World History 
10th or 11th grade

This engaging course takes students on a journey through world history with daily readings and assignments that bring the past to life. Weekly check-ins keep everyone on track, while grades reflect homework, quizzes, writing, presentations, and class participation—making learning history active, interactive, and fun.

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**In order to maximize their learning of World Literature, it is required that students take the companion World History course that is offered on the same day. These classes build upon one another and follow an identical time line. Students will read literature written from the time period being studied in history, thus, students take both courses and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the material.

 
Unit 1 – First Civilizations and Empires (3500 B.C. to A.D. 500)

• Western Asia And Egypt 

  • Research assignment on Hammurabi's Code & the Ten Commandments​

• Ancient India and China 

  • Research assignment and class discussion/activity on caste systems 

  • Silk Road historical reenactment activity

• Ancient Greece 

  • Discussion on Greek religion and in-class Socratic activity 

• Rome And The Rise Of Christianity 

  • Internet research project and class discussion on the varying theories as to why the Roman Empire fell

• Instruction and exam on modern geography

• Unit 1 Exam

 
Unit 2 – New Patterns of Civilizations (400-1500)

• The Rise Of Islam

  • Internet research assignment and class discussion on the history and beliefs of Islam

• World Religions

  • Group research project and multi-media presentation on an assigned world religion 

• Early African Civilizations

  • Discussion of  the roles of African art, music, and dance in early African civilization.

• The Asian World

  • Examine similarities and differences between the philosophies and practices of Daoism, Confuscianism, and Buddhism. 

  • Discussion on how the modern thinking in Asia is still influenced by Asia’s historical art, culture, and religion

  • Internet research assignment and discussion on Genghis Khan & India after the Guptas

• Emerging Europe and the Byzantine Empire 

  • Group activity and homework assignment on the feudal system

• Europe In The Middle Ages

  • Read All Fall Down and discuss the Bubonic plague’s influence on history

  • Bubonic Plague activity

• Unit 2 Exam

• Instruction and exam on modern African geography

 
Unit 3 – The Early Modern World (1400-1800)

• Renaissance And Reformation

  • Lecture and discussion on what led to the Reformation, and how this historical change in thinking and practice is still influential in the modern world

  • Art history and identification focus 

• The Age Of Exploration

  • Research assignment and class discussion on the Atlantic Slave Trade

  • Research assignment and class discussion on the social classes of Latin America

• Crisis And Absolutism In Europe

  • Write an essay on one of the following topics:

    • 16th century research essay on student's choice of topic

• Revolution And Enlightenment

  • Research and discussion on the impact of the Scientific Revolution

• The French Revolution And Napoleon

  • Historical reenactment activity ​

• Unit 3 Exam

• Instruction and exam on modern geography of modern Asia

 
Unit 4 –Era of European Imperialism (1800-1914) 

• Industrialism And Nationalism

  • Write a research essay on one of the following topics:

    • Explain how the scientific revolution led to an increased standard of living

    • Explain how various cultural movements emphasized realism and reason

    • Explain the evolution and reasoning of Romantic philosophy and art

• Mass Society And Democracy 

  • Internet research assignment and class discussion on different systems of government

• The Height Of Imperialism

• East Asia Under Challenge

  • Internet research assignment and class discussion on the opium epidemic in Asia in the 19thcentury

  • Internet research assignment and class discussion on Chinese culture

• Unit 4 Exam

• Instruction and exam on geography of modern North and South America

 
Unit 5 – The Twentieth-Century Crisis (1914-1945) 

• World War I

  • Research assignment and class discussion on the reasons, realities, and results of World War I. 

  • Historical re-enactment activity

• The West Between the Wars

  • Internet research assignment and class discussion on the rise of dictatorial regimes

• Nationalism Around the World

  • Internet research assignment and class discussion on nationalism in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and North America

• World War II

  • Guest lectures from a college history professor & a Holocaust survivor

    • Research project on World War II           ​

    • Gallery walk Holocaust activity 

    • Optional field trip to the Yom Hashoah event at Cypress College

• Instruction and exam on geography of modern Europe

 
Unit 6 – Toward a Global Civilization (1945-Present)

• Cold War And Postwar Change

  • Research assignment and class discussion on the reasons, realities and results of the Cold War

• The Contemporary Western World

  • Propaganda project on the influence of music, entertainment, and advertising on the thinking of a culture.​

  • Guest speaker will share his personal experiences in the Vietnam War

• Latin America

  • Research assignment and class discussion on the modernization of Latin America

• Africa And The Middle East

  • Research assignment and class discussion on terrorism and the War on Terror 

• Asia And The Pacific

  • Research assignment and class discussion on the modernization of Asia and it’s role in the world

• Challenges And Hopes For The Future

  • Write a 5 paragraph essay sharing your hope for the world, and how you believe this can be accomplished

• Unit 6 Exam

• Final Geography Exam on the Entire Modern World

• Final Exam

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Honors Unit – Optional add-on

• Fall of Rome - lectures and documentary analysis

  • Analysis questions and discussion

  • Research webquests

  • Fall of Rome illustrated lapbook project

• ​Globalization - lectures & primary source analysis ​

  • Creative research project  and product design

  • Student-chosen research topic and multimedia oral presentation​​