Social Studies

Lesson 1 - The Legacy of the Roman Empire

Essential Question: To what extent have the contributions of ancient Rome influenced modern society?

Lesson 2 - The Development of Feudalism in Western Europe

Essential Question: How well did feudalism establish order in Europe in the Middle Ages?

Lesson 3 - The Roman Catholic Church in Medieval Europe

Essential Question: How influential was the Roman Catholic Church in medieval Europe?

Lesson 4 - Life in Medieval Towns

Essential Question: What was life like in medieval European towns?

Lesson 5 - The Decline of Feudalism

Essential Question: How did events in Europe contribute to the decline of feudalism and the rise of democratic thought?

Lesson 6 - The Byzantine Empire

Essential Question: How did the Byzantine Empire develop and form its own distinctive church?

Lesson 7 - The Origins and Spread of Islam

Essential Question: How did Islam originate and spread?

Lesson 8 - Learning About World Religions: Islam

Essential Question: How do the beliefs and practices of Islam shape Muslims’ lives?

Lesson 9 - Muslim Innovations and Adaptations

Essential Question: What important innovations and adaptations did medieval Muslims make?

Lesson 10 - From the Crusades to New Muslim Empires

Essential Question: How did the Crusades affect the lives of Christians, Muslims, and Jews?

Lesson 11 - Early Societies in West Africa

Essential Question: What was the most significant factor in the development of early West Africa?

Lesson 12 - Ghana: A West African Trading Empire

Essential Question: To what extent did trans-Saharan trade lead to Ghana’s wealth and success?

Lesson 13 - The Influence of Islam on West Africa

Essential Question: In what ways did Islam influence West African society?

Lesson 14 - The Cultural Legacy of West Africa

Essential Question: In what ways do the cultural achievements of West Africa influence our culture today?

Lesson 15 - The Political Development of Imperial China

Essential Question: Which method of selecting officials led to the best leaders for China?

Lesson 16 - China Develops a New Economy

Essential Question: How did the Chinese improve their economy during the Tang and Song dynasties?

Lesson 17 - Chinese Discoveries and Inventions

Essential Question: How have medieval Chinese discoveries and inventions influenced the modern world?

Lesson 18 - China’s Contacts with the Outside World

Essential Question: How did the foreign-contact policies of three medieval Chinese dynasties affect China?

Lesson 19 - The Influence of Neighboring Cultures on Japan

Essential Question: In what ways did neighboring cultures influence Japan?

Lesson 20 - Heian-kyo: The Heart of Japan’s Golden Age

Essential Question: What was life like for aristocrats during the Heian period?

Lesson 21 - The Rise of the Warrior Class in Japan

Essential Question: What was the role of the samurai in the military society of medieval Japan?

Lesson 22 - The Mayas

Essential Question: What led to the rise, flourishing, and fall of the Mayan civilization?

Lesson 23 - The Aztecs

Essential Question: How did the Aztecs rise to power?

Lesson 24 - Daily Life in Tenochtitlán

Essential Question: What was daily life like for Aztecs in Tenochtitlán?

Lesson 25 - The Incas

Essential Question: How did the Incas manage their large and remote empire?

Lesson 26 - Achievements of the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas

Essential Question: What were the significant achievements of the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas?

Lesson 27 - The Renaissance Begins

Essential Question: What changes in Europe led to the Renaissance?

Lesson 28 - Florence: The Cradle of the Renaissance

Essential Question: What advances were made during the Renaissance?

Lesson 29 - Leading Figures of the Renaissance

Essential Question: In what ways have various leading figures of the Renaissance affected modern society?

Lesson 30 - The Reformation Begins

Essential Question: What factors led to the weakening of the Catholic Church and the beginning of the Reformation?

Lesson 31 - The Spread and Impact of the Reformation

Essential Question: What were the effects of the Reformation?

Lesson 32 - The Age of Exploration

Essential Question: How did the Age of Exploration change the way Europeans viewed the world?

Lesson 33 - The Scientific Revolution

Essential Question: How did the Scientific Revolution change the way people understood the world?

Lesson 34 - The Enlightenment

Essential Question: How have the ideas of the Enlightenment influenced modern government?