Social Studies 7th Grade (1st semester)

Course Description\nHistory, 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.\n\nCourse Breakdown\n\n Geography\n Resources\n Government\n Early civilizations\n Stone Age\n Dynasties Egypt\n Chinese dynasties\n Spread of Christianity\n Fall of Rome\n The Middle Ages\n Feudalism\n German city-states\n\nCourse Goals\n Recognize the study of geography and its significance in the study of social sciences.\n Analyze maps and the five components of the study of geography: location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region.\n Examine the physical geography and populations of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.\n Evaluate the genesis of prehistory and its implications for the development of civilization. Assess the beginnings of early Egyptian and Chinese cultures by examining their governments' structures, their economies, and their religious systems.\n Recognize the impact of the Aztec and Inca empires on the American continents.\n Consider the influence of Greek culture (literature and government) and the reign of Alexander the Great on western civilization.\n Examine the influence of the spread of Christianity throughout Europe and the religious conflict that arose as a result.\n Analyze the rise and fall of feudalism in Europe.