Course Description
Welcome to your first year of World History at Newton North High School! This class will provide you with an exciting opportunity to better understand today’s world by tracing the historical roots of modern civilizations. We will learn essential skills as well—skills necessary to become both expert historians and successful students. Over the course of the year you will become more experienced in writing analytically, reading and listening critically and presenting your ideas convincingly in many forms. We will make sure that you have ample opportunity to show your talents and knowledge in many ways this year. Many challenges lay ahead—but so do many achievements!
Some of the key historical periods/units that we will be working with this year include:
· What components make up a “great” civilization? Why do empires rise and fall?
· What are the qualities of successful leadership/government?
· What are the common structures of major belief systems?
· Why did some parts of the world and their peoples come to dominate others?
· Was the early modern world globalized? In what ways?
Some of the key historical periods/units that we will be working with this year include:
- The Roman Empire and Monotheism
- The Byzantine Empire and the Rise of Islam
- Early and High Middle Ages in Europe
- Ancient Asian Civilizations and Beliefs
- African Kingdoms
- Renaissance and Reformation
- Early American Civilizations
- The Columbian Exchange
- Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment
· What components make up a “great” civilization? Why do empires rise and fall?
· What are the qualities of successful leadership/government?
· What are the common structures of major belief systems?
· Why did some parts of the world and their peoples come to dominate others?
· Was the early modern world globalized? In what ways?