DESCRIPTION OF COURSE CONTENT World History is a one semester social studies course required for 9th grade history students. The purpose of the course is to provide students with a knowledge of the past required to understand the present. The course highlights events which have shaped the contemporary world. A chronological approach will be used to help facilitate learning. Non-western, as well as western history is addressed. Significant events and ideas in history and the impact of each upon the development of the modern world are discussed. Contributions of individual people in history are included. The impact of political, economic, social and cultural forces are all integral parts of the curriculum. By the end of the course students will have an appreciation of democratic citizenship and historical understanding of the world.