Mr. Holoubek

CP World History 212

Bishop Ireton High School

Course Outline

E-mail: HoloubekB@BishipIreton.com

Required Text: World History: The Human Experience

Glenco McGraw-Hill, 2001

Course Description: College Preparatory World History explores world cultures from prehistory up to the Renaissance. During this exploration, the student will gain factual information as well as a familiarity with historical concepts and principles through lectures, reading assignments, discussions, writing assignments, and projects. The course will also include an emphasis on geography.

First Quarter: Prehistory to the Rise of Greek Civilization

Points of emphasis: human origins; prehistory technology; civilization-enabling technology; River Valley Civilizations; the Sumerians; the Egyptians; Persians; the rise of Ancient Greece—Homer, religion, city-states, the Persian wars.

Second Quarter: Greek, Roman, African, and Hindu Civilizations

Points of emphasis: Greek art, philosophy, and schools; Alexander the Great; founding of Rome; the Roman Republic; Rome at war—expansion, the Gauls, the Carthaginians; Roman technology; the Roman empire and emperors; the rise of Christianity; Constantine; Barbarian invasions and the fall of Rome. African art, religion, and trade, African kingdoms—Ghana, Mali, and Zimbabwe.

Third Quarter: China, Rise of Christendom, and Islamic Civilization

Points of emphasis: India’s caste system and Hinduism; the rise of Buddhism; the Mauryan Gutpa empires; the Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties; the Confucist, Taoist, and Buddhist philosophies of China; Chinese technology; Constantinople; Byzantium; Justinian; Byzantium art, the fall of Constantinople; the Mongol; Russia.

Fourth Quarter: Medieval Europe, East and South Asia, and the Americas

Points of emphasis: Arab life; Muhammad; Islamic religion; spread of Islam; Islam life, art, education, and technology. Charlemagne; the Vikings; Irish preservation; Feudalism; Castles; Armor; the medieval Church; monastic life; the Inquisition; England—monarchy, Magna Carta, the rise of Parliament; the Holy Roman Empire; the Crusades; cultural revival in Europe.

Note: Topics are subject to change due to time constraints