Ancient & Medieval History
Course Description:
Ancient and Medieval History is designed for the college-bound student who has a serious interest in history. Students analyze a wide variety of written materials, view and discuss the historical veracity of relevant films and documentaries, and investigate how contemporary archaeological studies are changing our perceptions of the ancient and medieval past. The primary focus of this course is on the development of Western Civilization from Neolithic times to A.D. 1485.
Quarter A Topics:
Unit 1: From Prehistory to Sumer. Ancient Humans, Stone Age Megaliths, Basics of Archaeology, Flood Stories, Sumer.
Unit 2: Egypt, Israel, & Anatolia. Old Kingdom Egypt, Middle Kingdom Egypt, New Kingdom Egypt, Hebrews/Israel, Hittites.
Unit 3:
Babylonia, Assyria, & Persia. Old Babylonian Empire (Hammurabi), Elamites, Assyrians, Chaldeans (New Babylonian Empire), Medes, Persian Empire.Unit 4: The Greek Mediterranean. Minoans, Mycenaean Greece, The Trojan War, Greek City-States, Athens vs. Sparta, Macedonians (Alexander the Great vs. Persia).
Quarter B Topics:
Unit 5: The Roman Republic. Celts, Etruscans, Early Rome, Roman Republic, Punic Wars, Julius Caesar.
Unit 6: The Roman Empire. Roman Empire, Rise of Christianity, Huns, Germanic Invasions, Fall of Rome.
Unit 7: The Middle Ages - Part I. Byzantine Empire, Islamic Empire, Frankish Empire, Vikings, Arthur Legends, Saxon & Norman England, Crusades.
Unit 8: The Middle Ages - Part II. Mongols, Black Death, Hundred Years’ War, Fall of Constantinople, Wars of the Roses.