8th Grade World History II

8th Grade World History II continues a survey of world history from prehistoric times to the modern era. Online lessons and assessments complement the second volume of The Human Odyssey, a textbook series developed and published by K12.

This course focuses on the period from the fourteenth century through 1917, leading up to World War I. It is organized chronologically and, within broad eras, regionally. Lessons examine developments in religion, philosophy, the arts, and science and technology.

Geography concepts and skills are introduced as they appear within the historical narrative.

Major topics of study include:

• The cultural rebirth of Europe during the Renaissance
• The Reformation and Counter-Reformation
• The rise of Islamic empires
• Changes in civilizations in China, Japan, and Russia
• The Age of Exploration and the civilizations of the Americas prior to European contact
• The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment
• Democratic revolutions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
• The Industrial Revolution and its consequences
• Nineteenth-century nationalism and imperialism
• Transformations in communications and society at the turn of the twentieth century