The student will be able to:
A. Explain patterns of development and change within societies and world regions, emphasizing the interactions of societies across political and geographical boundaries.
B. Identify the influence of and the impact on race, gender, class and ethnicity of developing cultures in different world regions.
C. Identify the influence of geography,climate and biology on the development of complex societies around the world.
D. Analyze human interactions between societies, including warfare, trade, cultural exchange, colonization and migration.
E. Compare political, economic, social and cultural structures of world societies and assess similarities and differences.
F. Evaluate the significance of major scientific, technological, philosophical and theological developments on ancient societies.
G. Analyze primary and secondary sources and construct theses and criticism using appropriate details and examples for support.

A. Early human prehistory
1. Paleolithic societies
2. Migrations from Africa to Eurasia, Australia and the Americas
B. Neolithic societies
1. Development of agriculture
2. Southwest Asian societies--Fertile Crescent
3. African societies and migrations
4. Interactions between South Asian and East Asian societies
5. Societies in the Americas
6. Island societies of Oceania
C. Complex societies
1. Egypt and Nubia
2. Mesopotamia
3. China
4. Indus Valley
5. Meso-America
D. Development and expansion of Classical Era civilizations
1. Central Asia--Persia
a. Government and trade innovations
2. Mediterranean world
a. Political and philosophical theory--Greece
b. Rome: from republic to empire
c. Monotheism: Judaism and Christianity
3. East Asia
a. Han China: consolidation and social theory
4. Indian Ocean region
a. Mauryan and Gupta India: consolidation and religious development
b. Central African trading kingdoms
c. Spread of religions
7. Mesoamerican civilizations
a. Maya and Inca
b. Technology, science and competition
F. Post-classical world regions
1. North American Native cultures
a. Simple and complex societies
b. Extensive trade networks
2. Africa
a. Trans-Saharan trade
b. Spread of Islam
3. East Asian societies
a. Tang Dynasty China
b. The Silk Road
4. Mediterranean World
a. Spread of Islamic Empire
b. Law and structure of Byzantine Empire
c. European tribal society
5. Central Asian nomadic societies

Not applicable.

A. Class discussion
B. Research project including primary and secondary source analysis
C. Essay exams, including a written final

Lecture, discussion, oral presentations, analysis of video and internet resources.

Bentley, Jerry, and Herbert Ziegler. Traditions and Encounters, From the Beginning to 1500. Vol. I. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2015.

Pollard, Elizabeth, and Clifford Rosenberg. Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: A History of the World. Vol. I. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2015.

Spodek, Howard. The World's History. Vol. I. 5th ed. New York: Pearson Publishing, 2014.

 

A. Reading of textbook and relevant primary and secondary sources.

B. Writing prompts requiring historical analysis and synthesis.

C. Research project requiring locating and evaluating legitimate historical sources.