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World History Semester 2
Course Cost: $270.00
Credit: .5
Course Description:
The second semester of World History covers the time period from about 1500 to the present. This semester looks at the rise of Western Europe and the impact this rise has on the rest of the world. Students will begin by studying political, cultural, and scientific developments in Europe that result in the creation of centralized nation-states, including the reign of absolute monarchs on the mainland and parliamentary developments in England. These political developments and scientific innovations from the periods known as the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment begin a period of European domination in the Western Hemisphere. Revolutions within Europe trigger drastic political, economic, social, and cultural change beginning in the period of the French Revolution of the late 1700s and continuing through the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries. These revolutions spread and become global phenomena to this day.
A large topic of this semester is European power and domination. Early on this dominance is tested during the revolutionary period. Beginning with the American Revolution and followed by revolutions in the rest of the Americas, European rule is cast aside and unique new nations are born, including the United States. Other areas of the world are not able to forge their own separate identities as European domination continues in the era known as the Age of Imperialism.Conflict within Europe in the World Wars of the first half of the 20th century effectively ends the era of unquestioned European dominance. The latter half of this course looks at the causes, features, and impacts of these conflicts. The aftermath of both world wars unleashes new forces like international communism, new currents of nationalism in newly independent areas of Africa and Asia, and a global competition for influence known as the Cold War. Lastly, students will examine current international political and cultural trends that result from the end of the Cold War.
World History Core Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- identify key individuals, concepts, events, and turning points that influence the time period and beyond;
- trace political, economic, intellectual, social, and cultural developments;
- identify global trends and then compare these trends in action in different geographic regions;
- demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of all of the above;
- understand traditional historical points of reference in world history;
- understand how the present relates to the past;
- understand how, as a result of the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, new political, economic, and social systems evolved, creating a new civilization in Western Europe;
- understand the influence of the European Renaissance and the Reformation eras;
- understand causes and effects of European expansion beginning in the 16th century;
- understand the major developments of civilizations of sub-Saharan Africa, Mesoamerica, Andean South America, and Asia;
- understand the impact of political and economic imperialism throughout history;
- understand causes and effects of major political revolutions since the 17th century;
- understand the impact of totalitarianism in the 20th century;
- understand the influence of significant individuals of the 20th century;
- use geographic skills and tools to collect, analyze, and interpret data;
- understand the impact of geographic factors on major historic events;
- understand the impact of the Neolithic agricultural revolution on humanity and the development of the first civilizations;
- understand the historic origins of contemporary economic systems;
- understand the historical antecedents of contemporary political systems;
- understand the process by which democratic-republican government evolved;
- understand the significance of political choices and decisions made by individuals, groups, and nations throughout history;
- understand the historical development of significant legal and political concepts, including ideas about rights, republicanism, constitutionalism, and democracy;
- understand the history and relevance of major religious and philosophical traditions;
- understand the relationship between the arts and the times during which they were created;
- understand the roles of women, children, and families in different historical cultures;
- understand how the development of ideas has influenced institutions and societies;
- understand how major scientific and mathematical discoveries and technological innovations have affected societies throughout history;
- understand connections between major developments in science and technology and the growth of industrial economies and societies in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries;
- apply critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of sources including electronic technology;
- communicate in written, oral, and visual forms; and
- use problem-solving and decision-making skills, working independently and with others, in a variety of settings.
Course Activities:Research assignments, visual presentations, creative and expository writing assignments, reading self-checks, quizzes, and unit assessments.
