A class on the History of Empires and Colonialism would explore the rise, expansion, and impact of empires throughout history, focusing on their conquests, governance, cultural exchanges, and legacies, particularly within the context of colonialism. Here's an outline of topics that such a class might cover:

Introduction to Empires and Colonialism:

Definition of empires, colonialism, and imperialism.
Exploring the motivations behind empire building: economic, political, religious, and cultural factors.
Ancient Empires:

Study of early empires like the Akkadian, Egyptian, Assyrian, Persian, and Greek empires, and their methods of expansion and governance.
The impact of these empires on cultural, religious, and technological exchanges.
Roman Empire and Its Legacy:

Examination of the Roman Empire, its expansion, administration, and influence on law, governance, and architecture.
The concept of Romanization and its effects on conquered regions.
Medieval Empires:

Exploration of medieval empires like the Byzantine, Islamic Caliphates, and Mongol Empire, their expansion, administration, and cultural contributions.
Age of Exploration and European Empires:

The era of European exploration, discovery, and the rise of colonial empires.
Case studies on the Spanish, Portuguese, British, French, Dutch, and other European empires and their impact on colonized regions.
Colonialism and Imperialism:

Discussion of colonial systems, including exploitation, cultural assimilation, resistance movements, and the impact on indigenous populations.
Analyzing the economic, social, and political consequences of colonial rule.
Decline and Fall of Empires:

Factors contributing to the decline of empires, including economic changes, internal conflicts, nationalist movements, and external pressures.
Case studies on the decline of specific empires like the Ottoman, Russian, and Qing Empires.
Post-Colonial Era and Legacies:

The aftermath of decolonization, independence movements, and the enduring legacies of colonialism on modern-day societies, economies, and politics.
Analyzing the challenges faced by former colonies in the post-colonial era.
Reflection and Comparative Analysis:

Comparison of various empires and colonial systems, exploring similarities, differences, and the broader impact on global history and contemporary geopolitics.
This class would involve a mix of lectures, discussions, readings, and possibly case studies or multimedia resources to provide a comprehensive understanding of the history of empires, colonialism, and their enduring effects on world history and current affairs.

I have a degree in History as well as received my teaching license in Massachusetts. I use my love of History and facts to help children understand that history is conceived of real people who did real things. I found Social Studies class boring as a child because the teachers concentrated mostly on dates and statistics rather than the humans behind the events. I use the Founding Fathers' own words to help illustrate what they were thinking and feeling about their responsibility to the nation they were creating. 

Homework Offered
Assessments Offered
Grades Offered

Babylonian Empire:
1. "Code of Hammurabi": An ancient Babylonian law code, consisting of 282 laws.
2. "Enuma Elish" (The Babylonian Epic of Creation): One of the most important Babylonian sources.

Egyptian Empire:
3. "The Rosetta Stone": Key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.
4. "The Book of the Dead": Contains spells and instructions for the afterlife.

Judah/Israel:
5. "The Hebrew Bible/Tanakh": Main religious text of the Jewish tradition.
6. "Dead Sea Scrolls": Jewish texts discovered in the mid-20th century.

Mongolian Empire:
7. "The Secret History of the Mongols": An account of Mongol conquests.
8. "The Travel of Marco Polo": Chronicles his experiences in the Mongolian Empire.

Roman Empire:
9. "The Annals": Historical work by Tacitus, detailing the Roman Empire from the reign of Tiberius to Nero.
10. "Aeneid": Epic poem by Virgil that tells the legendary story of Aeneas.

Byzantine Empire:
11. "Chronographia": A history by Michael Psellos, covering the Byzantine Empire in the 11th century.
12. "Alexiad": History text by Anna Komnene, documenting her father Alexios I Komnenos's reign.

Ottoman Empire:
13. "The Book of Travels": 17th-century text by Evliya Çelebi, describing his travels in the Ottoman Empire.
14. "The Siege of Vienna": A detailed account of the Ottoman Empire's 1683 siege of Vienna.

Aztec Empire:
15. "Florentine Codex": A study of Aztec culture written in the 16th century by Bernard de Sahagun.
16. "Codex Mendoza": Document about the lords of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital.

British Empire:
17. "The British Empire: A History and a Debate" by Jeremy Black: It gives a comprehensive history of the British Empire.
18. "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith: Important economic text written during the British Empire's period of global dominance.

Alawi Empire:
19. 'The History of the Alawites: Contesting Memory in the Middle East' by Stefan Winter: A history of the Alawi community.
20. 'The Sword of the Sultan: Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar and the Establishment of the Alawi State in Syria' by Abdul Rahim Abu Husayn: A history of Alawi rule in Syria.