World History I- Prehistory to the Present
Instructor: Elizabeth Van Pilsum
evanpilsum@issosua.com
Textbook: World History and Geography, McGraw Hill 2014
Themes and Concepts:
-Culture; behaviors, beliefs, values, language, arts and institutions
-Change over time and continuities and changes; era, chronology, conflict
-People, Places and Environments; interactions between humans and
environment, cultural diffusion of customs and beliefs, seasons and climate
-Individual Development and Identity; complex interactions among
individuals, groups cultures and civilizations
-Groups and Institutions; gender roles, status, race, ethnicity
-Power, Authority and Governance; governments and law codes
-Technology; Inventions and Innovations, cultural diffusion of inventions
-Global Connections; positive and negative interactions among peoples and
civilizations, global organizations
Chapter 1-Prehistory-2300 B.C.E. The Early Humans, Paleolithic vs Neolithic Age
and the Rise of the First Civilization in Mesopotamia
Essential Questions: What do archaeology and anthropology teach us about
prehistoric humans? What is a civilization and how does it form?
Chapter 2-The Spread of Civilization 3100-200 B.C.E. The first civilizations in Egypt,
Eastern Mediterranean, Indus Valley, China and the Americas.
Essential Questions: How does geography affect the development of civilizations? In
what ways do civilizations influence each other?
Chapter 3-Early Empires of the Ancient Near East 2300-300 B.C.E. Akkad, Babylon,
Egypt, Kush, Assyria and Persian Empire
Essential Questions: How were empires of the ancient Near East governed? How do
empires rise, how are they maintained and what causes them to fall?
Chapter 4- Ancient Greece 1600-133 B.C.E. Greek city-states, Sparta and Athens,
Classical Greece and the Hellenistic Era.
Essential Questions: How can geography influence political organization? How can
cultural and political differences lead to conflict and change?
Chapter 5- India’s First Empires 1500 B.C.E- 500 C.E. Origins of Hinduism and
Buddhism, Mauryans and Guptas.
Essential Questions: How was early Indian culture influenced by religion and social
structure? How did ideas and events during the Mauryan and Gupta Empires affect
Indian’s development?
Chapter 6- First Chinese Empire 221 B.C.E-220 C.E. Confucius, Legalism, Daoism,
The Qin Dynasty and Han Dynasty.
Essential Questions: How can differing philosophies influence a culture? What factors
can help a dynasty stay in power?
Chapter 7- The Romans 600 B.C.E.- 500 C.E. Roman Republic to the Roman Empire.
Essential Questions: How do different types of political organizations emerge? How
can new ideas lead to social and political change?
Chapter 8- The Byzantine Empire 50 C.E.-800 C.E. Fall of Rome, Early Christians and
the Rise of Byzantine Empire.
Essential Questions: How can religion impact a culture? What factors lead to the rise
and fall of empires?
Chapter 9-The Rise of Islam and the Arab Empire 600-1400, The life and teachings
of Muhammad and Islamic Society.
Essential Questions: How can religion influence the development of an empire? How
might religious beliefs affect society, culture and politics?
Chapter 10-Medieval Kingdoms of Western and Eastern Europe-800-1300, Rise of
Feudalism, High Middle Age, Holy Roman Empire and the Mongols in Russia.
Essential Questions: How can changes to political systems impact economic activities?
How is society influenced by changes in political and economic systems?
Chapter 11-Civilizations of East Asia 220-1500, Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties and
the Invasions of the Mongols. Early Japan, Korea, The Guptas in India and Kingdoms
in Southeast Asia.
Essential Questions: What qualities define power struggles and stable periods of rule?
How can invasion change the lives of people in conquered lands?
Chapter 12-Crusades and Culture in the Middle Ages-1000-1500, Religion and the
Papacy, Crusades, Universities, the Black Death and Hundred Years War.
Essential Questions: How did the church influence political and cultural changes in
medieval Europe?
How did both innovations and disruptive forces affect people during the Middle Ages?
Chapter 13-The Kingdoms and States of Medieval Africa-500-1500, African Society,
Religion and the Kingdoms Mali, Songhai and Great Zimbabwe.
Essential Question: How did geography affect society, culture and trade in Medieval
Africa?
Chapter 14-Pre-Columbian America 300-1550, North American Natives, The Maya,
Toltec, Aztec and Inca.
Essential Questions: In what ways were civilizations in early Mesoamerica and South
America complex?
How were civilizations in early Mesoamerica and South America influenced by
previous cultures?
Chapter 15-The Renaissance in Europe-1350-1600, Renaissance Humanism, Art
and Education.
Essential Questions: How can trade lead to economic prosperity and political power?
How can ideas be reflected in art, sculpture and architecture?
Chapter 16-The Reformation in Europe-1517-1600, Luther, Protestantism and the
Counter Reformation.
Essential Questions: What conditions can encourage the desire for reform?
How did the Reformations influence European society and beliefs?
Chapter 17-The Age of Exploration-1500-1800, Spanish Empire, Rivals, Columbus
and the Columbian Exchange. Conquest and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
Essential Questions: What different motivations caused Europeans to explore and
expand?
What were the effects of this age of exploration and expansion both on Europeans and
on the peoples they encountered?
Chapter 18-Conflict and Absolutism in Europe-1550-1715, Wars of Religion, the
Thirty Years War, Glorious Revolution and Peter the Great in Russia
Essential Questions: What effect might social, economic and religious conflicts have on
a country?
How would the exercise of absolute power affect a country?
Chapter 19-The Muslim Empires-1450-1800, The Ottomans, Safavids and Mogul
Dynasty.
Essential Questions: What factors helped to unify the varying Muslim Empires?
What characteristics did they have in common and in what ways were they different?
Chapter 20-The World of East Asia-1400-1800, Ming and Qing Dynasties and the
Arrival of Europeans-The Opium Wars. Tokugawa Japan.
Essential Questions: What factors helped unify China under the Ming and Qing?
How did Japan change socially with the unification under the Tokugawa Shogunate?
Chapter 21-The Age of Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution 1550-1800, The
Philosophes, Scientific Discoveries, Seven Years’ War and The American Revolution.
Essential Question: How did the new ideas and discoveries of the Enlightenment and
Scientific Revolution spark change and even revolution?
Chapter 22-The French Revolution and Rise of Napoleon-1789-1815.
Essential Questions: What were the main causes of the French Revolution?
How did the French Revolution change society in France?
Chapter 23-Industrialization and Nationalism-1800-1870, Social Impact of
Industrialization. Revolutions in Europe and Latin America. Unification of Germany
and Italy.
Essential Questions: How can innovations affect daily lives?
How does revolution bring about political and economic change?
Chapter 24-Mass Society and Democracy-1870-1914, New Urban Environment,
Women’s Suffrage and International Rivalries.
Essential Questions: How can industrialization affect a country’s economy?
How are political and social structures influenced by economic changes?
Chapter 25-The Age of Imperialism-1800-1914, Colonial Rule in Southeast Asia,
India and Africa. Imperialism in Latin America, Effects of Imperialism and the Rise of
Nationalism.
Essential Questions: What are the causes and effects of Imperialism?
How do some groups resist control by others?
Chapter 26-Challenge and Transition in East Asia-1800-1914, Opium War, Boxer
Rebellion and the Fall of the Qing. Meiji Restoration and Japanese Expansion.
Essential Questions: How can new ideas accelerate economic and political changes?
How do cultures influence each other?
Chapter 27-World War I and the Russian Revolution-1914-1919, Causes and
Outcomes of the First World War, Russian Revolution and Treaties.
Essential Questions: What were the causes and outcomes of the first World War?
What sparked revolution in Russia?
How can technology impact war?
Chapter 28-The Years Between the Wars-1919-1939, An Age of Anxiety, The Great
Depression and the Rise of Fascism and Stalin.
Essential Questions: What factors caused the collapse of the economy in 1929?
How might an economic crisis impact politics?
Chapter 29-Nationalism Around the World-1919-1939, Arab, African, Indian
Nationalism. Revolution and Communism in China. Authoritative Rule in Latin
America.
Essential Questions: How can political control lead to nationalist movements?
How does economic exploitation lead to nationalist movements?
Chapter 30-World War II and the Holocaust-Hitler and Mussolini Violate the Treaty
of Versailles. Causes and Outcomes of the War and the Holocaust.
Essential Questions: Why do political actions often lead to war?
How does war impact individuals in society?
Chapter 31-The Cold War-1945-1989, Causes and Spread of the Cold War, Mao’s
China, Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.
Essential Questions: How does conflict in ideologies influence political
relationships?
What role did the build up of arms play in the Cold War era?
Chapter 32-Independence and Nationalism in the Developing World-1945-1993,
India, Southeast Asia and Mandela in South Africa. Crisis in the Middle East. Latin
and South America.
Essential Questions: How can political change cause conflict?
How can political relationships affect economic relationships?
Chapter 33-Life During the Cold War-1945-1989, Postwar Soviet Union.
Essential Questions: How does war result in changes?
What challenges may countries face as a result of war?
Chapter 34-A New Era Begins-1989-Present, End of the Soviet Union, The Koreas,
Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
Essential Questions: What were the causes and outcomes of the fall of the Soviet
Union?
How can economic and social changes affect a country?
Chapter 35-Contemporary Global Issues-1989-Present, International
Organizations, Global Poverty, Civil Wars and Famine.
Essential Questions: What influences global political and economic relationships?
What are the major global concerns of today?
Students will be asked to read and analyze primary source documents as a supplement
to the textbook. Current events will also be incorporated into weekly study of material.
Late Policy: Students will be informed of specific assignments, projects and due
dates as needed. Assignments turned in after due date will be worth 50% of original
value. Grading will be on a straight point system with all types of assignments
and/or projects and exams being weighed evenly.
Discussion/Participation Points: Students will be awarded points for their
participation in small group, or large group discussions.