World Civilizations and Cultures will focus on five major regions of the world: Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Using regional and global approaches, emphasis will be placed on understanding the geographical, historical, cultural, political, environmental, and economic aspects of these regions. This course is designed to nurture respect for the diversity of cultures and complexity in the modern world.
We’ll begin by examining physical and human geography, including mapping the world, physical phenomena, and human culture. We will then investigate human life before “civilization,” followed by the invention of farming about 12,000 years ago, when humans formed the "urban societies" that developed into the world we know today. We will then introduce the study of Western civilizations, beginning with a survey the Greek and Roman traditions.
Our ongoing analysis will include examination the evolution of leading civilizations throughout the world. We will explore the concept of globalization, and see how the actions of cultures across the globe are increasingly affecting the world's physical and human environment. In addition, we will spend time each week analyzing the events that are shaping our world today, such as population growth, immigration, terrorism, human rights, environmental concerns and the use of world resources, including water and oil. In addition to these topics, students will develop an understanding of the significance and origin of the world’s five most practiced religions.
This course enables you to deeply investigate how individuals, groups, and societies make decisions and act in response to complex, global issues. This is a college preparatory class and you will be developing skills including effective reading, research and writing. A case study approach will provide you with an opportunity to understand issues through in-depth inquiry, engagement with diverse sources of information and technologies, and collaborative and constructive problem-solving activities. Along the way we will also focus on the art of argument, or presenting a judgment and supporting it with evidence and analysis.
We’ll begin by examining physical and human geography, including mapping the world, physical phenomena, and human culture. We will then investigate human life before “civilization,” followed by the invention of farming about 12,000 years ago, when humans formed the "urban societies" that developed into the world we know today. We will then introduce the study of Western civilizations, beginning with a survey the Greek and Roman traditions.
Our ongoing analysis will include examination the evolution of leading civilizations throughout the world. We will explore the concept of globalization, and see how the actions of cultures across the globe are increasingly affecting the world's physical and human environment. In addition, we will spend time each week analyzing the events that are shaping our world today, such as population growth, immigration, terrorism, human rights, environmental concerns and the use of world resources, including water and oil. In addition to these topics, students will develop an understanding of the significance and origin of the world’s five most practiced religions.
This course enables you to deeply investigate how individuals, groups, and societies make decisions and act in response to complex, global issues. This is a college preparatory class and you will be developing skills including effective reading, research and writing. A case study approach will provide you with an opportunity to understand issues through in-depth inquiry, engagement with diverse sources of information and technologies, and collaborative and constructive problem-solving activities. Along the way we will also focus on the art of argument, or presenting a judgment and supporting it with evidence and analysis.