Order Books for World History I:

Ancients through the Renaissance & Reformation

World History I: Ancients through the Renaissance & Reformation, our brand-new, literature-based course for homeschool high school students, is available for pre-order in and is expected to be ready to be published in late October! 

*If you have any questions regarding our expected release date, please email us at  info@epikardia.com.

We appreciate your using our links for your book purchases!

You will note that the number of books listed for each of the four nine week units vary - some books listed are read in their entirety during one unit and some are read over the course of the year.  Also, in some units we will be utilizing material available on the Internet.

Ancients I

We begin by reading many of the historical portions of the Old Testament, in any translation that you currently use.

Written by an expert Egyptologist as well as a popular historical fiction writer, this very readable book gives us a fascinating picture of a culture that left behind quite an archaeological feast.  This book chronicles the life of the pharaohs and other important characters in Egyptian society and includes the results of the most recent excavations and historical research concerning Ancient Egypt.

One cannot understand China today without understanding China's ancient past. Although China does not have the oldest culture in the world, it has retained a certain number of characteristics that have remained essentially the same for centuries. This book provides a readable summary of Chinese political history and its culture, interweaving an introduction of Chinese art, poetry and other cultural expressions chronologically through its history.  We will read the first part of this book in this course and the second in World History II. 

 Additional Honors Suggestions for this quarter (optional):

  This is an excellent though scholarly book containing analysis of literary features of the Bible as well as historical events, appropriate for a World Literature course as well as World History. It is most effective for students (and teachers) who are familiar with Bible study and have a competent working knowledge of the Old Testament, particularly. There are study questions at the end of each section of reading, which we have included as one of our Honors assignment choices in this unit.

This is a comprehensive, lengthy book that covers the time periods of Ancients I and II. We would recommend this book only for very advanced readers, unless it is assigned as summer reading prior to taking this course, as there is already an abundance of reading in this curriculum for the average student. Note that the author is an ‘old earth’ proponent.

This is a wonderful introduction to the philosophy of Confucius. Although appearing quite lengthy, this book includes Chinese as well as the readable English translation. There are multiple translations; this is the one we recommend based on its readability.

 Ancients II

This well-researched and readable history contains many details about the Ancient Greeks’ everyday life. Divided by topic, it includes interesting descriptions of the people in their public and private lives and attempts to help the reader discover what made the people “Greek.”  Maps, illustrations, a glossary of Greek terms and a helpful index are included. Note that this book begins during the Ancients I period. We recommend your student take reading notes of the predominant characteristics of the Greek people and how they lived.

Specifically focusing upon the Roman Empire during its peak of prosperity from AD 100-300, this book provides a vivid look into the Roman culture, from the lowly slave up to the powerful emperor.  It also offers the reader a glimpse of typical life in the country, in the city, described what amused the average Roman citizen and explained what he believed.

In this highly acclaimed Christian classic the author traces how history has shaped what we believe and how we live today. Beginning with Ancient Rome, key cultures are analyzed to aid the reader in identifying and understanding the gradual moral decline of our society. The author hoped that this analysis would enable us to recognize and choose to refute what our culture commonly tells us to believe instead of what we biblically know to be true.   

The author, writing from the Reformed viewpoint, explains the progression of the Christian Church from its New Testament inception through the end of the 1800s. Included is a description of the beginnings of the Catholic Church and the development of papal authority through the modern missionary movement.  In this unit we will read about the founding of the church and the early church fathers through the advent of Islam.

Additional Honors Suggestions for this quarter (optional):

We continue reading this book in Ancients II.

The Middle Ages

A quickly moving yet detailed overview of the entire Middle Ages is provided by a college professor and specialist in medieval studies. The author’s conversational writing style makes this book easy to read and the variety of illustrations bring this period to life. Not only will the reader glean an overview of the many political, cultural and religious upheavals during the fifth through 15^th centuries, but also acquire a picture of the daily life of the average person during the Middle Ages. Note: Because there is some overlap between this book and others we are reading, it may be skimmed and/or used as a resource for research, but we have included it because it is a comprehensive overview of the entire Middle Ages.

This fascinating and well-researched biography of St. Patrick was based on two letters written by his hand as well as archeological evidence, British and Roman records and papal documents. Where there is no direct information, the author has factually represented life as it was during the fifth century in Roman Britain and Ireland.

This is the captivating overview of the life of one of history’s most intriguing characters. Spanning from when Eleanor was a child until her death at age 82 (after outliving eight of her ten children), this readable tome describes her reigns of both France and England, her innovations of English court life and influence throughout Europe through her progeny.

Another understandable and well-researched book,  Beyond the Myth traces the life of Joan of Arc from her childhood to her incredible visions and heroic actions on behalf of her beloved France, and finally, through her betrayal and tragic death at the hands of her enemies.

  Additional Honors Suggestions for this quarter (optional):

This excellent translation from the original Latin is the definitive primary source containing the actual transcript of Joan's still- controversial trial at the hands of the English.

This unique book, reading more like a novel than an historical account, traces the blossoming of both political and religious freedom beginning with the signing of the Magna Carta. You may read half of this book now and half during the next unit.

                     The Renaisssance & the Reformation

Written by an astute observer of human nature and Florentine political adviser at the height of the Renaissance, The Prince exemplifies the changes that were occurring during this period in history, as well as the movement away from the religious to the secular. Machiavelli’s revolutionary ideas that morality was not necessary, and often even a hindrance, to sound political judgment is an all too familiar and modern concept.

Although there are hundreds of books on this well-known character, only this one reveals Galileo not only as an innovative scientist, but also a somewhat impulsive trouble-maker (at least in the eyes of his detractors and the Catholic Church) while being a loving father, emotionally dependent upon his cloistered eldest daughter, Maria Celeste. Based upon papal documents, 124 existing letters from his daughter and other research, the author provides the facts concerning much of Galileo’s life, including his innovative inventions and his chastisement at the hands of his beloved Church.

      Additional Honors Suggestions for this quarter (optional):

We are reading the second half of this book for this unit.

Like The Prince, this book is written to instruct a  prince of the time period and expresses the thoughts and beliefs of its author, Erasmus,

who lived during the Renaissance and contributed much to early political thought.  Unlike Machiavelli, the author of The Prince, Erasmus was a religious man who sought to reform the Catholic Church and did not try to completely separate political from moral behavior.

This gorgeous book is a careful and sensitive compilation of many of Leonardo Da Vinci's most profound writings. Including over a thousand exquisite examples of his pencil drawings along with their corresponding translated notes, readers will be freshly amazed at the breadth of knowledge and incredible powers of observation of this Renaissance genius.