Your Journey Through History
A structured 8-level curriculum from prehistory to present day
Progressive Learning Design
This curriculum is designed to build your historical knowledge progressively. Each level introduces new concepts while deepening your understanding of themes like power, migration, technology, and human societies.
You'll explore history through multiple lenses: chronologically, thematically, and comparatively. Move at your own pace, revisit topics as needed, and watch your understanding grow with each level.
Start at Level 1 if you're new to structured history learning, or jump to any level that interests you. Each level includes curated content from our timeline, relevant stories, and reflection questions.
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8 progressive levels from ancient civilizations to modern day
Foundations
Build basic historical awareness and skills. Explore the broad sweep of ancient and early modern history from human origins to the eve of the Industrial Revolution.
Core Topics
Human origins and migration • Hunter-gatherer societies • Early agriculture • First civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus, China, Mesoamerica) • Ancient empires (Greece, Rome, Han) • Major belief systems • Medieval societies • Early trade routes • Indigenous societies of the Americas • European exploration
Early States and Connections
Examine the Age of Exploration, Atlantic World, and the rise of modern states. Study colonialism, revolutions, and the birth of industrial society.
Core Topics
Global geography and climate • Indigenous America before contact • Columbian Exchange • Atlantic World • Slavery as a global system • Early capitalism and trade • American, French, Haitian Revolutions • Constitution and early republics • Empires and resistance (Ottoman, Qing, Mughal) • Industrial Revolution • Urbanization and labor • 19th-century reform movements • Migration patterns
Modern World in Transition
Tackle the 20th century's great transformations. Understand World Wars, revolutions, economic collapse, and the rise of ideologies that reshaped the world.
Core Topics
Imperialism as a system • World War I • Revolutions and state collapse • Russian Revolution • Interwar period • Great Depression • Fascism and authoritarianism • World War II (global perspectives) • Holocaust and genocide studies • Technology and mass media • Everyday life in wartime • Historical sources and propaganda
Global Interdependence
Explore recent history with high sophistication. Study the Cold War, decolonization, globalization, and the digital revolution that defines our world today.
Core Topics
Cold War systems • Decolonization • New nation-states • Global institutions (UN, IMF, World Bank) • Civil rights movements worldwide • Cold War conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, Middle East) • Collapse of communism • Globalization and trade • China's post-1978 transformation • Digital revolution • Environmental history • Migration and demographics • Post-9/11 world
Comparative & Systems History
Think thematically across time periods. Compare political systems, economic structures, and social changes to understand patterns in human history.
Core Topics
How states function (taxation, law, bureaucracy) • Comparative political systems • Economic systems across history • Trade networks over time • Technology and social change • Demography and population shifts • Public health and disease • Urban vs rural societies • Energy and environment • Gender and family structures • Historical causation and continuity
Historical Thinking & Methods
Learn how historians work. Develop skills in analyzing sources, evaluating evidence, understanding bias, and constructing historical arguments.
Core Topics
Primary vs secondary sources • Evidence and bias • Historical disagreement • Archaeology and archives • Oral history • Quantitative history • Maps and data as sources • Narrative vs analytical history • Memory and myth • Ethics of history • Who writes history and why
Specialized Regional Studies
Dive deep into regions often underrepresented in standard curricula. Study African, Asian, Latin American, and Indigenous histories in depth.
Core Topics
African history beyond slavery • East Asian modern history • South Asian empires and independence • Middle Eastern history beyond conflict • Latin American political and economic history • Indigenous governance and diplomacy • Comparative empire studies • Regional case studies
Capstone & Synthesis
Undertake independent research and creative projects. Synthesize your learning to create original work that contributes to historical understanding.
Core Topics
Independent research project • Thematic synthesis (power, inequality, innovation) • Local history in global context • Long-term economic change • Climate and human history • Technology futures through history • Public history project • Curriculum or exhibit design • Historical writing for public audiences