Butler High School – World Humanities Seminar

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

This course should begin with a focus on the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean and Europe. Classical cultures centered on Athens, Jerusalem, and Rome should be studied through the birth and evolution of the Medieval World. The rise and diffusion of Islam from the 7th through the 15th centuries should be a major theme. This course should also emphasize the study of Europe and the non-western cultures from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East from the 16th century to the modern era. The latter emphasis would be on the cultural world of the Reformation, the Renaissance and the political revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries. Student focus could be on European colonialism and its effects, the changing role of women and work, and how the meaning of human rights has evolved over time. Course content should be studied through a contemporary global lens.