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Introduction to the SAT World History class
Why study World History? What are its merits over U.S and European History? While the latter two are useful in a somewhat myopic sense, with the advent of globalization, today’s students are called upon to be more aware of their counterparts in other parts of the world. SAT World History invites students to take a global view of historical processes and contacts between people in different societies. The development of human societies from gathering-hunting groups and early agricultural societies into major civilizations and other complex societies will be traced. While religious, economic, and political dimensions will be discussed, the primary focus will be on the period from the rise of ancient civilizations, through the time of large-scale empires, to the early modern era of worldwide trade and gunpowder empires. Purpose of the class In the SAT World History course, students will cultivate the following skills: knowledge of historical terminology, comprehension of cause-and-effect relationships, knowledge of historical geography, familiarity with major historical developments, ability to utilize concepts necessary to historical analysis, capacity to use historical knowledge to interpret data in maps, graphs, charts, or cartoons, ability to interpret paintings or other artistic materials, and ability to use historical knowledge to interpret quotations within the context of the period addressed. Syllabus of the class 1. Human Origins - The Dawn of Humankind - The Paleolithic Age - The Neolithic Age 2. Early Agricultural Civilizations and Societies - The Rise of Civilization - Civilization in the Fertile Crescent - Civilization Along the Nile - Civilization in the Indus River Valley - Early Civilization in China - Agrarian Societies of the Americas - Agricultural Societies of Oceania 3. Interactions Among Early Empires and Societies - The Development of Iron Metallurgy - The Hebrews - Maritime Interactions 4. Persia, Greece, and the Hellenistic World - The Rise of City-States in Greece - Diversity in Greece: Athens and Sparta - Interactions with Persia - The Rise and Fall of Athenian Power - The Golden Age of Athens - The Empire of Alexander 5. The Roman and Han Empires - The Roman Republic - Rome in Transition - The Pax Romana - Roman Culture - The Rise of Christianity - The Fall of Rome - The Han Empire - The Silk Roads 6. Empires of South Asia - The Mauryan Empire - The Decline of Buddhism in India - The Gupta Empire 7. The Rise of Islam - The Beginnings of Islam: The Life of Muhammad - The Five Pillars of Islam - The Spread of Islam - Women in the Islamic World - Muslim Cultural Achievements 8. Cross-Cultural Exchange in the Byzantine Empire - The Eastern Roman Empire - The Byzantine Church - Byzantine and Russian Interactions - Turkish Interactions with Byzantium 9. East Asia and Southeast Asia - Restoration of Chinese Centralized Rule - Life in Tang and Song China - Foreign Relations Under the Tang and Song 10. Feudal Systems in Western Europe and Japan - The Rise of Regional States in Western Europe - Feudalism in Western Europe - The Decentralization of Japanese Government 11. The Mongols and Eurasian Interactions - Mongol Society - Mongol Conquests - The Mongol Peace - The Fall of the Mongol Empire 12. African Societies and Empires - The Bantu Migrations - Empires of West Africa - Eastern and Southern African Settlements 13. The Rise of Nation-States in Europe - The Revival of Trade in Europe - The Crusades - Life in the High Middle Ages - The Rise of Centralized Government in England and Fance - Secular vs. Papal Authority - The Hundred Years’ War 14. Peoples of the Americas and Oceania - The Maya - The Toltecs - The Arrival of the Aztecs - The Incas - Societies of Oceania 15. Renaissance and Reformation - The European Renaissance - The Protestant Reformation 16. Expansion of the Islamic World - The Rise of the Ottomans - The Safavid Empire - The Mughal Empire - Society Under Islamic Imperial Rule 17. An Age of Exploration and Exchange - Global Awareness is Heightened - Chinese Exploration of the Indian Ocean - European Exploration of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans - Trade: A Global Process - European Dominance of the Oceans - The Ming and Qing Dynasties - Cultural Exchange in the New World: European Conquests - The Columbian Exchange - The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade 18. Rise of Absolute Monarchs and the Enlightenment - The Growth of Nation-States in Europe - Absolute Monarchs - New Economic Policies - The Scientific Revolution - The Enlightenment 19. Revolution and the Nationalist Movements - The English Revolution - The American Revolution - The French Revolution - The Empire of Napoleon - The Congress of Vienna - The Haitian Revolution - South American Independence - Independence for Mexico - Revolution in China 20. Industrialization and the Growth of Democracy - Eastern Models of Industrialization - The Agricultural Revolution - Expansion of the Industrial Revolution - Domestic Effects and Global Impact of the Industrial Revolution - Reform Movements - The Growth of Democracy 21. Imperialism and Global Transformation - The Race for Empire Begins - Europe Divides Africa - British Control of India - Imperialism in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands - Imperialism in the Ottoman Empire - China Responds to Western Influence - Japan Begins Modernization - Imperialism in Latin America 22. World War I - Tensions Mount in Europe - Rivalries Erupt in the Balkans - War Begins - The Great War - The Nature of the War - Building the Peace - The Impact of the Great War 23. Totalitarianism and Nationalism - The Russian Revolutions - Nationalism in China - The Drive for Nationalism in India - Nationalist Moves in Southwest Asia 24. Depression and Dictatorship - The World of the Early Twentieth Century - Political and Economic Challenges - The Great Depression - The Rise of Fascism in Europe - Aggression Leads to War 25. World War II - The War in Europe Begins - Hitler Moves Against France and Great Britain - War in the East and in Africa - The Holocaust - US Response to the War - The Japanese Strike Against the US - Allied Retaliation Against Japanese - Life During the War - Victory in Europe - Victory in the Pacific - The Aftermath of the War 26. The Postwar World - USSR and Satellite Nations - The Cold War - Communism in China - Conflict in Korea - The Vietnam Conflict - Rivalries in the Third World - Cold War Tensions Ease 27. Global Independence Movements - Independence for South Asia and Southeast Asia - The Decolonization of Africa - South Africa - Movements for Self-Rule in Southwest Asia - A New Era for Soviet Union - Reform in Poland and Hungary - The Fall of Communism in East Germany - Czechoslovakia and Romania - The Collapse of Soviet Communism - The Division of Yugoslavia - China Strengthens Its Communist Regime - Modern Latin America 28. Global Interdependence - Global Community - Revolutions in World Economic Development - The Growth of World Trade - Science and Technology Strive to Improve Global Outlook - Threats to Global Security - Movements for Human Rights - Migration - A Global Mass Culture - Women in the Global Village |