A. The Birth of Civilization to 1000 BCE

1. Describe the physical and cultural changes that shaped the earliest human communities as revealed through scientific methods, including:
   • Early hominid development, including the development of language and writing
   • Migration and adaptation to new environments
   • Differences between wild and domestic plants and animals
   • Locations of agricultural settlements
   • Differences between hunter/gatherer, fishing, and agrarian communities
2. Describe how environmental conditions impacted the development of different human communities (e.g., population centers, impact of the last Ice Age).
3. Compare and contrast the economic, political, and environmental factors (e.g., climate, trade, geography) that led to the development of major ancient civilizations including Mesopotamia (e.g., Hammurabi’s Code), Egypt, the Indus Valley, the Yellow River, and Kush (Nubia).

B. Early Human Societies to 500CE

1. Explain the historical context, origins, beliefs, and moral teachings of the major world religions and philosophies, including:
   • The origins of Judaism and Christianity and the emergence of the Judeo-Christian tradition
   • The influence of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism on the formation of Chinese civilization
   • Hinduism, the Aryan migrations, and the caste system in India
   • The influence of Buddhism in India
2. Describe the political framework of Athenian society and its influence on modern society, including:
   • The influence of Athenian political ideals on public life
   • The importance of participatory government
   • The role of women in Athenian society, their rights under law, and possible reasons why democracy was limited to males
   • Athenian ideas and practices related to political freedom, national security, and justice
3. Describe the social and political characteristics of the Greek city-states, including:
   • Similarities and differences between Athenian democracy and Spartan military aristocracy
   • Location and political structure of the city-states
   • Hierarchical relationships in Greek societies
   • Civic, economic, and social tasks performed by men and women of different classes
4. Describe the significant contributions of ancient Greece to Western Civilization, including:
   • Characteristics of Classic Greek art and architecture and how they are reflected in modern art and architecture
   • Socrates’ values and ideas
   • Philosophy, including Plato and Aristotle
   • Greek Drama, including Sophocles and Euripides
   • History, including Herodotus, Xenophon, and Thucydides
   • Greek mythology
5. Discuss the cultural influences of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and India on Mediterranean cultures through assimilation, conquest, migration, and trade.
6. Discuss the origins and social framework of Roman society, including:
   • The geographic location of various ethnic groups on the Italian peninsula and their influence on early Roman society
   • The legends of the founding of Rome and how they reflect the beliefs and values of its citizens
   • Daily life in Rome and Pompeii
7. Describe the political and social framework of Roman society, including:
   • Political and social institutions of the Roman Republic and reasons for its transformation from Republic to Empire
   • The influence of key Roman leaders
8. Analyze how shifts in the political framework of Roman society impacted the expansion of the empire and how this expansion transformed Roman society, economy, and culture.
9. Discuss the political events that may have contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire, including internal divisions, significant battles, invasions, and political changes.
10. Describe the development of the Mayan civilization from agricultural community to an urban civilization, including the influence of the environment on agricultural methods, water utilization, and herding methods.
11. Describe the significant features of Mayan civilization, including the locations of Mayan city-states, road systems, and sea routes, the role and status of elite men and women in Mayan society and their portrayal in Mayan architecture, the role of religion and ceremonial games in Mayan culture, and the structure and purpose of the Mayan pyramids.

C. Expanding Zones of Exchange and Interaction to 1400 CE

1. Discuss how Western civilization arose from a synthesis of Christianity and classical Greco-Roman civilization with the cultures of northern European peoples.
2. Discuss the spread of Islam in Southwest Asia, the Mediterranean region, and Northern Africa and the influence of Islamic ideas and practices on other cultures and social behavior, including:
• The origin and development of Islamic law
• The significance of the Quran and the Five Pillars of Islam
• The diverse religious, cultural, and geographic factors that influenced the ability of the Muslim government to rule
• The split into Sunni and Shi’ite factions
• The importance of Muslim civilization in mediating long-distance commercial, cultural, intellectual, and food crop exchange across Eurasia and parts of Africa
3. Discuss the significance of the developing cultures of Asia, including the Golden Age in China and spread of Chinese civilization to Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia and the rise of the Mongol Empire and its impact on the Kievan Rus.
4. Analyze the rise of the West African Empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay and compare with changes in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
5. Analyze the relationships between Mesoamerican and Andean societies, including:
   • The growth of urban societies and urban planning
   • Religions and rituals
   • Governing structure and economy
   • The construction of the Mesoamerican calendar
   • Similarities in agriculture, societal structures, and artisan crafts
6. Explain the medieval origins of constitutional government in England (e.g., Edward I, Magna Carta, Model Parliament of 1295, Common Law).
7. Discuss the evolution of significant political, economic, social and cultural institutions and events that shaped European medieval society, including Catholic and Byzantine churches, feudalism and manorialism, the Crusades, the rise of cities, and changing technology.

D. The Age of Global Encounters (1400-1750)

1. Discuss factors that contributed to oceanic travel and exploration in the 15^th and 16^th centuries, including technological innovations in ship building navigation, naval warfare, navigational inventions such as the compass, and the impact of wind currents on the major trade routes.
2. Describe the significant contributions of the Renaissance and Reformation to European society, including major achievements in literature, music, painting, sculpture, and architecture.
3. Compare the social and political elements of Incan and Aztec societies, including the major aspects of government, the role of religion, daily life, economy, and social organization.