Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from MasterBooks, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.
This engaging textbook teaches students about the Middle Ages, from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance. Follow this story-based approach to world history as you meet numerous historical figures (including St. Patrick, Genghis Khan, Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, and Martin Luther), visit medieval sites around the world, and trace the rise and fall of numerous empires and kingdoms.
Earlier this year, we reviewed Book 1 (The World's History 1, The Ancients) in this triology of World History for Junior High Students (grades 6-8), and I'm thrilled to share Book 2 (The World's Story 2: The Middle Ages ), with you today!
This engaging textbook teaches students about the Middle Ages, from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance. Follow this story-based approach to world history as you meet numerous historical figures (including St. Patrick, Genghis Khan, Richard the Lionheart, Joan of Arc, and Martin Luther), visit medieval sites around the world, and trace the rise and fall of numerous empires and kingdoms.
Volume 2 in this series for your junior high students includes:
- A conversational narrative that brings medieval history to life
- Gorgeous photographs, artwork, and maps that help students visualize people, places, and events
- Educational features that dig deeper into the history of the Christian Church
- A conversational narrative that brings medieval history to life
- Gorgeous photographs, artwork, and maps that help students visualize people, places, and events
- Educational features that dig deeper into the history of the Christian Church
Throughout the course, students will see God’s guiding hand through history. They will study the major events of the Middle Ages and delve into how society and culture developed and changed. Students will also study medieval civilizations spanning the whole globe, including the Byzantines, Anglo-Saxons, Muslims, Chinese, Japanese, Mongols, Mughals, Vikings, Normans, Russians, Songhai, and Aztecs!
Review
When we finished up Ancient Civ last year, Miss Grace was technically a year ahead of schedule and wanted to take a break from 'chronological history' and check out more of the 'Mysteries of History' that she had touched upon during last year's history lessons. I thought it was a great idea to go back and work on them, and go forward and learn more, before coming back to tackle the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. While she has been exposed to so much of it from Ren faires and other lessons, I knew that breaking up chronological history into 3 sections, such as Angela has done, was a more logical method for Miss Grace to understand the different time periods of history. She liked the Christian look at history, and so did I, so I knew this series was one we wanted to keep up with!
I was thrilled to see how it is not JUST Europe that is taught in this volume. So much of 'Middle Ages to Renaissance' history tunnels strictly on Europe, yet there were advances and discoveries made world WIDE during this period! By studying the Byzantine,Muslim, Mongol, other Asian, Songai and Aztec cultures, your child get's a very good look at not only different cultures, but religions, and how contact with some of them led to different concepts of religious thought changing what was seen as 'the modern world' at that time. The included Church History sections highlight different leaders in the church, who were beneficial during the different time periods and countries as well, adding in a religion component to the book. While you could leave these out, if you wanted a more secular history class, many of the persons covered actually are historically important!
There are SO many great historical figures in this time period, that really made a difference for the general population, and having them included is a great plus. While the text gives your child a lot of info say on Genghis Khan, St Patrick, and Martin Luther, there is enough left unsaid that allows for individual reports/research on them, for extra grading purposes and learning! And, the Connect sections, like the ones above, will help your student to understand the link of these famous people to their modern lives (and media content)!
Once again, the book is filled with great illustrations, including master art works, allowing for additional research and discussion topics (don't we LOVE it when other subjects cross over? Art day! YEAH), that will have your child entranced from the beginning! And with multiple artists spotlights, you can extend the historical art element as well into art discovery! It also has entrancing color photos, that REALLY grab your child's attention and help them understand the different cultures!
The book is broken down into 28 chapters, allowing for a FULL year's worth of history to be taught! Each chapter is easily one week's work of work. Miss Grace is still using block scheduling, so for her it will be a 2-3 day course, but you could easily make it a 5 day one. I love how the different areas of the chapters ask students to THINK, and make critical thinking connections! Like the questions about the Mongol Empire above. You could see where you could use this series even into High School, using some of these questions for High School essay questions and thesis papers!
This IS a religious look at history, but the book contains sound historical and geo-sociological info, and it's worth looking at, even if you hadn't considered using such a worldview text. We'll be using this for 7th grade history, and then using Volume 3 (Modern history) for 8th grade. I truly think the timeline is so much better for allowing kids to mature and really understand the concepts and political ideas better!
I was thrilled to see how it is not JUST Europe that is taught in this volume. So much of 'Middle Ages to Renaissance' history tunnels strictly on Europe, yet there were advances and discoveries made world WIDE during this period! By studying the Byzantine,Muslim, Mongol, other Asian, Songai and Aztec cultures, your child get's a very good look at not only different cultures, but religions, and how contact with some of them led to different concepts of religious thought changing what was seen as 'the modern world' at that time. The included Church History sections highlight different leaders in the church, who were beneficial during the different time periods and countries as well, adding in a religion component to the book. While you could leave these out, if you wanted a more secular history class, many of the persons covered actually are historically important!
There are SO many great historical figures in this time period, that really made a difference for the general population, and having them included is a great plus. While the text gives your child a lot of info say on Genghis Khan, St Patrick, and Martin Luther, there is enough left unsaid that allows for individual reports/research on them, for extra grading purposes and learning! And, the Connect sections, like the ones above, will help your student to understand the link of these famous people to their modern lives (and media content)!
Once again, the book is filled with great illustrations, including master art works, allowing for additional research and discussion topics (don't we LOVE it when other subjects cross over? Art day! YEAH), that will have your child entranced from the beginning! And with multiple artists spotlights, you can extend the historical art element as well into art discovery! It also has entrancing color photos, that REALLY grab your child's attention and help them understand the different cultures!
The book is broken down into 28 chapters, allowing for a FULL year's worth of history to be taught! Each chapter is easily one week's work of work. Miss Grace is still using block scheduling, so for her it will be a 2-3 day course, but you could easily make it a 5 day one. I love how the different areas of the chapters ask students to THINK, and make critical thinking connections! Like the questions about the Mongol Empire above. You could see where you could use this series even into High School, using some of these questions for High School essay questions and thesis papers!
This IS a religious look at history, but the book contains sound historical and geo-sociological info, and it's worth looking at, even if you hadn't considered using such a worldview text. We'll be using this for 7th grade history, and then using Volume 3 (Modern history) for 8th grade. I truly think the timeline is so much better for allowing kids to mature and really understand the concepts and political ideas better!
This text is already available in both print and ebook form! So which ever way your kids learn best, you have a text for them! And if you buy as a set with the Teacher's Guide, you get a great discount! The additional teacher guide provides everything you need to teach the full year of history, thanks to its daily schedule, worksheets, hands-on activities, and research prompts.
Rest of the Series:
This is the First volume in a three-book world history series for upper elementary and junior high students, here is the info on the other 2 books, and when they will be released:
Vol 1 the Ancients: The ancient civilizations of the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas
Vol 3 Modern Times: The Age of Explorers through the modern day and learn all about the wars, revolutions, and culture changes that defined these times. Coming in 2019
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