HIS-117: World Civilizations: Prehistory-1500

HIS-117 is Southern New Hampshire University's introductory survey of the world's major civilizations from prehistory to 1500.

The catalog says key societies are examined from political, socio-economic and cultural-intellectual perspectives. With a global scope and a long time span, students usually find the difficulty is comparison: keeping many societies straight while still saying something specific about each.

The catalog also notes this is the first half of a two-part sequence.

What HIS-117 Covers

Which civilizations your section studies depends on the syllabus; the catalog says only that key societies are examined.

Key Concepts Explained

Comparing Civilizations

A comparison needs a shared question. Rather than describing two societies one after another, pick criteria such as how rulers justified power, then place the societies side by side.

Trade and Exchange

Long-distance trade moved goods, technology and ideas. Showing that civilizations were connected, not isolated, is often rewarded.

Avoiding a Single-Center Story

A world survey should not treat one region as the standard. Note where terms like "civilization" carry assumptions, and use a range of regions.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Where Students Get Stuck

• Breadth overload. Use a grid so no society is forgotten.
• Description without comparison. Always state similarities and differences.
• Generalizations. Support claims with a specific example.
• Unclear dates. Keep a basic timeline for reference.

Revision Grid

What a Strong Essay Looks Like

In a global survey, depth in a few places beats shallow coverage of many. The table shows typical differences.

A Second Illustration

Invented prompt: "How did long-distance trade shape two civilizations before 1500?" A strong answer picks two societies, names what each traded and with whom, and argues how trade changed one political, one economic and one cultural feature in each, then compares the results.

Before You Submit

Comparative essays can drift into description, so a closing check is useful.

• Do you state your comparison criteria early?
• Does each paragraph discuss both societies, not just one?
• Have you included at least one connection between societies?
• Is each claim supported by a specific example?

A single sentence that begins "The key difference is" in each section keeps the comparison visible.

Where HIS-117 Fits in the Program

HIS-117 is the first half of SNHU's world civilizations pair, with HIS-118 covering 1500 to the present. As an introductory survey, it gives you a framework for later courses on specific regions.

Because the catalog emphasizes three lenses, political, socio-economic and cultural-intellectual, use them as a quick test for every new society you meet: what was its political order, how did people make a living, and what did they believe and create?

Turn that test into a three-column table in your notes and you will have the skeleton of most comparison essays.

Terms to Define in Your Own Words

• Civilization: a contested term; state how you use it.
• State: an organized political authority over a territory.
• Diffusion: the spread of ideas, technologies or practices between societies.
• Syncretism: the blending of beliefs or practices from different traditions.

Study Tips for HIS-117

• Use maps and timelines to hold the geography and chronology.
• Keep a vocabulary list of key terms with brief definitions.
• Read primary sources in translation for their voice and purpose.
• Start essays with the comparison question you will answer.

How We Help with HIS-117

Send the prompt, readings, rubric and any draft. We can explain context, help design comparison criteria, prepare a custom essay for study, or review your draft for argument, evidence and citations.

Work you submit must be your own under SNHU's academic integrity policy. GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with Southern New Hampshire University.