The IB HL History of Americas course is a world history course based on a comparative and multi-perspective approach to history. It involves the study of a variety of types of history, including political, economic, social and cultural, and provides a balance of structure and flexibility. The course emphasizes the importance of encouraging students to think historically and to develop historical skills as well as gaining factual knowledge. It puts a premium on developing the skills of critical thinking, and on developing an understanding of multiple interpretations of history. In this way, the course involves a challenging and demanding critical exploration of the past. Teachers explicitly teach thinking and research skills such as comprehension, text analysis, transfer, and use of primary sources. There are six key concepts that have particular prominence throughout the DP history course: change, continuity, causation, consequence, significance and perspectives. The aims of the DP history course are to enable students to:

• Develop an understanding of, and continuing interest in, the past
• encourage students to engage with multiple perspectives and to appreciate the complex nature of historical concepts, issues, events and developments
• promote international-mindedness through the study of history from more than one region of the world
• develop an understanding of history as a discipline and to develop historical
• consciousness including a sense of chronology and context, and an understanding of themselves and of contemporary society by encouraging reflection on the past.
• HL course requirement 240 hours
• Internal and External Assessments

Prescribed subjects 40 hours

One of the following, using two case studies, each taken from a different region of the world:

1. Military leaders
2. Conquest and its impact
3. The move to global war
4. Rights and protest
5. Conflict and intervention

World history topics: 90 hours

Two of the following, using topic examples from more than one region of the world:

1. Society and economy (750–1400)
2. Causes and effects of wars (750–1500)
3. Dynasties and rulers (750–1500)
4. Societies in transition (1400–1700)
5. Early Modern states (1450–1789)
6. Causes and effects of Early Modern wars (1500–1750)
7. Origins, development and impact of industrialization (1750–2005)
8. Independence movements (1800–2000)
9. Emergence and development of democratic states (1848–2000)
10. Authoritarian states (20th century)
11. Causes and effects of 20th-century wars
12. The Cold War: Superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century)

HL options: 90 Hours

In Depth studies

History of the Americas

Internal assessment: Historical investigation 20 hours

2200 word research analysis on topic of student’s choice