World History to 1500

Since the dawn of history, humans have come together to ensure survival and pursue common aims, developing societies that are unique in their cultural and historical expression. Students explore the development of human societies across the globe, including Southwest Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas up to about 1500 CE. As far as historical events and sources allow, the same amount of attention is given to each region. Students analyze primary sources, both written documents and objects, to understand the perspectives of those who lived through the events that they describe. They also discuss questions of indigeneity, race, gender, and social class, as well as connections within and between societies at a time when humans moved from isolated communities to increasingly connected ones. Students also compare societies in different parts of the world to explore and seek to explain the parallels and variations between the societies that they see presented in the historical record. Through these activities, students reflect on their own experiences as individuals studying in modern Canada on First Nation Musqueam unceded, traditional territories.