Honors Global Studies I Syllabus Academic Magnet High School COURSE DESIGN: The Honors Global Studies course is designed to be a general survey in a variety of ancient cultures all over the world. It is a two-semester course taught on a ninety-five minute block schedule. The class meets every other day. The survey includes the beginnings of human society, ancient and modern Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, India, China, Africa, and the Americas. Physical Geography is incorporated into the curriculum throughout the course. To succeed, students must possess sound reading and writing skills. Student must also be prepared to devote substantial time to out of class study. Higher level thinking skills such as analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating are stressed in this course. In addition to factual content, essay questions, interpreting primary and secondary sources, and understanding historiography are the primary emphases of this course. Honors Global Studies I is paired with Honors World Literature. The pairing forms the Humanities block, which allows the integration of history and literature. ***Each nine-week grading period will include several common assessments (intradepartmental) that consist of quizzes, tests and writing assignments.*** COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will: Develop an appreciation for the study of history. Develop an appreciation for a variety of methods of historical inquiry and various schools of thought. Develop skills in interpreting documents and primary source material. Develop skills in essay writing. Develop skills in critical thinking, especially analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Develop a mastery of a wide range of knowledge about ancient civilizations develop an understanding of major events and issues pertaining to ancient civilizations. Engage in activities that encompass Common Core standards. COURSE GRADING: Grading for this class will be calculated by a total point system. The level of the significance of an assignment determines the weight of the grade. A student s grade will be determined by the total amount of points that is earned during a grading period. Grading Scale: Class-work: writing exercises Homework: assignments Quizzes: Major Projects, papers: Tests: History Day Project: 5-20 pts. 5-25 pts. 5-25 pts. 50-200 pts. 100 pts. 200 pts. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Students are responsible for all reading assignments and are further responsible for all material assigned whether covered in class or not. Out of class assignments are expected to be completed on time; unexcused late work will NOT be accepted. COURSE TEXT: McDougal-Littell., World History: Patterns of Interaction
UNITS OF INSTRUCTION FIRST QUARTER Order Out of Chaos Introduction/Siddhartha (3 classes) Syllabus Siddhartha Review Quiz on Siddhartha The Origins of Humans (3 classes) Neolithic Revolution Development of writing Evolution Migration and Settlement Chapter 1: pages: 2-21 River Valley Civilizations (5 classes) Sumerians Ancient Egypt Indus Valley Ancient China Chapter 2: pages: 26-50 Unit Exam Chapters 1-2 People and Ideas on the Move (4 classes) The Indo-Europeans Roots of Hinduism and Buddhism Mesopotamian Cultures (Assyrians, Phoenicians, Babylonians) Origins of Judaism Chapter 3: pages: 58-83 First Age Empires (5 classes) The Egyptian and Nubian Empires The Assyrian Empire The Persian Empire The Unification of China *** Introduction to History Day*** See tentative dates at end of syllabus! Chapter 4: pages: 86-112 Unit Exam Chapter 3-4 ***First Quarter Humanities Block Collaborative Activity*** HISTORY DAY!
Second Quarter: Character is Destiny Ancient Greece (9 classes) Greek Geography Cultures of the Mountains and the Sea Warring City-States Democracy and Greece s Golden Age Alexander s Empire The Spread of Hellenistic Culture Chapter 5: pages: 120-146 Unit Exam Chapter 5 Ancient Rome and Early Christianity (9 classes) The Roman Republic The Roman Empire The Rise of Christianity The Fall of the Roman Empire Rome and the Roots of Western Civilization Chapter 6: pages: 152-182 Byzantines, Russians and Turks Interact (3 classes) The Byzantine Empire The Russian Empire Turkish Empires Rise in Anatolia Chapter 11: pages 298-314 Unit Exam Chapter 6 ***Second Quarter Humanities Block Collaborative Activity*** Greek Day!
Third Quarter: What is the nature of belief? India and China establish Empires (3 classes) India s First Empires Trade spreads Indian Religions and Culture Han Emperors of China Chapter 7: pages: 186-204 Empires in East Asia (6 classes) Tang and Song Dynasty The Mongol Conquests The Mongol Empire Feudal Powers in Japan Kingdoms of Southeast Asia and Korea Chapter 12: pages: 320-344 African Civilizations (2 classes) Diverse Societies in Africa Migration: Bantu-Speaking peoples The Kingdom of Aksum Chapter 8: pages 210-225 Societies and Empires of Africa (4 classes) North and Central African Societies West African Civilizations Eastern City-States and Southern Empires Chapter 15: pages 406-430 The Muslim World (3 classes) The Rise of Islam Islam Expands Muslim Culture Chapter 10: pages: 260-275 Unit Exam Chapters 7 and 12 Unit Exam Chapters 8 and 15 Unit Exam Chapter 10 ***Third Quarter Humanities Block Collaborative Activity*** Comparative Religions Guest Speaker Forum
Fourth Quarter: Regeneration or New Directions? The Americas: A Separate World (2 classes) The Earliest Americans Early Mesoamerican Civilizations Early Civilizations of the Andes Chapter 9: pages 232-259 People and Empires in the Americas (5 classes) North American Societies Maya Kings and Cities The Aztecs Control Central Mexico The Inca Create a Mountain Empire Chapter 16: pages 438-467 European Middle Ages (5 classes) Charlemagne Unites Germanic Kingdoms Feudalism in Europe The Age of Chivalry The Church wields Power Chapter 13: pages 350-370 Unit Exam Chapters 9 and 16 Unit Exam Chapter 13 The Formation of Western Europe (5 classes) Church Reform and the Crusades Changes in Medieval Society England and France Develop The Hundred Years War and the Plague Chapter 14: pages 376-400 ***Fourth Quarter Humanities Block Collaborative Activity*** Cultural Film Experience: The Bridge of San Luis Rey History Day (dates tentative) December/January: School wide History Day February/March: Congressional History Day April 26, 2014: State History Day June 15-19, 2014: National History Day FINAL EXAM