History

History CurriculumHistory Resources

As with most things, C.S. Lewis had a unique view of history. For him, the really important bits were the stories—he makes a distinction between actual historical realities and the idealized versions of them handed down which make heroes and villains of mere men and women. It's not that the stories are completely false, but their value is for character-building, not as factual data.

The tales of George Washington's bravery in battle, coolness under pressure, rigorous truthfulness, and unflagging piety may accurately preserve the essence of his temperament and nobility, but not all of them are strictly historical. The point of these stories isn't to impart facts, however, it's to offer an example of goodness for the rest of us to emulate.

Getting the facts right is still important, though. As Christians, we can't afford to have a false understanding of "the old days." Mankind is fallen, and the story of his sojourn on Earth is filled with war, suffering, disease, unfaithfulness, pride and envy; a study of history that omits those elements is both false and useless. False, because it is incomplete, and useless, because it tells us nothing of the human condition or our current situation.

It's a bit of a mystery to us why non-Christians are motivated to study the past. For believers, the end goal isn't just acquisition of facts about events and cultures, it's the instillation of a thoroughly Christian worldview, an understanding of the course of the human endeavour as decreed and guided by God Himself.

The story of Jesus Christ is central. It is the only history story that fulfills the character-building element Lewis looked for, while remaining absolutely true in every detail. Man is fallen and he does struggle against God, but through Christ there is hope of redemption, a chance to connect heaven and earth through the Atonement. Christ is the ultimate example of God's providence.

In the Reformed tradition, God's sovereignty is a very big deal. According to the doctrine of divine decree, God has ordered all things that were, are and will come to be for His own good pleasure and glory. His hand is thus present everywhere, in the privatest private life and the most public and widespread crisis. God is in control, providentially guiding nations, men, and the entire cosmos.

This very doctrine is perhaps what best explains the humanist's interest in history (whether he be atheist, agnostic, pagan). Man's natural bent is to make himself the hero of the story, to show how people can sway the trajectory of all things. God's version is quite different, and the two are naturally in conflict. Resolution may only be found in Christ.

For, while God decrees and guides all things, He has also (paradoxically) decreed man's free will and personal responsibility. Men do change the course of kingdoms, but it is only through God's agency. A proper Christian study of history takes both truths into account, and tells the stories of good guys and bad guys through the light of everything God's Word says about human nature and divine control.

We encourage you to take great comfort and joy in your study of history. Read books, watch movies (carefully noting that a lot of the story is likely to be inaccurate in detail), go on fieldtrips to forts and battlefields and birthplaces. Most of all, talk about these things. The end goal, after all, isn't to know a bunch of trivia, but to understand what God has done and continues to do.

No one knows for sure what the end of history will look like, except that every knee in heaven and on earth will bow to the returned glorious Christ, who comes to judge the living and the dead. What we believe about Him will determine whether that culmination will be filled with joy or loathing (everyone will be terrified). He is the author of history, and its centerpiece; honor Him in your study of it.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.

 

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ABC Book of Early Americana - Coloring Book
by Eric Sloane
2012 Dover from Dover Publications
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Across America
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America At War: Korean War
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America in the Time of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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America in the Time of Lewis and Clark
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America's Struggle to Become a Nation
by Rick & Marilyn Boyer
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American Adventures Part 1
by Morrie Greenberg
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American Adventures Part 2
by Morrie Greenberg
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American Indian Prayer Guide
by Danette Maloof, Dean Cozzens
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Ancient Egyptians and their Neighbors
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Ancient Israelites and Their Neighbors
by Marian Broida
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Anne of Jamestown
by Anne Price-Hardister, illustrated by Ruby Gardner
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Anno's China
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Battle of the Little Bighorn
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Big Book of the Civil War
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Big Picture Bible Time Line
by Carol Eide - compiled
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Bill of Rights
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Book of the Medieval Knight
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Boy on the Mayflower
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Boys' War
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Building the Capital City
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Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?
by Jean Fritz
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Canada from A to Z
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Champions of Mathematics
by John Hudson Tiner
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Chief Joseph: Leader of Destiny
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Children of Native America Today
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Constitutional Puzzlers
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Countries Around the World: New Zealand
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Creative God Colorful Us
by Trillia Newbell, Paintings by Chase Williamson
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Daily Life in a Plains Indian Village 1868
by Michael Bad Hand Terry
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Dear Benjamin Banneker
by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
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Declaration of Independence
History Speaks
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Declaration of Independence
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Desert Storm
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Disability Rights Movement
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Discovering Mars
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DK Eyewitness: Ancient Greece
DK Eyewitness Series
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Greek History Reference for 4th-8th grade
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Don't Know Much About American History
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Draw the Titanic
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Drummer Boy's Battle
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Early American History for Intermediate Grades - Guide
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Early Civilization
Usborne Illustrated World History
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Ancient History Reference for 4th-6th grade
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Early Settler Storybook
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Egyptian Echo
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Electrical Wizard
by Elizabeth Rusch, illustrated by Oliver Dominguez
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Everything You Need To Know About World History Homework
by Anne Zeman & Kate Kelly
from Scholastic Inc.
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$4.50 (2 in stock)
Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)
by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
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Eyes on Adventure: Exploring Space
Eyes on Adventure
by Leigh Hope Wood
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Famous Presidents
Eyes on America
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Fight for Freedom
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Frank Lloyd Wright for Kids
by Kathleen Thorne-Thomsen
2nd edition from Chicago Review Press
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Full-Color Knights & Armour - Book and CD-Rom
Dover Electronic Clip Art
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George Washington Carver: Botanist
Black Americans of Achievement
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George Washington You Never Knew
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Get Oregonized - Set
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Gettysburg Address
History Speaks
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Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
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Great Explorers
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Greece: The Culture
The Lands, Peoples, and Cultures Series
by Bobbie Kalman, Sierra Adare
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Greece: The Land
The Lands, Peoples, and Cultures Series
by Bobbie Kalman, Sierra Adare
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Hero Over Here
by Kathleen V. Kudlinski
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Hieroglyphs
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History Helps
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Home School Geography Teaching Maps Book
from A Beka Books
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$9.00 (2 in stock)
Home School Geography Teaching Maps Book (old)
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$6.00 (1 in stock)
Imitation in Writing: Greek Heroes
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
2nd edition from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 4th-9th grade
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$15.00
Incans, Aztecs, Mayans
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Jedediah Smith
by Sharlene and Ted Nelson
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Kid's Guide to Latino History
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Kid's Guide to Native American History
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Kingfisher Atlas of the Medieval World
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Knights & Castles
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Lady Liberty: A Biography
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Last River
by Stuart Waldman, illustrated by Gregory Manchess
from Mikaya Press
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$15.99
Learn About Pyramids
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$8.00 (1 in stock)
Life in a Fishing Community
Learn About Rural Life
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Life in Ancient Rome
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from Running Press
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Lincoln Memorial
by Deborah Kent
from Children's Press
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Looking at Painting: Families
by Peggy Roalf
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Magellan and the Exploration of South America
by Colin Hynson
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MapTrek - Atlas
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in Historical & Cultural Atlases (Location: HISRF-ATLAS)
$34.39
MapTrek - Atlas & Outlines
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from Master Books
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in Historical & Cultural Atlases (Location: HISRF-ATLAS)
MapTrek - Outlines
by Terri Johnson
from Master Books
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$34.39
Marco Polo
by Struan Reid
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$5.00 (1 in stock)
Mary Cassatt
Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists
by Mike Venezia
from Children's Press
Picture Book Biography for 4th-6th grade
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$3.50 (2 in stock)
Mummies & Pyramids
Usborne Internet-Linked
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Mystery of the Maya
by Peter Lourie
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N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims
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Nathan Hale
Hidden History: Spies
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from Red Chair Press
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$5.00 (1 in stock)
National Gallery of Art Activity Book
by Maura A. Clarkin
from Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
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$6.00 (1 in stock)
National Parks of the USA - Activity Book
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from Quarto Publishing
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Nations of the Northwest Coast
by Kathryn Smithyman and Bobbie Kalman
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Our National Monuments
by Eleanor Ayer
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People Could Fly
by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
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$4.50 (1 in stock)
Polycarp of Smyrna
Heroes of the Faith
by Sinclair B. Ferguson
from Banner of Truth Trust
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$10.00
Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
History Speaks
by Douglas M. Rife
from Teaching & Learning Company
for 4th-8th grade
in New Nation (1783-1800) (Location: HISA-18NN)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
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