World History (with Honors option)
Class Time: Tuesdays, 12:35 - 1:35
Grade Level: 9th - 12th (mature 8th graders welcome)
Instructor: Jeannie DeLisi
Contact Information: jrcdelisi@gmail.com
Course Description:
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.
— Maya Angelou
In this course, you will learn the story of the rise and fall of ideas, religions, nations, and civilizations, both in the past and present — the human tapestry of our existence. Because we are a Western nation, our focus will be on Western Civilization, but we will also examine the rich and diverse stories of Eurasian, African, and Latin American nations. All of these stories have synthesized in our globally-connected world today. Moreover, an understanding of the past directly influences our reaction to events of the present and can inform future events, as well. The student who completes this course will have a well-informed basis for intelligent conversation about world events.
Through readings, independent research, videos, and primary documents, you will analyze political, socio-economic, and cultural developments by employing the SPRITE categories: society, politics, religion, ideas, technology, and economics. Using the process of historical inquiry, you will research and interpret significant trends, key historic leaders, and themes or patterns of human behavior.
Course Topics:
The Beginning of World History
Early Humans and the Neolithic Revolution
Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamian, Indian, Egyptian, Chinese, East Asian, African
The Greeks and Romans
The Birth of Jesus Christ and Rise of Christianity
The Fall of Rome and the Catholic World of the Middle Ages
The Rise of Islam and Byzantium
Muslim Empires and the Creation of a World Market
The Age of Discovery and Colonization
Three Worlds Collide: Europe, Africa, and the Americas
Renaissance, Rebellion, Revolution, Renewal, and Reform
The Industrial Revolution, Communism, and Imperialism
The Rise of Nationalism and Network of Alliances
World War I
The Rise of Militarism and Totalitarianism
World War II
The Beginning of the End of Colonialism
The Rise of the American Era
The Cold War and the Fall of Communism
The Computer Age and Global Connection
Challenges of Global Connection
You will demonstrate your mastery of content through short essay assignments, analytic exercises, timelines, map activities, class discussion, projects, quizzes/tests, and games.
Tuition: $425 ($450 Honors Level)
Class Size: 5 - 20 students
Course Materials:
Glencoe World History, 2005 Edition, ISBN 0-07-860702-7
Colin McEvedy, The Penguin Atlas of Ancient History, Penguin Books, 1967. ISBN 9780140511512
HONORS LEVEL ONLY: Diane Moczar, Ten Dates Every Catholic Should Know, Sophia Institute Press, 2005. ISBN 1-933184-15-9
Other readings will be provided via Google Classroom in PDF format or via links to websites
Teacher Qualifications:
Jeannie DeLisi brings teaching experience from many “worlds”: both corporate and academic, in both Catholic and public schools in the secondary and collegiate level. Mrs. DeLisi is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.A. in Music/Voice Performance and an M.A. in English (“with distinction”), specializing in literature before 1660. After teaching College Composition at Virginia Tech for two years, she moved back “north” to begin her career as a corporate trainer while still teaching College Composition at NOVA. She eventually started a successful business as an Educational Consultant in order to be a work-at-home mom. Once her son was school-aged, she obtained her Virginia state teaching certification in Secondary English. An original parishioner of Our Lady of Hope, Mrs. DeLisi was also one of the original faculty members of OLOH School and taught there for ten years. She pioneered a middle school Humanities program that combined English, Geography, and History. Known for her fun and engaging teaching style, she combines an “old school” approach to grammar with the best practices of 21st century pedagogy, always solidly Catholic. She has been married for over 30 years to Rick and has one son Chris, who was in the first graduating class of OLOH. In her spare time, she cantors the 5:00 and 12:15 Masses and performs with local community theatre groups, most recently as “Mrs. Potts” in Beauty and the Beast.