Early Civilizations

Course Overview

This survey course of ancient times will examine a variety of early civilizations across the globe, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, the Mongol Empire, Native America, Mesoamerica, Greece, Rome, and Medieval Europe. We will begin by exploring the evolution of humans before moving into specific civilizations. During each unit, we will research multiple aspects of the civilization under focus, including its geography, topography, innovations, contributions, politics, law, art, architecture, religion, philosophy, social structure, important figures, and relationships with other civilizations. By comparing and contrasting these civilizations, students will also shape their understanding of what it means to be human and how human nature shapes different societies around the world. Instead of memorizing names, dates, and places, students will learn to analyze primary documents and compare these items with various secondary sources; engage in increasingly sophisticated academic discussions; and learn the basic principles of research, academic writing, and public speaking.