World History Part 1: Cuneiform to Crusades 

World History 1 is a World History class for High Schoolers that covers the period of history from roughly 3000 BCE to 1200 CE (Cuneiform to Crusades). 

World History 1 will examine: 

• The elements of culture and society - Geography, Resources, Population and Demographics, Politics, Religion. 

• Complex historical cause and effect narrative. 

• Compare and contrast various ancient societies and their interactions. 

• The major events of conflict, natural disaster, cultural development, rising and falling or transformation of empires and societies. 

• Concepts for historical study. 

• Critical reasoning about cause and effect. 

• Historical evidence, especially primary source documents 

Participatory Requirements: 

• Weekly online class session 

• Weekly discussion topic based on primary source reading 

• Weekly quiz 

• 1 Historical figure paper 

• 1 Persuasive/Position paper about a historical topic OR a primary source analysis paper on your choice of texts from an approved list. 

Required Texts: 

• Penguin History of the World, J.M. Roberts and Odd Arne Westad (6th edition, 2013) 

• Sources of the Western Tradition, Volume 1, Marvin Perry (9th edition preferred but not required) 

• Not Required but Recommended: Smithsonian’s History of the World Map By Map  

Please see the course calendar for meeting time. All class sessions will be recorded.

NOTE: Required texts are not provided. 

Class size limited to 50 students.