Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Ancient History

Other Tennessee Social Studies sets

Social Studies Practices

  • 1

    Collect data and information from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including:SSP.01

    1. 1

      Printed materialsSSP.01.1

    2. 2

      Graphic representationsSSP.01.2

    3. 3

      Field observations/Landscape analysisSSP.01.3

    4. 4

      ArtifactsSSP.01.4

    5. 5

      Media and technology sourcesSSP.01.5

    6. 6

      Oral HistorySSP.01.6

  • 2

    Critically examine a primary or secondary source in order to:SSP.02

    1. 1

      Extract, summarize, and paraphrase significant ideas and relevant informationSSP.02.1

    2. 2

      Discern differences between evidence and assertionSSP.02.2

    3. 3

      Recognize the significance of author’s purpose, point of view, and biasSSP.02.3

    4. 4

      Draw logical inferences and conclusionsSSP.02.4

    5. 5

      Assess the strengths and limitations of argumentsSSP.02.5

  • 3

    Synthesize data from a variety of sources in order to:SSP.03

    1. 1

      Establish accuracy and validity by comparing sources to each otherSSP.03.1

    2. 2

      Recognize disparities among multiple accountsSSP.03.2

    3. 3

      Frame appropriate questions for further investigationSSP.03.3

  • 4

    Construct and communicate arguments by citing supporting evidence to:SSP.04

    1. 1

      Demonstrate and defend an understanding of ideasSSP.04.1

    2. 2

      Compare and contrast viewpointsSSP.04.2

    3. 3

      Illustrate cause and effectSSP.04.3

    4. 4

      Predict likely outcomesSSP.04.4

    5. 5

      Devise new outcomes or solutionsSSP.04.5

    6. 6

      Engage in appropriate civic discourseSSP.04.6

  • 5

    Develop historical awareness by:SSP.05

    1. 1

      Recognizing how and why historical accounts change over timeSSP.05.1

    2. 2

      Perceiving and presenting past events and issues as they might have been experienced by the people of the time, with historical empathy vs. present- mindednessSSP.05.2

    3. 3

      Evaluating how unique circumstances of time and place create context and contribute to action and reactionSSP.05.3

    4. 4

      Identifying patterns of continuity and change over time, making connections to the presentSSP.05.4

  • 6

    Develop geographic awareness by:SSP.06

    1. 1

      Analyzing and determining the use of diverse types of maps based on the origin, authority, structure, context, and validitySSP.06.1

    2. 2

      Using the geographic perspective to analyze relationships, patterns, and diffusion across space at multiple scalesSSP.06.2

    3. 3

      Analyzing locations, conditions, and connections of places and using maps to investigate spatial associations among phenomenaSSP.06.3

    4. 4

      Examining how geographers use regions and how perceptions of regions are fluid across time and spaceSSP.06.4

    5. 5

      Analyzing interaction between humans and the physical environmentSSP.06.5

Human Origins and Early Civilizations: Prehistory to 1000 BC: Students will examine the emergence of early civilizations and the social, geographic, and cultural aspects of ancient civilizations.

  • 1

    Explain the human-environment interaction within hunter-gatherer societies.AH.01

  • 2

    List characteristics typical of hunter-gatherer societies, including their use of tools and fire.AH.02

  • 3

    Describe how the domestication of plants and animals gave rise to stable communities.AH.03

  • 4

    Explain how archaeology and new technologies (e.g., 3D imaging and dating tools) inform our understanding of the past.AH.04

  • 5

    Identify and locate on a map early civilizations (e.g., China, Egypt, Indus-Sarasvathi River Valley, Mesopotamia), and explain why civilizations arose in those places.AH.05

  • 6

    Compare and contrast the rise of early civilizations (e.g., China, Egypt, Indus-Sarasvathi River Valley, Mesopotamia) in terms of social, political, and economic development.AH.06

  • 7

    Describe the origins and central features of Hinduism and its distinctions from other early religious traditions:AH.07

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): origins in Aryan traditionsAH.07.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: The VedasAH.07.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: dharma, karma, reincarnation, and mokshaAH.07.3

  • 8

    Describe the origins and central features of Judaism and its distinctions from other early religious traditions:AH.08

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): Abraham, MosesAH.08.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: The Tanakh (i.e., Hebrew Bible, including the Torah)AH.08.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: monotheism, Ten Commandments, emphasis on individual worth and personal responsibilityAH.08.3

Early Civilizations and the Rise of Religious Traditions: 1000 BC-500 AD: Students will examine various early civilizations in terms of chronology, geography, social structures, government, economy, religion, and contributions to later civilizations.

  • 9

    Describe the diffusion of Judaism, and analyze its religious, social, and legal contributions.AH.09

  • 10

    Describe the origins and central features of Zoroastrianism:AH.10

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): ZoroasterAH.10.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: the AvestaAH.10.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: monotheism, dualism, and humanityAH.10.3

  • 11

    Describe the characteristics of early civilizations in Persia, including the impact of Zoroastrianism.AH.11

  • 12

    Describe the characteristics of early American civilizations, with emphasis on the Olmecs and Nazcas, in terms of geography, society, economy, and religion.AH.12

  • 13

    Describe the origins and central features of Shintoism:AH.13

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): No singular founderAH.13.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: No sacred textAH.13.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: localized tradition that focuses on ritual practices that are carried out with discipline to maintain connections with ancient past; animismAH.13.3

  • 14

    Describe the origins and central features of BuddhismAH.14

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)AH.14.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: TripitakaAH.14.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, NirvanaAH.14.3

  • 15

    Describe the characteristics of early civilizations in Japan, with emphasis on the impact of Shinto and Buddhist traditions and the influence of Chinese culture.AH.15

  • 16

    Describe the characteristics of early civilizations in China, with emphasis on the development of an empire, the construction of the Great Wall, and the Han Dynasty.AH.16

  • 17

    Compare and contrast the impact of eastern religions (e.g., Confucianism, Taoism) on cultural traditions and social relationships.AH.17

  • 18

    Describe the characteristics of early civilizations in India, with emphasis on the Aryan migrations and the caste system.AH.18

  • 19

    Describe the geographic, social, economic, and religious characteristics of the ancient African civilization of Axum, including its replacing Kush.AH.19

The Classical Civilizations of Greece and Rome: 1000-500 BC: Students will examine Greece and Rome during the classical period in terms of chronology, geography, social structures, government, economy, religion, and contributions to society.

  • 20

    Analyze the role geography played in the rise of Greek city-states, including their political and economic interactions.AH.20

  • 21

    Describe early Greek society, with an emphasis on social classes, cultural traditions, and religious beliefs.AH.21

  • 22

    Compare and contrast the city-states of Athens and Sparta, explaining social structures, the significance of citizenship, and rise of early democracy.AH.22

  • 23

    Evaluate the significance of the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars.AH.23

  • 24

    Explain the conquest of Greece by Macedonia and the formation and spread of Hellenistic culture by Alexander the Great.AH.24

  • 25

    Identify the significant developments and contributions of Greece to the following:AH.25

    1. 1

      ArchitectureAH.25.1

    2. 2

      Art/DramaAH.25.2

    3. 3

      HistoryAH.25.3

    4. 4

      LanguageAH.25.4

    5. 5

      LawAH.25.5

    6. 6

      Literature/PoetryAH.25.6

    7. 7

      MedicineAH.25.7

    8. 8

      PhilosophyAH.25.8

    9. 9

      Religious InstitutionsAH.25.9

    10. 10

      ScienceAH.25.10

    11. 11

      TechnologyAH.25.11

  • 26

    Analyze the role and influence of geography on Roman economic, social, and political development.AH.26

  • 27

    Explain the social and political structures of the Roman Republic, including enslavement, the significance of citizenship, and the development of democratic features in government.AH.27

  • 28

    Explain the spread of Roman culture and the rise of Roman military, and the impact of conquests on political affairs, the economy, and social structures, including the Pax Romana.AH.28

  • 29

    Assess the roles of Julius and Augustus Caesar in the collapse of the Roman Republic and the rise of imperial monarchs.AH.29

  • 30

    Describe the origins, central features, and diffusion of Christianity:AH.30

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): Jesus, PaulAH.30.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: The BibleAH.30.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: Triune monotheism, sin and forgiveness, eternal life, Jesus as the MessiahAH.30.3

  • 31

    Explain the development and significance of the Christian Church in the late Roman Empire.AH.31

  • 32

    Identify the significant developments and contributions of Rome to the following:AH.32

    1. 1

      ArchitectureAH.32.1

    2. 2

      Art/DramaAH.32.2

    3. 3

      HistoryAH.32.3

    4. 4

      LanguageAH.32.4

    5. 5

      LawAH.32.5

    6. 6

      Literature/PoetryAH.32.6

    7. 7

      MedicineAH.32.7

    8. 8

      PhilosophyAH.32.8

    9. 9

      Religious InstitutionsAH.32.9

    10. 10

      ScienceAH.32.10

    11. 11

      TechnologyAH.32.11

  • 33

    Analyze the fall of the Western Roman Empire, including difficulty governing its large territory, political corruption, economic instability, and attacks by Germanic tribes, and identify the continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire as the Byzantine Empire. AH.33

Post-Classical Civilizations: 300-1000 AD: Students will examine post-classical civilizations, including the Byzantine Empire, the Gupta Empire, and Islamic civilizations during the Early Middle Ages, and their impact on Western civilization.

  • 34

    Explain the reasons for establishing Constantinople as the capital of the Roman Empire (i.e., the Byzantine Empire) in the East.AH.34

  • 35

    Describe the contributions of Justinian (e.g., the codification of Roman law) and the economic and political expansion of the Byzantine Empire.AH.35

  • 36

    Compare and contrast Byzantine art and architecture with previous Greek and Roman traditions.AH.36

  • 37

    Explain disputes that led to the split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.AH.37

  • 38

    Analyze the Golden Age of India under the Gupta Empire.AH.38

  • 39

    Describe the origins, central features, and diffusion of Islam:AH.39

    1. 1

      Key Person(s): MohammadAH.39.1

    2. 2

      Sacred Texts: The Quran and The SunnahAH.39.2

    3. 3

      Basic Beliefs: monotheism, Five PillarsAH.39.3

  • 40

    Analyze the role geography played in the economic, social, and political development of Islamic civilizations.AH.40

  • 41

    Identify historical turning points that affected the diffusion and influence of Islam, with emphasis on the Sunni-Shi’a division and Battle of Tours.AH.41

  • 42

    Describe cultural and scientific contributions and achievements of Islamic civilizations.AH.42

  • 43

    Explain how the diffusion of Christianity throughout Europe influenced its development after the decline of the Roman Empire.AH.43

  • 44

    Explain the structure of feudal society and its economic, social, and political effects.AH.44

  • 45

    Explain the rise of Frankish kings, the Age of Charlemagne, and the revival of the idea of the Roman Empire.AH.45

  • 46

    Examine the invasions, settlements, and patterns of interaction of migratory groups, including Angles, Saxons, Magyars, and Vikings.AH.46

Regional Interactions: 1000-1500 AD: Students will examine civilizations and empires of this time period, including interactions through regional trade patterns, social, economic, and political changes, cultural achievements, and developments that impacted each region.

  • 47

    Describe the characteristics of civilizations in the Americas, with emphasis on the Incans, in terms of geography, society, economy, and religion.AH.47

  • 48

    Describe the characteristics of civilizations in the Americas, with emphasis on the Maya, in terms of geography, society, economy, and religion.AH.48

  • 49

    Describe the characteristics of the continuation of civilizations in Africa, with emphasis on Axum, Ghana, and Mali, in terms of geography, society, economy/trade, and religion.AH.49

  • 50

    Describe the development of monarchies (e.g., England, France, Russia, and Spain) as foundations for the later emergence of nation-states.AH.50

  • 51

    Analyze the causes, experiences, and consequences of the Crusades during the medieval period.AH.51

  • 52

    Explain later conflicts in the Eurasian region, with emphasis on the Mongol conquests, the Hundred Years War, and the fall of Constantinople.AH.52

  • 53

    Identify patterns of crisis and recovery related to the Black Death (i.e., Bubonic Plague).AH.53

  • 54

    Describe social, political, and religious developments in the later medieval period (e.g., Magna Carta, decline of feudalism, and church-state conflicts).AH.54

  • 55

    Describe how preservation and integration of Greek, Roman, Chinese, and Arabic knowledge influenced developments in Western Europe (e.g., philosophy, medicine, and technology).AH.55

  • 56

    Explain the rise of Italian city-states and their political development, including Niccolo Machiavelli’s theory of governing as described in The Prince.AH.56

  • 57

    Examine how economic growth in the Italian city-states enabled patronage for the arts.AH.57

  • 58

    Describe how Renaissance art, literature, and philosophy (e.g., Petrarch) differed from those in the medieval period.AH.58

  • 59

    Compare and contrast the Italian and the Northern Renaissances, citing the contributions of writers and artists.AH.59

  • 60

    Describe how economic and technological advances led to networks of trade and cultural interactions between major European civilizations.AH.60

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12
Where can I read the official document?
Tennessee Social Studies Standards

Keep exploring

Keep exploring Social Studies standards

Sibling grade bands, other subjects in this jurisdiction, and the same subject across other states.