Course Summary

World History to 1500 is an introductory 25-week course on human history around the world from the origins of humankind until the Reformation. Throughout this course, students will become familiar with the development and evolution of human civilizations across the globe.

We will explore the rise of cities, the evolution of art/philosophy/culture, the rise and fall of numerous empires, the development of technology and navigation, and the emergence of intellectual thought and world religions across the globe. Students will also explore how children lived and experienced the world in each of the major civilizations throughout history.

The course will move at an accelerated pace, with emphasis on analysis and drawing connections between a variety of historic periods.

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.

Materials

Students will be provided all materials and texts for this course.

Sessions:

1 Introduction: What is History?

2 Prehistory and Origins of Humanity

3 Early Man and the Development of Society

4 Ancient Mesopotamia and Sumer

5 The Israelites and Ancient Israel

6 The United Kingdom of Israel

7 Ancient Egypt

8 Dynastic Egypt

9 Indus Valley

10 Indian Empires

11 Neolithic China to Shang Kingdom

12 Chinese Dynasties

13 Ancient Greece

14 Classical Greece

15 Ancient Rome

16 Rome’s Res Publica

17 Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire

18 Byzantium

19 Islam and the Caliphates

20 Islam and the Caliphates Continued

21 The Americas

22 Western Europe I: Early Christianity

23 Western Europe II: The Middle Ages

24 Western Europe III: The Renaissance

25 Western Europe IV: The Reformation

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