World History [Competency Based] A

Semester 1: World History explores the causes and effects of events and people of the past. The material is organized sequentially, from the fourteenth century CE to the present day. Starting with Mesoamerican civilizations before the arrival of Europeans, the course will highlight the impact of cultural, economic, political, social, and intellectual revolutions and transformations. The course progresses from the Renaissance and the Reformation to the Age of Exploration and Enlightenment-era revolutions. It covers the global impact of the Industrial Revolution, and the rise of imperialism and nationalism. The closing topics emphasize global conflicts and diplomacy, as seen in World War 1, World War 2, and the Cold War. Each course part scaffolds students' skills for historical inquiry and focuses on disciplinary tools and concepts rooted in geography, civics, history, and economics. These focal areas align students' learning with the National Council for Social Studies' "College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework." Upon completion of the course, students have the skills and knowledge to analyze historical change and its contemporary legacy.