Focus: Core Knowledge History and Geography unit, entitled: World History: The Ancient World to the Medieval Era Volume 1; and World History: Renaissance to Modern Day Volume 2. The Student Volume provides traditional narrative text and high-quality images that recount important historical themes and events in world history. Interspersed with the text and images are three types of activity boxes that encourage students to think about the content, extend their knowledge through research, and express their understanding through writing.
Student Volume 1 contains thirteen chapters covering such content as:
- Complex societies developed independently in different cradles of civilization, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, China, and Mesoamerica.
- Ancient Greece and Rome laid the foundations for Western civilization.
- The modern world religions of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam have their roots in ancient and medieval civilizations.
- China introduced the world to new technologies, such as silk-making, paper, and gunpowder, and new philosophies, such as Confucianism and Daoism.
- Mesoamerica and South America were home to thriving civilizations such as the Maya, Aztec, and Inca before the arrival of European conquerors.
- The African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai dominated West Africa during Europe’s medieval period.
Student Volume 2 contains eleven chapters covering such content as:
- The Renaissance marked a renewed interest in the past as well as exploration of philosophy and artistic styles.
- The Protestant Reformation and the Counter-Reformation transformed European religion and politics.
- Interest in Asian trade and the development of new technologies sparked European exploration and colonization.
- During the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, Western scientists and thinkers applied reason and systematic study to understand the physical world, human nature, and society.
- World War I was shaped by new technologies such as tanks, machine guns, and poison gas.
- World War II was a global effort to stop German expansionism in Europe and Japanese expansionism in Asia.
- After World War II, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union helped to shape events in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
- The dissolution of colonial empires after World War II included conflict in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
- The early twenty-first century has been shaped by globalization, migration, terrorism, regional conflict, eradication of disease, and climate change.
Lesson Time: 45 minutes each daily. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms:
primary source • artifact • Fertile Crescent • irrigation • empire • dynasty • hereditary • cuneiform • covenant • prophet • Exodus • hieroglyphics • embalm • stela • expansionist • diaspora • phalanx • strait • subcontinent • monsoon • reincarnation • karma • nirvana • domesticate • secular • polis • oligarchy • rhetoric • feudal system • republic • dictator • doctrine • isthmus • Hellenic • oracle • orator • helots • Mesoamerica • steppe • confederation • vassal • animism • clan • imam • monastery • clergy • theology • perspective • circumnavigate • methodology • natural rights • capitalism • aristocracy • bourgeoisie • privatize • factory system • imperialism • nationalism • appeasement • domino theory • gross domestic product • nonalignment • apartheid • theocracy • globalization • offshore
These materials are designed for a full year use in Middle School. The complete World History text can be used in either 7th or 8th grade for schools following the Core Knowledge Sequence. Pacing Guides will be provided for a single student volume option for a full year use, or use of two student volumes across a full year.
The Student Volumes include new features such as:
- Think Twice questions that prompt a deeper analysis of the text.
- Find Out the Facts assignments.
- Writers’ Corner boxes present students with writing tasks, such as essays, reports, and creative compositions.
The Teacher Guide also includes new features such as:
- The Learning Lab provides additional time for students to complete the new Student Volume features, before the chapter is wrapped up.
- A Talk it Over opportunity encourages discussion or debate, either in the Guided Reading Support, or in the Additional Activities.
- When Primary Source documents are used within a lesson, the importance of such resources is highlighted.
- Window on the World in which each chapter includes an opportunity for students to expand their geographical knowledge, usually in the Guided Reading Support but occasionally in the Additional Activities. These opportunities will be marked with the compass rose icon shown above.
