Semester 1 Learning Targets
Historical Methods
Beginnings of Civilization & Ancient River Valley Civilizations
Ancient India
Ancient China and the Mongol Empire
Foundations of World Religions
Rise and Spread of Islam
Ancient Africa/African Civilizations
Historical Methods
- I can distinguish between “pre-history,” “history,” and “the past.”
- I can identify primary and secondary sources, and cite how historians use them differently.
- I can define the methods of historical thinking.
Beginnings of Civilization & Ancient River Valley Civilizations
- I can construct a logical connection between the Agricultural Revolution and the formation of Civilization.
- I can assess the effects of geography on the beginnings of human civilization.
- I can investigate the methods by which cultural diffusion occurred in ancient civilizations.
- I can compare and contrast the major ancient religions, specifically the role of monotheism versus polytheism.
Ancient India
- I can evaluate the impact of trade on cultural diffusion in the Indian Subcontinent.
- I can cite reasons for why the Gupta Empire was a golden age of Indian culture.
Ancient China and the Mongol Empire
- I can compare and contrast major philosophical and social concepts in Confucianism and Daoism.
- I can compare and contrast the dynastic structure (Mandate of Heaven) of Chinese government with the ideals of Confucianism.
- I can cite reasons for why the Han Empire was a golden age of Chinese culture.
- I can evaluate the impact of the Silk Roads on cultural diffusion between East and West.
- I can describe the cultural and political achievements of the Tang and Song dynasties.
- I can explain the reasons for the rapid rise, decline and lasting legacy of the Mongol Empire.
- I can describe the significance of Marco Polo’s journey to both Europe and China.
Foundations of World Religions
- I can compare and contrast the major ancient religions, specifically the role of monotheism versus polytheism.
- I can compare and contrast major concepts in Hinduism and Buddhism.
- I can identify the major tenets of Christianity and its appeal to ancient Romans.
- I can describe the teachings and tenets of Islam.
- I can compare and contrast the tenets of the three major monotheistic religions.
Rise and Spread of Islam
- I can explain the expansion of the Islamic Empire.
- I can cite the major cultural and technological advancements of the Islamic Empire
- I can distinguish between the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam.
Ancient Africa/African Civilizations
- I can explain the importance of gold and salt in early Africa.
- I can differentiate among the major African kingdoms and trading states.
- I can describe how cultural diffusion influenced Africa culturally, economically and religiously.
- I can describe the impact of cultural diffusion on Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa.