Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
5th Class Voices of the Past: Exploring Change and Continuity
This course engages students in the work of the historian by investigating diverse civilizations and pivotal moments in Irish and world history. Students analyze primary sources and multiple perspectives to understand how the past shapes our contemporary world.
01The World of the Renaissance
An exploration of the cultural and scientific rebirth in Europe and its impact on global exploration.
Examine the political and economic factors that fostered the Renaissance in Italian city-states like Florence and Venice.
Investigate the core tenets of Renaissance humanism and its shift from medieval scholasticism.
Investigating how artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo changed the way people saw the world.
Explore the architectural innovations of the Renaissance, focusing on figures like Brunelleschi and his dome.
Examining Gutenberg's invention and its role in the spread of ideas across Europe.
Introduce early scientific thinkers like Copernicus and Galileo and their challenges to traditional views.
Analyzing the motivations and consequences of European voyages to the Americas.
Examine the biological and cultural exchange between the Old and New Worlds following 1492.
Explore the advancements in cartography and navigation that enabled global exploration.
Introduce the causes and key figures of the Protestant Reformation, such as Martin Luther.
Examine the Catholic Church's response to the Reformation and the resulting religious conflicts.
Explore the daily routines, social structures, and cultural practices of ordinary people.
Investigate how powerful monarchs began to consolidate power and form early nation-states.
Reflect on the lasting contributions of the Renaissance to art, science, and political thought.
02Life in Early Modern Ireland
A study of the social and political shifts in Ireland during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Understanding the social structure and customs of Gaelic lordships before the Plantations.
Examine the motivations and methods of English expansion into Ireland under the Tudor monarchs.
Investigating the causes and long term effects of the settlement of Ulster by British colonists.
Explore the daily lives, challenges, and interactions between English/Scottish settlers and native Irish.
Examine the causes, events, and consequences of the major Irish rebellion against English rule.
Investigate Oliver Cromwell's campaign in Ireland and its devastating impact.
Study the conflict between James II and William of Orange in Ireland, including key battles.
A case study of the conflict between Williamite and Jacobite forces in 1689.
Examine the series of laws designed to suppress Catholicism and dissent in Ireland.
Investigate the departure of Gaelic chieftains and its symbolic significance for Irish history.
Develop skills in analyzing primary and secondary sources related to 16th and 17th century Ireland.
03The Industrial Revolution and Social Change
Exploring how technology transformed work, transport, and daily life in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Examine the factors in Britain that led to the start of the Industrial Revolution.
Tracing the shift from handmade goods to mass production in factories.
Investigate the rapid growth of cities, living conditions, and social challenges.
A sensitive study of the exploitation of child labour and early reform efforts.
Examining the expansion of the rail network and its impact on Irish trade and travel.
Explore the development of canals and steam-powered ships and their role in trade.
A sensitive investigation into the causes, experiences, and legacy of the Famine in Ireland.
Examine the patterns of Irish emigration during and after the Famine and its global impact.
Explore efforts to improve working conditions, public health, and education.
Investigate the formation of trade unions and their struggle for workers' rights.
Explore aspects of daily life, education, and cultural trends in 19th-century Ireland.
Introduce the Fenian Brotherhood and their attempts to achieve Irish independence through armed rebellion.
Examine the struggle for land reform in Ireland and the role of figures like Michael Davitt.
04Revolution and Independence
Studying the turbulent period of the early 20th century that led to the formation of the Irish State.
Explore the political tensions over Home Rule and Ireland's involvement in WWI.
Analyzing the events of Easter Week and the motivations of the leaders.
Examine the political consequences of the 1916 Rising and the rise of Sinn Féin.
Exploring the guerrilla warfare tactics and the impact on local communities.
Study the roles of prominent individuals like Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera.
Examining the split in the independence movement and the subsequent conflict.
Explore the challenges and successes of establishing a new independent government.
05Ancient Civilizations: The Maya
A comparative study of the sophisticated society of the Maya in Central America.
An overview of the concept of civilization and the geographical and cultural context of early civilizations, focusing on Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Investigating the role of the River Nile in the development of ancient Egyptian civilization, including its impact on agriculture and settlement.
Explore the social structure of ancient Egypt, the role of the Pharaoh, and the religious beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife, including the construction of pyramids.
Exploring the development of Greek city-states like Athens and Sparta, and the origins of democracy.
Investigating the stories of Greek gods and heroes, and the contributions of key Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
Investigate the rise of Rome from a republic to a vast empire, examining its political structure and military expansion.
Exploring daily life in ancient Rome, its engineering achievements, and the lasting impact of Roman law, language, and architecture.
Investigating the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, the role of St. Patrick, and the development of early Irish monastic settlements.