Fulfill your High School World History requirement at home with training from Penn Foster High School. We’ll guide you through the course with class notes, textbooks and unlimited instructor support. Each lesson has been specifically designed for independent study – you’ll learn World History in no time.

Course Description
 
From 1,000,000 b.c. to the dawn of the 21st Century, World History relates the important facts and significant concepts of our global history in concise, easy-to-understand terms, while eliminating nonessential data. Concentrating on European developments, it also pays ample attention to Asia, Africa, and other important areas.

• Demonstrate a greater awareness of the major events that shaped our world
• Trace the various civilizations from the earliest to those of today
• Better understand how newer civilizations built on contributions of the past
• Discuss the impact of the industrial revolution on how we live and work today
• Recognize the names and accomplishments of many of the dominant leaders
• Identify such figures as Homer, Machiavelli, Magellan, Cromwell, Washington,
• Napoleon, Whitney, Edison, Pasteur, Gandhi, Hitler, FDR, and Eisenhower
• Trace the history of Canada and discuss its relations with the United States
• Summarize how the British Empire grew to control one-fourth of the world
• Analyze how world events and leaders affected their own times and the future
• Interpret current events in light of events that occurred centuries ago
• Better appreciate how the past, the present, and the future are interrelated

Lesson 1: Ancient and Medieval History

History Definition; Primitive Peoples Emerge; Ages of Humanity: Paleolithic, Neolithic, Copper and Bronze, and Iron; Ancient Egypt: First Civilization; Other Early Civilizations of Middle East; Early Civilizations of Far East: Ancient India and China; Classical Civilizations: Ancient Greece and Rome; Medieval History; Middle Ages in Europe and Middle East; Barbaric Invasions; Feudalism; Roman Catholic Church; Byzantine and Moslem Empires; Later Middle Ages in Europe; Middle Ages in Far East: India, China, and Japan

Lesson 2: Modern History: The Growth of Democracy

Renaissance: Rebirth of Learning; Reformation: Beginning of Protestant Christianity; Rise of Absolute Monarchs and National States; Developments in England, France, Spain, Russia, and Prussia; European Exploration and Expansion Overseas; Commercial Revolution; Growth of Democracy; Early England; American Colonies and Revolutionary War; French Revolution and Napoleonic Era; Age of Metternich; Britain and Democracy via Evolution; France and Democracy via War and Revolution; Democracy vs. Dictatorship; Influence of Nationalism; German Unification; Unification of Italy; Disruption of Multinational Empires; Austrian Empire; Turkish Empire

Lesson 3: Modern History: Imperialism and Technological Advances

Impact of Industrial Revolution; Chronology; Favorable Conditions for Starting; Important Factors: Textiles, Steam Power, Coal, Iron, Steel, Electricity, etc.; Results: Economic, Political, and Social; Agricultural Revolution; Problems of Labor and Industrialization; Labor Unions; Social Security; Socialism and Communism; Achievements in Science; Achievements in Literature and the Arts; Introduction to Imperialism; British Empire to Commonwealth of Nations; Other Empires; Africa; Middle East; Far East; Imperialism and Colonial Nationalism

Lesson 4: World War I to the Present

Formation of European Alliances; Crises in Early 1900s; Causes of World War I; Original Warring Nations; U.S. and Other Nations Join the Fight; Military Aspects; League of Nations; Treaty of Versailles; Results of World War I; Russia: Czarism to Communism; Italy: Fascist Dictatorship to Democratic Republic; Germany: Nazi Dictatorship to Defeat in World War II; Failure of Peace Movement; World War II: Causes, Major Events, Significant Facts, and Results; United Nations; Cold War Era: Adversaries, Alliances, Wars and Other Crises, Impact, and Scientific Developments During; End to Cold War; American-Russian Relations Since World War II

After registering for the World History course, all of your learning materials will be shipped directly to you. If you like, you can also go to our website and download some of your study materials to get a head start. Your learning materials will guide you through the course content, explaining concepts and operations through a series of lessons. After each lesson, you’ll take an exam which you can submit by phone or our website. As you pass each lesson, you’ll proceed to the next topic until you complete the course.

There are four exams that need to be passed to complete your course in World History and you’ll have up to 15 weeks to complete the course.
 
Support
If you should ever need help with your studies, you can e-mail or call our instructors who will gladly help you with any questions that you might have.

Study Time
Since there is no set class schedule, you study when and where it’s convenient for you. You can complete your course as quickly as you’d like.

Completion
When you have successfully completed your course, you will receive a letter of completion along with an official transcript listing your completed course(s) and grades. You can apply your course towards our Diploma Program or a diploma from your local High School (be sure to check with your school authorities regarding mandatory attendance policies and whether they agree that the Penn Foster High School Program is acceptable toward the completion of your high school education). 
 
Accreditation
Penn Foster High School is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools; has met the high standards of integrity and performance set by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), Washington D.C., and is licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools.

Whether you’re looking for accelerated studies or credit recovery, regionally and nationally accredited Penn Foster High School provides the courses you need to complete your High School Diploma.