Modern World History, 1500-Present
Mr. Layne
Email: tlayne@stuart-hall.org
Phone: 540-213-7744
Rm. 17
Course blog: http://laynehistory.blogspot.com
About me:
B.A. in History, Bridgewater College, 1998
M.A. in History, James Madison University, 2000
Dept. of History, Stuart Hall School, 2006-Present
Courses taught: Ancient World History, Modern World History, A.P. World History, Global Military History
About the class:
What you’ll need (bring these to class everyday):
- Textbook: William J. Dukier and Jackson J. Spielvogel, World History, 7th edition, Thomson Wadsworth, 2013.
- Something (a folder or notebook) to keep your materials (homework, handouts, returned quizzes/tests) organized
- A section in a binder or a separate spiral notebook dedicated to note taking in this class
- Something to write with
What Modern World History is about:
This class focuses on the last 500 years of world history (from 1500 C.E.-Present) and focuses on the major cultural, political, economic, social, demographic, and technological developments that occurred throughout the world during this time. This class also considers how the events of this time period continue to shape today’s world and places a particular emphasis on the academic discipline of history itself and how history is ‘made.’
Class Goals:
Upon successfully completing this class, students will have:
· A strong working knowledge of modern world history, including major themes, dynamics, and events, from the 16th century to the present, which also includes the ability to assess change and continuity over time and compare and contrast the major elements of world history
· An understanding of the historical discipline and how it is practiced
· The ability to construct and evaluate historical arguments and interpretations
· Critical and analytical reading and writing skills.
· Research skills and the knowledge to effectively use both primary and secondary sources as evidence.
Class Policies:
- You are expected to arrive in class on time and prepared.
- You are expected to maintain a respectful and courteous classroom environment at all times.
- There is no eating or drinking in class; all food/drink containers are to remain closed (water bottles are the exception as long as they have lids/caps).
What you can expect from me:
- I will work just as hard, if not harder, than you do
- I will be available if you have questions concerning class, content, or any other related concerns
- I will respect all of you
Taking this class for Honors Credit:
Those qualified (you earned a B+ or better in your previous history class) who opt to take the course for Honors Credit will undertake a course curriculum designed to meet the goals of the Stuart Hall Honors Program:
· Deeper and Broader Knowledge: Additional elements and requirements (all of which will be explained in detail) will be incorporated into class projects for honors students
· Critical Thinking: Honors students’ test questions will be of a more analytical nature
· Independent Work: Honors students will design and carry out independent research projects related to the course that also reflect the above two criteria
· Communication: Honors students will take an active role in presenting information to the class above and beyond regular class participation
Homework Policy:
Homework will be assigned via weekly assignment posts, and you should expect to receive homework for most evenings. I do not assign frivolous homework or “busy work”—everything I ask you to do is intended to enable you to achieve our class goals and further develop your skills. I expect you to have your homework completed at the beginning of the class period in which it is due.
You begin each marking period with a 100% homework average. Each missed homework assignment results in a 5 point deduction from your overall homework average. Each incomplete homework assignment results in a 3 point deduction from your overall homework average.
Quizzes, Tests, and Projects:
- Quizzes: you may expect to be quizzed throughout each of the marking periods. These quizzes may take a variety of formats and may or may not be announced ahead of time. They will always be based on material covered in class or through homework, and are intended to serve as an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of material or concepts.
- Tests: Tests will generally cover 1-2 chapters’ worth of material. Test dates will always be announced well in advance and you will receive test review materials to aid your preparation
- Projects: projects will give you the opportunity to engage the topics we are studying at a greater level of depth and detail. I will provide you with a detailed overview of each project (along with my expectations) when it is announced.
Projects, continued:
- 1st Marking Period: Book Review
- 2nd Marking Period: Research Paper I
- 3rd Marking Period: PEEP Project
- 4th Marking Period: Research Paper II
Class Participation:
Class participation is based upon attentiveness, engagement, preparedness, and conduct during class sessions. You begin each marking period with a 100% Class Participation grade. Each day you engage in meaningful participation will maintain that average. Being late class will result in a 5 point deduction from your participation average for each occurrence. Unexcused absences will result in a 10 point deduction for each occurrence.
Grading Policy:
Your grade for each marking period will be devised from the following:
· Class participation: 10%
· Homework and quizzes: 15%
· Tests: 40%
· Projects: 35%
______________
100%
Note: I do not “give” grades. You, as students, earn them.
Attendance Policy (including make-up work):
This course follows the school policy of attendance. Please refer to the Family Handbook for details.
The Honor Code:
It is expected that all students will adhere to and respect the Student Hall Honor Code. All work completed in this class is to be completed in adherence to the Stuart Hall Honor Code.
Course Outline:
This course is organized chronologically, and the following outline is intended to serve as a general overview of the major units and topics we will cover during the year.
I. “The Age of Confusion”: 16th-17th Century Europe
a. The Age of Exploration and Conquest
b. New Ideas: The Protestant Reformation
c. The Religious Wars
d. A New Age of Kings
II. The Early Modern East: The Dar al-Islam and East Asia
a. Keepers of the Faith: The Ottoman and Safavid Empires
b. The Mughals and a United India
c. Keepers of the Dragon: The Ming and Qing Dynasties
d. Keepers of the Sun: the Tokugawa Shogunate
III. “The Age of Confusion” 2: 17th-18th Century Europe
a. New Ideas: the Scientific Revolution and the Enligtenment
b. The Revolutionary Wars
c. The Napoleonic Age
IV. From the Early Modern to the Modern: The 19th Century
a. The Industrial Revolution
b. The “isms”
c. The birth of the Nation State
d. The emergence of a world economy
V. Europe the World Over: Imperialism
a. Motivations for Imperialism
b. Colonial and Imperial systems
c. Reactions, responses, and consequences of Imperialism
VI. The Great War and the Birth of the 20th Century
a. The World on the Eve of World War I
b. August 1914-November 1918
c. In the Wake of WWI: The Russian Revolution
d. The World after WWI
VII. Here We Go Again: The Interim Period and World War II
a. The Rise of the Dictators
b. World War II: War the World Over
c. Beyond the War: The Holocaust and Genocide
d. The Nuclear Age
VIII. World War III? This Time it’s Cold . . .
a. The Bipolar World
b. The Forgotten Wars: Korea and Indochina
c. The Politics of Mutually Assured Destruction
d. “And the Walls Came Tumbling Down”: The Collapse of the Soviet Union
IX. A New World Order
a. Post Imperialism
b. The Hot Spots
c. New Powers: the rise of the East
d. The Legacy of 9/11
e. Where we do go from here?
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