World History I: Ancient
Mrs. Jacqueline Medcalf
2026-2027
“Climb the stone staircase, more ancient than the mind can imagine,
approach the Eanna Temple, sacred to Ishtar,
a temple that no king has equaled in size or beauty,
walk on the wall of Uruk, follow its course
around the city, inspect its mighty foundations,
examine its brickwork, how masterfully it is built…”
The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Stephen Mitchell
What do we know about the ancient past, and how do we know it?
This class will look at a broad sweep of human history, from the development of agriculture and metalworking to the rise and fall of cities and empires. We will focus primarily on the greater Mediterranean and Mesopotamian worlds, but we will also contextualize those stories by looking at parallel developments around the globe. We will discuss the rise of world religions, the historical context of sacred scripture, and the birth of Christianity.
This class will help prepare students to evaluate historical claims and evidence. We will read excerpts of primary sources when possible and discuss their strengths and limitations. Students will also learn about the fundamentals of archaeology and how historians can use archaeology to fill in the gaps of the written record.
Besides reading assignments, coursework will include creating maps and timelines, writing essays and short responses, and creating and presenting a research project on a chosen topic each semester.
World History II will be offered in 2027-28.
HOMEWORK
Homework is expected to take about an hour each day, with more time anticipated around essay, project, and exam due dates. It will consist primarily of reading texts thoroughly and writing discussion board replies. In addition to the reading, students can expect to write two to four essays per semester, as well as work on a semester-long research project, and each semester will culminate in an end-of-term exam.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITY
Parents will need to make sure that students are staying on top of the readings and other assignments.
COURSE FEE: $400 pay-in-full / $438 payment plan
SUPPLY FEE: $30
GRADE LEVEL: 11th and up
PREREQUISITES: None
CREDIT HOURS: 1 credit history (World History)
MIN/MAX: 5 minimum
TEXTS*: TBD--Many assignments will likely be primary sources that are available in the public domain or will be provided by the teacher.
Additional supplies*:
Binder or folder for holding notes and handouts
Pens or pencils for taking notes
*Please do not purchase any texts or supplies until you receive the officially, updated book & supply list after registration.