World History

World History primarily involves the history and cultures of the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa with the main focus on the formation and unique ideas of each civilization. The religion, economy, customs, traditions and contributions of these societies will be considered along with the climate and geography of the respective areas. (1 Credit; Required Course) 

1. The First Humans: Prehistory - 3500 B.C.

   1. Describe the spread of Homo sapiens throughout the world by 10,000 B.C. 

   2. Describe how and why civilizations developed in major river valleys. 

   3. Identify major economic, political, and social changes brought about by the agricultural revolution

2.  Ancient Middle East (3500-500 B.C.)

   1. Explain how geography affected the civilizations in Mesopotamia. 

   2. Describe Sumerian city-states and Sumerian forms of communication that affect our lives today.

   3. Describe the Code of Hammurabi and its influence on later laws in other civilizations.

   4. Identify various Kingdoms/civilizations of the ancient Middle East and the contributions they made to society past and present.

   5. Summarize how the Persians ruled their empire bringing peace, trade, and prosperity.

3. Egypt (3500B.C. - 100 A.D)

   1. Specify why the Nile was crucial to the development of Egyptian civilization.

   2. Identify the three major periods of Egyptian history

   3. Describe Egyptian religion and the central role religion played in Egyptian culture and politics.

4. History of the Jewish People (1900B.C - 100A.D.)

   1. Discuss the history, culture, and religion of the Jewish people and their lasting influence on later religions of Christianity and Islam.

5. Ancient India and China

   1. Describe the Indus Valley Civilization.

   2. Describe how the Aryan civilization conquered and controlled India.

   3. Explain the development and beliefs of India's religions.

   4. Describe the Mauryan Dynasty of India.

   5. Identify contributions of the Gupta Empire in the areas of literature, architecture and science.

   6. Characterize the rise and fall of Chinese dynasties.

   7. Identify the three schools of thought that developed in China during the period of the Warring States.

   8. Describe how the Ch'in and Han Dynasties established strong central governments.

   9. Summarize the technical and cultural developments in China during the Ch'in and Han dynasties.

6. Ancient Greece

   1. Describe how the Iliad and Odyssey influenced Greek culture.

   2. Describe the importance of the polis in ancient Greece.

   3. Summarize the causes and effects of the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars in Greece.

   4. Summarize Greek religion.

   5. How and why did Alexander the Great conquer such a large empire?

   6. What is Hellenization? 

7. Ancient Rome

   1. What was Rome's first government and why?

   2. How did Rome come to be ruled by an Emperor?

   3. What made the Roman Empire so successful?

   4. What were some of the factors that contributed to the Fall of Rome?

   5. Briefly describe the origins and growth of the Christian religion. 

8. Rise of Islam

   1. Analyze the importance of the Arabia caravan trade in the 5th and 6th centuries.

   2. Describe the life and teachings of the prophet Muhammad.

   3. Describe the rapid spread of Islam.

   4. Summarize the internal struggles of Islam.

   5. Describe the religious practices of Muslims.

   6. Describe the importance of the Koran and Sharia on the social/political life of Muslims.

   7. Describe the advances of Islamic scholars in math and science and of Islamic architects and artists.

   8. Investigate the culture of the Middle East prior to the time of Islam: Economy, government, religion, art, and popular culture.

9. African Civilizations

   1. What are the four climate zones that affected the development of civilization in Africa?

   2. How did mastery of farming influence the first African civilizations in East Africa?

   3. How did trade lead to human migration and the establishment of new kingdoms?

   4. What are the different types of government that developed in Africa?

   5. Describe the importance of the arts in African cultures. 

10. Emerging Europe and the Byzantine Empire

    1. What role did the Church and the Germanic tribes play in the development of Europe after the fall of Rome?

    2. What were some aspects of the Carolingian Empire and its influence on Emerging Europe?

    3. What peoples were invading Europe and how did that influence the development of feudalism?

    4. What kingdoms developed in Europe and what were some of their characteristics?

    5. Why were the Crusades fought and what were some of the results of those wars? 

11. Europe in the Middle Ages 

    1. Describe how new farming practices and the revival of trade affected the European economy.

    2. What was the role of Christianity in Europe during the Middle Ages?

    3. What was the revival of learning and the creation of Universities that took place during the Middle Ages?

    4. What were some of the conflicts between Church and State?

    5. What effects did the Black Death have on European demographics?

12. Renaissance and Reformation

    1. Who were some of the leading artists and what were some of the new ideas that characterized the Renaissance?

    2. What events lead to and who were some of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation? 

13.  The Asian World

    1. Characterize the Sui, T’ang, and Song Dynasties.

    2. Identify innovations and reforms in government, agriculture, and technology in China

    3. Discuss how the Mongols acquired the world's largest land empire.

    4. Relate how the invention of printing resulted in a Golden Age in China.

    5. Analyze how geography affected the development of Japan.

    6. Discuss Japan's history, marked by power struggles.

    7. Discuss how Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam influenced the development of India.

    8. Describe the primarily farming/trading economies and social structures of S.E. Asia. 

14. The Middle East

    1. Describe how the Ottoman Turks used modern weapons to conquer a vast empire and how they then organized it.

    2. Discuss artistic achievements during the Ottoman age and the Ottoman policy regarding religious toleration.

15. The Enlightenment

    1. What was the scientific revolution?

    2. How did new discoveries in science change people's views of the universe?

    3. Who were some of the leading philosophers of the Enlightenment and how did their ideas affect future governments?