Modern World History
World History Syllabus
Mr. Ray Steadman
rsteadma@greenvilleschools.us
(864) 355-2869 (voicemail)
Course Overview
Our course concentrates on the History of the World from about 1300 to the present.
You will need to bring a notebook or binder to class each day in which you keep your notes and any handouts. I will not allow you to use class time to retrieve your materials from your locker, other classes, the cafeteria, or any other location. Once you are in the classroom, you may not be excused for the first fifteen or during the last fifteen minutes of class.
Tests are comprehensive and based on your text and class notes and activities. Test questions will be presented in a variety of formats such as, but not limited to, multiple choice, essay, identification, and short answer. Quizzes can be expected at any time. We will not have in class “review days” prior to tests. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have outside of class.
Make-up work must be arranged with me on your first day back to school. I reserve the right to establish a reasonable deadline for any assignment missed, usually the next day. Tests are to be made up on your first day back, and any assignment due on the day of your absence will be due as soon as you return to school in the case of illness or other unforeseen situations. If you are to be out of school for any other reason you should turn in your assignments early, submit them on Classroom, or send them with a friend. If you are in school any part of the day in which an assignment is due, whether or not you are here for my class, then you must submit your assignment on the due date.
Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in a zero for that assignment and parental notification if you are caught. Zeros earned for cheating will not be dropped. Plagiarism is among the worst forms of cheating. Plagiarism is not only immoral it is also illegal. The same rule applies to plagiarism that applies to other forms of cheating. Please note that while it is a simple matter to obtain papers on the web, it is also possible for me to use the web to catch you.
Chronology: Subject to change
Week 1: The language of history and historians. What do historians do? The religions and ethical systems of Ancient times.
Week 2: Eastern Roman Empire; The Middle East during the Middle Ages.
Week 3: .The European Middle Ages, the Rise of European feudalism, the power of the Church.
Week 4-5: The Age of Faith, the Crusades, Rise of the European Nation-State, England,
France, Spain. Rise of the town, trade, and the European Renaissance, decline feudalism, decline of Church power.
Week 6: China, Silk Road Trade
Week 7: The Mongol Empire, the Mughals, the Ottomans.
Week 8: China as a superpower to 1431, Japan cut off from the World, Japanese feudalism, Korea—The Hermit Kingdom.
Week 9: The European Renaissance, Secular Society, Rise of the merchant class,
Week 10: Sub-Saharan Africa, Indian Ocean Trade, New Exploration technology, Portugal’s Maritime Empire, Africa’s East Coast.
Week 11: Spain’s foray into the New World, Mezo-America the triangular trade, the Atlantic Slave Trade, Changing patterns in Africa, Comparative slavery.
Week 12-13: The Battle for the New World, The Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, The American and French Revolutions, Revolutions in Latin America. Test 5. Comparison Essay-- Revolutions.
Week 14: Romanticism, Revolutions of 1848, Conservatives, Liberals, Radicals, Communism, Darwinism, Realism, Impressionism, Nationalism in Italy and Germany
Week 15:, Imperialism in Africa, The opening of Japan, Meiji Restoration, China and the imperial powers, Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Week 16: Causes of the First World War, outcome of the war, End of Empires, Bolshevik Revolution, Stalinism, Fascism, break-up of the Ottoman Empire, Great Depression
Week 17 Great Depression, World War II, genocide.
Week 18:The Cold War, Arms race, independence movements, emerging nations.
Extra Credit- Extra Credit assignments are not available for this class. Your grade is based on your performance on the same assignments that your classmates are assessed on.
Grading
Major Assessments—60%
Minor Assessments---40%
Late Work Policy-
Teachers reserve the right to alter this policy based on extenuating circumstances.
• Late work is defined as work not completed/turned in on time even though the student attended the class.
• Any assignment which is not turned in on time will be deducted 10 points off of the original grade earned for
each school day the assignment is late up to five days.
• After five days, the student will be assigned a 0 for the assignment.
• Late work will not be accepted after the end of a grading period.
• Students who have 504/IEP/ESOL accommodations specifically allowing for extra time may exceed the 5 day
window to maintain compliance with their respective educational plan.
• Dual Credit courses may have varying late work policies that are aligned with their parent university.
• Students are encouraged to utilize the before and after school tutoring programs to complete make-up and late
work in a proactive manner.
Cheating and Plagiarism
Students who are found to have cheated or who knowingly allow another student to cheat will receive a grade of zero for the assignment and a referral will be submitted to the appropriate grade level administrator. No deviation from this policy will be made.
Plagiarism is illegal and immoral and will not be tolerated in any form or degree. Plagiarism is not only word for word copying of text. Merely rearranging words or rephrasing sentences is also plagiarism. Students who present the ideas of others as their own are also guilty of Plagiarism. Students who are found to have plagiarized will receive a zero for the assignment and a referral will be submitted to the appropriate grade level administrator. Students are also not to use a thesaurus of any type in preparing their assignments.
Attendance and Tardies
Students are expected to adhere to the policies of Eastside High School, including those relating to attendance and tardies. Students who are absent for all or part of any class period are responsible for arranging for make-up work and for obtaining class notes.
Attention in Class
Attention is required for students to be successful in any class. Students are required to give their full attention to the course while they are in class. Consequently, working on assignments for another class during our time together is prohibited. Students should also be aware that phones and other similar devices must be silent and put away during class, unless allowed for a specific time and purpose by the teacher.