A Journey Through Ancient History
A content-rich, 72-lesson classical curriculum designed for the inquiring mind..
Explore the CurriculumOur Classical Approach
We believe in feeding a child's natural hunger to learn. Our classical approach does not shy away from depth. Instead, we provide a robust, chronological journey through Western Civilization's history, connecting the great events, people, and ideas that shaped our world. This 72-lesson course is designed to build a strong foundation, from the dawn of civilization to the fall of Rome, giving your student a true sense of the grand sweep of history.
The Ancient World Curriculum (Part 1)
This guide covers the first 31 lessons of our 72-lesson journey: "Beginnings up to 500 BC."
This unit sets the stage, exploring the "why" and "where" of history. We establish a global geographical framework before zooming into the ancient world, looking at migrations, geography, and the first economies.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Classical History
We begin by asking the big questions: Why do people form nations? Why do our ancestors migrate? This lesson establishes the core themes of our course.
Geography Focus: Continents, oceans, coordinates
View Premium LessonLesson 2: Earliest Kingdoms on a Map
Placing the first cities and kingdoms on the map. We discover the locations that would become the cradles of civilization.
Key Concepts: Ur, Uruk, Jericho, early urbanization
View Premium LessonLesson 3: Migrations on a World Map
History is a story of movement. We trace the ancient migrations of major people groups, exploring who they were and where they went.
Key Concepts: Indo-European, Indo-Aryan people groups, migration theories
View Premium LessonLesson 4: Harsh Lands of the Ancient World
Civilization is often shaped by its limits. We study the great deserts of the world and understand how they acted as barriers and borders.
Geography Focus: Sahara, Kalahari, Arabia, Mojave, Atacama
Lesson 5: Ancient Economics
How did the first kingdoms function? We explore the basics of ancient economies, from barter and trade to agriculture and resources (c. 3200 BC - 1700 BC).
Key Concepts: Trade routes, resources, agriculture, barter systems
From the land between the rivers, the first great leaps of civilization emerge. This unit covers the invention of writing, the formation of the first empire, and the establishment of written law.
Lesson 6: History Begins: Writing
History officially begins with the written word. We explore the invention of cuneiform in Sumer, initially used for business records, and its impact on society.
Key Concepts: Cuneiform, Sumer, business records, role of kings
View Premium LessonLesson 7: The World's First Empire
From city-states to empire, we study Sargon of Akkad's unification of Mesopotamia and the rise of the first imperial power, setting a new precedent for the ancient world.
Key Concepts: Sumer, Akkad, Sargon's empire, Hammurabi
Lesson 8: A Written Law Code
What happens when laws are written down? We study Hammurabi's famous law code and its profound implications for justice, society, and government in Babylon.
Key Concepts: Hammurabi's Babylon, code of laws, justice
We turn to the other great river civilization, Egypt, and introduce the story of the Hebrews. This unit traces their parallel and intersecting histories, from Abraham's migration to the zenith of Solomon's kingdom.
Lesson 9: Ancient Egypt and the Gift of the Nile
"Egypt is the gift of the Nile." We dive into the history of this remarkable civilization, exploring the Old and Middle Kingdoms and their unique relationship with the great river.
Key Concepts: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, pharaohs, pyramids
View Premium LessonLesson 10: Canaan and Covenant (Intro to Judaism)
A new story begins in Canaan. We are introduced to Abraham, the concept of covenant, and the migration of the early Hebrews in a land between great empires.
Key Concepts: Abraham's migration, covenant, monotheism
Lesson 11: Mediterranean Migrations & Joseph in Egypt
The Mediterranean is a highway of people and ideas. We look at the wider world of migrations (Minoans, Mycenaeans) and follow the story of Joseph, which brings the Hebrews into Egypt.
Key Concepts: Joseph's story, Minoans, Mycenaeans, Carthage
View Premium LessonLesson 12: Egypt's New Kingdom
Egypt's imperial age. We study the New Kingdom, a time of unprecedented strength, power, and expansion, setting the stage for conflict and the Exodus.
Key Concepts: New Kingdom history, imperial power, pharaohs as warriors
Lesson 13: Exodus and the 10 Commandments
A defining moment for the Hebrews. We trace the story of the Exodus from Egypt and the establishment of a new law code, comparing this written covenant to Hammurabi's.
Key Concepts: Exodus, Moses, 10 Commandments, written covenant
View Premium LessonLesson 14: Saul's Kingdom and David's Kingdom
From a scattered people to a kingdom. We follow the Hebrews' struggle to establish a monarchy, first under Saul and then under the poet-warrior King David.
Key Concepts: Philistine struggles, establishment of kingship, Davidic line
Lesson 15: Solomon's Kingdom
The golden age of the Hebrew kingdom. We study the reign of Solomon, the building of the Temple in Jerusalem, and his legendary wisdom and wealth.
Key Concepts: Solomon's Temple, Queen of Sheba, wisdom literature
The world stage becomes more crowded and dangerous. This unit explores the great trading and military empires that came to dominate the region: the Phoenicians, the brutal Assyrians, the revived Babylonians, and the rise of the mighty Persian Empire.
Lesson 16: Mediterranean Trade (The Phoenicians)
The masters of the sea. We study the Phoenicians, their vast trade network, valuable commodities (like purple dye), and their most important invention: the alphabet.
Key Concepts: Phoenician alphabet, trade commodities, sailing
View Premium LessonLesson 17: The Assyrian Empire
The new military superpower. We study the rise of the Assyrian Empire, their methods of warfare and control, and their conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Key Concepts: Assyrian military, conquest, fall of Northern Israel
Lesson 18: Babylonian Empire and the Hanging Gardens
Babylon rises again. We explore the Neo-Babylonian empire, its brief but brilliant resurgence, and its fabled capital city under Nebuchadnezzar.
Key Concepts: Nebuchadnezzar, Hanging Gardens, revival of Babylon
View Premium LessonLesson 19: Fall of Judah and Rise of Persia
The Southern Kingdom meets its end. We study the Babylonian conquest of Judah, the destruction of Solomon's Temple, and the rise of Persia which allows the exiles to return.
Key Concepts: Babylonian Captivity, destruction of the Temple, Cyrus the Great
Lesson 20: Silk Road and Persian Royal Road
We explore the great trade routes connecting the vast Persian Empire and linking the West with the distant East, setting the stage for a connected world.
Key Concepts: Trade, Persia, Asia, China, cultural exchange
This unit covers the dawn of Hellenic civilization, from its mythological origins and early kingdoms to the epic conflicts and cultural foundations that set the stage for the Classical Age.
Lesson 21: Agon: Greek Beginnings
We explore the Greek origin story, the concept of "Agon" (struggle/excellence), and the foundational myths that shaped the Hellenic world.
Key Concepts: Agon, Greek myths, excellence, origins
Lesson 22: The Minoans
Journey to Crete to discover the mysterious Minoan civilization, its palace at Knossos, and its advanced culture that pre-dated the Greeks.
Key Concepts: Minos, Knossos, Linear B, Crete, bull-leaping
Lesson 23: The Mycenaeans
The first "Greeks." We study the warrior-kings of Mycenae, their citadel-palaces, and their role as the protagonists of epic poetry.
Key Concepts: Mycenae, Athens, Sparta, warrior culture
View Premium LessonLesson 24: Troy, Trade, & the Bronze Age Collapse
Was the Trojan War a real event? We explore the historical city of Troy, its role in trade, and the mysterious Bronze Age Collapse that plunged the region into a dark age.
Key Concepts: Troy, Bronze Age Collapse, Sea Peoples
Lesson 25: The Trojan War
Using infographics and linear storytelling, we break down one of the most famous stories in history, separating myth from potential reality.
Key Concepts: Homer's Iliad, Achilles, Hector, Trojan Horse
Lesson 26: Shadow of War (Developing the Classical Ideal)
How did the Greeks emerge from their Dark Age? We look at the new ideas of theater, religion, and virtue that formed the "Classical Ideal."
Key Concepts: Theater, religion, virtue, polis
Lesson 27: Delphi and Corinth
We visit two of the most important centers of the Greek world: Delphi, home of the Oracle, and Corinth, the rich trading hub on the Isthmus.
Key Concepts: Oracle of Delphi, Isthmus of Corinth, trade, colonization
View Premium LessonLesson 28: Panhellenic Games & Panathenaic Festivals
What united the Greeks? We explore the great games (Olympics) and festivals that brought the rival city-states together.
Key Concepts: Olympics, Panhellenic, festivals, Greek unity
View Premium LessonLesson 29: Sparta and Its Origins
We study the unique and formidable city-state of Sparta, its rigid social structure, and its legendary warrior culture.
Key Concepts: Lycurgus, agoge, helots, Spartan constitution
View Premium LessonLesson 30: Athens and Its Origins
We trace the origins of Sparta's great rival, Athens, from its mythical kings to the reforms of Solon that laid the groundwork for democracy.
Key Concepts: Solon, aristocracy, debt-slavery, path to democracy
View Premium LessonLesson 31: Persian War 1.0 (Marathon)
The first great clash of East and West. We study the Ionian Revolt and the stunning Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon.
Key Concepts: Ionian Revolt, Darius I, Battle of Marathon, Pheidippides
View Premium LessonLearner Outcomes
By the end of the 72-lesson course, students will:
- Explain how geography influenced early civilizations in deserts and river valleys.
- Trace the covenant theme from ancient Israel through early Christianity.
- Analyze Greek contributions to government, philosophy, and the arts.
- Evaluate Rome’s political evolution and its impact on later Western institutions.
- Apply classical virtues—courage, moderation, justice—to modern challenges.
The Journey Continues...
These first 31 lessons ("Beginnings up to 500 BC") lay the crucial foundation for the ancient world. From here, our 72-lesson course will take your student on a chronological journey through the rest of classical antiquity.
Part 2: The Glory of Greece (Lessons 32-42)
Explore the heights of Classical Greece: the definitive Persian Wars, the rivalry of Athens and Sparta, philosophy, democracy, and the Hellenistic world created by Alexander the Great.
Part 3: The Might of Rome (Lessons 43-72)
From a humble republic to a sprawling empire, we trace the story of Rome, its laws, its legions, the rise of Christianity, the Pax Romana, and its ultimate transformation of the Western world—including parallels to American government.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
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Enroll at ClassicalKingdoms.comThe Complete Ancient History Course
