Where did our world religious traditions come from? Were there democracies in ancient times? Why and how did empires come and go? What evidence can tell us what life was like a thousand years ago? As an eighth grader at Albuquerque Academy, you will address these and other fundamental questions about ancient to early modern times and engage in the detective work that historians apply to answer those questions. You will practice a wide variety of critical reading and analytical skills as you compare what it was like to live in those times and places with the world today. This sets important groundwork for further interpretation of more recent societies in later grades. Projects, debates, a research paper, and the investigation of primary sources help you understand the past and apply it to current events.