www.k12.com { Pg. 1 } HST102: World History In this survey of world history from prehistoric to modern times, students focus on the key developments and events that have shaped civilization across time. The course is organized chronologically and, within broad eras, regionally. Lessons address developments in religion, philosophy, the arts, science and technology, and political history. The course also introduces geography concepts and skills within the context of the historical narrative. Online lessons and assessments complement World History: Our Human Story, a textbook written and published by K¹². Students analyze primary sources and maps, create timelines, and complete other projects—practicing historical thinking and writing skills as they explore the broad themes and big ideas of human history. COURSE LENGTH: Two semesters MATERIALS: World History: Our Human Story PREREQUISITES: K 12 middle school American History Since 1865, World History A or World History B, or equivalent SEMESTER ONE Unit 1: Civilization Begins, Prehistory-1000 BC Students explore the human story before written language. They discover how the earliest people lived and why the discovery of farming allowed them to settle down. They see why towns grew into cities and the ways human communities grappled with difficult questions. Who would perform important tasks, like growing crops and building canals? Who would be in charge? How should society organize itself? And how will people remember their own history? The answers, as well as brand-new questions, arose with the world’s first civilizations. • Semester Introduction • Finding Our Past • Settling Down • The First Civilization • The Gift of the Nile • Civilization on the Nile • Early Civilizations in India and China • Looking at Civilizations • The First Empires • Egypt Builds an Empire • Expanding Empires Unit 2: Civilizations Flourish, 1100 BC-AD 300 Students explore the impact of mighty empires and small kingdoms that traded goods and spread culture and new ideas. They see the impact of migrations on humans’ thinking about their place in the universe as the Hebrews, founders of Judaism, followed the Fertile Crescent to Canaan and Aryans settled in northern India and introduced the ideas that became Hinduism. Centuries later, India saw the rise of Buddhism, and in China, a great teacher named Confucius introduced a philosophy that has shaped the lives of millions. The classical eras in India and China set enduring artistic standards. • The Birth of Buddhism • India’s Golden Age • Classical China and Confucianism • China’s Dynasties