Teaching European History at an Independent High School

The European history curriculum of the 21^st century provides ample opportunities to introduce students to a diverse range of voices and experiences by building on the traditional canon of “great men and thinkers” to include the experience of historically marginalized populations whether defined by race, gender, ethnicity, class, or religion. The relatively manageable scope of study (when compared to the world history curriculum) is well-suited for in-depth study and interleaving themes throughout the course. With the opportunity to dig into issues and explore the evolution of social, economic, cultural and political norms, students build a more sophisticated understanding of the complex process of historical change. The pace of the course allows time to focus on the development of essential skills (close reading, evaluating evidence, and construction of persuasive analyses) which in turn encourage the interrogation of historical assumptions and cultivate a nuanced understanding of the diverse types of influences of European states and populations