30 weeks · Grades 6-12
World History Unit Study
Study empires by building one, then watching it face the same pressures.
A unit-study approach to world history that moves chronologically from river-valley civilizations to the modern nation-state. Each era is paired with a live decision inside your student's nation, so the collapse of an empire stops being a date and becomes a pattern they can recognize in their own economy.
What your student will be able to do
- Sequence the major eras of world history with confidence
- Identify recurring causes of rise and collapse across civilizations
- Connect geography and resources to the location of ancient powers
- Evaluate primary sources and distinguish them from interpretation
- Trace how trade routes moved goods, ideas, disease, and religion
Scope and sequence
| When | Focus | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-4 | River valley civilizations | Map Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus, and China; explain why rivers came first |
| Weeks 5-8 | Classical world | Compare Greek and Roman government to your nation's current system |
| Weeks 9-12 | African kingdoms and trade | Trace the gold-salt trade and model it as a trade agreement |
| Weeks 13-16 | Medieval world and Islamic golden age | Research one center of learning and write a one-page brief |
| Weeks 17-21 | Exploration and empire | Debate the costs and benefits of expansion from two perspectives |
| Weeks 22-26 | Revolutions and industry | Model an industrial boom in your nation and record the side effects |
| Weeks 27-30 | Modern nation-states | Compare a real modern nation to your own on five measures |
What you need
- • Timeline wall or notebook
- • World history library reading list
- • Free SFC Nations account
- • Printable era summary sheets
Unit studies in this track
Ancient Civilizations Unit Study
6 weeks · History · Grades 5-9
Every ancient empire solved the same four problems. Your student will solve them too.
African History Unit Study
6 weeks · History · Grades 5-12
Mansa Musa's gold, Timbuktu's libraries, and the Swahili coast's ships, before any of the usual story starts.
World Religions and Cultures Unit Study
5 weeks · Culture · Grades 6-12
Understand what a billion people believe before you try to negotiate with them.
Printables for this track
Questions parents ask
Is this secular or faith-based?
The core material is factual and secular. World religions are covered historically and descriptively, so families of any background can add their own perspective.
Do we need extra books?
Not required. A suggested reading list is included for families who want more depth, and the Reading Program ties into it.