KEY IDEA: TRANSFORMATION OF WESTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA: Western Europe and Russia transformed politically, economically, and culturally ca. 1400–1750. This transformation included state building, conflicts, shifts in power and authority, and new ways of understanding their world.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING: The Renaissance was influenced by the diffusion of technology and ideas. The Islamic caliphates played an important role in this diffusion.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will investigate technologies and ideas, including printing and paper, navigational tools, and mathematics and medical science that diffused to Europe, noting the role of the Islamic caliphates.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will explore shifts in the Western European Medieval view of itself and the world as well as key Greco-Roman legacies that influenced Renaissance thinkers and artists

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will examine political ideas developed during the Renaissance, including those of Machiavelli.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING: The Reformation challenged traditional religious authority, which prompted a counter reformation that led to a religiously fragmented Western Europe and political conflicts. This religious upheaval continued the marginalization of Jews in European society.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will explore the roles of key individuals, including Martin Luther, John Calvin, Elizabeth I, and Ignatius Loyola, and the impacts that they had on the religious and political unity of Europe.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will trace the discrimination against and persecution of Jews.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING: Absolutist governments emerged as Western European and Russian monarchs consolidated power and wealth.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will investigate Russian efforts to remove Mongol and Islamic influence and to expand and transform their society.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will investigate autocratic and absolutist rule by comparing and contrasting the reigns of Louis XIV and Peter the Great.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING: The development of the Scientific Revolution challenged traditional authorities and beliefs.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will examine the Scientific Revolution, including the influence of Galileo and Newton.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING: The Enlightenment challenged views of political authority and how power and authority were conceptualized.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will investigate the Enlightenment by comparing and contrasting the ideas expressed in The Leviathan and The Second Treatise on Government.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will investigate the context and challenge to authority in the English Civil War and Glorious Revolution.