[Christopher Columbus.]

The Mediterranean Sea was the hub of transport, trade and cultural links between three continents: Western Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe. The history of the cultures and people of the Mediterranean region is important for understanding the origin and development of the Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Canaanite, Phoenician, Hebrew, Carthaginian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Ottoman, Christian and Islamic cultures. The Italian "Repubbliche Marinare" (Maritime Republics) of Venice, Genoa, Amalfi and Pisa developed their own "empires" in the Mediterranean shores. The Islamic states had never been major naval powers, and trade from the east to Europe was soon in the hands of Italian traders, especially the Genoese and the Venetians, who profited immensely from it. The Republic of Pisa and later the Republic of Ragusa used diplomacy to further trade and maintained a libertarian approach in civil matters to further sentiment in its inhabitants. The republic of Venice got to dominate the eastern Mediterranean shores after the Fourth Crusade. In 1347 the Black Death spread from Constantinople across the mediterranean basin. In 1453, the Byzantine Empire was extinguished with the fall of Constantinople.

In the pre-k and kindergarten, students begin to understand the foundations of the social studies strands; history, geography, civics, citizenship, and economics. History Literacy: The student will understand that history relates to events and people of other times and places. Students recognize that commemorative holidays honor people and events of the past including Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Washington’s Birthday, and Independence Day. Students identify important American symbols and explain their meanings including United States Flag, the Bald Eagle, the Statue of Liberty, and the Liberty Bell. Students use words and phrases related to chronology and time to explain how things change including before/after and today/tomorrow/yesterday.