Effective: 2022-03-31

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

HIS 111 surveys the general history of the world from approximately Antiquity to 1500 CE and allows students to reach a basic understanding of the characteristic features of the world's early historical development. Students will learn about important political, economic, social, intellectual, cultural and religious changes that shaped the development of the world in these periods. Connections and comparisons of human societies and their impact are made over space and time.

Course Objectives

• Written Communication
• Express an understanding of forces that foster global connections among places, persons, groups, and/or knowledge systems through written activities.
• Critical Thinking
• Explain human and social experiences and activities from multiple perspectives from the approximate period of 3000 BCE through 1500 CE.
• Compare and contrast multiple perspectives or theories on global processes and systems throughout time.
• Describe how global relations impact individual lives and the lives of others over time.
• Develop multiple historical literacies by analyzing primary sources of various kinds (texts, images, music) and using these sources as evidence to support interpretation of historical events
• Africa: Suggested Context Paleolithic and Neolithic, The Bantu migrations, The Nile, The Niger civilizations (ex. Ghana, Mali), The Swahili coast (ex. Kilwa, Great Zimbabwe), Indian Ocean trade (ex. Great Zimbabwe), Trans-Saharan trade (ex. Berbers, Tuareg), Islam in Africa (ex. Ghana, Mali), Christianity in Africa (ex. Ethiopia)
• Identify and/or explain the origins of complex societies.
• Compare and contrast African societies and civilizations
• Analyze the development and impact of culture, economics, politics, society, technology, and religious and philosophical ideas
• Examine connections between African societies and the rest of the world
• Americas: Suggested Context Paleolithic and Neolithic, Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Chavin, Moche, Inca, Aztec, Cahokia, Ancestral Puebloan
• Identify and/or explain the origins of complex societies.
• Compare and contrast pre-Columbian societies and civilizations
• Analyze the development and impact of culture, economics, politics, society, technology, and religious and philosophical ideas
• Examine connections between pre-Columbian societies and the rest of the world
• East Asia: Suggested Context Paleolithic and Neolithic, The Chinese dynasties - Pre-classical dynasties (ex. Shang, Zhou), Classical dynasties (ex. Qin, Han), Post-classical dynasties (ex. Tang, Song), Confucianism, Legalism, Daoism, and Buddhism, Nomadic interaction (ex. Mongols), Trans-oceanic voyages and encounters (ex. Ming dynasty, Polynesia), Commercial and cross-cultural connections (ex. Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Silk Road and Indian Ocean)
• Identify and/or explain the origins of complex societies.
• Compare and contrast Asian societies and civilizations
• Analyze the development and impact of culture, economics, politics, society, technology, and religious and philosophical ideas
• Examine connections between East Asian societies and the rest of the world
• The Middle East and Europe: Suggested Context Paleolithic and Neolithic, Mesopotamia, Greece, Roman Republic and Empire, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Byzantine Empire, Islamic civilizations (ex. Umayyads, Abbasids, the Ottomans), Medieval kingdoms of Europe (ex. England, France, the Holy Roman Empire), The Renaissance, Trans-oceanic voyages and encounters (ex. American exploration, Indian Ocean commerce), Commercial and cross-cultural connections (ex. Silk Road, the Crusades)
• Identify and/or explain the origins of complex societies.
• Compare and contrast European and Middle Eastern societies and civilizations
• Analyze the development and impact of culture, economics, politics, society, technology, and religious and philosophical ideas
• Examine connections between European and Middle Eastern societies and the rest of the world
• South Asia: Suggested Context Paleolithic and Neolithic, Indus civilization, Indo-European migrations, The Mauryans and the Guptas, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, Delhi sultanate, Trans-oceanic voyages and encounters (ex. Indian Ocean, impact on the Khmer), Commercial and cross-cultural connections (ex. Silk Road, Buddhism)
• Identify and/or explain the origins of complex societies.
• Compare and contrast Asian societies and civilizations
• Analyze the development and impact of culture, economics, politics, society, technology, and religious and philosophical ideas
• Examine connections between South Asian societies and the rest of the world

Major Topics to be Included

• Africa
• Americas
• East Asia
• The Middle East and Europe
• South Asia