International Community School – International Studies 4 Honors

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

International Studies 4 begins by tracing developments in western civilization from Rome’s fall to the middle of the 20th century. The course begins with a study of North Sea civilizations, including the Vikings, the Anglos, the Saxons, and the Picts. Following this is an in-depth look at Europe from the Feudal Medieval Age, through the Renaissance, the Age of Exploration, and the Enlightenment. During this section, specific attention will be given to major agricultural innovations, conflicts within the Catholic Church, the effects of the Crusades, new methods and motivations for navigation, the fragmentation of Christendom, Absolute monarchies, and the major philosophers of the Enlightenment. The second semester focuses on the causes and influences of Revolution and the impacts of European Colonialism. Several major revolutions included in this study are the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, and the Atlantic Revolutions. Across all these revolutions, students will compare their origins and outcomes to test current theories of revolution, based on Crane Brinton's Anatomy of a Revolution. The legacies of European colonization are studied, beginning with the Spanish Caribbean, and moving across North America, Africa, and India. The students will focus on the societal and political landscapes of these regions as they gained their independence and developed as sovereign nations. Students complete a year-long National History Day Project as now experienced researchers. Students spend the year engaged in long-term research analyzing and interpreting primary sources. Then, students choose to either "go it alone" or "group up" in creating either a performances, exhibits, multimedia documentaries, web sites, and research papers. Students can choose to compete in the senior division of National History Day at three levels: regional, state, and national.