About Unit 8

💭 Essential Question: How did early modern empires develop over time and why does their legacy matter today?

The Unit 8: Early Modern Empires (400–1600 CE) invites students to investigate how early modern empires developed over time and why their legacies continue to shape the world today. Through the lenses of causation, historical significance, and continuity and change, students explore how factors such as geography, trade, leadership, culture, and technology contributed to the rise and expansion of empires across Afro-Eurasia. Students begin by building shared contextual knowledge of the period and background knowledge of major empires. Students then engage in a sustained research project, selecting guiding question and empire to study in depth as they trace its origins, analyze key developments and turning points, and evaluate its lasting impact. Throughout the unit, students practice disciplinary research skills such as evaluating source credibility, corroborating evidence across multiple perspectives, refining claims, and organizing evidence to construct a meaningful historical argument. The unit culminates in a public research showcase, where students present their findings and reflect on how understanding the development and legacy of early modern empires deepens our understanding of global connections and helps explain patterns that continue to shape the modern world.