Social Studies
Teacher: Jaron Gholson

In traditional Social Studies classes, students are only required to memorize random events, facts, and dates. This is easy to do, however once the finishes the course they forget everything, because the teacher failed to help them grasp the importance of the historical event. In Mr. Gholson’s courses, students will learn what led to a certain event taking place and the impact it had on the people it affected. They must also be able make draw connections or make comparisons between two different historical events.

In US history we take a conceptual look at the evolving American culture, politics, environment and economy. The course’s intent is to help students better understand the themes of history which shaped and continue to impact our lives.

1. Introduction to Africa
A. Origin of the name “Africa”
B. Geography of Africa
C. Cities in Africa
D. Natural Resources

2. Introduction to Ancient Egypt
A. Original Name of Egypt
B. The Nile River’s connection to Egypt
C. Architectural Wonders
D. Writing and language in Egypt
E. The False portrayal of Ancient Kemetian people by Hollywood and Mass Media
F. Historical Evidence support Kemetians were Black African

3. The Old Kingdom
A. The First Dynasty
B. The Third Dynasty
C. The Fourth Dynasty

4. The Middle Kingdom
A. 12th Dynasty
B. 13th Dynasty
C. The Hyksos

5. The New Kingdom
A. The 18th Dynasty
B. The 19th Dynasty

6. The 25th Dynasty (Nubian Dynasty)
A. Pharaoh Kashta
B. Pharaoh Piye
C. Pharaoh Shabaka

7. The Last Years of Kemet
A. Alexander the Macedonian’s Conquest of Egypt
B. The Ptolemy Dynasty
1. Queen Cleopatra

8. Ancient Nubia and Kush
A. Origin of Nubia
B. Nubian Kings
C. Landmarks
D. Kush
E. Kushite Queens
F. Meroe

9. Axum
A. Axum grows into an empire
B. King Ezana
C. Africa’s connection to Judaism and Christianity
D. Ancient sites and landmarks
E. Decline of Axum

10. Swahili City States
A. Origins
1. Trade between Africans and Arabs
2. The Swahili language
B. The Land of Zanj
1. The East African Slave Trade
2. The Great Zanj Rebellion
C. The Decline of the Swahili City States

11. Great Zimbabwe
A. The Wealth of Zimbabwe
B. King Mono Motapa
C. Racist Assumptions of European Scholars
D. Religious Beliefs
E. Decline of the Kingdom

12. The Zulus
A. Origins of the Zulu Nation
B. The Reign of Shaka Zulu
C. Dingaan Brother of Shaka Zulu
D. Wars against British Imperialism

13. Hannibal Barca
A. Carthage
B. The Punic Wars

14. Nok Culture
A. Most Ancient West African Culture
B. Ceramics
C. Agriculture

15. Ghana Empire
A. Bartering System
B. Soninke People
C. Relationship with Islam
D. Decline

16. Mali Empire
A. Sundiata Keita
B. Mansa Musa
C. Timbuktu
D. Decline

17. Songhay
A. Askia Mohmmad
B. Sunni Ali
C. Decline

18. Dogons/ Ashanti/ Benin
A. Dogons
1. Culture
2. Sirius B
B. Ashanti
1. Culture
2. Kings
C. Benin
1. Sculpture and art

19. Moors
A. Origin of Moors
B. Moorish Conquest of Spain and Portugal
C. Moor’s impact European Education, Arts, and Science
D. The Umayyad Dynasty
E. Moor’s Influence on other parts of Europe
F. Moors in the Americas

20. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
A. Beginnings of Slavery
1. Differences between Western and Traditional Slavery.
2. Origins of Racist Ideology
3. Columbus
B. The Middle Passage
C. The African Diaspora
D. Slave Rebellions
1. Nat Turner Rebellion
2. Haitian Revolution
3. King Yanga’s Rebellion
4. Palmeres Rebellion

21. Colonialism and Imperialism
A. Europeans Partition and Conqueror Africa

22. The Struggle for Independence
A. The Mau Mau Rebellion
B. Jomo Kenyatta
C. Kwane Nkrumah
D. Patrice Lumumba

23. South Africa
A. Colonialism
B. Partied
C. Nelson Mandela