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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

    9 lessons
    1. Introduction to Unit 5
    2. Early Rome
    3. The Punic Wars and Challenges to Rome
    4. Caesar and the End of the Roman Republic
    5. Roman Technology Foldable Activity
    6. Good and Bad Emperors of Rome
    7. Primary Source: Gladiator Combats
    8. Christianity in the Roman Empire
    9. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

  7. The Byzantine Empire, Russia, & Islamic Civilizations

    7 lessons
    1. Introduction to Unit 6
    2. The Byzantine Empire
    3. Primary Source: Justinian's Code
    4. The Rise of Islam
    5. The Kievan Rus' & Early Russia
    6. The Growth & Spread of Islam
    7. Rise of the Turks Notebook Foldable Activity

  8. Classical India & Asia

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

  9. Europe's Middle Ages

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

  10. Empires in Africa & the Americas

    5 lessons
    1. Intro to Unit 9
    2. Mesoamerican Civilizations
    3. Mayan Civilization Foldable Activity
    4. Ghana, Mali, Songhai, and the Empires of Africa
    5. Primary Source: Ibn Battuta

  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

    1 lesson
    1. World’s Major Religions

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.”