Throughout this class students will examine how we define civilization, the conditions needed to start one, and the reasons hunter-gatherer societies created permanent settlements. By studying ancient civilizations we will learn the purpose and systems that form all societies, including our modern day nations. We will begin with the hunter-gatherer societies of the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. Then we will cover the founding of civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China.

Unit 1: Prehistory and Hunter-Gatherer Societies
• Paleolithic Era
• Neolithic Era
• Archaeology and Early Settlements

Unit 2: Mesopotamia and Ancient Israel
• Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys
• Development of Written Language
• History of the Mesopotamian Civilizations
• Polytheistic and Monotheistic Religions

Unit 3:Ancient Egypt
• Civilization of the Nile River Valley
• Age of the Pyramid Builders
• Trade in the Eastern Mediterranean 
• The Bronze Age Collapse

Unit 4: Ancient India 
• The Indus River Valley Civilization
• The Vedic Period
• Hinduism and Buddhism

Unit 5: Ancient China
• The Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
• Shang and Zhou Dynasty China
• The Hundred Schools of Thought

Classes are taught with a mix of learning strategies including; instructor presentation, maps, videos, activities, and student discussion. All classes will include informal assessments to check for student understanding such as review activities or short writing assignments. Students are provided with guided notes to assist them in organizing the material covered. Units will conclude with a formal assessment for students to practice their historical knowledge and skills. These assessments are given to check for student understanding, and will be used to asses student progress as part of a growth mindset. Grades are available upon parent request.

**This class is the first of a four part series that will cover World History 1: Prehistory to 1450 CE. The full series is made up of Ancient Civilizations, The Rise and Fall of Classical Empires, The full series is made up of "Ancient Civilizations", "The Rise and Fall of Classical Empires", "The Dark Ages, Vikings, and the Islamic Golden Age ", and "The Late Middle Ages and World Conflict". Completion of all four parts of this course is designed to fulfill the requirements for 2 credits of World History at the Middle School level, or 1 credit at the High School level. Students do not need prior knowledge of world history to take this class. These courses can be taken individually, and in any order students prefer.**