Eight Themes of World History Power and Authority

Eight Themes of World History

Power and Authority Who holds the power? Ø How did that person or group gain power? Ø What system of government provides order? Ø How is power maintained or lost? Ø

Religious and Ethical Systems Ø What beliefs are held by a majority of the people? Ø How do the major religions differ from one another? Ø How do the various religions interact with one another? Ø How do religious groups react to nonmembers?

Religious and Ethical Systems

Revolution Ø Great Change Ø What long-term ideas or institutions are being overthrown? Ø What caused people to make this change? Ø What are the results of change?

Interaction with the Environment How do humans adjust to the climate and terrain? Ø How have changes in the natural world forced people to change? Ø What positive and negative changes have people made to the environment? Ø

Economics Ø How to use scarce resources to satisfy needs. Ø What goods and services does a society produce? Ø Who controls the wealth and resources?

Cultural Interaction Ø How have cultures interacted? Ø Trade, migration, conquest Ø What items have cultures passed on to each other? Ø What political, economic, and religious ideas have cultures passed on to each other? Ø What positive and negative effects have resulted from cultural interaction?

Cultural Interaction

Empire Building What motivates groups to conquer other lands and people? Ø How is control gained? Ø How does the dominating society control and rule its subjects? Ø

Science and Technology What tools and methods do people use to solve problems? Ø How do people gain and use knowledge? Ø How do new discoveries and inventions change people’s lives? Ø