WESTERN CIVILIZATION_1b   

AN INTRODUCTION

     As with most of the history courses you have taken at Weston, this course has been carefully prepared for you. The same units, themes, and issues will be presented to all students regardless of the class or teacher you have.  For each unit all students will receive the same cover sheet(s), which will provide essential questions, an overview for the content of the unit, major content questions, key terms to be covered, a unit time line and a brief list of resources for the unit. 

1.   We start with some Essential Questions drawn from the course’s essential questions.  These questions are the major themes of this course expressed as questions.  They are central to the class and will be seen in our discussions, assignments and examinations.

2.  The Overview will tell you about the subject material and/or the theme(s) of the unit. This is an introduction to the materials of the unit and to some of the important issues.

3.   A list of Content Questions will help you to see the purpose of the readings and other assignments.  Keep these questions in mind especially as you do the homework readings. You may see these questions on your tests or other assignments. 

4.   A selection of Key Terms has been provided for you.  These terms will alert you to the significant vocabulary, events, and people of the period, which are important for you to learn.  Again, these terms will appear in our discussions and in your examinations.

5.   A Time Line is included to give you the important events of the period in chronological order.  This information may also be used for your unit examinations.

6.   Finally, Sources for Further Research provides you with a short list of books and other materials which may be used by you for research, pleasure, or to find a further explanation for some of the events or issues that particularly interest you.

      Here is a list                         1.  The Medieval World

      of the eleven units                2.  The Renaissance

      for this year:                         3.  The Reformation

                                                    4.  The Rise of the Nation-States

                                                    5.  Absolutism and the French Revolution

                                                    6.  The English Revolution

                                                    7.  The Industrial Revolution

                                                    8.  Pax Britannica

                                                    9.  World War I

                                                  10.  Russian Revolution

                                                  11.  World War II and Beyond

     Please try to keep these sheets with you through out the year.  You will need them for your assignments, class work, and preparation for your exams.  We hope you will use them well and that they will be helpful to you as you go through the year.