What better way to begin high school history than at the beginning?  While history doesn't repeat itself, it does rhyme, and we can learn to see themes that transcend centuries and millennia and apply those to current world situations.   

 

Some of the events covered include the creation; early civilizations, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Greek versus Persians, Diaspora, Roman Republic, Roman Empire, and the Messiah.  

 

This class reads Marcus Aureleus’ Meditations during the fall semester and nine books from St. Augustine’s Confessions during the spring semester. We will end the year with a comparative paper between the two.  Copies of Meditations and Confessions will be provided.  Geography is also given prominence because where history happens is also important.

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While this class can entirely stand alone, there is an overall goal for all history students.  In taking all four years of history, students will have an overall understanding of human history from the beginning to the year 2000, knowing all people are subject to the human condition and God is moving whether we see Him or not. Understanding history includes understanding different perspectives, motivations, biases, and even locations; being able to sift primary and secondary sources to determine a viewpoint consistent with the known understanding of events; and having a grasp on the subject to discuss intelligently and understand this subject in multiple contexts. Students will have a grasp on the subject to discuss intelligently and understand this subject in multiple contexts including literature, philosophy, natural sciences, and even our common culture/literacy. (as defined by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.)

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