THIS IS A TWO-SEMESTER COURSE.

This course introduces students to world history beginning with various theories of early human migrations and progressing through to the creation of complex civilizations. Students will examine diverse societies of early civilizations and how they differed in art, warfare, and family life. They will investigate the many Meso-American nations of the Americas, including the Aztec, Cherokee, Inca, Iroquois, Maya, Sioux, and Taos peoples, all of whom have rich and diverse beliefs. Students will discuss the ways in which these cultures evolved through a changing world, and they will investigate their folktales, unique gender roles, and the creation of complex oral traditions.

Next, the discussion will move to the Eastern Hemisphere. Students will debate the fall of the Roman Empire and its lasting impact on Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. They will research the competing religions of the time and the great conflicts of the Byzantine Empire, the Crusades in Arabia, and the Conquista in Spain. They will examine how the cultures blended and changed, creating new, energetic nations. Students will then focus on the dynamic relations between the Asian countries, and they will compare China, India, Korea, and Japan by examining differences in art, language, and architecture. At the end of the course, the students will develop questions about a diverse and collective world.

Class Meetings: Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Fall Semester: August 21 – December 18, 2025
Spring Semester: January 15 – May 14, 2026

Student Support: The instructor is available via email and for special individual sessions with students as needed.

Feedback/Assessment: Students will be assessed on their written work.

Materials: All reading materials will be available on the internet. Please have a working printer for special assignments.