The following summarizes what a student should have learned from reading each chapter of A History of Western Art.

It is assumed that students can identify all works by title, artist (if known), culture (or nationality) and time period, medium, and style. It is also assumed that students will look up and be able to define the bolded glossary terms. In addition, further examples of what a student should be familiar with are listed below.

After reading chapter 1, you should be able to:

1. describe the benefits of studying the history of art.
2. discuss the artistic impulse.
3. explain the comparison of artists with gods.
4. distinguish between illusion and trompe l'oeil.
5. compare the use of space in two- and three-dimensional objects.
6. distinguish between art history and archaeology.
7. describe the methodologies of art and cite examples of each.
8. use the dating systems AD and BC