PROGRAM OF STUDIES 
AND
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Social Studies

World History
Grade 6

COURSE DESCRIPTION

World History is a survey course which begins with the study of Prehistoric Man and progresses through the civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome, as well as the time periods of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Reformation.  The course prepares students for the study of World Geography and Cultures as well as American History.  In this course, students will be introduced to study, reading, writing, research, presentation, historical thinking, and geography skills. 

Content

Geography Review

• Continents

• Oceans

• Latitude and Longitude

• Map key

Archeology/Prehistoric Man

• Archeology provides historical information
• Hunters/gathers vs. food producers
• Early forms of communication 

Mesopotamia

• Concept of Civilization
• Use of natural resources
• Contributions
• City-state              

Egypt

• How religious beliefs shaped society

• Why Egypt grew and then declined

• Characteristics of civilization

• How geography shaped society

• Contributions

The Phoenicians and Hebrews

• How trade helps build a  civilization
  Monotheism

Greece                                                    

• The efforts of conflict (Trojan War)

• Concept of city-state/polis

• Characteristics of democracy

• Cultural contributions

• Famous thinkers (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, etc.)

• Famous leaders (Phillip II, Alexander the Great)

• Empire building and conquest

Rome

• Legend of Romulus and Remus

• Influence of Etruscans/Latins

• Social order and class system

• Characteristics of a republic

• The Punic Wars

• Characteristics of leaders (Julius Caesar, Augustus)

• Influence of Christianity

• Cultural contributions

• Empire building

The Middle Ages

• Islam

• Feudalism

• The Roman Catholic Church

• The effects of the Crusades

• Growth of trade and towns

• Guilds

• Black Death

• Cultural changes

• Monarchy

• Magna Carta

• Hundred Years War 

The Renaissance

• Influence of Italian Renaissance

• How the Renaissance spread

• Famous Renaissance figures (Shakespeare, daVinci, Michelangelo, etc.)

Key Concepts