1. All Students will demonstrate knowledge of some of the methods we use to uncover the past

• describe the work of archaeologists and historians
• explain some of the processes and records used in recon- structing the past
• explain why many perceptions of the past are tentative and can be changed with new discoveries and theories.

2. All students will demonstrate an understanding of the lasting contributions of Roman civilization and some of the reasons for the fall of Rome

• describe the lasting contributions of Roman civilization in the areas of: government, law, language and technology
• compare Roman contributions with modern government, architecture and technology
• trace migration and military movements of major nomadic groups outside the Roman Empire and explain their influence on the decline of Rome
• explain the influence of Christianity during the Roman Empire and how it was affected by the collapse of the Empire
• compare the collapse of the western portion of the Empire with the survival of the eastern Byzantine portion.

3. All students will understand the political, economic, and cultural life of sub-Saharan civilizations in the period from 800- 1600 AD

• describe geographic features of the sub-Saharan region and how they affected agriculture, settlement and trade
• locate on a map the ancient kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and Songhay
• explain the importance of iron technology and geography to the development of sub-Saharan empires; explain the gold and salt production and how Ghana's and Mali's role as "middlemen" in this trade helped them build empires
• explain the role of Islam in the political and cultural life of the African kingdoms of Mali and Songhay
• explain the importance of Timbuktu as a cultural center.

4. All students will explain the economic basis, political organization, and cultural contributions of the Mayan, Aztec and Incan civilizations

• demonstrate an understanding of the daily lives and belief systems of Mesoamerica prior to its contact with Europe
• describe the achievements of Mayan civilization in the areas of architecture, astronomy, pictographic writing and calendars
• describe the achievements of Incan civilization in engineering and administration
• describe the achievements of Aztec civilization in temple architecture, and calendars
• explain how the Incas and Aztecs conquered and administered their empires
• place Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations in geographic and historic context (e.g., maps, time lines).

5. All students will explore the ways China contributed to or influenced its neighbors, particularly Japan, in political, social, and ethical arenas from 500 A.D. to medieval times

• describe the economic, agricultural, social, and cultural developments of China during this era
• describe trade and maritime expeditions during the Mongol Ascendancy and the Ming Dynasty as well as the impact of the expeditions
• describe Marco Polo's visit to China and the privileges he enjoyed, and explain the impact of his visit on Europe and elsewhere
• explain why China ultimately closed its doors to the rest of the world and describe the impact of that decision on China
• examine the role of the Confucian thought in Chinese government, bureaucracy, and society during this time
• describe Chinese inventions and how they affected China and the West

6. All students will demonstrate an understanding of the development of Japanese civilization from its beginnings through the Middle Ages.

• describe the geographic features of Japan and explain how geography affected political, economic and social life
• identify ideas the early Japanese borrowed from China, including Buddhism, and explain how these ideas were adapted by the Japanese
• describe Japan's social structure during this era: also describe its literary and artistic achievements, such as the Tale of Genji and haiku poetry
• define "samurai' and explain the importance of the Samurai in Japanese political, economic and cultural life.

7. All students will demonstrate an understanding of the political and economic systems that characterized medieval societies in Europe and Japan, and the religious and cultural values that influenced medieval thought in each

• describe how feudalism worked as a political system
• describe the economic system of manorialism and the daily life of those who lived on a manor
• demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which the Roman Catholic Church influenced every aspect of European medieval life
• compare and contrast Japanese feudalism with European feudalism and describe and compare the codes of Bushido and Chivalry
• describe the routes, purpose, and success or failure of the Crusades, including their influence on the transmission of ideas and technology from the Arab World to Europe
• explain the significance of the Magna Carta, including some of its most enduring principles, and the eventual establishment of parliamentary government
• describe instances of religious persecution during the Middle Ages (e.g., the inquisitions, expulsions of Jews, conflicts between Spanish Christians and Muslims).

8. All students will demonstrate an understanding of major people and developments in Europe during the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution that influence politics, religion and arts today

• explain how Renaissance art and literature differ from that of the Middle Ages and how they reflect humanistic values and scientific advances
• describe the economic changes that led to the development of cities; examine Florence, Italy as a major center of commerce, creativity and artistic accomplishment
• explain how the growth of towns contributed to the rise of the middle class and how this change signaled the beginning of the end of feudalism
• explain how and why Martin Luther challenged the medieval Catholic Church, and explain the response of the Catholic Church to the Reformation
  * demonstrate an understanding of some of the consequences of the Reformation, including the increased power of monarchs at the expense of papal authority, the emergence of Protestant Europe and Catholic Europe, and the development of the English Bible
• identify and explain the steps in the Scientific Method and describe how this method illustrates humanistic values
• identify and explain the importance of men such as Galileo, Kepler, Gutenberg, Bacon and Newton and the significant inventions of this period, including the telescope, microscope, thermometer, barometer and especially the printing press.

9. All students will develop a basic knowledge of the juvenile justice system, primarily legal terms used in the system and what they mean to youth

• participate in a mock trial to experience the legal process in all of its aspects
• analyze case studies of juvenile law-breakers and the consequences of their acts