Welcome World History and Geography The Middle Ages to the 1700s. I’m your teacher, Mrs. Blosser. This year, you'll embark on an incredible time-traveling adventure spanning from 400 to 1700 CE across multiple continents and civilizations. We'll begin our journey in East Asia, exploring the powerful Tang and Song dynasties of China, the rise of the Mongol Empire, and the unique cultural developments of Japan including Shintoism and samurai traditions. Our adventure continues through the Byzantine Empire where we'll discover how Constantinople became a bridge between Europe and Asia, then venture into Southwest Asia and North Africa to learn about the origins and spread of Islam and the mighty Ottoman Empire. We'll explore Medieval Europe's feudal system, witness the devastating impact of the Black Death, and understand the significance of documents like the Magna Carta. The Renaissance and Reformation will show us how art, science, and religion transformed European society, while our study of Indigenous American civilizations will reveal the sophisticated societies of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. Finally, we'll conclude with the Age of Exploration, examining how European voyages connected the world through trade, colonization, and the Columbian Exchange that forever changed both the Old and New Worlds.
This course will be the students’ first concentrated survey of world history and geography and is designed to help students think like historians, focusing on historical concepts in order to build a foundational understanding of the world. Appropriate primary sources have been embedded in the standards in order to deepen the understanding of world history and geography. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of government, including the beginning of democratic practices.
