刘春芳、高兆金主编的《西方文化简明教程》按照西方文化发展史分为三大部分，即古希腊罗马部分、中世纪部分和现代部分。每部分分章节，从社会历史背景、文化成就、哲学思想、艺术成就等几大视角入手，对西方文化的表现与发展进行介绍，促进学生对西方文化的全面了解，同时辅以生动的文化表现形式的阐释，以达到寓教于乐的目的。

Division I Greek and Roman Culture

 Chapter 1 Ancient Greece

1.Greek Mythology

2.The Trojan War

3.Homer' s Epic

4.Greek Philosophy

5.Greek Drama

6.Greek Sculpture and Architecture

Questions for Discussion

 Chapter 2 Ancient Rome

1.Founding Myths

2.The Domain of Ancient Rome

3.Significant Figures and Events

4.Roman Literature

5..Religion and Philosophy

6.Roman Law and Constitution

7.Roman Art

Questions for Discussion

Division II The Middle Ages

 Chapter 1 Christianity

1.Introduction

2.The Origin and Development of Christianity

3.Doctrines of Christianity

4.The Old Testament and the New Testament

5.Stories of the Bible

Questions for Discussion

 Chapter 2 Byzantium

1.History

2.Religion in Byzantium

3.Byzantine Literature

4.Architecture of Byzantium

Questions for Discussion

 Chapter 3 The Middle Ages

1.History of the Middle Ages

2.Feudalism

3.Castle

4.Birth of Chivalry

5.The Crusades

6.The Black Death

7.Medieval Painting and Architecture

8.Medieval Literature

Questions for Discussion

Division III Modern Times

 Chapter 1 Renaissance

1.Defining the Era

2.Renaissance Literature

3.Renaissance Philosophy

4.Renaissance Art

5.Renaissance Science

6.Renaissance Citizen Life

7.Renaissance Women

8.Geography and the New World

9.Influence of Renaissance

Questions for Discussion

 Chapter 2 Europe of the Seventeenth Century

1.The Dutch Golden Age

2.The Baroque Period

3.France : Absolutism

4.England : The Civil War

5.Philosophy

6.Scientific Revolution

Questions for Discussion

 Chapter 3 The Age of Enlightenment

1.The Background

2.Literature during the Enlightenment Era

3.Philosophy during the Enlightenment Era

4.Arts in the Enlightenment Era

Questions for Discussions

 Chapter 4 Romanticism

1.Introduction

2.Historical Background

3.Origins and Inspiration

4.The Great Romantic Themes

5.Romanticism in Different Countries

6.Romanticism in Literature

7.Romanticism in Visual Arts

8.Romanticism in Music

9.Romanticism outside the Arts

Questions for Discussion

 Chapter 5 Realism

1.Background of Realism

2.The Connotation of Realism

3.Realism in Literature

4.Realism in Arts

Questions for Discussion

 Chapter 6 Modernism

1.Background

2.The Connctation of Modernism

3.Various Schools in Modern Art

4.Modernist Literature

5.Modernist Painting

6.Modernist Architecture

Questions for Discussion