Grade: 9
Credit: One

This is the first of a two-year, chronologically organized study of world history and geography. In this first year, students study the world from ancient times through 1500. The chronology of the course is divided into five eras:

• Prehistory, Beginnings to 4000 B.C.E.
• River Valleys, 4000 B.C.E. to 1000 B.C.E.
• Classical, 1000 B.C.E. to 500 C.E.
• Post-Classical, 500 C.E. to 1000 C.E.
• Regional Interactions, 1000 C.E. to 1500 C.E.

The content of the course is based on both the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) for World History I and Geography and the following eight global themes: adaptation to the environment; patterns of human population and migration; development and diffusion of technology; communication and exchange; social structure; belief systems; conflict; and political legitimacy and authority.

Benchmark
Assess how prehistoric humans responded to their environments and climatic changes by forming certain settlement patterns.

1. Describe types of evidence and methods of investigation that anthropologists, archeologists and other scholars have used to reconstruct the physical development of prehistoric humans. (8.1)
2. Analyze possible links between environmental conditions associated with the last Ice Age and changes in the organization of prehistoric human communities. (8.1, 10.2)
3. Examine how hunter-gatherer communities in Africa, the Americas and Eurasia adapted to their environments. (8.1, 10.5)

Benchmark
Explain the movement and spread of early humans from Africa and throughout the globe.

1. Analyze current and past theories regarding the process of how Homo Sapiens migrated throughout the regions of the world. (10.6)
2. Explain how climatic and geographic features resulted in human movements between the different continents. (8.1, 10.3)
3. Assess the archeological evidence for long distance trade between the Africa and Eurasia. (10.5)

Benchmark
Explain how the development of agricultural communities in the Neolithic period altered social, familial and gender relationships.

1. Infer from archeological evidence the social and cultural organization of early societies. (8.1)
2. Compare the cultural, economic and social organization of hunter-gathering and agricultural societies. (8.1, 10.5)
3. Assess the archeological evidence for the emergence of complex belief systems. (8.1)
4. Describe how prehistoric humans used shelter, clothing, fire, tools and language. (8.1)

Benchmark
Analyze how the natural environments of the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, Indus and Huang-He valleys shaped the early development of complex urban societies.

1. Compare conditions under which complex urban societies in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley and Shang China developed. (8.2, 10.10)
2. Assess ways in which the emergence of complex urban societies represented a decisive transformation in human history. (8.2)

Benchmark
Analyze why environmental conditions in many parts of the world favored hunter-gather, pastoral, and small-scale agricultural ways of life rather than complex urban societies.

1. Explain how the climate and geography of Central Asia were linked to the rise of pastoral societies on the steppes including the domestication of the horse and wheel technology. (10.2)
2. Analyze the role of pastoral peoples and explain why relations between herding and agrarian societies tended to involve both conflict and mutual dependence.
3. Describe differences between complex urban societies and other forms of social organization such as hunter-gatherer bands, Neolithic agricultural societies and pastoral nomadic societies.

Benchmark
Identify areas of Eurasia and Africa where cities and dense farming populations appeared between 4000 and 1000 B.C.E.

1. Identify the dates and locations of complex urban societies in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley and Huang-He. (8.2)
2. Explain the concept of region as it applies to complex urban societies in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley and Huang-He. (10.3)
3. Compare the character of urban development in ancient societies in including the emergence of social hierarchies and occupational specializations. (8.2, 10.10)

Benchmark
Assess the effects of population movements from western and central Asia on peoples of India, Southwest Asia, and the Mediterranean region.

1. Infer from geographical and archeological evidence why Indo-Aryan speaking groups moved from central Asia into India and Europe beginning in the second millennium. (10.6)
2. Assess the early political, social and cultural effects of Indo-Aryan migrations into northern India including the foundation of Hinduism. (8.8, 10.6)
3. Explain how new societies formed from invasion and conquest of agricultural societies by nomadic warrior societies. (8.2)

Benchmark
Analyze how fundamental inventions, discoveries, and techniques including advancements in metallurgy and writing, significantly affected social, economic, cultural and political life in early societies.

1. Compare developments of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, the Indus Valley and Shang Chinese societies in terms of the development of technology, language and writing. (8.2)
2. Explain the importance of bronze and iron technologies to early societies.
3. Analyze the importance of the domestication of the horse and wheel technology to pastoral nomads on the steppes. (10.3)
4. Analyze the technological contributions of the Phoenicians. (8.2)

Benchmark
Identify how new ideas, products, techniques, and institutions spread and were either assimilated, rejected or adapted to prevailing cultural traditions.

1. Analyze the importance of trade in Mesopotamian societies and describe networks of commercial exchange connecting various regions of Africa and Eurasia. (8.2, 10.6)
2. Assess the importance of commercial, cultural, political and economic connections between Egypt and the peoples of the upper Nile. (8.8)
3. Analyze the role of pastoral peoples in facilitating exchange in early societies. (10.6)

Benchmark
Analyze how religious and ethical beliefs developed in the four complex urban societies.

1. Compare developments of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, the Indus Valley and Shang Chinese societies in terms of the development of belief systems. (8.2)
2. Describe the religious belief systems of the Hebrews. (8.2)

Benchmark
Explain the emergence of social hierarchy and occupational specialties as well as differences in tasks performed by men an women.

1. Compare social and economic developments in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley and Shang China. (8.2)
2. Assess the role that the various social classes played in sustaining wealth and power in complex urban societies. (8.2)
3. Identify and analyze the institution of slavery in ancient societies. (8.9)

Benchmark
Analyze how cultural achievements of early urban societies led to the development of state authority, aristocratic power, and legal and taxation systems.

1. Compare political developments of Mesopotamia, Egyptian, the Indus Valley and Shang Chinese societies. (8.1)
2. Describe patterns of political authority among pastoral peoples. (10.6)

Benchmark
Describe religious and cultural developments in India and China.

1. Explain the evolution of Hinduism, including the caste system. (8.8)
2. Describe the life and teachings of Buddha and how those teachings were a response to Hinduism. (8.8)
3. Describe the lives of Confucius and Laozi, comparing the fundamental teachings of Confucianism and Daoism. (8.8)

Benchmark
Describe the development of the Persian (Achaemenid) empire and the consequences of its conflicts with the Greeks.

1. Explain the founding, expansion, political organization and cultural expression of the Persian empire. (8.2, 10.3)
2. Analyze conflicts between Persia and Greek city-states. (8.2, 8.3)

Benchmark
Describe the emergence of Greek societies as well as their major cultural achievements and impact on societies in Egypt, Persia and India.

1. Describe the emergence of Greek city-states in the Aegean region and the political, social and legal character of the polis. (8.3, 10.3, 10.10)
2. Analyze factors leading to the establishment of Greek colonies in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. (8.3)
3. Explain the social structure of Greek society. (8.3)
4. Describe the evolution of Athenian democracy and the importance of Greek ideals for the development of Western political thought and institutions. (8.3)
5. Compare Athenian democracy with the military aristocracy of Sparta and assess reasons for conflict between Athens and Sparta resulting in the Peloponnesian War. (8.3)
6. Identify major Greek myths and dramas and assess how they reflected social values and attitudes. (8.3)
7. Assess Alexander’s military and political achievements and analyze reasons why his empire broke up into successor kingdoms. (8.3, 10.4)
8. Evaluate major achievements of Hellenistic art, philosophy, science, and political thought. (8.3)
9. Explain leading ideas of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Herodotus and other philosophers and historians. (8.3)

Benchmark
Describe the causes and consequences of the unification of the Mediterranean basin under Roman rule.

1. Describe the influence of geography on Roman economic, social and political development. (8.4, 10.3, 10.4)
2. Describe political and social institutions of the Roman Republic and analyze why Rome was transformed from republic to empire. (8.4)
3. Describe major phases in the territorial expansion of the Roman empire and its effects on Roman society. (8.4, 10.6)
4. Analyze how Roman unity and the Pax Romana contributed to the growth of trade in the Mediterranean basin, Sub-Saharan Africa, India and East Asia. (8.4, 10.3)
5. Assess the impact of the spread of Judaism. (8.4)
6. Describe the origin, traditions, customs, and beliefs of Christianity. (8.4)
7. Trace the extent and consequences of Christian expansion in Asia, Africa and Europe to the 4th century. (8.4)
8. Evaluate the reasons for the decline and fall of the Roman empire. (8.4)

Benchmark
Assess the different political structures that emerged after the collapse of classical societies in Europe and Asia.

1. Evaluate the Byzantine role in preserving and transmitting ancient Greco-Roman culture in Eastern Europe. (8.6)
2. Analyze how the preservation of Greco-Roman culture and early Christian learning in monasteries and convents and in Charlemagne’s royal court contributed to the rise of European civilization. (8.7)
3. Describe, analyze and evaluate the structure of feudal society in Europe and Japan. (8.7, 8.8)

Benchmark
Explain the importance of the Islamic empire in facilitating long-distance exchange across Eurasia and parts of Africa.

1. Evaluate Muslim contributions in mathematics, science, medicine, literature, and the preservation of Greco-Roman learning. (8.5)
2. Analyze the importance of Islamic law in providing a unified way of life. (8.5)

Benchmark
Trace the major changes in the religious map of Eurasia and Africa to 1000 C.E.

1. Explain the spread and influence of Christianity throughout Europe. (8.7)
2. Analyze the conflicts that led to the split between the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. (8.6, 10.4)
3. Analyze the cultural and theological differences between Islam and Christianity and explain the historical turning points that affected the spread and influence of both religious cultures. (8.6)
4. Assess the spread and power of Buddhism in Tang China, Korea, and Japan. (8.8, 10.4)

Benchmark
Describe the maritime and overland trade routes that linked regions of Africa and Eurasia and assess their importance for the expansion of international trade for African and Eurasian societies.

1. Describe the role of the Silk Roads during the post-classical period. (10.4)
2. Analyze the expansion of the Byzantine Empire and economy. (8.6)
3. Assess the importance of labor specialization, regional commerce, trans-Saharan camel trade, and Islam in the development of states and cities in West Africa. (8.8, 10.3)

Benchmark
Trace the migrations of nomadic people from Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula and assess the consequences for societies in Africa and Eurasia.

1. Analyze the impact of climatic change as an incentive for the movement of nomadic peoples of Central Asia. (10.3, 10.6)
2. Assess the impact of Angle, Saxon, Magyar, and Viking migrations and invasions on Europe. (9.1, 10.6, 10.10)
3. Explain how the Byzantine empire, with Constantinople as its capital, withstood Arab attacks between the 7th and 10th century. (8.6, 10.3)

Benchmark
Analyze patterns of social, economic and political change in Western Europe.

Indicators

1. Analyze the causes and consequences of the Crusades. (9.2)
2. Analyze the development of European monarchies noting the role of representative institutions in these monarchies. (9.1)
3. Analyze connections between population growth, increased agricultural production, and technological innovation. (10.3, 10.5, 10.10)
4. Explain the increase of interregional trade and its effects on the rise of urban centers and the emergence of a prosperous commercial class. (9.1, 10.10)
5. Describe the emergence of nation-states in Spain, France, England and Russia and distinctive political developments in each. (9.2)
6. Explain the origins, characteristics and consequences of the bubonic plague and describe its spread across Eurasia. (9.2)
7. Assess the effects of Asian technology such as printing, compasses, crossbows and gunpowder on European societies.

Benchmark
Describe China's extensive urbanization and commercial expansion.

1. Describe the causes and effects of a flourishing Chinese economy under Song rule, including the growth of a merchant class. (9.1)
2. Assess the importance of technological developments in Song China. (9.1)
3. Identify the changes in China’s economy and culture begun by Kublai Khan. (9.1)

Benchmark
Explain the development of uniquely Japanese political and social institutions.

1. Assess the applicability of the concept of feudalism in Kamakura and the early Ashikaga shogunates. (9.1)
2. Analyze the rise of a powerful samurai class and its effects on art and aesthetic values in Japan. (9.1)

Benchmark
Assess the world-historical significance of the Mongol and Turkic empire.

1. Assess the role of Genghis Khan from multiple perspectives. (9.2)
2. Describe the effects of Mongol rule on the peoples of China, Russia and Southwest Asia. (9.2)
3. Explain how Mongol invasions led to a new balance of power between nomadic and settled people in Eurasia. (9.2)
4. Analyze how Mongol rule led to cultural and technological diffusion across Eurasia. (9.2)
5. Analyze the origins and early expansion of the Ottoman Turks. (9.2)

Benchmark
Describe the growth of states, towns and trade in Sub-Saharan Africa.

1. Analyze the importance of salt, gold production, and the trans-Saharan caravan trade to the growth of empires in Ghana, Mali and Songhai. (9.1)
2. Explain the impact of Islam on the political and cultural life of Ghana, Mali and Songhai. (9.1)
3. Describe the significance of Swahili city-states on the east African coast to Indian Ocean trade. (9.1)
4. Explain the rise of Great Zimbabwe as a major trading center. (9.1)
5. Assess the role of trading systems in expanding the slave trade. (9.1)

Assessment
All students will take the Virginia Standards of Learning Test for World History to 1000 A.D. and World Geography.

Last update: August 21, 1998