Honors World History Introduction and Summer Assignment

 

Introduction

 

Congratulations on your acceptance into the honors world history program!  I look forward to working with you this coming school year.  The summer assignment will prepare you for class this year.  You are expected to be familiar with the information provided in the assigned reading upon the first day of classes in August. 

 

The prologue of your textbook provides the foundation of democratic thought and a brief history of the development of democracy throughout world history. It outlines the key ideas that have contributed to modern democracy, beginning before the common era (BCE or the BC years) and ending in the common era (CE or AD).  Many countries are still struggling to achieve democratic freedoms even today!  Thus, your attention to current events concerning democratic ideas is also important to your preparation for honors world history.

 

History is the story of human beings.  History exists because people have written down their thoughts and experiences for a variety of reasons.  We learn history from people’s experiences (primary sources) and through the analysis of historians or other scholars who review an event or time period and make a statement (secondary sources).  You will be looking at history from both of these perspectives.  Thus, it is important that you are able to identify and analyze both primary and secondary sources. 

 

 

 

Assignment

 

  • Read prologue of textbook (pp. 1-29)

 

  • Make a timeline outlining the key ideas and developments of democracy.  Presentation and attention to important details are significant.

 

  • Turn to the back of your textbook to the “Skillbuilder Handbook.”  Read page R22 to further your understanding of primary and secondary sources.  For each of the following primary sources, answer the following questions:
    • Who is the speaker and what can you tell about who he/she is?
    • What is this person’s opinion/perspective about this situation?
    • Who is the audience?
    • What is the purpose of this document and why is he/she writing or saying this?
      • p.  R41 “Psalm 23” King James Bible
      • P. R44 “The Apology” by Plato
      • P.  R50 “The Prince” Machiavelli

 

  • Research a current event that concerns the development of democracy in 2007.  Conclude your timeline with this current event and attach your source. Extra credit to those who use and correctly identify a primary source as opposed to a secondary source! (News sources online, in print, or via television are acceptable; however, you must attach your source to the timeline as evidence of democratic development.)