Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Grade 8: World History and Geography: Middle Ages to the Enlightenment

Other Alabama Social Studies sets

Effects of the Fall of RomeSS24.8.EFR

  • 1

    Analyze the economic, political, and social consequences of the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.SS24.8.1

    1. a

      Trace the spread of Christianity in Europe and the wider Mediterranean region and outline the organizational structure of the early Catholic Church, including the roles of the Bishop of Rome and Councils of Carthage.SS24.8.1a

    2. b

      Explain the rise of Germanic kingdoms, the migration of their peoples, and the effect on political boundaries in Europe.SS24.8.1b

  • 2

    Describe the Byzantine Empire, its institutions, and its legacy.SS24.8.2

    1. a

      Identify factors leading to the separation of Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity and explain how the Orthodox Church influenced society and culture in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.SS24.8.2a

    2. b

      Evaluate the cultural contributions of the Byzantines to art, religion, and architecture.SS24.8.2b

    3. c

      Analyze the influence of the Code of Justinian on modern legal codes.SS24.8.2c

Medieval SocietiesSS24.8.MS

  • 3

    Trace and analyze the spread of Islam through the Mediterranean region under the caliphs from 632 to 1258, including the consolidation of the Qur’an.SS24.8.3

    1. a

      Outline the founding and development of Islam under Muhammad.SS24.8.3a

    2. b

      Differentiate among the Islamic sects that developed after the death of Muhammad.SS24.8.3b

    3. c

      Analyze the influence of Islamic cultural, economic, and political systems in Africa, Arabia, and Europe.SS24.8.3c

  • 4

    Compare and contrast the cultural, economic, geographic, and political structures of the civilizations of medieval Asia, including China, India, Japan, and KoreaSS24.8.4

    1. a

      Explain China’s influence on other civilizations in Asia.SS24.8.4a

    2. b

      Describe how the Mongols influenced the cultural, economic, and social landscape of Asia.SS24.8.4b

    3. c

      Analyze the evolution of religion in Asia, including the growth of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism.SS24.8.4c

    4. d

      Trace the development of the feudal structure of medieval Japan, including the establishment of the Shogunate by Minamoto no Yoritomo.SS24.8.4d

  • 5

    Compare the African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, including cultures, economic systems, geography, religions, and slave trade.SS24.8.5

    1. a

      Describe how physical geography shaped the growth of medieval African kingdoms and trade with neighboring regions.SS24.8.5a

    2. b

      Trace the spread of culture, language, and religion among African civilizations.SS24.8.5b

    3. c

      Evaluate the economic and cultural contributions of key leaders and trade centers in African kingdoms, including Mansa Musa and the city of Timbuktu.SS24.8.5c

  • 6

    Describe key aspects and figures of Indigenous societies during the Postclassic Period in Mesoamerica and the Andean region and the Mississippian Period in North America, including the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations.SS24.8.6

    1. a

      Analyze how geographic and environmental factors led to the location and growth of Indigenous societies.SS24.8.6a

    2. b

      Describe technological and engineering achievements of Indigenous societies.SS24.8.6b

    3. c

      Explain how religious beliefs and practices shaped culture in Indigenous societies.SS24.8.6c

  • 7

    Outline the social, cultural, economic, and religious developments of early medieval Europe.SS24.8.7

    1. a

      Compare and contrast the growth of medieval societies in different geographic regions of Europe.SS24.8.7a

    2. b

      Analyze the relationship of the Catholic Church to economic, political, and social systems and rulers in medieval Europe.SS24.8.7b

    3. c

      Explain the significant economic, political, and social aspects of European feudalism.SS24.8.7c

    4. d

      Analyze the effects of political events in Europe during the Middle Ages, including the coronation of Charlemagne, the Norman Conquest, and the Hundred Years’ War.SS24.8.7d

    5. e

      Summarize the significance of the issuing of the Magna Carta in limiting royal power and establishing the rule of law.SS24.8.7e

  • 8

    Analyze the social, political, and economic changes leading up to the Renaissance and Reformation in later medieval Europe and surrounding regions.SS24.8.8

    1. a

      Explain the political and cultural consequences of the Crusades, the Reconquista, the Spanish Inquisition, and the establishment of the Ottoman Empire.SS24.8.8a

    2. b

      Trace the spread of the bubonic plague from Asia to Europe and describe the resulting changes that occurred in Europe, including the rise of the middle class.SS24.8.8b

    3. c

      Describe the role of women in society and politics in medieval Europe, citing the contributions of significant women of the time.SS24.8.8c

Renaissance and ReformationSS24.8.RR

  • 9

    Describe cultural and economic developments in Italy and Northern Europe during the Renaissance, including the influence of the Medici family.SS24.8.9

    1. a

      Analyze humanism and the contributions of philosophers and artists during the Renaissance.SS24.8.9a

    2. b

      Summarize major scientific and technological advancements in the Renaissance, including the printing press, and evaluate their effects on society.SS24.8.9b

  • 10

    Analyze the factors that contributed to the Reformation and explain how it affected the religious and political unity of Europe.SS24.8.10

    1. a

      Summarize the policies and practices within the Roman Catholic Church that led to conflict with both religious reformers and secular authorities.SS24.10a

    2. b

      Describe the political, religious, and social contributions of reformers in Europe, including Martin Luther and John Calvin.SS24.8.10b

    3. c

      Summarize responses to the Reformation, including the Counter-Reformation, English Reformation, and religious conflicts, and cite the roles of central figures in these events.SS24.8.10c

Age of Exploration and Colonization in the AmericasSS24.8.AEC

  • 11

    Explain the motivations for exploration by European nations.SS24.8.11

    1. a

      Summarize how expanding knowledge of geographical features and the development of navigational technology contributed to global exploration by Europeans.SS24.8.11a

    2. b

      Explain the economic, political, and religious factors that fostered exploration, including mercantilism.SS24.8.11b

    3. c

      Analyze the consequences of initial contact between Europeans and Indigenous peoples in the Americas.SS24.8.11c

    4. d

      Describe the Columbian Exchange and its contributions to cultural, demographic, economic, and environmental changes around the globe.SS24.8.11d

  • 12

    Trace the cultural, economic, and political effects of European colonization on the populations of Africa, the Americas, and Europe.SS24.8.12

    1. a

      Explain how the desire for cheap labor led to the enslavement and decline of the Indigenous populations in the Americas.SS24.8.12a

  • 13

    Analyze the economic, political, and social effects of the transatlantic slave trade on African societies and American colonies.SS24.8.13

    1. a

      Describe the conditions and treatment of enslaved Africans during the Middle Passage and in the Americas.SS24.8.13a

Rise of AbsolutismSS24.8.RA

  • 14

    Summarize the rise of absolutism and explain how absolute monarchy differed from governing practices in Europe before the seventeenth century.SS24.8.14

    1. a

      Explain how the Thirty Years’ War and the Peace of Westphalia led to the rise of absolutism.SS24.8.14a

    2. b

      Analyze the rise of absolutism in France under Louis XIV, including the divine right of kings.SS24.8.14b

    3. c

      Describe how the development of absolutism affected governments in Russia and Prussia under the reigns of Peter the Great, Frederick the Great, and Catherine the Great.SS24.8.14c

    4. d

      Summarize the influence of the Ottoman Empire on the political landscape of European monarchies.SS24.8.14d

  • 15

    Analyze the development of parliamentary and constitutional government in England.SS24.8.15

    1. a

      Compare and contrast the political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.SS24.8.15a

    2. b

      Summarize how major provisions in the Petition of Right and the English Bill of Rights influenced early forms of constitutional government.SS24.8.15b

  • 16

    Describe the governing policies in East Asia during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, including those of China and Japan.SS24.8.16

    1. a

      Trace the rise of militarism in Japan and explain how it led to the invasion of Korea.SS24.8.16a

    2. b

      Explain the effects of religion on Japanese society and politics.SS24.8.16b

    3. c

      Compare the policies of absolutism and social structures of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan to European monarchies.SS24.8.16c

    4. d

      Describe how political changes in China led to the decline of imperial power from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.SS24.8.16d

Enlightenment and the Scientific RevolutionSS24.8.ESR

  • 17

    Analyze the influence of the Scientific Revolution on European religion and society, including the astronomical theories of Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo Galilei.SS24.8.17

    1. a

      Explain the significance of the development of the scientific method and its implications for new discoveries and ideas.SS24.8.17a

  • 18

    Summarize the main ideas of the Enlightenment and describe their emergence in European society.SS24.8.18

    1. a

      Trace the origins of Enlightenment ideas to earlier eras and movements, including Classical Greece and Rome, Christianity, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution.SS24.8.18a

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 8
Where can I read the official document?
Social Studies (2024)

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