world history ap – course syllabus - mr. bolar's...

World History AP – Course Syllabus

Introduction to the Course – In this course we will be working together to get an understanding of the global experiences of humanity. Most people think of this subject and this course as being very broad, with a huge amount of available information, and from one perspective, that view is correct. However, it is also true that this world history course will in some ways be specialized due to the fact that we will focus on six specific themes that that are global or hemispheric in scope. These topics are:

1. The relationship of change and continuity from 8,000 BCE to the present.2. The impact of interaction among and within major societies.3. The impact of technology, economics and demography on people and the environment.4. Systems of social structure and gender structure.5. Cultural, religious and intellectual developments.6. Changes in functions and structures of states and in attitudes toward states and political identities, including the emergence of nationstates.

These themes will be used throughout the course and with every chapter in order to identify the broad patterns and processes that explain change and continuity over time.

Course Readings – The following books are required reading for this course:

Bently, Jerry H., and Herbert J. Ziegler. Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past. Second Edition. New York: McGraw Hill. 2003.

You will be required to read a biography of any historical figure up to circa 1450 and write a critical book review on the book. Information for the report will be given at the beginning of the second semester.

Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1997.

Just a quick note on reading Diamond’s book: This book is required summer reading for this course and it is a best selling novel that attempts to answer a basic question about world history. The author provides important information for specific topics that we are studying in the course. However, he also poses a broader question, which he answers in terms that involve analysis of virtually every human society. This is a proper world historical analysis. Before you leave for the summer you must come to me and receive your assignment which consists of questions for each specific chapters as well as an essay question which you will respond to after reading the text.

In addition to these readings you will always be required to read one or two primary documents for each subject (chapter) that we cover and we will also be using maps, graphs, artwork and

pictures for each chapter as well. For instance if we are discussing the Italian Renaissance we will read excerpts from Machiavelli and Vasari. The complete list of primary documents can be found in the daily schedule at the end of the syllabus.

Assignments and Responsibilities – Each class period will be organized on the assumption that the students are keeping up with the readings. This means that there will be times when names or events will be referred to in lectures without much description if they have already been covered in the readings. Students will be responsible for asking questions if they feel that they do not have sufficient information about something.

Pay special attention to this next section!!!

Here is what you will need for this class and what you can expect on a day to day basis. You must obtain these materials as soon as possible in order for the class to run smoothly.

Students are required to have one three inch three ring binder for the class and it will be split up into five sections by dividers. The sections are to be labeled at follows…

IDs/Vocabulary TermsNotes/Concentration ParagraphsPrimary Documents/Class WorkEssays/Writing PromptsTests/Quizzes

There are forty chapters in the book and we will need to cover them all before you take your final exam. For every chapter you can count on being given terms to identify as you read at home and you will receive a few primary documents that we will read and analyze. Also, for every chapter you can count on taking notes from brief lectures, writing a concentration paragraph and presenting it to the class, taking a quiz on your reading and completing various class work activities such as group work and debates. These six assignments are required for every chapter. You will keep them in order, by chapter in your notebooks, within the proper section. I will check your notebooks on the test days to ensure you are keeping up with your work. If they are not in order I will not give you credit for doing them!

Requirements and Goals of the Course – The goals and requirements of the course are designed to provide skills, information, and tools for historical analysis of the world historical experiences of humanity. In specific terms this will mean:

1. Students will be expected to have a basic literacy in world historical information so that they can discuss important trends and developments, using specific names, terms and concepts accurately. In this course, we will identify over twenty important terms per chapter and with forty chapters in the book this will amount to at least eight hundred terms that you will be responsible

for knowing. These terms will be given in the form of what I refer to as “IDs” that will be given to you before reading each chapter. As you read the chapter you will write a brief explanation of each “ID”.

2. Students will be expected to discuss critically a series of issues involved in the study of world history and write short concentration papers in which your topic is defined and explained to the class. Each student will be given a topic taken from the main themes of the world history AP class and will present their topic as it relates to the specific chapter we are covering. In a sense the student will become our resident expert on one of the following topics and will present his or her findings to the class. The topics include:

a. Interaction through Tradeb. Interaction through Warc. Interaction through Diplomacyd. Change and Continuitye. Impact of Technologyf. System of Social Structureg. System of Gender Structureh. Cultural and Intellectual Developmentsi. Political Organization

As the students present their findings the remainder of the class is required to take notes on the presentations, as everyone is responsible for the information. I will provide you with specific note sheets in order to record the information.

3. DBQ and Free Response Essays Students will be expected to write longer interpretive essays presenting sustained and informed analysis of a topic. These essays will include document based essays, change over time essays and comparative essays in order to prepare the students for their final exam. These three types of essays will be discussed and covered extensively throughout the course and you can expect to write each form of essay many times throughout the year.

4. Executive Summary Essays – Every quarter each student will be given a writing prompt pertaining to the current unit that we are covering and will write an executive summary of their conclusions. Your executive summaries must be no more than two pages long. It should be written in grammatically correct and complete sentences. In the summary format there must be an introduction in which your position is clearly and succinctly stated. Then the body of the paper will provide a clear presentation of the information and reasoning on which that position is based, proving your position. The paper should end with a brief and clear conclusion.

5. Second Semester DBQ Project – Students will be assigned with the preparation of their own DBQ. Students will research a topic, selected by the teacher and prepare a set of primary source documents based on the topic. They will write a question asking the reader to draw on the

information in the documents in order to formulate a response. Finally, students will draft what they consider to be the ideal response to the question. You must cite all of your information in your project, including electronic sources used.

6. Basic Literacy Tests – For every five chapters that we read in the book, students will be given a basic literacy test in the form of 70 multiple choice questions based on the readings from the text book. The test is designed to prepare the students for the first portion of their final exam at the end of the course.

7. Be Responsible Prepare to take your exam on Thursday, May 17. Participate in class and keep up with your assignments. Attend class daily and arrive on time. Make up your work when you are absent.

Grading Policy – Grades will be determined by a number of factors with a variety of weights, as outlined below.

Quarter Grades Semester Grades Final GradesNotes10% Quarter One37.5% Semester One37.5%Concentration Paragraphs10% Quarter Two37.5% Semester Two37.5%Class Work10% Semester Exam25% Final Exam25%IDs10%Primary Documents10%Quizzes15%Tests20%Essays15%

Course Outline – The following information is provided in order to give you an idea of what topics we will be studying in the course and when we will be doing so.

Semester One

UNIT ONE – Foundations Period, c. 8000 BCE to 600 CE (First 5 Weeks)Topics will include prehistory, early civilizations and major belief systems.

UNIT TWO – 600 CE to 1450 CE (7Weeks)Topics will include Islam, the Silk Road, Feudalism, African civilizations and early American civilizations.

UNIT THREE – 1450 CE to 1750 CE (4 Weeks)Topics will include the Renaissance, Scientific Revolution, Age of Exploration, and Slave Trade.

Semester Two

UNIT FOUR – 1750 CE to 1914 CE (5 Weeks)Topics will include Industrialization, the Enlightenment, Age of Revolution, Nationalism and Imperialism.

UNIT FIVE – 1914 CE to 2000 CE (6 Weeks)Topics will include World War One, The Depression, World War Two, and the Cold War.

The remainder of the time we will review and prepare for your exam.

The following is a rundown of what we will cover each day in class and the area of the world that is covered

AP World HistorySchedule of Classes 20072008

Day One Course introductioncomplete information sheetswriting essays: DBQs, Change over Time, ComparativeDistribute and discuss textBentley, Jerry H. and Herbert F. Ziegler. Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past. Boston: McGraw Hill.Where will we start? Before HistoryWhere will we end? As close to the present day as we can get.Homework: Read (1) pp. 229, complete outline of chapter

Identify 15 terms in the chapter.When identifying terms, remember to note the following: Who orWhat, When, Where, and Why the person or term is significant.

Day Twoquiz on reading of Ch. 1discuss “Before History”Primary Sources – Ice Man, Cave Paintings and MapsHomework: Read (2) pp. 3358, complete outline of chapter

Identify 15 terms in the chapter.

Day Three (SouthWestern Asia)quiz on reading of Ch. 2discuss “Early Societies in Southwest Asia and the IndoEuropean

Migrations”Primary Sources – Epic of Gilgamesh, Code of Hammurabi and MapsHomework: Read (3) pp. 6185, complete outline of chapter


Day Four (Africa)quiz on reading of Ch. 3discuss “Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations”Primary Sources – Hymn to the Pharaoh, Aton Hymn, Harkuf’s Expedition and MapsHomework: Read (4) pp. 89107, complete outline of chapter


Day Five (Asia)quiz on reading of Ch. 4discuss “Early Societies in South Asia”Primary Sources – The Lawbook of Manu, Artifact Overheads and MapsHomework: Read (5) pp. 11132, complete outline of chapter


Day Six (East Asia)quiz on reading of Ch. 5discuss “Early Society in East Asia”Primary Sources – Pan Ku’s Histories, Oracle Bone Overheads and MapsHomework: Read (6) pp. 13558, complete outline of chapter


Day Seven (Americas and Pacific)quiz on reading of Ch. 6discuss “Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania”Primary Sources – Popul Vuh and MapsHomework: Prepare for Unit One test (70 multiple choice, no essay)

Day Eight Unit One testfollowing the test, work on maps for map quiz on Day TenHomework: continue working on maps

Day Nine discuss Unit One test and find global connectionsbegin working on DBQsHomework: complete DBQ

Read (7) pp. 16585, complete outline of chapterIdentify 15 terms in the chapter.

Day Ten (SouthWestern Asia)map quiz and quiz on reading of Ch. 7begin discussion of Unit Two“The Formation of Classical Societies, 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. with Ch. 7 “The Empires of Persia”Primary Sources – Zarathustra and Zoroastrianism ExcerptsHomework: Read (8) pp. 187209, complete outline of chapter


Day Eleven (Asia)quiz on Ch. 8discuss “The Unification of China”watch video on ChinaPrimary Sources – Chinese salt mine picture and Chinese Home DrawingHomework: Read (9) pp. 213235, complete outline of chapterIdentify 15 terms in the chapter.[notes to teacher: order copies of Guns, Germs and Steel]

Day Twelve (Asia)quiz on Ch. 9continue discussion of Chinadiscuss “State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India”Primary Sources – The Analects and the Life of BuddhaHomework: Read (10) pp. 23965, complete outline of chapter


Day Thirteen (Asia)Primary Sources – Sanchi Gateway Pictures and Jainian Idealscontinue discussion of India

Day Fourteen (Europe)begin discussion of “Mediterranean Society: The Greek Phase”Primary Sources – Greek Poem on Women and Excerpt from the Odyssey

Homework: continue with reading and IDsStudy for quiz on Ch. 10

Day Fifteen (Europe)quiz on Ch. 10 continue discussion of Ancient Greece

Homework: Read (11) pp. 26993, complete outline of chapterIdentify 15 terms in the chapter

Day Sixteen (Roman Empire)begin discussion of “Mediterranean Society: The Roman Phase”Homework: continue with reading and IDs

Study for quiz on Ch. 11

Day Seventeen (Europe)quiz on Ch. 11continue discussion of the Roman EmpirePrimary Sources – Pliny the YoungerHomework: Read (12) pp. 295319, complete outline of chapter

Identify 15 terms in the chapter

Day Eighteen (Asia)quiz on Ch. 12discuss “CrossCultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads”discuss essay writing: the Comparative EssayHomework: study for test on Unit Two: The Formation of Classical

Societies, 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E.Test: 40 Multiple Choice and Comparative Essay

Day Nineteen test on Unit Two: Ch. 712 and Comparative essayHomework: Read (13) pp. 32751 –outline chapter and study for quiz

Identify 15 terms from the chapter

Day Twenty discuss Unit Two test and find global connectionsdiscuss results of Comparative essay

Day Twentyone (Europe)quiz on Ch. 13begin discussion of Unit Three – “The Postclassical Era, 500 to 1000 C.E.”with Ch. 13 “The Commonwealth of Byzantium”Primary Sources – Belisarius and Eastern Empire mapsHomework: Read (14) pgs. 35579 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Twentytwo (SouthWestern Asia)quiz on Ch. 14discuss “The Expansive Realm of Islam”Primary Sources – The Quran Excerpt and Islamic MapsHomework: Read (15) pgs. 383409 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Twentythree (Asia)quiz on Ch. 15discuss “The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia”Primary Sources – Japanese Uniqueness

Day Twentyfour (World – Impact of Geography)quiz on Guns, Germs and Steeldiscuss Guns, Germs and Steel following quizHomework: Read (16) pgs. 41337 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Twentyfive (Asia)quiz on Ch. 16discuss “India and the Indian Ocean Basin”Primary Sources – Key to Paradise: Islam In IndiaHomework: Read (17) pgs. 44163 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Twentysix (Europe)quiz on Ch. 17discuss “The Foundations of Christian Society in Western Europe”have students work in groups on posters of feudal manors if timeintroduce Changeovertime (Change and Continuities) EssayPrimary Sources – The Decameron and Black Death PicturesHomework: study for test on Unit Three

40 Multiple Choice and Change over time Essay

Day Twentyseven test on Unit Three with Change and Continuities EssayHomework: Read (18) pgs. 47190 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Twentyeight

discuss Unit Three test and global connectionsdiscuss Changeovertime essay

Day Twentynine (Asia)quiz on Ch. 18begin discussion of Unit Four “An Age of CrossCultural Interaction, 1000 to 1500 C.E.” beginning with Ch. 18 “Nomadic Empires and Eurasian Integration”Primary Sources – Turks and Arabs, Mongol Gender Relations and TimurHomework: Read (19) pgs. 493514 – outline chapter and study for quiz

Identify 15 terms from chapter

Day Thirty (Africa)quiz on Ch. 19discuss “States and Societies of SubSaharan Africa”Primary Sources – Various Oral Histories and FolktalesHomework: Read (20) pgs. 51743 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Thirtyone (Europe)quiz on Ch. 20discuss “Western Europe during the High Middle Ages”Primary Source – Urban’s call for the crusadesHomework: Read (21) pgs. 54769 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Thirtytwo (America and Pacific)quiz on Ch. 21discuss “Worlds Apart: The Americas and Oceania”Primary Sources – Inca Society and Archeologist AccountsHomework: Read (22) pgs. 57399 – outline chapter


Day Thirtythree review day

Day Thirtyfour (Asia)discuss “Reaching Out: CrossCultural Interactions”Primary Sources – King Alfonso’s Expedition to Explore AfricaHomework: study for quiz on Ch. 22

Day Thirtyfive (World Renaissance)quiz on Ch. 22discuss the Renaissanceanalyze Renaissance Artwork from overheadsshow video of Renaissance ArtHomework: study for test on Unit Four

40 Multiple choice and DBQ essay

Day Thirtysix test on Unit Four with DBQ essay

Day Thirtyseven discuss Unit Four test and global connectionsdiscuss DBQ essayassign groups for review activitiesgroups should prepare review by centuries and regions of the world

Day Thirtyeight work in groups

Day Thirtyninegroup presentations

Day Forty review for semester exam

Day Fortyone review for semester exam

Day Fortytworeview for semester exam

Day Fortythree semester exams?

Day Fortyfour semester exams?

Day Fortyfive (Africa and Asia)Homework: Read (23) pgs. 60734 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Fortysix (Africa and Asia)quiz on Ch. 23Primary Sources – Indian Conflictbegin discussion of Unit Five “The Origins of Global Interdependence, 15001800 with Ch. 23 “Transoceanic Encounters and Global Connections”Homework: Read (24) pgs. 63764 – outline chapter


Day Fortyseven (Europe)discuss Ch. 24 “The Transformation of Europe”Primary Sources – Emmanuel Kant and Enlightenment worksdiscuss the Protestant ReformationHomework: study for quiz on Ch. 24


Day Fortyeight (World Enlightenment)quiz on Ch. 24discuss Scientific Rev. and the EnlightenmentHomework: Read (25) pgs. 66793 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Fortynine (Americas and Pacific)quiz on Ch. 25discuss “New Worlds: The Americas and Oceania”Primary Sources – Archeological account of Machu PichuHomework: Read (26) pgs. 697720 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Fifty (Africa)quiz on Ch. 26discuss “Africa and the Atlantic World”Primary Sources – Slave Trade AccountsHomework: Read (27) pgs. 72350 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Fiftyone (Asia)quiz on Ch. 27discuss “Tradition and Change in East Asia”

discuss Japanese culture (e.g. theatre, art, Haiku poetry)Primary Sources – The Way of the SamuraiHomework: Read (28) pgs. 75374 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Fiftytwo (SouthWestern Asia)quiz on Ch. 28discuss “The Islamic Empires”Primary Sources – The Ottoman social orderHomework: Read (29) pgs. 77799 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Fiftythree (Russia) quiz on Ch. 29

discuss “The Russian Empire in Europe and Asia”Primary Sources – Peter the Great: Invitation of Foreigners Homework: study for test on Unit Five

40 Multiple choice and Comparative essay

Day Fiftyfour Unit five test with Comparative essay

Homework: Read (30) pgs. 80737 – outline chapterIdentify 15 terms from the chapter

Day Fiftyfivediscuss Unit Five test and global connectionsdiscuss Comparative essay

Day Fiftysix (Europe)begin discussion of Unit Six “An Age of Revolution, Industry, and Empire, 17501914” with Ch. 30 “Revolutions and National States in the Atlantic World”discuss “Popular Sovereignty and Political Upheaval” (French Rev.)Homework: study for quiz on Ch. 30

Day Fiftyseven (Latin America and Europe)quiz on Ch. 30discuss “Impact of Rev. and Nation Building” (Latin American Rev., Unification of Germany and Italy, and Zionism)Primary Sources – The Third Estate: Discontents Homework: Read (31) pgs. 84168 – outline chapter


Day Fiftyeight (World – Industrial Revolution)discuss “The Making of Industrial Society” (Industrial Rev. in Britain)Homework: study for quiz on Ch. 31

Day Fiftynine (World Industrial Revolution)quiz on Ch. 31discuss “Global Effects of Industrialization”Primary Sources – Communist ManifestoHomework: Read (32) pgs. 871900 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Sixty (Americas)quiz on Ch. 32discuss “The Americas in the Age of Independence”Primary Sources – William Mackenzie: Religion in AmericaHomework: Read (33) pgs. 90330 – outline chapter and study for quiz

Identify 15 terms from chapter

Day Sixtyone (Asia)quiz on Ch. 33discuss “Societies at Crossroads” – Ottoman EmpirePrimary Sources – Tokugawa Nariachi: Foreign InfluenceHomework: Read (34) pgs. 93362 – outline chapter and study for quiz

Day Sixtytwo (Africa and Asian Imperialism)quiz on Ch. 34discuss “The Building of Global Empires”Primary Sources – Rudyard Kipling’s poem, White Mans BurdenHomework: study for test on Unit Six and Change and Continuities

Essay with 40 Multiple Choices

Day Sixtythree Unit six test with Change and Continuities EssayHomework: Read (35) pgs. 9711001 – outline chapter


Day Sixtyfour (World War)begin discussion of Unit Seven “Contemporary Global Realignments,

1914 to the Present” with Ch. 35 “The Great War: The World in Upheaval” (Causes of the war and the actual war)Primary Sources – First hand accounts of assassination of FerdinandHomework: study for quiz on Ch. 35

Day Sixtyfive (World War)quiz on Ch. 35continue discussion with Russian Rev. and Treaty of VersaillesHomework: Read (36) pgs. 100334 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Sixtysix (World War)quiz on Ch. 36discuss “An Age of Anxiety” (particularly: Great Depression, Fascism, and the Chinese Rev.)Primary Sources – Fascist doctrines by Mussolini and HitlerHomework: Read (37) pgs. 103766 – outline chapter


Day Sixtyseven (World War)discuss “New Conflagrations: World War II” (Origins of WWII and the War)Homework: study for quiz on Ch. 37

Day Sixtyeight (World War)quiz on Ch. 37cont. discussion of WWII (the Holocaust, origins of Cold War)Primary Sources – World War Mapping Activity and Ethiopia’s plea for helpHomework: Read (38) pgs. 106997 – outline chapter

Identify 15 terms from the chapter[Give students essay packets from History UnfoldingTo work on over Spring Break]

Day Sixtyninereview day

Day Seventy (America, Europe, Asia and Africa)discuss “The Bipolar World” (Cold War, the Establishment of the People’s Republic of China, and the Vietnam War)Homework: study for quiz on Ch. 38

Day Seventyone (Cold War)quiz on Ch. 38cont. discussion with Collapse of the Soviet Union and end of Cold WarPrimary Sources – Soviet Perspectives on the Cold War: First hand accountsHomework: Read (39) pgs. 10991133 – outline chapter


Day Seventytwodiscuss “The Retreat from Empire” (Asian independence)Homework: study for quiz on Ch. 39

Day Seventythree quiz on Ch. 39cont. discussion with African independence and creation of IsraelPrimary Sources – India/Pakistan Partition: First hand accountsHomework: Read (40) pgs. 113568 – outline chapter and study for quiz


Day Seventyfour quiz on Ch. 40discuss “A World Without Borders”Homework: study for test on Unit Seven

40 multiple choice and DBQ essay

Day Seventyfive test on Unit Seven with DBQ essay

Day Seventysix review for AP exammore timed essay workprimary document workassign groups for review activitiesgroups should prepare review by centuries and regions of the world

Day Seventyseven review for AP exam

Day Seventyeight review for AP examAP Exam should be the first week of May