In a high school history class, students learn about many events that have helped shape the world as it exists today. However, there are a few major areas of history that schools highlight; each of these is fundamental in grasping a basic understanding of how the world interacts and how it has come to be. High school courses generally focus equally on American and world history, creating a rich backdrop for further learning. When it comes to homeschooling options, it is possible to find an integrated course offering or separate ones focusing on each major period.

Early in his or her high school career, a student will likely spend a year looking into the world’s history around the time of America’s founding as a nation. While it will focus mainly on America as a budding, then independent nation, this section of history also will delve into England and its rule over the colonies. Topics will also center around the Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other important documents of early American history. Post-independence, students will learn about the impacts of the Civil War and the Spanish-American War on the world as a whole, as well as the rise of Industrialism in America and its contributions to the American economy before the Great Depression.

In the next year, the focus shifts towards a more global ancient history, answering questions regarding the world’s earliest civilizations and government forms, battles for territory, and acquisition of power through conquering other peoples. Ancient history teaches students how people groups established areas of civilizations and learned how to use natural resources as a means to further themselves. It also explores cultural elements of earlier humanity through mythology, legend, and early literature that has influenced more modern writings. Understanding the basics of ancient, worldwide history allows students to explore humanity’s earliest discoveries and appreciate the advancements made from those foundations.

Towards the end of high school, students learn about the medieval years of history and their significance today; these years of history focus largely on European history. The Middle Ages are a major focus, as well as the foundations of liberty, love, and chivalry in England, Scotland, Germany, and parts of Asia. Students will also explore the major movements of the time- the Renaissance Era and the Age of Discovery. Into the last year of high school history, the focus is Modern World and U.S. History, tying all the previous years’ knowledge into current events. Beginning with significant movements such as the Age of Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution, students will move towards democracy’s development and its adoption by the United States. Then, the study will look at major events in the last hundred years: the Great Depression, World War I and II, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and U.S./Middle East relations.

The goal of high school history is to expose students to humanity’s development throughout different times. By placing modern history in the last year of school, students will hear about the basics of history and learn to trace past themes into current times. History is an incredibly large subject, but high school history is designed to build foundations in students that encourage them to pursue further knowledge in the future.