AHS World History Syllabus 2015-16 “Civilization is a movement and not a condition,
a voyage and not a harbor.”
Ms. McCarty, Room B7
Arnold J. Toynbee
Melissa.McCarty@avondale.k12.mi.us
248-537-6186
Course Description:
This is a survey course of world civilizations from their rise in Europe, Africa, Asia, India, and
China to the present. The span of time covered in this course is vast ranging from roughly 8000
BCE to today. We will break down this immense amount of history into periods beginning in the
1st semester with the regions, empires and kingdoms, and world religions of Egypt, Greece, the
Roman Republic and Empire, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam in the East as well as Judaism and
Christianity in the West. As empires emerge, we will study India, China, the national
monarchies in Europe, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Age of Exploration, the
Enlightenment, and the French Revolution and Napoleon.
During the 2nd semester we will be covering the Industrial Revolution, the rise of new
ideologies, the growth of Nationalism, the revolutions in Central and South America, the
emergence of the Nation-State, the New Imperialism, the World Wars, post-colonial Africa and
Asia, the Cold War, and forces presently shaping the nations and civilizations of the world
today. We will also begin to form a more global identity as we discover where our place in the
world is and what it means to be a global citizen.
Students in this course will develop skills of historical analysis through primary sources,
historiography (the story of history), maps, charts, graphs, graphics, and political cartoons.
Text
Spielvogel. World History. New York: Glencoe/McGraw Hill, 2010.
We will also be using primary source documents, articles, maps, charts, graphs, political
cartoons, various media resources, etc.
Course Expectations:
 Determine the causes which led to particular events
 Recognize the significance of important events
 Assess the relative importance of cause and effect
 Recognize common patterns and trends
 Organize information
 Read and interpret primary sources
 Compare and contrast historical events
 Construct a logical historical argument
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Required Materials:
Textbook
Folder or Binder
Spiral notebook or loose leaf paper (lined)
Black or blue pen and a #2 pencil
Highlighters
Course Outline:
This is merely a guideline as life requires flexibility. Much of what we do will be determined by
the pace in which we move through lectures, projects, classroom discussions, and reading
materials. However, your preparation for class from day to day will not determine the pace of
our study so come prepared with reading done, homework completed, and ready to engage
with the material.
1st Semester
Unit 1: Early Civilizations: Prehistory 8000 BCE-500 CE
 Chapter 1: Foundations of Civilizations (Prehistory-3500 BCE)
 Chapter 2: Western Asia and Egypt (3500-500)
 Chapter 3: Ancient India and China (3000-500)
 Chapter 4: Ancient Greece (1900-133)
 Chapter 5: Ancient Rome and the Rise of Christianity (600 BCE-476 CE)
Unit 2: Regional Civilizations: 750-1500
 Chapter 6: The World of Islam (600-1500)
 Chapter 8: The Asian World (400-1500)
 Chapter 9: Emerging Europe and the Byzantine Empire (400-1300)
 Chapter 10: Europe in the Middle Ages (1000-1500)
 Chapters 7 & 11: Africa and the America’s (Prehistory-1586 CE)
Unit 3: Early Modern World: 1350-1600
 Chapter 12: The Renaissance and Reformation (1350-1600)
 Chapter 13: The Age of Exploration (1500-1800)
 Chapter 14: Crisis and Absolutism in Europe (1550-1715)
 Chapter 15 & 16: Muslim Empires & the East Asian World (1450-1800)
Midterm Exam
2nd Semester
Unit 4: The Era of Imperialism: 1800-1914
 Chapter 17: Revolution & Enlightenment (1550-1800)
 Chapter 18: The French Revolution and Napoleon (1789-1815)
 Chapter 19: Industrialization and Nationalism (1800-1870)
 Chapter 20: Mass Society and Democracy (1870-1914)
 Chapter 21 & 22: The Height of Imperialism & East Asia Under Crisis (1800-1915)
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Unit 5: The Twentieth Century Crisis: 1914-1919
 Chapter 23: WWI: War and Revolution (1914-1919)
 Chapter 24: Between the Wars (1919-1939)
 Chapter 25: Nationalism Around the World (1919-1939)
 Chapter 26: World War II (1939-1945)
Unit 6: Toward a Global Civilization (1945-Present)
 Chapter 27: The Cold War (1945-1970)
 Chapters 28-31: The State of the World Today (1970-Present)
Final Exam
Assessments:
You can expect daily writing assignments, chapter key terms, and/or readings. There will be
quizzes spread in between our unit tests. There will also be various in-class assignments,
primary source document readings and discussions, group activities and projects, and
document based questions. There will also be one cumulative mid-term exam and one
cumulative final exam as well.
Tips for Success in World History:
 Come to class on time and prepared: bring your textbook and all necessary materials.
 Do your homework and class work daily (Remember that nickels and dimes add up to
dollars!).
 Study for tests and quizzes by reviewing your notes and doing your key terms.
 Communication is essential. If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to
contact me before it becomes an issue. I have created a website for our course to assist
with that communication and promote online discussion as well as access to study
guides and materials. I am the guide on the side in our classroom to escort you along
the paths of history. In other words, I am here to help. I can’t help fix what I don’t
know is broken.
Grading:
I grade based on the point system. This means that all quizzes, tests, papers, assignments, class
work, participation, projects, etc. are added up and divided by the total points possible to
determine your final grade. The Avondale High School grading scale is followed for your letter
grade.
Late Work:
Due dates for all assignments are posted in advance and it is your responsibility to turn in all
assignments on or before the posted due date. Late assignments will be accepted for REDUCED
credit. If you have questions about an assignment, please contact me before the assignment is
due.
Make-up Work:
Usually I give you one day for each day you missed to complete make-up work due to illness or
prearranged absences. Again, communication is key for legitimate extenuating circumstances.
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