The Roman Empire collapsed and its former territories were up for grabs. In this power vacuum new kingdoms grew, Charlemagne's rose to power, the Byzantine Empire attempted to hold onto its territory, and Norse/Viking warriors threatened the whole of Europe. Outside of Europe and its "Dark Age" the situation was much different. Powerful and influential kingdoms and empires developed in Africa, and the Islamic Caliphate will begin its golden age of scientific and cultural discovery.

In this class we will study the way new cultures in Europe developed out of the former Roman territories, the influences of Norse culture on Europe, the development of African Kingdoms and Empires, and the way the Islamic faith of the Arabian Peninsula grew into the largest empire the world had seen at that point.

Unit 1: The Byzantine Empire
• The Founding of Constantinople
• Achievements of the Byzantine Empire
• Separation of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches

Unit 2: Early Middle Ages of Europe
• Western Europe after the Fall of Rome
• Monasteries in Europe
• The Frankish Kingdom and the Age of Charlemagne
• The Holy Roman Empire

Unit 3: Norse and Viking Culture
• Viking Explorers, Traders, and Warriors.
• Raiding Western Europe.
• Conflict between the Danes and English.

Unit 4: African Kingdoms
• The Kingdom of Aksum
• The City of Great Zimbabwe
• The Ghana and Mali Empires
• Trans-Saharan Trade Routes

Unit 5: The Golden Age of Islam
• Origins and Spread of Islam
• Beliefs and Traditions
• The Islamic Caliphate
• Cultural and Scientific Achievements

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 third 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.**