Follow the exciting tale of how steam power, social ideas, and dictators impacted Western Civilization.

Total classes: 14

Duration per class: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None

Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade. High school students are also welcome - adjustments can be made to assignments for older students
Suggested credit: One full semester European, World, or Modern History
Instructor: Christopher Martin, PhD

Instructor email: chrisgooverthere@yahoo.com

Course Description: This class traces the course of Western Civilization from the fall of Napoleon up through and including the Cold War, roughly 1800-1990. It includes studies of imperialism, the World Wars, decolonization, and the emergence of the nuclear era.

Course Outline:

Week 1: Introduction and overview of syllabus and assignments
            The Nineteenth Century
Week 2: New Politics and Powers
Week 3: Industrialization
Week 4: New Theories and Ideas
Week 5: New Nations and Nationalism
Week 6: America- To the Civil War
Week 7: America- Civil War and Reconstruction
Week 8: America- Growth
            The Twentieth Century
Week 9: Imperialism
Week 10: The Age of Progress
Week 11: World War I
Week 12: The World Between Wars
Week 13: World War II
Week 14: The Cold War

Course materials: All course materials are provided FREE by the instructor.

Homework: Writing is an integral part of demonstrating both the assimilation of knowledge and the articulation thereof. Therefore, students will be guided through the process of writing a short  (1-2 page, double-spaced) review of a book of their choice relevant to the subject matter.

NOTE: High School students taking this course may instead write a 3-5 page book review
Also, students will have one short (5-10 minute), ungraded review quiz per week based on classroom lectures and discussions.