Grade 8 - Social Studies (2005)

From Isolation to Adaptation: Japan

Origins of a Western Worldview: Renaissance Europe

Worldviews in Conflict: The Spanish and the Aztecs

Skills and Processes

appreciate the roles of time and geographic location in shaping a society’s worldview

appreciate how a society’s worldview can foster the choice to remain an isolated society

appreciate how models of governance and decision making reflect a society’s worldview

appreciate how a society’s worldview shapes individual citizenship and identity 

analyze the effects of cultural isolation during the Edo period by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues

analyze the effects that rapid adaptation had on traditionally isolated Japan during the Meiji period by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues

appreciate how Renaissance Europe formed the basis for the worldview of the Western world 

demonstrate a willingness to consider differing beliefs, values and worldviews 

recognize how beliefs and values are shaped by time, geographic location and societal context

examine, critically, the factors that shaped the worldview evolving in western Europe during the Renaissance by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues

appreciate how a society’s worldview influences the society’s choices, decisions and interactions with other societies 

appreciate how Aztec and Spanish identities and worldviews were affected by intercultural contact 

appreciate and recognize how rapid adaptation can radically change a society’s beliefs, values and knowledge 

assess, critically, how the Aztecs were affected by the Spanish worldview by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues

develop skills of critical thinking and creative thinking

develop skills of historical thinking

develop skills of geographic thinking

demonstrate skills of decision making and problem solving

demonstrate skills of cooperation, conflict resolution and consensus building

develop age-appropriate behaviour for social involvement as responsible citizens contributing to their community

apply the research process

demonstrate skills of oral, written and visual literacy

develop skills of media literacy

In what ways did Japan isolate itself from the rest of the world?

How did isolation during the Edo period lead to changes in Japan?

How did the changes resulting from isolation affect Japan economically, politically and socially during the Edo period?

How did the physical geography of Japan affect its worldview?

How did the shogun use the feudal system and the hierarchical social classes to maintain control of Japan? 

What were the motivations for the radical changes in Japan’s model of organization during the Meiji period?

How did Japan adapt to changes brought on by the transition from feudal to modern models of organization?

How did the changes resulting from adaptation affect Japan economically, politically and socially during the Meiji period?

In what ways did changes resulting from isolation in the Edo period compare to changes resulting from adaptation in the Meiji period?

What challenges emerged for the Japanese in maintaining traditional cultural aspects of their society while undergoing rapid change? 

What was the Renaissance?

How did the Renaissance spark the growth and exchange of ideas and knowledge across Europe (i.e., astronomy, mathematics, science, politics, religion, arts)?

How did the physical geography of Renaissance Europe affect trade and competition among European countries?

How did increased trade lead to the emergence of powerful city-states (i.e., Florence, Venice, Genoa)? 

In what ways did thinkers and philosophers influence society in the development of a humanist worldview during the Renaissance?

In what ways were the Age of Discovery and the rise of imperialism expressions of an expansionist worldview? 

In what ways did exploration and intercultural contact during the Renaissance affect the citizenship and identity of Europeans?

What were the key elements of the worldview of the Aztec civilization prior to contact with the Spanish? 

How did the Aztec civilization’s worldview influence the Aztecs’ choices, decisions and customs? 

What key elements of Spain’s worldview led to the desire to expand the Spanish empire? 

In what ways did factors such as technology and disease contribute to the dominance of the Spanish over the Aztec civilization? 

To what extent were the divergent worldviews of the Spanish and Aztecs factors in the dominance of one nation over the other?