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Christ and the Abbot Mena CCH's Online Catalog

Grammar Stage History
for 2nd Grade: the Classical World


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2nd Grade: the Classical World

Ancient Greece
The history of the Ancient Greeks is pivotal to understanding the growth of Western Civilization, and sets the world stage in more ways than one for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Ancient Rome
Many of Rome’s institutions were incorporated part and parcel into those of Western Civilization, including representative government, federal government, and Roman law.

Classical World Teacher’s Resources
The classical world blended with the foundation of the ancient world and the advent of Christianity to give us Western Civilization. These essential resources will help the homeschool parent grasp the big picture.

The Classical World for Older Students
If you are beginning classical education or homeschooling with older grammar stage students, or need resources to fill in the facts of history with dialectic and rhetoric stage students, these will do that at a higher reading level.


Ancient Greece

Cultural Atlas for Young People: Ancient Greece
Anton Powell

Click to order Ancient Greece Beginning with a timeline that stretches from 1500 B.C. and the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations through the empire of Alexander the Great ending in 240 B.C., this book, like the others in the Cultural Atlas for Young People series, is lavishly illustrated with National Geographic- quality photos and full-page maps. Part One covers a history of Greece, including the Minoans and Mycenaeans, Homer’s Greece, the siege of Troy, aristocrats and poets, colonization, Magna Graecia and the Tyrants, Sparta, Athens and democracy, war against the Persian empire, Greek warships and soldiers, the Peloponnesian Wars, the siege of Plataia, Greek coins, trade, seafaring, and slaves, the Spartan empire and the ten thousand, King Philip and the rise of Macedon, the royal tombs at Macedon, Alexander’s campaigns, and the successor kingdoms. Part Two covers the culture and society of the different regions of Greece, and Knossos and Mycenae. An excellent resource.


The Story of the Greeks
H. A. Guerber

Click to order The Story of the Greeks Far and above all other narrative histories of Greece for children, Guerber’s The Story of the Greeks is an excellent introduction to Ancient Greece. Rich in detail, effortlessly weaving the Biblical worldview throughout, Guerber’s history covers the complete scope of Grecian history from the early inhabitants through its incorporation as a province of Rome in 115 lessons. We learn of her heroes, and Oedipus, Paris, Achilles, Hector, Homer, Sparta, Lycurgus, Draco, Solon, the Greco- Persian wars, Leonidas, Athens, Pericles, the Peloponneisan War, Socrates, Philip of Macedon, Alexander the Great, and Greece’s great philosophers, scientists, and leaders. This captivating history has been recently reprinted from the 1896 edition of the text.


Greek Literature: Mythology and Aesop’s Fables from 2nd Grade Literature selections


The Heroes
Charles Kingsley

The Heroes The stories of Jason and the Argonauts, Perseus and the head of Medusa, and Theseus and the Minotaur are told with power and grace by a master storyteller, Charles Kingsley. Kingsley’s wonderful retelling is back in print under the title Greek Fairy Tales. Another in-print alternative is The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles by Padraic Colum. The Kingsley edition is really the best there is; but if unsuccessful in obtaining a copy, the Colum edition will also work.
Out of print. Search AddAll.com via an author search using ‘charles kingsley,’ and a title search using ‘heroes.’


The Children’s Homer
Padraic Colum

Click to order The Children’s Homer Colum retells in tight narrative form the tale of the siege of Troy as found in the Iliad, and the tale of the wanderings of Odysseus as found in the Odyssey. This is the best edition of Homer’s epics written for children today in print. Publisher’s Weekly says about it: “Colum’s stirring telling of the Greek epics is still unequaled as an introduction to the classic myths for young readers ... Illustrated with Pogany’s superb drawings, full of the driving force of the poetic prose.” I have rejected Rosemary Sutcliff’s Black Ships Before Troy and The Wanderings of Odysseus commonly found in homeschool catalogs for several reasons: her two books, for six times the price, tell with less detail, less literary power, and with Homer’s strong moral message watered down what Colum takes one book to tell with detail, strength, and literary power; and some of the illustrations in The Wanderings of Odysseus are completely inappropriate for children, with several paintings of women with exposed torsos.


Growing Up in Ancient Greece
Chris Chelepi

Click to order Growing Up in Ancient Greece Growing Up in Ancient Greece describes daily life in ancient Greece from a child’s point of view. In 32 nicely illustrated pages, it discusses life in the city, life in the country, different types of work, pets and toys, meals, families, and many other aspects.


Science in Ancient Greece
Kathryn Gay

Click to order Science in Ancient Greece Science as a discipline began in ancient Greece with the famous Greek philosophers and their question, “What is true about the universe?” This book briefly introduces us to the most famous of the Greek philosopher-scientists, and their contributions to science, as well as Greek advances in mathematics and astronomy. This introduction assumes the truth of evolutionary theory, as the pagan (Greek) worldview leads to evolution.


Alexander the Great
John Gunther

Click to order Alexander the Great This has got to be one of the better children’s biographies ever written. John Gunther tells the story of Alexander’s life with excitement and high-level interest, all the while leading you to think about the growing unrighteousness in his life. He does all this without ever sounding preachy or moralistic. Of course, it’s out of print, but this one is worth the effort to find.
Out of print. Search AddAll.com via an author search using ‘john gunther’ and a title search using ‘alexander.’


Alexander the Great
Andrew Langley

Click to order Alexander the Great From Oxford University Press, this book is part of their new beautifully illustrated biographiy series for children. In 32 pages it only hits the highlights of Alexander’s life, but still does a decent job giving an overview. And, it’s in print! If the Gunther biography cannot be found, this one will work.

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Ancient Rome

New Testament
The history books of the New Testament are the Gospels and Acts, with Luke as the historian among the gospel writers. Read the stories outloud to your children from the Holy Bible, using Family References as desired; the Reese Chronological Bible is highly recommended.


Cultural Atlas for Young People: Ancient Rome
Mike Corbishley

Click to order Ancient Rome Beginning with a timeline that stretches from 800 B.C. through the empires of West and the East (500 A.D.), this book, like the others in the Cultural Atlas for Young People series, is lavishly illustrated with National Geographic- quality photos and full-page maps. Part One covers the history of Roman civilization, including the Etruscans, the foundation of Rome, the Punic Wars, the Legions, the Republic, Julius Caesar, men and women of the Empire, Pompeii, Augustus, Trajan, the provinces and conquests of Rome, the emperors, religion, Roman baths, imperial Rome, arenas and stadiums, Diocletian’s reforms, and the Roman ship. Part Two covers the geography, culture and society of the different regions of the Empire, including Africa, Spain, Gaul and Germany, Britain, Greece, Asia Minor, the East, and Egypt; and touching on topics such as the Roman villa, buildings and technology, and more. An excellent resource.


The Story of the Romans
H. A. Guerber

Click to order The Story of the Romans Far and above all other narrative histories of Rome for children, Guerber’s The Story of the Romans is an excellent introduction to Ancient Rome. Rich in detail, effortlessly weaving the Biblical worldview throughout, Guerber’s history covers the complete scope of Roman history from the early inhabitants of Italy through the fall of the Roman Empire in 102 lessons. We learn of Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, the seven kings of Rome, the rise of the Republic, the Punic Wars, Marius and Sulla, Pompey, Cicero, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Cleopatra, the rise of the Empire, Caesar Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius and the other Roman emperors, the persecutions of the Christians and the Christianization of the empire, and the fall of Rome. We meet the Roman army, ancient naval warfare, Roman triumphs, Roman amusements, Roman society, barbarians, and Rome’s great generals, statesmen, and citizens. This captivating history has been recently reprinted from the 1896 edition of the text.


Julius Caesar
John Gunther

Julius Caesar John Gunther wrote several exceptional biographies for children for the Random House Landmark series in the 50’s. This is one of them (Alexander the Great is the other.) Gunther tells the story of Caesar’s life with excitement and high-level interest, and does not neglect commenting on the moral undertones. It’s out of print, but again, worth the effort to find. (Several editions of this book were eventually printed; the cover art on other editions is different.)
Out of print. Search AddAll.com via an author search using ‘john gunther’ and a title search using ‘julius casear.’


Julius Caesar
Graham Tingay

Click to order Julius Caesar Since the Landmark biography of Julius Caesar is out of print, this in-print alternative can suffice to introduce children to the most famous Roman of the ancient world. Part of the excellent Cambridge Introduction to World History series for children, it is however not as detailed as the Gunther biography. But in 48 pages it provides “a fully illustrated account of the life, achievement, and importance of Julius Caesar, from his early years to his assumption of dictatorial power over the Roman Empire, and his brutal death.”


Cleopatra
Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema

Click to order Cleopatra “The authors have succeeded brilliantly in bringing the power and magnificence of Cleopatra and her world to life. Her compelling story is told in a simple, straightforward text, often focusing on episodes and details of interest to young readers, and carefully pointing out still-unresolved ambiguities in the source materials. The dazzling illustrations, complete with rich mosaic designs, give life and excitement to the dramatic story.” - Horn Book Review.


Augustus Caesar’s World
Genevieve Foster

Click to order Augustus Caesar’s World Each part of Genevieve Foster’s interesting histories tell about the world, the events, and the persons important during each stage of her subject’s life. Thus, when Octavius was a boy and young man, we learn of the murder of Julius Caesar, the influence and death of Cicero; we meet Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Brutus, Livy, Maecenas, and even learn of the Roman celebration of Saturnalia. When Octavius was a general, we not only learn of the battles Octavius and Antony fought against each other, but we meet Horace, Herod, Virgil, and the future players in the Roman empire when they were children. When Octavius became Caesar Augustus, we not only learn of the events of his life, but we learn of the Roman temples, the Gallic farmers, soldiers, chieftans, and druids; German warriors and priestesses; Herod’s temple in Jerusalem, and we meet Hillel, Agrippa, and Drusus (Germanicus). After Augustus was decreed a god and his worship began between 12 B.C. and 1 A.D., we meet Strabo the geographer, we learn of the building of the famous lighthouse of Pharos, we discover what is happening in Central America and China, and of course, learn of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem of Judea. The book covers the events from 44 B.C. to 14 A.D., the span of Augustus’ life. Fascinating reading.


Herod the Great
Robert Green

Click to order Herod the Great Herod the Great is a prominent figure in the New Testament. Descended from the Jewish royal family, not of David, but of the Maccabeans, he pursued of a life of complete and absolute power and authority, and yet had to deal wisely with the Romans in order to maintain his position. He refurbished the Temple in Jerusalem, making it truly beautiful (which Rome later destroyed), but killed off his family so that no one could wrest his rule from him, and slaughtered the baby boys of Bethlehem when he heard of Jesus’ birth. This book from the Ancient Biographies series gives a complete picture of the life of the tyrant of Palestine.


City
David Macaulay

Click to order City In City, Macaulay, through his detailed, award-winning illustrations, shows us step-by-step how the Romans came into a new area and laid out and built a city from scratch. It includes such fascinating information as planning and design, engineering technology, and tools and materials used. It shows us how the famous Roman roads and aqueducts were built, as well as fascinating looks at plumbing in Roman baths, and more. City is a valuable and fascinating reference for students of all ages.


Peter Connolly’s Roman World series
Peter Connolly

Click to order The Legionary Peter Connolly is the foremost painter and illustrator of the ancient world today. His Roman World series, another great offering published by Oxford University Press, begins with The Legionary, which follows the career of Tiberius Claudius Maximus as he serves as a soldier in the famed Roman legions. This book is packed with detailed information about the Roman military and warfare of the period in 32 beautifully illustrated pages. Other books in this series include: The Cavalryman, continuing the career of Tiberius until he retires as a cavalry officer in Mesopotamia 30 years after he first entered the Seventh Legion on the Danube River; Roman Fort, clear, detailed descriptions and the history of Roman forts in Britain; The Holy Land, part of the sister series The Ancient World, with trademark accuracy and detail in descriptions and illustrations of the Holy Land under Roman rule; and Pompeii, extremely detailed archaeological descriptions of the ruins of Pompeii with drawings, photographs, plans, and reconstructions of life in this Roman city.


G.A. Henty’s historical fiction
G. A. Henty

Click to order The Young Carthaginian Henty’s books are definite read-alouds for second graders, but are so captivating, wrought with high adventure and historical accuracy, that children and adults alike listen with eager attention as each new Henty tale unfolds. The Young Carthaginian is the tale of Hannibal and the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage like you’ve never heard them before. Beric the Briton witnesses the Roman invasion of his homeland as a boy, takes part in the British uprising under Queen Boadicea, is carried captive to Rome, where he fights in the arena and meets and protects Christians assigned to the lions; rises to personal bodyguard in the service of despotic Nero before escaping back to his native country again. For the Temple relates the tale of the brave resistance of the Jewish freedom fighters and the eventual destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem under Titus in 70 A.D.


Rosemary Sutcliff’s historical fiction
Rosemary Sutcliff

Click to order The Outcast These books are definitely read-aloud material for second graders, although older children will enjoy them on their own. Rosemary Sutcliff makes Roman-era Britain come to life with her gripping fiction, supported by painstaking historical research. In the Outcast, when a Roman ship is wrecked on Britain’s coast, the only survivor, a Roman baby, is adopted by the local Celtic tribe. The dynamic between the Roman and the Celt comes into full play as Britain must face the conquering Roman legions and try to defend their homeland where so many other nations have failed. The sequel is The Eagle of the Ninth, in which a young Roman centurian must recover the infamous Ninth Legion’s missing symbol of honor, the eagle standard, during the Roman Empire’s occupation of Britain in 125 A.D. Next is The Silver Branch, in which the grandson of the lost Ninth Legion’s commander defends Roman Britain as the Saxons begin their raids, and political instability in Rome leads to many tyrannical emperors rising to power throughout the provinces of the Empire, including Britain. Last in the series is The Lantern Bearers, in which a young Roman soldier decides to stay in Britain to try to keep the light of civilization burning when, in 450 A.D., the last Roman Auxilaries leave Britain forever in the face of increasing pressure from barbarian invasions throughout the Roman world.

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Classical World Teacher’s Resources

The Penguin Atlas of Ancient History
Colin McEvedy

Click to order the Penguin Atlas of Ancient History “A broad-ranging map-based narrative history written by a historian with a wonderful turn of phrase and a quirky sense of humor.” Besides the many maps that illustrate the vast range of time periods and geographical locations, McEvedy’s accompanying prose that explains the events illustrated by each map is an education in itself. The atlas covers not only the ancient Near East and Egypt, but ancient Greece and Rome as well.


The Ancient City: Life in Classical Athens and Rome
Peter Connolly and Hazel Dodge

Click to order The Ancient City “Peter Connolly’s marvelous full-color drawings of the public and private structures of Athens and Rome are the perfect illustrative counterpart to his detailed description of city life in the classical era. The Ancient City covers the Greece of the golden years of Athens (approximately the 4th to 3rd centuries B.C.), and the Roman Empire from the reign of Augustus to the reign of Septimius Severus (27 B.C. to A.D. 211). In addition to such monuments as the Parthenon and the Colosseum, adolescent readers--and adults just beginning to study the ancient world--can learn about the two era’s different forms of government, contemporary fashions, home life, and entertainment.”

Church History in Plain Language
Bruce L. Shelley

Click to order Church History in Plain Language This modern classic is a clear and gracious treatment of church history by Dr. Bruce Shelley, Senior Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Denver Theological Seminary. “What separates Dr. Shelley’s book from others is its clarity, both of language and of organization. [It] treats history as the story of people--their motivations, the issues they grapple with, the decisions they make--and the result is that history reads like a story, almost as dramatic and moving as a novel. Yet there is no fiction here.” For ease of learning and understanding, the book is divided into the eight great ages of the church: The Age of Jesus and the Apostles (6 B.C. to 70 A.D.), of Catholic Christianity (70-312 A.D.), of the Christian Roman Empire (312-590), of the Christian Middle Ages (590-1517), of the Reformation (1517-1648), of Reason and Revival (1648-1789), of Progress (1789-1914), and of Ideologies (1914-1996). Very helpful and insightful.

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The Classical World for Older Students

The dialectic and rhetoric stage history resources offered through this catalog assume that the classical world has already been studied in the grammar stage. If you are beginning classical education or homeschooling with older students, these resources will give them the necessary foundation they might have missed. The books are listed in chronological order, more or less, and so are in the order in which they should be read. The Cultural Atlas for Young People series can be read in their turn as part of the study, or be used as references to fill in information about people, places, and events encountered in the other books. Rhetoric stage students that have not previously studied classical world history should also include the Teacher’s Resources listed above.

Cultural Atlas for Young People: Ancient Greece
Story of the Greeks

Myths of Greece and Rome
H. A. Guerber

Click to order Myths of Greece and Rome Guerber’s same straightforward and captivating narrative style that makes The Story of the Greeks and The Story of the Romans so popular is evident here in The Myths of Greece and Rome, newly reprinted. Containing much more depth and detail than the d’Aulaire Greek Myths, Guerber’s Myths are appropriate for older children through teens to read on their own. Illustrated with photographs of famous sculptures and paintings depicting scenes from classical mythology, and embellished with poetry and literature, ancient and modern, concerning the myths, this is an excellent introduction to classical mythology for the older student.


The Age of Fable
Thomas Bulfinch

Click to order The Age of Fable Bulfinch’s Mythology was first written in the 19th century, and was the first and so far, the best attempt to compile in one book the myths of Greece, Rome, the Celts, the Norse, as well as the legends of King Arthur, Charlemagne, and the knights of the Middle Ages. This edition only contains the Age of Fable - the myths of Greece and Rome, as well as Oriental, Celtic, and Norse myths. A complete Bulfinch’s Mythology, containing the Age of Chivalry (legends of King Arthur and the knights of the Middle Ages) and the Legends of Charlemagne as well as the Age of Fable, is also available in hardcover and in paperback. It is not necessary to purchase both Guerber’s myths and Bulfinch’s myths. It is a matter of personal preference which edition to purchase. The companion volume to this one, The Age of Chivalry and Legends of Charlemagne, is recommended in the Medieval World for Older Students.

The Children’s Homer
Gunther’s Alexander the Great
Cultural Atlas for Young People: Ancient Rome
Story of the Romans
Gunther’s Julius Caesar
Augustus Caesar’s World
City
New Testament
G. A. Henty’s Historical Fiction
Rosemary Sutcliff’s Historical Fiction


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Classical Curriculum & Online Catalog: 2nd Grade History Curriculum
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