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me!
IN ASSOCIATION
WITH
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Classical
World Teacher’s Resources
The Penguin Atlas of Ancient History
Colin McEvedy
“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
“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
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.
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
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
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
Return to Grammar Stage History
Return to CCH’s Online Catalog: History
