Early Medieval to Modern World History

Course Summary

Early Medieval to Modern History is a 25-week course on World History from the end of the Byzantine Period through modern day. Throughout this course, students will explore the impact of the rise of the modern era, democratic and industrial revolutions, the forces that led to world domination by European powers, the wars that changed empires, the ideas that led to independence movements and the effects of global interdependence. We will also explore the

music, art, architecture and culture of each of the major historical time periods of Western Europe.

– Historical Concepts and Skills

– Causation

– Continuity and Change

– Perspectives

– Significance

– Contestability

– Analysis and Use of Sources

– Historical Interpretation

– Historical Investigation and Research

– Explanation and Critical Thinking

– Drawing Global Connections

– Social Responsibility

– Intercultural Understanding

– Civics and Citizenship

Note: We will be dealing with some difficult and triggering topics in this course including war. Every effort will be made to teach these at a child-appropriate level and without the use of graphic imagery, and with as unbiased and multi-perspective an approach as possible. Any particularly triggering, polarizing or complex events will be left for parents to introduce individually to their children. We will not be covering Tiananmen Square or other such complex topics, but we will likely briefly discuss the Holocaust (with as much sensitivity as possible).

Please let me know if there are any topics you would not like your child to attend, and we can make alternate lesson arrangements. We will also be looking at famous Renaissance and Baroque art and culture, which sometimes contains scantily dressed figures. If you are uncomfortable with this, please let me know and I will try to further child-proof those slides.

Assignments

Students will receive weekly writing/reading/research/critical thinking assignments and projects related to the topic, which will be marked and returned with analysis and customized feedback. Students will also be given a rich variety of primary texts, videos, archeological site visits, books and other materials for their own optional self-study on topics of their individual interest.

Students will also have the opportunity to do independent research and conduct a formal history research paper project throughout the duration of this course.

Materials

Students will be provided all materials and texts for this course. Students will be exploring primary texts and historic artifacts, architecture and other evidence to explore the rich historical record. Students will also be exposed to the art and music of each era to gain a comprehensive perspective on the cultures of each historical era.

Units

1 Islam and the Caliphates

2 African History to 1500

3 The Americas Part I Olmec, Maya

4 The Americas Part II Inca, Aztecs

5 Central Asia – Turkey and Islam

6 The Mongol Era

7 Western Europe: Early Middle Ages, Feudalism and the Black Death

8 The Holy Roman Empire and The Crusades

9 Cathedrals in the Sky: The Late Middle Ages

10 The Renaissance

11 The Reformation

12 The Baroque/Early Modern Period: The West

13 The Early Modern Period: Asia Imperium

14 Gunpowder Empires/New World Exploration

15 The Columbian Exchange and Slave Trade

16 Absolutism in Europe/Thirty Years War/English Civil War

17 Scientific Revolution/Enlightenment/American Revolution

18 French Revolution

19 Industrial Revolution

20 American Civil War

21 World War I (including Imperialism and Nationalism)

22 Interwar Years (Depression/Roaring 20s)

23 World War II and the Holocaust

24 Cold War

25 Modern Era/Globalization/9-11 (If time permits)

Note: This syllabus is a general outline, and subject to change as the needs and pace of the class dictate.