Welcome to Honors World History! This semester we will study the history of mankind. We will begin with ancient civilizations and (hopefully) end the semester with current events. We will focus on some major themes such as continuity and change over time, turning points in human history, global interactions, conflict, and human rights. We will analyze primary documents, works of art and music, and a variety of secondary sources to help uncover what it means to be human. By the end of the semester I hope you have gained a sense of your place in the world and how the actions of everyday people from the past have helped shape the world in which you live.
Successful completion of this course is required to graduate. There is a state test for this exam given at the end of the semester. Doing well in this course requires good organization, strong study skills, hard work, and time. Please be ready to make these commitments.
Units and Descriptions
Unit 1: Ancient Civilizations
Major Topics: Tools of historians, Neolithic Revolution, characteristics of civilization, ancient religions,
achievements of ancient civilizations, trade
Unit 2: Classical Civilizations
Major Topics: Sparta and Athens, achievements of the Greeks, the development of empires,
government in Greece and Rome, Roman achievements, the development and spread of Christianity, the rise and fall
of the Roman Empire
Unit 3: The Middle Ages
Major Topics: feudalism and the manor system, the role of the Church, the Black Death, the Crusades, guilds, the Magna Carta, the development and spread of Islam, along with a survey of medieval culture from around the world.
Unit 4: The Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation
Major Topics: humanism, cultural change, Italian city-states, the role of the printing press, Martin Luther and the
effects of the Reformation
Unit 5: Exploration
Major Topics: inventions, explorers, conquistadors, motivations for exploration (3 G’s), Columbian Exchange,
Triangular Trade, Middle Passage, the development of capitalism and the market economy.
Unit 6: Absolutism, Enlightenment, and Revolution
Major Topics: “divine right,” natural rights, laissez-faire economics, effects of the Enlightenment on the American
Revolution and American government, effects of the Enlightenment on the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror,
Napoleon.
Unit 7: Nationalism, Industrial Revolution, Imperialism
Major Topics: nation-building, industrialization, urbanization and its effects, communism, reform movements,
motivations for imperialism, global effects of imperialism
Unit 8: The World Wars
Major Topics: causes of WWI, trench warfare, mobilizing for war, the Treaty of Versailles, the Russian Revolution,
fascism, major events from WWII, the Holocaust, the development of nuclear warfare, Gandhi and the anti-colonial
movement in India
Unit 9: The Cold War
Major Topics: arms race, “iron curtain,” moments of international crisis, cultural differences between US and the USSR.
Unit 10: The Modern Middle East and Today’s World
Major Topics: Israel/Palestine Conflict, Iranian Revolution, OPEC oil embargo, the rise of global terrorism, apartheid,
anti-colonial movements worldwide, the European Union, global challenges.
Classroom Policies and Procedures
Late Work: If a student does not complete an assignment, the assignment can be turned in the following day. The highest grade a student can earn on a late assignment is a 70. If an assignment is turned in after its unit is finished (for example, if a student turns in an assignment from Unit 2 while the class is studying Unit 4), the highest grade a student may earn is a 50. I reserve the right to require alternative assignments for make-up work, particularly if the original assignment could be easily copied from a fellow student.
Absences and Make-up Work: Attendance is crucial in this class. Do not be absent except in the case of a true emergency. Homework is counted for a late grade if it is not in my box before class begins. Homework assignments will be posted on my board daily. I will also update my website with homework information each day. Find an “absent buddy” early in the year – someone whom you can call and from whom you can borrow notes, etc. Please understand that any work known about before a missed day is due the day you return to school.
Grading:
For all Social Studies classes at Chatham Central, the grading scale is as follows:
60% Tests and Projects
30% Classwork
10% 6 weeks assessment
At the end of the semester, this grade is included (80%) with the exam grade (20%) to get the final grade.
Hall Passes: Students are not permitted to leave class during the first fifteen minutes or the last fifteen minutes. Only one student is allowed out of the room at a time. You will receive four hall passes for the semester. Students may not leave the room, unless they use one of their hall passes. If a student needs to leave the classroom more than four times, they may make that time up in break detention.
Classroom Rules
1. Be in your seat and prepared to start class when the bell rings.
2. Raise your hand to speak or to ask permission to leave your seat.
3. Use respectful language when speaking to the teacher, your classmates, and guests.
4. Maintain appropriate personal space.
5. Keep all electronics off and out of sight, except when authorized.
6. No food, drinks, or gum.
7. Remain seated and on task until I dismiss you.
Additionally, all Chatham Central High School and Chatham County Schools policies are enforced in my class. Consequences can be found in the Chatham Central handbook.
Successful completion of this course is required to graduate. There is a state test for this exam given at the end of the semester. Doing well in this course requires good organization, strong study skills, hard work, and time. Please be ready to make these commitments.
Units and Descriptions
Unit 1: Ancient Civilizations
Major Topics: Tools of historians, Neolithic Revolution, characteristics of civilization, ancient religions,
achievements of ancient civilizations, trade
Unit 2: Classical Civilizations
Major Topics: Sparta and Athens, achievements of the Greeks, the development of empires,
government in Greece and Rome, Roman achievements, the development and spread of Christianity, the rise and fall
of the Roman Empire
Unit 3: The Middle Ages
Major Topics: feudalism and the manor system, the role of the Church, the Black Death, the Crusades, guilds, the Magna Carta, the development and spread of Islam, along with a survey of medieval culture from around the world.
Unit 4: The Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation
Major Topics: humanism, cultural change, Italian city-states, the role of the printing press, Martin Luther and the
effects of the Reformation
Unit 5: Exploration
Major Topics: inventions, explorers, conquistadors, motivations for exploration (3 G’s), Columbian Exchange,
Triangular Trade, Middle Passage, the development of capitalism and the market economy.
Unit 6: Absolutism, Enlightenment, and Revolution
Major Topics: “divine right,” natural rights, laissez-faire economics, effects of the Enlightenment on the American
Revolution and American government, effects of the Enlightenment on the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror,
Napoleon.
Unit 7: Nationalism, Industrial Revolution, Imperialism
Major Topics: nation-building, industrialization, urbanization and its effects, communism, reform movements,
motivations for imperialism, global effects of imperialism
Unit 8: The World Wars
Major Topics: causes of WWI, trench warfare, mobilizing for war, the Treaty of Versailles, the Russian Revolution,
fascism, major events from WWII, the Holocaust, the development of nuclear warfare, Gandhi and the anti-colonial
movement in India
Unit 9: The Cold War
Major Topics: arms race, “iron curtain,” moments of international crisis, cultural differences between US and the USSR.
Unit 10: The Modern Middle East and Today’s World
Major Topics: Israel/Palestine Conflict, Iranian Revolution, OPEC oil embargo, the rise of global terrorism, apartheid,
anti-colonial movements worldwide, the European Union, global challenges.
Classroom Policies and Procedures
Late Work: If a student does not complete an assignment, the assignment can be turned in the following day. The highest grade a student can earn on a late assignment is a 70. If an assignment is turned in after its unit is finished (for example, if a student turns in an assignment from Unit 2 while the class is studying Unit 4), the highest grade a student may earn is a 50. I reserve the right to require alternative assignments for make-up work, particularly if the original assignment could be easily copied from a fellow student.
Absences and Make-up Work: Attendance is crucial in this class. Do not be absent except in the case of a true emergency. Homework is counted for a late grade if it is not in my box before class begins. Homework assignments will be posted on my board daily. I will also update my website with homework information each day. Find an “absent buddy” early in the year – someone whom you can call and from whom you can borrow notes, etc. Please understand that any work known about before a missed day is due the day you return to school.
Grading:
For all Social Studies classes at Chatham Central, the grading scale is as follows:
60% Tests and Projects
30% Classwork
10% 6 weeks assessment
At the end of the semester, this grade is included (80%) with the exam grade (20%) to get the final grade.
Hall Passes: Students are not permitted to leave class during the first fifteen minutes or the last fifteen minutes. Only one student is allowed out of the room at a time. You will receive four hall passes for the semester. Students may not leave the room, unless they use one of their hall passes. If a student needs to leave the classroom more than four times, they may make that time up in break detention.
Classroom Rules
1. Be in your seat and prepared to start class when the bell rings.
2. Raise your hand to speak or to ask permission to leave your seat.
3. Use respectful language when speaking to the teacher, your classmates, and guests.
4. Maintain appropriate personal space.
5. Keep all electronics off and out of sight, except when authorized.
6. No food, drinks, or gum.
7. Remain seated and on task until I dismiss you.
Additionally, all Chatham Central High School and Chatham County Schools policies are enforced in my class. Consequences can be found in the Chatham Central handbook.