Course title

Pre-requisite

Course description

Western Civilization is an upper level course that develops an understanding of the connectivity of Modern Western Society to its historical and cultural foundations. The goal of this course is to make today’s student’s world citizens through understanding of the cultural roots and the practicing of the evolutionary progression of Western Thought. This is a full year course that prepares students to take higher-level critical thinking courses in colleges or universities. The course will incorporate primary source reading; critical analysis and discussion of Western Philosophy. The previous will be accomplished through oral presentations;
debates; use of technology; role-playing; and written examination.

The objective of this course is to have students understand the foundations of Western Society through first hand experiences. Such can be accomplished through in class activities in addition to out of class experiences. Most importantly students will recognize that the study of Western society and culture is a living history; one that is changing but always connected to the past.

Units of Study and Understandings

There are 6 comprehensive units; each with its own enduring understandings.

Unit 1: Ancient Greece

Describe the social and political characteristics of the Greek city-states.

Describe the significance contributions of ancient Greece to Western Civilization Discuss the cultural influences of Greece; Egypt; and Persia on Mediterranean cultures; through assimilation; conquest; migration; and trade.

Unit 2: Ancient Rome

Analyze how shifts in the political framework of Roman society impacted the expansion of the empire and how this expansion transformed Roman society; economy; and culture.

Discuss the political events that may have contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire; including internal divisions; significant battles; invasions; and political changes.

Unit 3: Development of Major Religions

Explain the historical context; origins; beliefs; and moral teachings of the major world religions and philosophies Judaism; Christianity; and Islam.

Unit 4: The Middle Ages; Renaissance; Exploration; Reformation

Discuss the evolution of significant political; economic; social and cultural European medieval society; including Catholic and Byzantine churches; feudalism and manorialism; the Crusades; the rise of cities; and changing technology.

Describe the significant social and cultural changes that took place during the Renaissance; including advances in printing press technology; the works of Renaissance writers and elements of Humanism; the revival of Greco-Roman art; architecture; and scholarship; and differing ideas on the role of women.

Discuss the major developments in European society and culture that took place during the Middle Ages; Renaissance; Age of Exploration; and the Reformation.

Unit 5: The Early Modem World

Describe the early influences on Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment.

Discuss the contributions of the Scientific Revolution to European society; including important discoveries in mathematics; physics; biology; and chemistry; and the significance of the scientific method advanced by Descartes and Bacon.

Discuss the major developments in European society and culture; including: The Protestant Reformation; establishment of colonial colonies; Tran-Atlantic slave trade; Commercial Revolution; English Revolution; early growth of capitalism; and the economic; social; religious; and political impact of the Plague.

Unit 6: Age of Revolutionary Change

Discuss the causes and consequences of political revolutions in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Discuss how industrialization shaped social class (e.g.; child labor; conditions of social class) and the development of labor organizations.

Assessment

To measure mastery in accordance with the grading policy; attendance policy and other policies of the Board of Education; the teacher will select appropriate evaluative methods as listed below:

Performance Assessments Simulations
Student Effort Role Play
Homework/Classwork DBQ’s
Test/quizzes Class Participation
Cooperative Learning Experiences Discussion
Research Reflective Journal
Debates Midterm and Final Exams
Oral Presentations

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Requested competency code

Date submitted

Approved

Approved competency code

• SSCI
• 1 year of other Social Science

Approved date

Online / Virtual