General World History Resources

World History Resources

This is a compilation of some of the best websites and lesson plans available online that look generally at world history.  Though all of the sites could be useful in the classroom, some are collections of primary resources while others focus on teaching materials.  The ** sites are ones that explicitly include lesson plans and other teaching materials.

(Compiled by Elyssa B. Ford at Arizona State University, updated by Joan Miller on January 15 2010)

General World History Sites

• Art on the Web
  http://www.artchive.com/
  
  An exhibit gallery featuring artists from around the world, along with information about art theory and criticism, which can help history teachers use art and artists to teach about world history.
   
• **Mr. Donn's Education Resources:  World History for Teachers
  http://worldhistory.mrdonn.org/index.html
  
  A compilation of a variety of world history lesson plans and teaching activities.  Topics include:  feudal Japan, Russia, Australia, India-Pakistan, Israel-Palestine, Mexico, WWII, and holidays around the world.
   
• **Best of History Websites
  http://www.besthistorysites.net/
  
  This site contains links to more than 1,000 history websites.  Teachers of world history can find lesson plans on prehistory, ancient history, the Middle Ages in Europe, the Renaissance, Stalin, Hitler, the Cold War, and much more.
   
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence:  World Studies
  http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=12
  
  Information about world history, specific countries and geographical regions, and foreign languages.  Examples of lesson plans and materials include historic maps, Chinese civilization, Soviet history, and stories from Peace Corps volunteers in Latin America.
   
• Peace Corps:  Worlds-Wise Schools
  http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/educators/
  
  Using stories, letters, and folk tales from Peace Corps volunteers, this site offers a wide range of lesson plans, multi-media, and projects for teachers to use in units on Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
   
• Foundation for Teaching Economics
  http://www.fte.org/teachers/lessons/lessons.htm
  
  Targeting economics teachers, this site offers lesson plans on world leaders, the Soviet Union, and capitalism. 
   
• National Geographic History and Culture
  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/
  
  Although this site does not offer lesson plans or other materials directed at teachers, its extensive resources, articles, and online video would be ideal to use in the classroom.  The site for educators -- http://www.nationalgeographic.com/education/ --includes some additional information for teachers and students.
   
• **Social Studies Sources
  http://www.indiana.edu/~socialst/ 
  
  Includes links to lesson plans in world history, geography and culture, cultural diversity, international and global studies, and the news.
   
• Internet History Sourcebooks Project
  http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/
  
  This site offers a collection of historical texts online.  Categories related to world history include:  ancient, medieval, modern, African, East Asian, global, Indian, Jewish, Islamic, and Byzantium.
   
• **World History Matters
  http://worldhistorymatters.org/
  
  This site actually contains two separate databases, one for world history sources and another for women in world history.  The materials are directed at teachers in the high school and college levels and include information on analyzing primary documents and teaching sources. 
   
• **World History and Geography:  A Guide for Teachers
  http://www.studentsfriend.com/index.html
  
  Includes information about teaching and learning, lesson plans, and teaching aids.  Also allows students to download a concise history of world history and geography.
   
• **World History for Us All
  http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/
  
  Site includes a curriculum model for world history teachers in middle and high schools.  Teachers can access a database of lesson plans and information on how to meet national and state standards.
   
• AP World History
  http://www.collegeboard.com/students/testing/ap/sub_worldhist.html
  
  From the College Board, this site describes the course outline and requirements for an AP world history class.
   

Western Civilization

• Western Civilization Webography Project
  http://chnm.gmu.edu/webography/
  
  A twist to the normal database of online materials, this site offers student rather than teacher reviews of websites related to Western Civilization.

French History

• Liberty, Equality, Fraternity:  Exploring the French Revolution
  http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/
  This site contains essays, images, documents, songs, maps, and other material about the French Revolution.
   
• Imaging the French Revolution
  http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/imaging/
  
  All of the materials here are based around images of the French Revolution.