Through the use of various primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain how the Black Death swept across Europe in the late 1340s, what impact the plague had on how Europeans saw the Church and religion, and what modern scientific theories say about the calamity.

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the major points of the fascist doctrine as defined by its Duce, Benito Mussolini, how the Duce came to power in Italy and how fascism inspired German National Socialism (yet was very different in its aims).

Through an examination of both primary and secondary sources on the subject, including various types of visual media in addition to electronic and written sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the major points of the “Pact of Steel” between Germany and Italy in 1939, how the once rocky relationship between Fascist Italy and NAZI Germany developed between 1935 and 1939, and how the signing of the agreement was one of the major steps that led to the opening of the Second World War.

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the details behind the story of Romulus and Remus. The mythical/historical narrative behind the founding of the Eternal City, and how the myth of Romulus and Remus is central to understanding how Romans saw (and still see) their sense of identity, and why these stories are important to the development of western civilization.

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the details behind the Rape of the Sabine Women and how the myth became part of the Roman identity and sense of self.

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the story of St. Brendan and the legends surrounding the Irish saint. Students will then take a position as to whether they believe Brendan deserves credit for being the first European to discover America, some 1000 years before Christopher Columbus and 500 years before Leif Erikson.

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the Irish Rebellion of 1798, the role played by leading figures in the rebellion, including Wolfe Tome and the United Irishmen, the reasons the French got involved in the 1798 rebellion and the subsequent consequences for the French government as a result of that involvement, and finally the legacy of the Rebellion for the Irish today.

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the details of Ireland’s Great Famine of the 1840s, what caused it, the government’s response to the tragedy and how the famine helped cause the Irish Diaspora.

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the details of how the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 tried to solve the Irish “Troubles”, what progress has been made in Northern Ireland since the signing of the agreement, and what issues still remain today.

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students here will identify, understand and be able to explain the Eastern Rising of 1916, including the reasons behind the Rising, what happened during the six day rebellion, and finally how the legacy of the Rising is seen by the Irish people today.

Through the investigation of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the story of St. Patrick, the legends surrounding the patron saint of Ireland and what place he plays in the national identity of all people of Irish descent.

Through the investigation of selected writings and various electronic resources, including primary and secondary sources from across the Islamic world, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain in detail the Five Pillars, how they form the foundation for Islamic life around the world.

Through the investigation of selected writings and various electronic resources, including primary and secondary sources from across the Islamic world, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain in detail the story of Muhammad, what tradition says about his role as the prophet of Islam.

Through the investigation of selected primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the organization of Spartan society in the age of Classical Greece, the roles males and females each played in that society, and how Spartans themselves saw the concepts of freedom and equality for all citizens.

Through the investigation of selected primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the basics of Socratic wisdom and thought, including what’s now commonly referred to as the “Socratic Method” of investigation and inquiry, and will also be able to trace how the ancient Greek master’s ideas influenced, and continue to influence, philosophical thought in the western world.

Through the investigation of selected primary and secondary sources, including a full text analysis of book 6 of Plato’s Republic, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the concept of rule by “philosopher kings” and how Plato / Socrates developed and defended the idea of philosophers leading society. Using this knowledge, students will then discuss and debate the notion of whether modern governments in the western world should look to philosophers as their leaders.

Through the investigation of selected primary and secondary sources, including a full text reading of Plato’s dialogue Euthyphro, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the basics of the Socratic argument behind defining piety and justice, how Socrates uses logical reasoning to question Euthyphro’s assertions, and what modern readers can take from the story.

Through an in-depth analysis of primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain the story of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”, and using that knowledge will then theorize as to what message Plato (and Socrates) might be trying to give to humanity through the timeless dialogue.

Through the investigation of selected primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain how a vastly outnumbered and outgunned Greek force was able to hold out against a much larger and more powerful Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae and why this battle is considered to be a watershed event in the history of western civilization.

Through the investigation of selected primary and secondary sources, students in this lesson will identify, understand and be able to explain how a vastly outnumbered and outgunned Greek force was able to defeat the much larger and more powerful Persian army at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE and why this battle is considered to be a watershed event in the history of western civilization.