GATEWAY ASSESSMENT

1. GATEWAY ASSESSMENT Social Studies and Language Arts

2. What is the Gateway? • It is a document-based question or DBQ. • It is a writing task required for high school graduation. • It is scored in Social Studies and Language Arts. • The content is based on world history. • It requires students to think analytically and integrate information from a variety of sources. • It teaches the necessary skills for effective written communication.

3. Writing Strategies • Carefully read both questions and all documents before choosing the task. • Make quick notes or a brief outline. • What does the task ask you to do? • How would you answer the task if you did not have documents? • Pay attention to key phrases and vocabulary in the documents. • Formulate a thesis that answers the question. • Write a rough draft.

4. Writing Strategies • Address all of the bullet points in your essay. • Use all or all but one of the documents. • Cite the documents after you have used them. (Doc. A) • Do not simply list the documents, incorporate them into the prior knowledge. • Analyze the documents – don’t just say what they are – say what they mean. • Do not use large blocks of quotation, paraphrase instead. • Write at least 5 paragraph and use transitions. • Pay attention to spelling and grammar.

5. Scoring Elements Focus and Development What do you know about the topic? How well did you answer the question? Knowledge and Use of Information What content do you know outside of the documents? How can you use the documents in your answer? What vocabulary do you know pertaining to the topic? Analysis and Interpretation What do you know about the documents? What do the documents mean?

6. SOCIAL STUDIES CONTENT

7. River Valley Civilizations Main Idea – Following the Neolithic Revolution in about 3500 B.C.E., civilization began along major river systems. People began permanent settlements where they farmed. Specialization, religion, and the growth of government followed. Locations: Mesopotamia (Tigris/Euphrates), Egypt (Nile), India (Indus), China (Huang) Issues: flood control, irrigation, population growth, invasions

8. Ancient Religions Main Idea – As people began permanent settlements, ideas pertaining to the spiritual world became more varied and complex. Polytheism: belief in more than one god, found in most regions Monotheism: belief in one god, contribution of Hebrews (Jews) Hinduism: distinctive ideas of the Aryans brought to Indus Valley, based on Vedas and Caste System Buddhism: began in India and spread to China, based on Four Noble Truths Daoism: the “way of nature” in China

9. Ancient and Classical Greece Main Idea – The geography of the eastern Mediterranean region caused the people to build independent city-states. Athens: roots of Western civilization, long lasting contributions in art, architecture, philosophy, government, science Sparta: focused on austere and militaristic lifestyle, rival of Athens Alexander the Great: conquered most of known world, legacy of Hellenism

10. The Roman Republic and Empire Main Idea – Roman government shifted from monarchy to republic to empire creating a civilization that lasted over 800 years. Republic: representative government, domination by the patrician class Julius Caesar: totalitarian ruler and reformer who was key in the transition Empire: instability, internal decay, economic issues, barbarian invasions led to its fall Christianity: began in the Roman Empire, monotheistic offshoot of Judaism, spread rapidly due to missionary activity

11. The Byzantine Empire Main Idea – The Eastern Roman Empire lived on in Constantinople after the fall of the West, creating its own unique culture from the 500s until its fall in 1453. Justinian: emperor who attempted to preserve the Roman Empire through architecture, codified law, conquest Orthodox Christianity: Christian church split in 1054 leading to Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism Culture: Greek culture, Cyrillic language of Slavs moved north to Russia

12. China and India Form Empires Main Idea – For thousands of years, culture flourished in Asia leading to great artistic and technological achievements. China: “Mandate of Heaven” and dynastic cycle led to rise of Qin, Han, Tang, and Ming dynasties Achievements: silk, gunpowder, porcelain, printing, compass India: regional government gave way to Mauryan and Gupta empires Achievements: literature, science, math, spread of religion

13. African Kingdoms Main Idea – By 1000 C.E., the Bantu people had settled most of Africa. Trans-Saharan trade helped local communities grow into kingdoms. Culture: based on age-grade, kinship groups Religion: animistic with inclusion of Christianity and Islam Trade: gold, salt, ivory Kingdoms: Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Great Zimbabwe, Swahili trading coast city-states

14. The Rise of Islamic Empires Main Idea – A new religion in the early 600s, Islam, sought converts throughout S.W. Asia and North Africa bringing new culture and government to ancient regions. Islam: founded by Muhammad, based on teachings of the Quran; followers practice the Five Pillars of Faith Conquest: Arabian Peninsula, Persia, Constantinople, Persia, Egypt, Mali, Spain Achievements: literature, calligraphy, astronomy, math, medicine

15. The Mongol Empire Main Idea – The rise of the steppe nomads under Genghis Khan in the late 1100s, led to the conquest Asia and the revival of the Silk Road trade routes. Conquest: central and east Asia, Persia, Middle East, Russia; organization, strategy, psychological warfare China: Kublai Khan ruled Yuan Dynasty PaxMongolica: peace, prosperity, safe passage for trade

16. Early American Civilizations Main Idea – Hunters-gatherers migrated across the Bering Strait to populate the Americas. Over time, great civilizations arose in Mesoamerica and South America. Early Groups: Olmecs, Mayan, Toltecs built cities in the rain forests Aztecs: traded obsidian, farmed on chinampas, conquered other groups Incas: extensive mountain road system, quipu record-keeping Contributions: ball game, calendar, astronomy, human-sacrifice, engineering

17. European Middle Ages Main Idea – With the fall of Rome in 476, invading tribes poured across Europe. Decentralization led to a feudal system. Over time, the tribes settled, farmed, and adopted Christianity. Feudalism: lords granted land to vassals; serfs worked the land; manor was self-sufficient Culture: church grew powerful, trade and towns revived; lords began to centralize their power The Crusades: religious wars between Christianity and Islam; economic, political and social goals, effects were revival of trade, renewal of knowledge, decline in power of feudal nobility

18. Renaissance Europe Main Idea – With the revival of towns and trade in Italy during the late Middle Ages, Europe embarked on a “rebirth” of learning and knowledge. Humanism: intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements, concept of the “Renaissance Man” Art and Architecture: more realistic styles copied from classical models Leading Individuals: Petrarch, Erasmus, Dante, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, More, Shakespeare Spread: northward across Europe aided by printing press; people began to question life

19. The Protestant Reformation Main Idea – The power and corruption of the medieval Catholic Church boiled over in 1517 into a protest movement that caused a permanent split in the church. Causes: internal corruption, simony and nepotism, sale of indulgences, new ideas based on humanism Ideas and Individuals: Luther believed salvation based on faith alone; Calvin believed in predestination; Henry VIII of England changed church for political reasons Effects: spread rapidly due to printing press; Catholic Church reformed itself

20. Age of Exploration Main Idea – The Renaissance encouraged a spirit of adventure and curiosity. As explorers of the 1400s and 1500s searched for new trade routes to the East, they encountered a New World. Motivations: gain wealth, spread Christianity, personal glory; enabled by new technology Columbian Exchange: transfer of foods, plants, animals between “old world” and “new world” Legacy: colonization, exploitation and death, Triangular Trade, new wealth, mercantilism; China and Japan return to isolation

21. Absolutism and Constitutionalism Main Idea – With the decline of feudalism in the 1500s and 1600s, national kingdoms such as France, Spain, Austria, and Russia grew powerful under absolute monarchs while England limited the power of the monarch in favor of a parliamentary system. Absolutism: believed in “divine right,” centralized their power, controlled the nobles, used serfdom, taxed the lower classes, built national armies Examples: Philip II, Louis XIV, Peter the Great, Maria Theresa, Frederick the Great Constitutionalism: conflicts with Parliament, Civil War, Restoration, Glorious Revolution, the Bill of Rights

22. Scientific Revolution Main Idea – As the Renaissance caused people to question the world around them, scholars of the 16th and 17th centuries observed and experimented, changing our view of the physical realm. Heliocentric Theory: Copernicus’s model challenging the medieval view of geocentrism Leading Individuals: Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Bacon Disciplines: astronomy, physics, chemistry, anatomy

23. Enlightenment and Revolution Main Idea – The Scientific Revolution caused philosophers to question attitudes about society. New ideas on governing led to an Age of Reason and Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. Ideas: social contract, consent of the governed, natural rights, separation of powers French Revolution: Estates General to addresses taxation, debt; Tennis Court Oath led to National Assembly; the new republic executes king, begins “Reign of Terror;” after Directory, Napoleon comes to power, brings stability Latin American Revolutions: begins with Haiti, extends to South America and Mexico, L’Ouverture, Hidalgo, creoles Bolivar and San Martin

24. The Industrial Revolution Main Idea – Beginning in England in the 1700s, there was an explosion of inventions and technological advances that led to changes in the way people lived and worked. Beginnings: agricultural improvement, England’s stability and resources, textiles mechanized Mechanization: steam engine, railroads, factories, long and dangerous work Cities: population growth, division of classes, crime, slums Effects: improved food supply, new consumer goods, ideas spread, socialism, nationalism, revolution, militarism

25. Age of Imperialism Main Idea – As newly industrialized nations of the 19th century looked globally for raw materials and new markets, Africa and Asia were divided, colonized, and subjected to unfair trade agreements. Africa: Berlin Conference set down rules of occupation among European nations India: Sepoy Mutiny led to direct control by Britain China: Opium Wars, Boxer Rebellion, Open Door Policy, attempts to unsuccessfully limit foreign interference Japan: Meiji Restoration embarks on policy of industrialization and westernization to become an imperial power

26. World War I Main Idea – In 1914, Europe divided into 2 armed camps as tensions between nations over power and control reached a critical point. This was the beginning of The Great War. Causes: nationalism, imperialism, militarism, alliance system Events: war in the Balkans, assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, trench warfare, new technology, submarines, total war, Russian Revolution, U.S. enters Effects: Fourteen Points, League of Nations, war-guilt clause, uneasy peace and unresolved issues led to WWII