Welcome to Ninth Grade Global History!

I am excited to have the opportunity to facilitate your study of the history of the world during the 2011-2012 school-year.  Beginning 2.5 million years ago with hunter-gatherers during the Paleolithic Era and ending in the early 16th century with the study of the Renaissance, we will be covering historical events that took place across vast stretches of space and time.

Cave painting from 17,000 BCE (Paleolithic Era) found in Lascaux, France

Mona Lisa, painted in the early 16th century by the famous Renaissance artist, Leonardo DaVinci

I hope that over the course of this year, you develop an enthusiasm for understanding the world around you and how it came to be this way.  To accomplish this, we will study art (such as the above), music, literature, speeches and other primary source accounts of historical events.  I want you to ask questions and think critically about the materials you engage with this year so that you can deepen your personal understanding of global history.

At the end of your sophomore year, you will take a Regents exam on the material you studied in both Global History courses.  Check out last year’s exam to get an idea of what will be expected of you at the end of your two-year study of Global History.