Course Description
History, government, economics, sociology, geography, and anthropology all come together to show how modern culture arose from ancient and classical civilizations. Beginning with the New Kingdom of Egypt, students witness the growth of ancient civilizations into the classical empires that gave rise to medieval Europe. They discover how feudal Europe moved toward the Renaissance, and how its ideals of humanism and constitutional government ignited the scientific revolution and the Protestant Reformation. Students study the development of spirituality in the Middle East, the growth of dynasties in the Far East, and the formation of Mesoamerican civilization. As students learn about the development of modern nations and their quest for overseas colonies, they see how the competition for colonies and extreme nationalism led to international conflicts, including the Seven Years War and the Cold War. Students discover how the American political identity has evolved through developments including the Industrial Revolution, the labor and progressive movements, the struggle for civil rights, the economics of a modern society, and the dawn of the Information Age.

Course Breakdown

The Crusades
The Magna Carta
The Renaissance
The Protestant Reformation
The scientific revolution
Colonialism The rise of nations
Imperialism
World War I and World War II
The League of Nations
Economic problems
Globalism

Course Goals
Evaluate the impact of Mongol rule on the growth of the Ottoman Empire and examine its effect on Europe.
Examine the spread of the Enlightenment throughout Europe.
Evaluate the factors that led to the Protestant Reformation and describe religious reforms in Europe.
Compare and contrast the monarchies of England, France, and Russia during the Age of Exploration.
Analyze the causes and effects of the French Revolution and explain how the revolution led to the Napoleonic era. Evaluate European colonialism in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Analyze the political, social, and technological causes and effects of World War I.
Summarize key people, events, and technologies of World War II.
Analyze the tensions between two emerging world powers, the United States and the Soviet Union, which eventually led to the Cold War.