What is Ancient History?
Ancient history and Medieval Society refers to a heritage of social customs, ethical values, customs, belief systems, political systems, and technologies that have an association with Europe. The term has come to apply to countries whose history is strongly marked by the advancement in Complex Societies, such as ancient regions in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Ancient history and Medieval Society can be described by the swarm of artistic, philosophic, literary, and traditions that sprouted from the backgrounds of past cultures such as Celtic, Germanic, Hellenic, Jewish, Slavic, Latin, Viking, East Asian, Islamic and Christian, which all played a key role in shaping ancient blossoming culture.
North Plainfield Middle School Ancient History and Medieval Society Curriculum
Why History Matters Unit:
Our first unit will focus on basic questions surrounding history. "Why do we study history?" "What are the tools of a Historian?" "When did we start studying the past?" These questions will help students understand why history is important and how a central understanding of the past can help us build a better foundation for the future.
Our first unit will focus on basic questions surrounding history. "Why do we study history?" "What are the tools of a Historian?" "When did we start studying the past?" These questions will help students understand why history is important and how a central understanding of the past can help us build a better foundation for the future.
Rise of Islamic Civilizations Unit: Our next unit will focus on the rise of religions and the empires that followed them, beginning with the rise of Islamic culture and kingdoms. This unit will help students understand how religion played a key role in shaping Europe, Africa and the Middle East during the middle ages as well as provide a sturdy background understanding of important notions found within each philosophy. |
Medieval African Kingdoms Unit:
Our fifth Unit will focus on the Rise of complex societies, specifically kingdoms in Medieval Africa. We will look at the roles of the Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, Sognhai, Kongo, Zimbabwe and how these kingdoms were able to carve out wealthy societies. We will also explore the profound influence of trade, Islamic culture and how these changed the course of civilization in Africa.
Medieval China Unit:
Following Medieval Africa will be a unit centered on the Medieval era in Chinese history. We will explore the cultures of the Han, Qing, Song, Jin and Ming Dynasties and discover the culture and consequences of the Warring States period in Chinese history. Students will also understand the three different schools of thought that emerged from this devastating time in Eastern Civilization, Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. We will also learn about the Mongol Empire during this unit and the changes of this culturally diverse force that took over Asia. |
Feudal Japan Unit: :
The seventh unit will uncover the mysteries of Asia’s most popular country, Japan. Students will start with the early nomadic fishing villages and move onto the history of the Samurai and their struggles as ruling elites in Japan. The Samurai culture has some of the most profound notions that we will uncover this year and students will get quite the insight into this cultures history. We will also explore the indigenous religion of Shinto and a variation of Buddhism, known as Zen Buddhism.
The seventh unit will uncover the mysteries of Asia’s most popular country, Japan. Students will start with the early nomadic fishing villages and move onto the history of the Samurai and their struggles as ruling elites in Japan. The Samurai culture has some of the most profound notions that we will uncover this year and students will get quite the insight into this cultures history. We will also explore the indigenous religion of Shinto and a variation of Buddhism, known as Zen Buddhism.
The Fall of the Roman Empire Unit:
Throughout the 8th grade incarnation of Ancient History and Medieval Cultures we will explore a vast array of themes and topics. We will begin our second unit with a brief background unit on the Roman Republic and Empire, exploring how this civilization laid the groundwork for the expansion of Western Civilization.
The Byzantine Empire Unit:
Our third unit will focus on the Rise and Fall of the Byzantine Empire. We discuss the role of the Byzantine Empire and the leadership roles that formed after the fall of the Roman Empire in southern Europe and northern Asia. The advancements that came out of the Byzantine time helped to shape the Middle East to this day and will be a prime focus during this unit.
Medieval Europe Unit:
Following our time in Medieval Asia we will journey into Medieval Europe and all of its ups and downs. Starting with Feudalism, students will learn how class structure was organized, compared to life today. Students will study medieval Knights, the code of Chivalry and of course the Viking invasions that played such an important hand in shaping parts Europe, which can still be seen to this day. The Medieval European unit will end with the Crusades, a series of religious battles that changed the course of Europe and Western Civilization. Crusaders brought home documents and works of knowledge that led to the cultural flowering of the Renaissance.
Meso-America Unit:
The Meso-America unit will focus on a time in human history where we began to travel to new worlds, Of course these “new worlds” were not without populations of native peoples. Cultures and religions could be found up and down the North and South continents and we will look into these unique philosophies. We will closely examine the Inca Empires of South Arica, the Mayan culture of Central America, the Aztec civilization and some Native America peoples as well
We will also be exploring a special unit at the end of the year on the Holocaust and current genocides that have occurred following World War II. This unit will be explored in a cross curriculum manner incorporated throughout Social Studies, English, Science and Mathematics, with specialized components developed for each subject.