World History and Civilization Semester 1

Enrollment Message

Students need access to a webcam or video recording device.

Course Description

World History Semester 1 explores the major developments that shaped civilizations from the earliest human societies through the Early Modern Era. Students examine how agriculture led to the rise of civilizations, how religions and philosophies influenced cultures, and how classical civilizations contributed lasting ideas and achievements. The course investigates the growth of empires, changing political systems, and the ways trade networks, migration, and cultural exchange connected societies across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Students also study the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, European exploration, and the development of global trade to understand how these events transformed societies around the world. Throughout the course, students compare how different civilizations responded to political, cultural, religious, and economic change while examining both continuity and change over time. Using maps, primary and secondary sources, historical data, and other evidence, students develop historical thinking skills by analyzing developments, comparing civilizations, and explaining how the past continues to shape the modern world.

• Indiana Core40 Diploma Applicable through class of 2028
• Fulfills the Geography History of the World/World History and civilization graduation requirement for all diplomas
• Counts as an elective for all diplomas
• Indiana NEW Diploma Applicable for students entering school in 2025-26 (Class of 2029) 
• Fulfills a Social Studies Credit
• Fulfills a World Perspectives-Focused Credit

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• explain how early human societies developed into civilizations by describing the agricultural revolution, the characteristics of civilizations, and the growth of early river valley civilizations and empires.
• describe the origins, beliefs, and historical influence of major world religions and philosophies, and compare how they shaped civilizations and cultures.
• analyze the development, achievements, and lasting influence of classical civilizations in Greece, Rome, India, and China.
• explain how trade networks, cultural exchange, and migration connected civilizations and influenced political, economic, and cultural development.
• compare the development, achievements, and historical impact of major civilizations and empires in Africa, the Americas, East Asia, and the Mongol Empire.
• analyze how political systems, governments, and social structures changed over time, including feudalism, empires, and the rise of nation-states.
• explain the causes and effects of major historical conflicts and movements, including the Crusades, the Renaissance, and the Protestant Reformation.
• analyze the causes and consequences of European exploration, colonization, and global exchange, including the Columbian Exchange, the transatlantic slave trade, and their effects on societies around the world.
• compare how different societies responded to cultural, religious, political, and economic change across world history.
• use historical evidence to compare civilizations, explain patterns of continuity and change, and evaluate how historical developments have shaped the modern world.

Indiana Academic Standards

• World History and Civilization

Units of Instruction

Unit titles may differ in synchronous courses.

• Unit 1 The Origins of Civilization
• Unit 2 Belief Systems and Cultural Foundations
• Unit 3 Power, Citizenship, and Empire
• Unit 4 Trade, Exchange, and Cultural Interaction
• Unit 5 Transformation of the Early Modern World

Grading/Evaluation

Indiana Online does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue transcripts or diplomas. A final score reported as a percentage of total points earned will be sent to students upon completion of a course. Your school of record can also access this score within the Student Information System, Genius. The final score will be shown as a percentage in Canvas and Genius. The student’s school of record will determine the letter grade based on their specific grading scale.

Assessments

Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, teacher-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments. The course includes the minimum number of assessments

• 5 Discussions
• 23 Assignments
• 19 Quizzes

The assessments for this asynchronous course are weighted as follows