Western World History

History is the story of the past. Who doesn’t love a good story? Western World History 30 is a course meant to engage students with historical periods, people and events which are largely not covered in their K-12 social studies courses. Students will learn topics such as early humans in the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, the first civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt, the ancient Greeks, Rome, the development of world religions, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, Age of Enlightenment, imperialism, 18th and 19th Century revolutions and the World Wars. In addition to learning history, the course will teach students strategies used by historians in the understanding of history. Students are also able to pursue their own history related interests in the course through project-based learning so the study of history becomes an energizing experience. Learning history is not just about the past. On the contrary, the study of history enables us to develop a better understanding of the world in which we live. Building knowledge and understanding of historical events and trends, especially over human history, enables us to develop a much greater appreciation for current events today. This course can be used for admission to some college and university programs in combination with other option courses. This course is open to students in grades 11 and 12.