7th Grade World History I

7th Grade World History I surveys the story of human history from prehistory (before written records) through the fourteenth century.

The course is organized chronologically and, within broad eras, regionally. Students examine how societies change over time, including developments in religion, philosophy, the arts, and science and technology.

Geography concepts and skills are introduced within the context of the historical narrative. Students explore what archaeologists and historians have learned about the earliest hunter-gatherers and farmers, then study the four river valley civilizations.

Students also study the origins of Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism and the historical periods in which they emerged. The second half of the course covers classical Greece and Rome, the Byzantine Empire, and the origins of Christianity and Islam, continuing through the fourteenth century in Europe, North Africa, and East Asia.

Throughout the course, students develop and refine historical thinking skills by analyzing documents and art, conducting research, and examining events from multiple perspectives. They also practice map-reading skills, learn how historians draw conclusions about the past, and connect historical events to the world today.