Course Description:

An unfortunate side effect of the focus on SAT and AP scores is that schools often teach history in a way that’s highly regimented. Essentially, what students need to learn is just “what’s on the test.” This can demoralize students who have a genuine interest in asking the sorts of questions historians actually ask. This course encourages curious students to learn about perspectives and aspects of history that tend to be left out of history books. It also gives students a chance to look at some “big picture” questions and historical trends that don’t fit easily into a “chapter” and so rarely get adequate consideration in a history book.

The focus of the class is, by nature, flexible and will follow the student’s interests. Some of the big questions I find particularly important are the patterns of historical progression that have shaped the development of the world as we know it: the creation of the market economy, of secular national states, and of urbanized societies.

Though not designed to be a primer for any particular class, this course adds depth and flexibility of understanding to a student’s understanding of history. It also prepares students to study history, political science, or international politics in college, as the style and content of the course will more closely resemble a college seminar.