This year-long Grade 9 course provides students with an orientation to the ancient and medieval world across a diverse range of geographies. Thematic connections will be drawn so that students gain an understanding of the interconnectedness of global societies - how they identify culturally and how they interact with the environment. Subtopics for comparison will include the development of agriculture, technology, religion, philosophy, art, and architecture, among others. Moreover, students will acquire and develop essential critical reading, writing, and study skills. In the first trimester students will be introduced to the Upper School library resources, and begin the development of crucial research skills, which will culminate in a short research paper. Topics will vary depending on student and faculty interest but may include the following content areas: pre-history and the origins of civilization, ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as China, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. 

This Grade 10 course begins with an examination of early modern Europe. The course concentrates on the development of European society and its subsequent transformation, after 1914, into the contemporary world. The continuing social, political, economic, and intellectual development of European society is stressed in readings from primary and secondary sources. Included are the topics of New World Exploration, the Renaissance, the Reformation, Absolutism, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the Age of Napoleon, the Industrial Revolution, Nationalism, Imperialism, and Totalitarianism. Critical skills are further developed through the preparation of essays and analytical papers. Research and library skills are improved through the preparation of a research paper.
Prerequisite:  World Civilizations

American Studies offers an integrated approach to American history, literature, and culture. Instead of the narrative and chronological approach of the history survey course, this class will intensively examine a series of topics and themes in greater depth and breadth, exploring connections across the fields of history, literature, and the arts. With a focus on the late 19th and 20th centuries, we will explore the American Dream and themes related to immigration and diversity, race and gender, Americans’ relationship with nature, and the impact of war on society. We will read extensively across the field of historical writing; including personal narrative, journals, essays, speeches, and other primary sources. Note: Students must enroll in BOTH the history and English components of these team-taught classes.
Prerequisites:  World Civilizations and European History 

This gender study class will explore women’s issues alongside the American film industry with a focus on the role of women within it. Through diving into four eras of film: the Silent Era, the Classical Era of Hollywood, New Hollywood, and the Contemporary Era, students will have the chance to see the progression of women within the industry and relate them to their contemporary contexts. Through the study of individual contributions, general trends, and the larger context, students will gain a greater understanding of the ways in which historical events shape film and how film shapes our cultural history. This class will be a mix of instruction, discussion, and individual/group work. Students will have the opportunity to examine films, study and analyze the ways in which women are portrayed in the media, and explore the interplay between cultural trends and trends in film. Assessments will consist of written work and various projects and assignments that will include collaboration with classmates. In approaching this topic through a variety of angles and methods, students will be able to explore what the film industry can tell us about what we value and question the role that it has played in our society.
OFFERED: Fall
Prerequisite:  European History

Turning to the East, we will examine the great religious and philosophical traditions of Asia: the doctrines, beliefs, and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shintoism, and Zen, and others. We will explore fascinating concepts including Wu wei, emptiness, koans, the Four Noble Truths, the middle path, the unhewn log, how a gentleman is not a pot, and why zen is a finger pointing at the moon. Texts will include; Hesse, Siddhartha; Confucius, The Analects; and Lao Tzu, The Dao De Ching; and Zhuang Zhou, Zhuangzi.