager to learn first-hand about the origins and evolution of Western thought, culture and art. The program follows the path of Western Civilization from Ancient Greeks to Ancient Romans, continuing to the Middle Ages, Renaissance and, finally, to the Enlightenment. The four-week program will take the group for one week each to Athens, Rome, Florence and Paris, and incorporate relevant regional excursions.
The students will read and discuss the works of key authors from each historical era, explore important monuments and museums, and participate in discussions with their peers and teachers. They will also have time to enjoy themselves, visit the local sites, attend recreational activities, participate in sports, and make plenty of friends.
Program Itinerary
Week 1: Athens
The students will read some key works of the most important Greek thinkers, explore key monuments, and discuss the life of the Athenian society and its greatest philosophers, artists and political leaders: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pericles, and Alexander the Great (Macedonian).
Week 2: Rome
For Week 2, the group travels to the 2,000 year-old town of Pompeii. A true snapshot of Roman society, preserved at the foothills of Mt. Vesuvius, it provides a perfect introduction to the Roman era. We then continue to the Eternal City, with excursions to the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Domus Aurea and other unforgettable ancient sites.
Week 3: Florence
The home of the Italian Renaissance, magnificent Florence welcomes our students for the third part of the program. Excursions to the Uffizi, Galleria dell'Accademia (home of Michelangelo's David ), the Duomo and others will allow the students to see some of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance art, laying a foundation to discuss the political and cultural life of Florentine society. By contrast, side trips to medieval Tuscan towns will provide a brief overview of the Middle Ages.
Week 4: Paris
The final part of the program brings our students to Paris, another great European capital, rich in history, culture and art. In Paris the program will explore the era of absolute monarchy and the French revolution, with a conceptual focus on the French Enlightenment. The group will read and discuss excerpts from Rousseau, Voltaire and other prominent authors of this time. Students will trace the history of French monarchy and the French revolution during guided excursions to Musée du Louvre, Versailles, Place de la Concorde, Bastilles and other landmarks.
Academics
This program is designed as an introductory course to the history of the Western Civilization and the evolution of Western thought, culture and art. This is an experiential academic program that requires a high level of motivation and a fair amount of reading on the part of the students. At the same time, given the breadth of the topic, the program does not s et unrealistic goals and does not require an excessive amount of homework. It seeks to help the students grasp the fundamental ideas and inspire them to explore these subjects in their future studies.
Housing
The group will live in 3-star centrally located hotels, all of which are carefully chosen and visited by Abbey Road staff. Students will share rooms with one or more peers.
Daily Schedule
A typical day will start with an excursion to a historical site or a museum, followed by a lecture or a group discussion. After lunch, the students will participate in a workshop or seminar, after which they will choose from athletic or recreational activities, or have free time. Because of a very rigorous itinerary the daily schedules will be flexible and may be changed as needed. In the evenings, students will have many options: outdoor concerts, cinema, cafés, time with friends and other relaxing activities. Students will be able to explore the contemporary sides of our key destinations: Athens, Rome, Florence and Paris.
Weekend Excursions
The weekend excursions will complement the academic program by taking students to many fascinating regional sites: Pompei, Siena, San Gimignano, Versailles and many others.
Local Beach: Pompeii: San Gimignano: Siena: Versailles:
Program Fee & What's Included
Our program fee is all-inclusive: it includes airfare from New York to the program site, all travel extensions, trips and excursions, tuition, lodging and insurance, and much more. There are no hidden fees, extra costs or surprises. We encourage you to compare our program fee to other programs and see what they include.
The fee for the Western Civilization program can be found here:
Now is the time to apply! There is currently availability on this program. Due to strong interest, however, we encourage serious students to apply soon.
If you would like to receive a brochure by mail, please complete the short online Preliminary Inquiry, and we will send one immediately.
If you are ready to apply now, click on the Online Application to get started.
For general questions about the application process, please visit our Application & Fees page.
If you have any special questions about the program or need assistance with the application process, please call us toll-free at (888) 462-2239 (from abroad 1-310-276-1745) or email us at info@goabbeyroad.com.
