Curriculum Framework: Social Studies

SUPPORT SKILLS

WORLD HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

Historical and Cultural Inquiries

The student will examine events and periods in the history of the world. The student will analyze how societies are diverse and have changed over time.
-identify people and events that characterize each of the major eras in world history, including exposure to the topics listed and in depth study of selected topics:
-Era 1 - The Beginnings of Civilization
-Era 2 - Classical Cultures, World Religions, and Extensive Empires
-Era 3 - The Expansion and Interactions of Civilizations
-Era 4 - Transition to Modern Times
-Era 5 - Age of Revolutions (1750-1914)
-Era 6 - World War in the Twentieth Century
-Era 7 - The World since 1945
-analyze and explain cause and effect relationships between historical events, distinguishing between true cause and effect relationships and those events that happened to occur concurrently or sequentially
-construct meaning from historical evidence (primary and secondary sources) by acquiring, interpreting, and evaluating information
-describe how history can be organized differently using a variety of formats to group people and events; e.g., thematically, chronologically, and geographically
-describe and explain the circumstances under which societies have interacted and changed, resulting in cultural diffusion; e.g., trade, war, exploration, improvements in communication and transportation
-describe the demographic changes resulting from major migrations in history; e.g., southern migration of Chinese, Islam's spread into Northern India; Germanic tribe into the Roman Empire
-identify trends and patterns that occur throughout world history
-explain how, throughout history, social organization has been related to distributions of privilege and power
-analyze the various forces that have influenced and altered social roles and the social organization of societies throughout history
-analyze the major technological turning points in history and their impact on individuals and society
-describe the basic tenets of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and other religious systems that have acted as major forces throughout history
-analyze how, throughout history, the power of the state has been both derived from religious authority and/or in conflict with it

Geographic Skills and Concepts

The student will analyze the geography of the world and its effects on events in world history.
-use maps, globes, and other geographic tools to analyze world events and to answer geographic questions, including the following:
-location of Earth's significant physical features
-location and significance of Earth's major world resources
-patterns of population - distribution and movement, settlement, cultural interactions, and diffusion over time
-interpret map symbols, legends, grid systems, charts, graphs, and other research and mapping tools
-analyze the significance of climate and weather on the human geography of Central and South America, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Pacific world
-apply the concept of region to organize the study of a geographic issue and explain ways regions are interconnected
-analyze the patterns and interactions of Earth's human (culture, technology, etc.) and physical (land, resources, climate, etc.) systems

Civic Concepts and Systems

The student will describe the development of various political systems. The student will compare and contrast political systems.
-describe the evolution of complex political ideas and systems of government in ancient civilizations
-explore the characteristics of the various political systems that developed during the period from 500 to 1700 AD; e.g., feudalism, centralized monarchy, absolutism, imperial dynasties, and tribal kingdoms
-analyze the forces and philosophies that led to the development of modern political systems; e.g., democracy, fascism, totalitarianism, and communism
-evaluate the impact of major revolutions on the realignment of political power
-analyze how military conquest and invasion have been used to assume, maintain, and extend political power throughout history
-analyze how the growth of nationalism affected the relationships among political powers
-analyze the development of and issues associated with human rights
-compare and contrast reasons and motivations behind the development of international relations

Economic Perspectives

The student will describe the impact of economic factors throughout history. The student will compare and contrast economic systems.
-analyze the characteristics and development of various economic systems, including manorialism, mercantilism, capitalism, socialism, and communism
-explore how the rise and expansion of trade connected the regions of the ancient world
-trace the historical factors that led to the transition from local and regional economies to a more global economy
-analyze the impact of international differences in resources on international development and trade