Course Syllabus

Fall 2025 | HIS-1111-VR01 - World History to 1500

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Matthew Ehrlich
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Philip Crossman

General Education Requirements

Humanistic Perspectives

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This survey course explores the economic, political, cultural, and social developments in world history from the rise of civilization to 1500 CE in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The course highlights geography, cultural and political movements, and human interactions that influenced the historical evolution of various world societies and their interrelationships within a global context.

Essential Objectives

1. Explain the relationship between the world’s physical and natural environments and the development of ancient world societies and cultures.
2. Explain the development and significance of distinctive forms of political, economic, and social organization in ancient world societies and analyze how they compare to modern world societies.
3. Assess significant characteristics of social identity found in ancient world societies and discuss resulting social, racial, and gender inequalities.
4. Analyze ways in which human groups have come into contact and interacted with one another, including patterns of migration, trade, conquest, and cultural diffusion, and critique the diverse impacts of those exchanges as experienced by advantaged and disadvantaged communities.
5. Investigate the diverse ideologies and religions found in ancient world societies, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and secular philosophies.
6. Identify the major shifts in philosophical, cultural, and scientific ideas and developments that occurred in this timeframe and evaluate their implications.
7. Analyze the theses, context, values, perspectives, and facts in historical primary and secondary sources.
8. Engage in and evaluate historical research using information literacy skills.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a low cost ($50 or less) textbook or resource class. ***

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations, along with free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials.

Fall 2025 textbook/book details will be available on 2025-05-19. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

HIS-1111-VR01 Link to Textbooks for this course in eCampus.

For Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Prohibited: The use of generative AI is not allowed in this course, with the exception of spellcheck, grammar check and similar tools. This course rests in the value of students engaging in the learning process without relying on AI-generated content. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills independently, owning their learning journey from start to finish. If you use these tools, your actions would be considered academically dishonest and a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

Methods

"What Can I Expect in This Course?"

—Primary and secondary source readings to teach historical methods, critical thinking skills, and the empathetic study of diverse human cultures, regions, and worldviews. Typical weekly reading load: 3-5 short texts (around 30 total pages).

—Small and large group discussions focused on interpreting evidence, comparing perspectives, and evaluating academic debates.

—Interactive activities and non-traditional exercises, including historical role-playing, craft workshops, and performances.

—Engaging instructor lectures and varied media (like videos, songs, images) to provide historical context, introduce key questions, and experience our topic beyond written texts.

—Writing assignments and individual research projects to build practical skills like interpreting and interrogating primary sources, identifying and taking positions in academic debates, and developing historical analysis across cultures and periods.

Evaluation Criteria

This course uses a weighted categories system to calculate final grades.

—Weekly Attendance (via Short Daily "Freewrites") and Participation = 20%

—Three Critical Primary Source Analysis Papers (2-3 pages) = 30%, or 10% each.

—Midterm Exam (3-4 short responses, take-home, open book) = 15%

—Final Exam (3-4 short responses, take-home, open book. Not cumulative) = 15%

—Final Creative Research Project + 2-source Annotated Bibliography = 20%

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Full participation involves active and thoughtful engagement in class each week! Here is how to succeed:

—Complete all the assigned readings, as best as possible, before that day's class meeting. Take notes, write down thoughts, questions, or things you don't understand, and be prepared to share your ideas.

—Complete and submit short, imaginative Daily Freewrites for attendance.

—Positively contribute to class discussions and group activities. Listen to others attentively and with an open mind.

—Communicate professionally and respectfully with the instructor and other students in class and via email.

—Critical Analysis essays, Exams, and Final Projects should be substantive, demonstrate college-level writing, and fully and accurately respond to the assignment prompt. Essays and Exams must include parenthetical MLA-style citations and Works Cited pages, and only draw from course material (Final Projects may involve approved outside research).

Missing & Late Work Policy

—Late assignments can be submitted up to one week past the deadline. You will lose 1/3rd of a letter grade each day that an assignment is late (example: a day-late assignment that would receive a B+ becomes a B). After a week, it will no longer be accepted for credit.

—Extensions will be granted only in extenuating circumstances. If a medical problem or other emergent personal issue will result in missing weekly class meetings and/or assignments, please contact me as soon as possible.

—Students who know that they will not have course access for any given week should make arrangements with me to complete any assignments and participation requirements prior to the absence.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.