WORLD HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION
CURRICULUM
COURSE DESCRIPTION
World History and Civilization emphasizes in two semesters key event and development in the past that influenced peoples
and places in subsequent eras. Students are expected to practice skills and processes of historical thinking and historical
research. They examine the key concepts of continuity and change, universality and particularity, and unity and diversity
among various peoples and cultures from the past to the present.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
World History and Civilizations is designed to provide a framework in which students are able to analyze, evaluate, and
make predictions about major global developments. Nurture perceptive responsible citizenship, encourage and support the
development of critical thinking skills and lifelong learning skills.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
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What are the lives of people during the beginning of human society like?
What are historical backgrounds of Ancient Civilizations, and what innovations have been learned from them?
How has conflict affected the world globally?
How has expansion and exploration caused events and consequences throughout the world?
INDIANA STATE STANDARDS
Standard 1 — Beginning of Human Society and the Development of Cultural Hearths
Students will examine the lives of people during the beginning of human society.
Standard 2 —Ancient Civilizations: 4000 BC to 500 AD
Students will examine the characteristics of early civilizations, including those of North Africa, Southwest Asia, South
Asia, and East Africa from 4000 BC to 500 AD.
Standard 3 — Major Civilizations and Empires in Asia, Africa, and the Americas: 1000 BC to 1500 AD
Students will trace the development of major civilizations and empires in different regions of Asia, Africa, and the
Americas from 1000 BC to 1500 AD.
Standard 4 — Medieval Europe to the Rise and Development of Western Civilization: 500-1650
Students will examine the political, economic, social, and cultural developments of Europe, which influenced the rise of
Western Civilization, particularly the Renaissance and Reformation from 500-1650.
Standard 5 — Worldwide Exploration, Conquest, and Colonization: 1450-1750
Students will examine the causes, events, and consequences of worldwide exploration, conquest and colonization from
1450 to 1750.
Standard 6 — Scientific, Political, Cultural, and Industrial Revolutions: 1500-1900
Students will examine the causes, events, and global consequences of the scientific, political, cultural, and industrial
revolutions that originated in Western Europe and profoundly influenced the world from 1500 to 1900.
Standard 7 — Global Imperialism: 1500 to the present
Students will examine the origins, major events and consequences of worldwide imperialism from 1500 to present.
Standard 8 — An Era of Global Conflicts, Challenges, Controversies and Changes: 1900 to the present
Students will analyze and explain trends and events of global significance, such as world wars, international controversies
and challenges, and cross-cultural changes that have connected once-separated regions into an incipient global community.
Standard 9 — Historical Thinking
Students will conduct historical research that incorporates information literacy skills such as forming appropriate research
questions; evaluating information by determining accuracy, relevance, and comprehensiveness; interpreting a variety of
primary and secondary sources; and presenting their findings with documentation.
UNITS OF INSTRUCTION
Unit 1: Beginning of Civilization (World Religions; Mesopotamia/Egypt)
Unit 2: Early Civilizations (Ancient Greece and Rome)
Unit 3: Middle Ages (Byzantine Empire)
Unit 4: Renaissance/Reformation
Unit 5: Revolution
Unit 6: Nationalism/Imperialism
Unit 7: WWI
Unit 8: WWII
Unit 9: Modern Day* (Since 1945)
COURSE ASSESSMENTS
Daily Class work
Warm-up/Journals
Maps
Tests
Projects
Media Presentations: Power Point, Publisher, Word (Microsoft)
TIMELINE
Trimester One
Unit One: Beginning of Civilization/Religions/Mesopotamia/Egypt (Chapters 1-3; 10) (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1,
3.2, 3.3, 3.4,
3.5, 3.7, 9.1, 9.2)
Unit Two: Early Civilizations (Chapters 4-5) (2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, 9.1, 9.2)
Unit Three: Middle Ages/Byzantine Empire (Chapters 7, 8, 9) (4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3
Unit Four: Renaissance/Reformation (Chapters 13, 14, 15) (3.14, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 6.1, 9.2, 9.3)
Final: Review/Final/Presentations
Trimester Two
Unit Five: Revolutions (Chapters 17, 18, 19, 21, 26) (6.4, 6.6, 8.1, 8.2, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4
Unit Six: Nationalism/Imperialism (Chapter 22, 24) (7.1, 7.2, 9.1, 9.4)
Unit Seven: WWI (Chapters 26, 27, 28) (8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.5, 8.9, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3)
Unit Eight: WWII (Chapters 29) (8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 9.1, 9.2)
*Unit Nine: Modern Day/Since 1945 (Chapters 30, 32) (8.6, 8.9, 8.10, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3)
Final: Review/Final/Presentations
*If time allows
COURSE MATERIALS: MAJOR TEXTS, PRINCIPAL MATERIALS AND FILMS
KEY TEXTS:
Jr. Scholastic
World History
World Geography
Historical Fiction/Non-Fiction Books
KEY FILMS:
AN ASSORTMENT OF FILMS