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World History Part 1: Prehistory to 1500

A Self-Paced Online Curriculum

A Complete, Self-Paced World History Course

Designed for middle school and early high school students, this self-paced World History course provides a complete, structured curriculum for families who want engaging, academically sound history - without daily lesson planning.

This course includes:

  • A full curriculum from Prehistory through the year 1500

  • Self-paced lessons students can complete independently

  • Guided notes, readings, and interactive activities

  • Lifetime access for a 1-time charge

  • No prep required, just log in and begin

Lessons are taught through short video instruction, guided notes, primary source analysis, and hands-on learning activities. The course was created by a former classroom teacher and has been used by thousands of students nationwide.

The course can be used as a full-year World History program or completed at your family’s pace over a semester or summer.

Below is the full course outline.

World History Part 1: Prehistory to 1500

  1. Intro to World History

    1 lesson
    1. Introduction and Directions

  2. Pre-History

    8 lessons
    1. Introduction to Unit 1
    2. Prehistory and Early Humans
    3. Knowledge Check: Prehistory
    4. Archeology Foldable Activity
    5. The Paleolithic & Neolithic Eras
    6. Knowledge Check: The Paleolithic & Neolithic Eras
    7. The Characteristics of Civilization
    8. Unit Assessment: Prehistory

  3. Western River Valley Civilizations

    9 lessons
    1. Introduction to Unit 2
    2. Ancient Mesopotamia
    3. Knowledge Check: Mesopotamia
    4. Primary Source: Hammurabi's Code
    5. Ancient Egypt
    6. Knowledge Check: Ancient Egypt
    7. Egypt & Mesopotamia Interactive Notebook Timeline Activity
    8. The Hebrews and Origins of Judaism
    9. Unit Assessment: Western River Valley Civilizations

  4. Eastern River Valley Civilizations

    7 lessons
    1. Introduction to Unit 3
    2. Ancient China and the Yellow River Valley
    3. Culture in Ancient China Foldable Activity
    4. Knowledge Check: Ancient China
    5. Primary Source: Confucius' Analects
    6. Indus River Valley Civilizations
    7. Unit Assessment: Eastern River Valley Civilizations

  5. Ancient Greece

    12 lessons
    1. Introduction to Unit 4
    2. Geography and People of Early Greece
    3. Knowledge Check: Early Greece
    4. The Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
    5. Knowledge Check: Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
    6. Greek Mythology Foldable Activity
    7. Athens and the Golden Age of Pericles
    8. Knowledge Check: Athens' Golden Age
    9. Philosophers of Ancient Greece
    10. Alexander the Great
    11. Primary Source: Alexander the Great
    12. Unit Assessment: Ancient Greece

  6. Ancient Rome

    15 lessons
    1. Introduction to Unit 5
    2. Early Rome
    3. Knowledge Check: Early Rome
    4. The Punic Wars and Challenges to Rome
    5. Knowledge Check: The Punic Wars
    6. Caesar and the End of the Roman Republic
    7. Knowledge Check: Julius Caesar
    8. Roman Technology Foldable Activity
    9. Good and Bad Emperors of Rome
    10. Knowledge Check: Good & Bad Emperors of Rome
    11. Primary Source: Gladiator Combats
    12. Christianity in the Roman Empire
    13. Knowledge Check: Early Christianity in Rome
    14. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
    15. Unit Assessment: Ancient Rome

  7. The Byzantine Empire, Russia, & Islamic Civilizations

    11 lessons
    1. Introduction to Unit 6
    2. The Byzantine Empire
    3. Primary Source: Justinian's Code
    4. Knowledge Check: The Byzantine Empire
    5. The Rise of Islam
    6. Knowledge Check: The Rise of Islam
    7. The Kievan Rus' & Early Russia
    8. Knowledge Check: Early Russia
    9. The Growth & Spread of Islam
    10. Rise of the Turks Notebook Foldable Activity
    11. Unit Assessment: Byzantine, Russia, & Islamic Civilizations

  8. Classical India & Asia

    17 lessons
    1. Intro to Unit 7
    2. China's Shang & Zhou Dynasties and Philosophies
    3. Knowledge Check: The Shang & Zhou Dynasties
    4. China's Qin and Han Dynasties
    5. Great Wall of China Foldable Activity
    6. Knowledge Check: Qin & Han China
    7. Tang and Song China
    8. Primary Source: Tang and Song Dynasty Sources
    9. Knowledge Check: Tang & Song China
    10. The Maurya and Gupta Empires
    11. Knowledge Check: The Maurya & Gupta Empires
    12. The Silk Road
    13. Knowledge Check: The Silk Road
    14. Feudal Japan
    15. Knowledge Check: Feudal Japan
    16. Genghis Khan and the Mongols
    17. Unit Assessment: Classical Asia

  9. Europe's Middle Ages

    8 lessons
    1. Intro to Unit 8
    2. Charlemagne and the Franks in Medieval Europe
    3. Knowledge Check: Charlemagne & the Franks
    4. Feudalism and the Manor System in Europe
    5. Knowledge Check: Feudalism and the Manor System
    6. The Crusades
    7. Forming European Nations in the Middle Ages
    8. Unit Assessment: Middle Ages

  10. Empires in Africa & the Americas

    7 lessons
    1. Intro to Unit 9
    2. Mesoamerican Civilizations
    3. Mayan Civilization Foldable Activity
    4. Knowledge Check: Mesoamerican Civilizations
    5. Ghana, Mali, Songhai, and the Empires of Africa
    6. Primary Source: Ibn Battuta
    7. Unit Assessment: African & American Empires

  11. The Renaissance

    5 lessons
    1. Intro to Unit 10
    2. The Italian Renaissance
    3. Humanism Foldable Activity
    4. Primary Source: Am I Machiavellian?
    5. Unit Assessment: The Renaissance

  12. World Religions

    3 lessons
    1. World’s Major Religions
    2. Knowledge Check: World Religions
    3. World History Part 1 Final Exam

How it Works

Enroll & Get Instant Access

Create an account for immediate access to the full course. Your student starts right away and moves through the lessons at their own pace.

Guided, Independent Learning

Students learn through video lessons, guided notes, readings, and interactive activities designed for self-paced progress.

Check Your Understanding

Each lesson includes quick learning checks followed by unit assessments to show what students learned and track progress.

Here's what others are saying... 

Kathlene Quinton

“ I was looking for a program that was engaging - my boys loved the program with all of the videos and guided notes - they retained a ton of the info!”

Stephanie Brooks

“My children thoroughly enjoyed the flipped classroom videos. They learned so much, and have retained the knowledge because the presentation was so engaging and interesting. We are all a little sad to be finished."

Leslie Near

“I very suddenly took on a high school US History class at a homeschool tutorial when a teacher quit unexpectedly. It is truly great. I loved how I could find almost anything I needed.”