Curriculum Map 2006-2007      

The Dwight School
World History I / Grade 9 (Franklin House)  

Period  Content  Purpose/ Objectives  Activities & Resources  Areas of Interaction  Assessments 
September

EARLY CIVILIZATIONS EARLY CIVILIZATIONS
-- Toward Civilization [PREHISTORY-3000 B.C.]
-- First Civilizations:Africa and Asia [3200-500 B.C.]
-- Early Civilizations in India and China [2500-256 B.C.]
 

Students will learn:
--History is about Continuity and Change
--Role of Geography as determinant factor
--How historians [and related scientists] reconstruct the past from written records/artifacts
--Role of religious beliefs
--Basic features of a civilization
--How cultures spread and change
--importance/impact of the individual
 

-- Visit to museum - visit the Egyptian exhibit at Metropolitan Museum and write an essay
-- "Guest lecture" from "mind-mapping" team
-- Role-playing
-- Class discussion
-- Book reports
-- Map work [geography]
-- Weekly Extra Vocabulary [WEV]
 

-- carbon dating method
-- interpretation of cave art
-- using science [creation of dams, etc.] to attempt to "control" or "alter" Geography
-- appearance of primitive codes of laws to regulate behavior
-- "war" as thematic element
-- importance of writing systems for communication
-- "division-of-labour" systems in early China presage modern factories
 

FORMATIVE
-- Quizzes
-- Essays
-- Class participation games
-- Memorization exercises
SUMMATIVE
-- Chapter tests [varying formats]
 


October


November

EMPIRES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD EMPIRES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
--Empires of India and China [600 BC- AD 550]
--Ancient Greece [1750-133 BC]
--Ancient Rome and the Rise of [509 BC- AD 476]
--Civilizations of the Americas [1400 BC AD 1570]
 

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Students will learn:
--beliefs and influences of Hinduism and Buddhism
--elements of a "Golden Age"
--influence of strong rulers on a nation state
--complexity of the caste system in India

--influence of geography on city-states
--Greek ideas about government
--legacy of Greek mythology
--Recall: what is a civilization?
--Olympic games
--slavery/democracy connection
--birth and evolution of democracy[is true democracy possible? desirable? what are disadvantages of democracy?
--Greek drama: the nature of "tragedy"
--Athens vs. Sparta [lessons to be learned]-- the Peloponnesian Wars as template for all conflict
--what makes Homer great? i.e. better than what has come before...
-- cf. Herodotus and Thuycidides [p.119]
--importance of the individual: Pericles
--Greek philosophers [Socrates-Plato-Aristotle]

--geography and Italy
--evolution of republic to empire
--the Roman achievement: absorption of ideas and advancement from them
--Roman law [140]
--rise and spread of Christianity--reasons for popularity
--why did Rome fall?[149-151]
--the individual: Julius Caesar
--Jesus as historical figure

--civilizations of Middle America[Olmecs, Mayas, Aztecs]
--the Incas-- common language, strong government, wide system of communication, strong religious practices
--people of North America--wide cultural traditions; many different tribes, none strong enough to face incoming white man
 

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--students create their own myths

--recreate Mayas ancient ball games; compare to modern sports

--discuss weaknesses of tribal way of life cf. European civilization
 

--explore and evaluate changes instituted by Indian government to caste system since 1947
--influence of various philosophical movements [Confucianism, legalism, daoism, Taoism,
Buddhism] on society and culture
--problematical issues of translation--close connection with historical accuracy
--the silk road: why do items acquire "value"?--examine properties of scarcity, luxury,
utility,etc.[economics]
--the paper monopoly in china--examine pros and cons of monopolistic behavior [econ.]

--relevance of Greek mythology to English literature [allusion]
--Olympic games and ideals [sport]
--"disinformation" in Persian wars : deception as military tactic
--the notion of power: why does man seek to conquer [Alexander the Great]
--life in the Roman Republic as a mirror to modern society[latifundias, lobster farms, etc.]
--attempts to preserve history [Pompeii--Vesuvius]

--role of music in religious rituals [Aztecs}
--why do civilizations decline? disappear?
--RECALL: what elements underlay a "civilization"?
 

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-- Memorization assessment [170] "Native American Culture Groups Of North America"
 


December


January

REGIONAL CIVILIZATIONS REGIONAL CIVILIZATIONS
-- The Rise of Europe[500-1300]
-- The High Middle Ages[1050-1450]
-- The Byzantine Empire and Russia[330-1613]
--The Muslim World[622-1629]
-- Kingdoms and Trading States of Africa[750 B.C.-A.D. 1586]
--Spread of Civilization in East Asia [500-1650]
 

Students will learn:
--From 500-1000, Europe fragmented & largely isolated; feudalism, manor economy & catholic Church were dominant forces
--feudalism--based on mutual obligations among lords and vassals-- gave strict order to medieval society
--Church guided spiritual lives of Chrisitians--was most powerful political force in medieval Europe
--by 1000s, ecomic revival spurred by agicultural and commerce advances

--During high middle ages, econ. conditions improved, learning and the arts flourished; feudal monarchs centralised their power--proving forerunner to modern nation-state
--England and France: long-running traditions of royal govt. evolved
--European contacts with the middle east during crusades revived interest in trade and exploration
--beginning 1300s: famine, plague, war marked decline of medieval europe

--post-fall of Rome, Greco-Roman heritage survived in Byzantine Empire; Byzantine civilization shaped the developing cultures of Russia and Eastern Europe
--Byzantine Empire served as a center of world trade and buffer between western europe and Arab empire
--invasions and migrations created mix of ethnic and religious groups in Eastern Europe

--religion of islam emerged in 600s on Arabian Peninsula; eventually creted close cultural ties among diverse peoples across 3 continents
--Muhammed was prophet of Islam; monotheistic religion; both a religion and a way of life, i.e. thru Quran, Five Pillars, Sharia
--learning, literature, science, medicine , trade all flourished during golden age of Muslim civilization

--Despite geographic barriers, many civilizations rose and flourished in Africa. Kingdoms in west and city-states in east became important commercial and political centers

--After 400 years of fragmentation, China reemerged as a united empire and the most powerful force in east asia; Korea and Japan, although heavily influenced by China, managed to maintain their own identities
--China expanded and prospered under the powerful Tang and Song dynasties
--1200s & 1300s: Mongols ruled much of Asia; after their fall, Ming dynasty restored Chinese culture--later imposed policy of isolation
--Korea maintained own identity; served as "cultural bridge" linking China and Japan
--seas allowed Japan to preserve unique culture; selectively borrowed religious, political and artistic traditions from China
--1100s: Japan created feudal society ruled by powerful military lords
 

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Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World--book resource
 

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--How did feudalism and the manor economy provide a kind of political, economic and social order?
--Why are medieval and renaissance fairs so popular today?
--how did the mutual obligations of noble and serf anticipate the law of contract?
--The Church as a major influence in medieval life, both religious and secular--was this positive? negative?
--What elements are necessary in a society for a "middle class" to arise?
--discuss some new business practices that signaled a commercial revolution and the birth and development of capitalism[199]?
--discuss guilds as forerunners of labour unions

--discuss the connection between art and money
--discuss elements in England that led to the English legal system and the Rule of Law[207]
--compare the origin and content of Magna Carta and the U.S. Constitution
--Give some reasons why institutions or societies might maintain certain traditions, even, or especially, "quirky" ones[208 parliament]
--compare the crusades to modern day Jihad
--compare chivalry to modern etiquette
--discuss the Black Death in light of modern forensic medicine, CSI, etc.
--discuss the role of weaponry in warfare

--Hagia sophia--why do we bother to perform restoration on old buildings and art? declare landmarks, etc?

--what are the central religious and moral tenets of Islam? do they justify the actions of its extreme believers?

--How did geography both help and hinder the peoples of Africa?
--if Africa was indeed the "cradle of civilization", why has it always remained, as a continent, so far behind most of the rest of the world?
--compare the impact of tribal and nomadic existence in native america, africa, and the middle east

--Discuss the importance of accurate cartography. use examples from history[303]
-- compare Japanese feudalism to that of middle ages Europe

--how did the Renaissance create a new emphasis on individual achievement?
--discuss the influence of the printing press on european life and culture
--how did the Scientific Revolution transform the way people viewed the physical world?
--discuss the pros and cons of the role of "Patron of the Arts"
--Why has there only been one "Shakespeare"?

--[economics]why did Europeans go to such lengths to obtain spices , a seemingly mundane commodity?
--what are the elements of an "imperialist" policy? discuss comparisons with today
--discuss the role and effect of natural disaster in human history

--discuss the rise of capitalism--why has it achieved such long-lasting success in comparison to marxism, socialism, communism, etc.?
--global interaction and cultural diffusion through exploration by powerful nations came at a price. many cultures were destroyed, etc. discuss
--in what ways do winning of overseas empires affect the economy of individual european nations? of europe itself?
--why did the slave trade cause some african nations to decline, yet others to rise?[geography, economics]

--discuss absolute monarchs and their effect[s] on a nation. use examples
--how did Parliament emerge victorious form the struggles with the kings of England?
--[economics] examine and compare how costly wars and religious persecutions can affect a nation's fortunes. compare in particular france under louis xiv with nazi germany fighting 2-front war and persecuting jews
--examine the "cult of celebrity" using louis xiv as an example
--examine the concept of "courage", looking at inter alia Charles I at his execution. does courage always need to be so dramatic?
--discuss the historical anecdote concerning oliver cromwell and one george cony--what does it say about the Rule of Law?
 

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February


March


April

EARLY MODERN TIMES EARLY MODERN TIMES[1300-1800]
--The Renaissance and the Reformation[1300-1650]
--The First Global Age: Europe and Asia[1415-1796]
--The First Global Age: Europe, the Americas, and Africa[1492-1750]
--The Age of Absolutism[1550-1800]
 

--Between13oos-1500s: Europe experienced period of cultural rebirth["renaissance"]; also Protestant Reformation and Scientific Revolution made their marks
--First in italy & spreading to Northern Europe Renaissance reached peak in painting, sculpture and architecture
--Humanism : intellectual movement stressed study of classical greek and Roman cultures and development of the individual
--Reformers like Luther and Calvin challenged Church corruption, finally breaking away fro Church entirely
--in response Catholic Church undertook its own vigorous housecleaning reform movement
--religious fervor led to widespread intolerance and persecution by both protestants and catholics
--Scientific Revolution changed way Europeans viewed the physical world: e.g. Copernicus, Newton, Galileo

--1500s: Europeans gradually built trading empires in Asia; thus began period of increasing global interdependence that has continued to present day
--technology improvements helped european explorers navigate the vast oceans of the world
--looking for sea route to asia, Columbus came upon the Americas [no. and so.]
--desire for spices led Europeans to seek control of the Indian Ocean trade network
--By late 1500s: Dutch hegemony over Portugal
--in 1700s: England and France vie for dominance
--1500s-1600s: China and Korea restricted contacts with the outside world
--Japanese, after initially welcoming west, later became isolationist

--Age of Exploration: European powers built colonial empires in America. New patterns of conquest and global exchange had great impact on Africa as well
--Spanish conquistadors vanquished Aztec and Incan civilizations and set up vast empire in Americas
--1600s: Spain , France, England, Netherlands competing for trade and colonies
--Arrival of European settlers brought disaster to Native Americans
--Millions of slaves imported from Africa to meet labour demands in colonies
--slave trade led to fall of some African States and rise of others
--Columbian Exchange: vast global interchange of people, animals, products, culture, ideas, technology
--1500s: Europe experienced a commercial revoluton bringing dramatic economic changes--including the rise of CAPITALISM

--1500s & 1600s: European monarchs struggled to centralize power, thus shifting effectively the center of world civilization to Europe
--1500s: wealth from Americas made Spain world's wealthiest
--Following religious and social turmoil, Louis XIV of France achieved royal absolutism & helped France become most powerful natin in 1600s
--Despite efforts at absolutism by several English monarchs, PARLIAMENT successfully asserted itself against royal power
--Oliver Cromwell emerged in the Interregnum as Lord High Protector of All England
--The Rule of Law evolved
--30 years' war involved most of Europe, with Prussia emerging as new protestant power after Peace of Westphalia
--Hapsburgs expanded Austrian territory, but unable to strongly centralize
--Peter the Great of Russia did centralize royal power. embarked on program of modernization, and sought to expand Russian territory from Europe to the Pacific
 

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May


June


Updated: Thursday, July 27, 2006
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