If you do well in this course, you will be able to:
- Communication
- Explain using written and oral communication the changing structures and development of Western civilization up after 1600 CE.
- Describe key people, periods, and events of Western civilization after 1600 CE using written and oral communication.
- Critical Thinking
- Identify and evaluate the social, economic and political forces at work in the evolution of Western civilization from approximately 3000 BCE to 1600CE.
- Understand the general chronology and geography of Western history.
- Evaluate the main forces or factors at work in the historical development of the West
- Analyze the cultural achievements of ancient and medieval Western civilization.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
- The Age of Absolutism: Suggested Context Absolute Monarchy, Constitutional Monarchy, Hapsburg Dynasty, Philip II of Spain, Bourbon Dynasty of France, Catherine the Great of Russia.
- Identify and/or explain the origins of Absolutism and Constitutionalism.
- Compare and contrast the Absolute monarchy and Constitutional monarchy.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
- Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment: Suggested Context Kepler, Copernicus, Newton, Empiricism, Enlightenment Philosophy (Hume, Locke, Smith, Rousseau, etc.), Social Contract.
- Describe how the Scientific Revolution impacted religious, political, and cultural institutions by challenging how people viewed the world.
- Explain the Enlightenment thinkers applied reason to discover natural laws.
- Analyze how Enlightenment ideas challenged practices related to traditional authority.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
- Age of Revolution: Suggested Context Nationalism, American Revolution, French Revolution, Latin American Independence Movements, Napoleon, Metternich, Unification of Italy, Unification of Germany.
- Identify how Enlightenment philosophy inspired the Age of Revolution./li>
- Explain how the revolutionary leaders of this time embodied or complicated the philosophies of the Enlightenment.
- Describe the historical origins of the nation or nation-state, and the emergence of nationalism in the world.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
- Industrial Revolution: Suggested Context Child Labor, Industrial Technology, Monopoly, Strikes and Unions, Factory System, Urbanization, Marxism and Communism, The Working Class.
- Identify the origins of the Industrial Revolution.
- Describe how the Industrial Revolution changed society.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
- Imperialism: Suggested Context Debate over White Man's Burden, Anti-Colonial Thought, European Colonies (i.e, the Congo, India, Vietnam, etc.), Race and Culture, Rebellions and Uprisings.
- Identify the causes of World War I.
- Analyze the progression of the war and its ultimate outcomes.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
- Era Between Wars: Suggested Context Great Depression, Russian Revolution, Lost Generation, Totalitarian Regimes, Weimar Republic, Popular Nationalisms.
- Analyze the rise and impact of totalitarianism in Europe and/or the rest of the world.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
- Compare the economic and military power shifts caused by World War I and/or the Great Depression.
- Explain societal transformations in the aftermath of the First World War and their impact on interwar social and political movements.
- World War II: Suggested Context Appeasement, Holocaust, Blitzkrieg, D-Day, Internment Camps, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Hitler, Churchill, Home Front, Propaganda.
- Explain the key causes of World War II.
- Analyze the progression of the war and its ultimate outcomes.
- Evaluate the impact of genocide and the Holocaust within the context of the war.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
- Decolonization: Suggested Context Indigenous People, Self-Determination, Multinational States, Globalization, Algerian War, Partition of India.
- Analyze the reasons for decolonization and how nationalism and nationalistic leaders led the demand for colonial independence.
- Evaluate the impact of independence for former colonies.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
- Cold War: Suggested Context Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO and the Warsaw Pact, Cuban Missile Crisis, Korean War, Vietnam War, Brinksmanship vs. Detente, Civil Rights Movement, Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall.
- Explain the ideological, economic, and military origins of the Cold War.
- Analyze the impacts of the Cold War on world politics, society, and/or the economy.
- Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.