World History

Welcome

Welcome to our World History course overview! I know how important it is for you to stay informed about what your student is learning each step of the way. This page breaks down the topics and key historical periods we’ll be exploring together every six weeks. From ancient civilizations to modern global challenges, your student will gain a rich understanding of the people, events, and ideas that have shaped our world.

As with any strong history course, students  learn how to think historically and practice skills of comparison, changes through time, and cause/effect.

What Your Child Will Learn Each Six Weeks in World History

First Six Weeks: From Early Humans to Classical India

We’ll begin by exploring the Neolithic Revolution—when humans first started farming and building communities. Students will learn about early river valley civilizations, the Persian Empire, ancient Greece (including Athens and Sparta), and the classical Indian empires, along with the origins of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Second Six Weeks: Ancient China and the Mongol Empire

Next, the focus shifts to early Chinese dynasties like the Zhou, Qin, and Han, and important philosophies like Confucianism and Daoism. We’ll also cover the Byzantine Empire, medieval Europe’s feudal system, and then move into the Mongol Empire’s rise and the Ming Dynasty’s influence on global trade.

Third Six Weeks: Renaissance and European Exploration

Students will study the Renaissance’s impact on art, politics, and science, as well as the Reformation’s religious changes. We’ll explore the powerful pre-Columbian empires in the Americas and the era of European exploration, expansion, and colonization.

Fourth Six Weeks: Revolution and Industrial Change

This period covers the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment ideas that sparked the American and French Revolutions. We’ll discuss Napoleon’s rise and fall, nationalist movements, and the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution and European imperialism.

Fifth Six Weeks: World Wars and Decolonization

We’ll examine the causes and consequences of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Great Depression. The rise of fascism leads into World War II, followed by the important process of decolonization across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Sixth Six Weeks: The Cold War and Modern Challenges

Finally, students will learn about the Cold War’s global conflicts, including Korea, Vietnam, and Latin America. We’ll cover the rise of Communist China, the arms race, and significant Cold War events. The course concludes with modern topics like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, global terrorism, and challenges in the early 2000s.

All assignments are available on Google Classroom. Guardians: you may request to join Google Classroom or login with your student.