Veritas Omnibus I

With Omnibus I, your students are introduced to the thoughts, ideas, and great works of the Ancient World. From the Beginning to A.D. 70, the Primary book list for Omnibus I includes ‘great books’ (classics that have hugely influenced and shaped our world) like the Odyssey, the Aeneid, the Last Days of Socrates, Epic of Gilgamesh, and Plutarch’s Lives. The secondary book list consists of books like the Chronicles of Narnia, Peter Kreeft's the Best Things in Life, and R.C. Sproul's Chosen By God that compliment and draw out the ideas discussed in the Primary books. Several books of the Bible, such as 1 & 2 Kings and Luke are included in the reading list. For each book, there is an introductory essay explaining the background and basic ideas of the book. This is followed by daily sessions the student can work thorough, consisting of questions, activities, and assignments that help the student learn to understand and communicate ideas thoroughly, eloquently, and from a solid Christian worldview.

Omnibus I is designed for students in 7th grade, though because of its rigorous nature, it can easily be used with older students. Omnibus follows the Classical method of the three levels, and Omnibus I begins the Logic (understanding the ‘why‘ of history) level. Omnibus assumes that your students have already had a Grammar-level education in factual history, but if you need a little brushing up, Western Civilization by Jackson Spielvogel is recommended to supplement your studies, though Streams of Civilization 1 and 2 would be adequate as well. Parents should be aware that this curriculum jumps right into mature issues like sex, violence, and introduces the student to false philosophies and religions. Though these issues are ones that need to be worked through, you may decide your child is not at a mature enough level to deal with these themes yet.

As you flip through the material and look at the book list, you may be surprised by the content, taken aback by the level of difficulty, startled by the books your student is going to read. But ask yourself this: is the world your students will have to face any less startling and surprising? Omnibus is a vigorous course, but it’s worth it, and it’s the challenge that makes it great. Let Omnibus I help your student understand and analyze the ancient world in a way that will prepare him for the years ahead.

Caution:

Omnibus I includes a chapter on The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius; students read the complete text along with commentary by Brent Harken, and complete extensive written exercises. The version used was translated by Robert Graves and edited by James B. Rives; Rives softened some of the more graphic content. Even so, it's still graphic content—chapters on Caligula, Nero, and Domitian include descriptions of bestiality, pedophilia, incest, and more. While Harken is clear that this is wicked behavior, having 7th graders read content like this (The Twelve Caesars is one of the primary texts for year-one second-semester) seems to us inadvisable, at least in many cases. Also, Harken's interpretation of the text is a bit odd. Proceed with caution, and if necessary skip this text altogether.

Book Excerpts:

Sample from Omnibus I: Genesis
Sample from Omnibus I: Genesis TE

Note About Booklist:

The booklist below consists of the editions recomended by Veritas Press, though different (often cheaper) editions of these books are available. See individual titles for links to these and also free online versions.

Table of Contents:

Omnibus guide authors:

Primary Books—First Semester

Stuart W. Bryan
Peter Leithart
Ben Merkle
William Dawson
Peter Leithart
Peter Leithart
Doug Wilson
N. D. Wilson
Michael Metzler/Toby Sumpter
William C. Michael
Primary Books—Second Semester

G. Tyler Fischer
Doug Jones
Natali H. Miller
Gregg Strawbridge
Doug Wilson
Brent Harken
Jared Miller
Randy Booth
Secondary Books—First Semester

Gregg Strawbridge
G. Tyler Fischer
Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson
Jerrold W. Owen
Gregg Strawbridge
J. C. Evans
Secondary Books—Second Semester

Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson
William S. Dawson
William S. Dawson
Doug Wilson
Bruce Etter
Bruce Etter
Deborah Erb
O. Woelke Leithart
G. Tyler Fischer

* As all seven Chronicles of Narnia books are used (and the guide doesn't reference page numbers for them), it doesn't matter which version of the books you use. Here are the boxed sets we offer:

Did you find this review helpful?
29 Items found Print
Aeneid
by Virgil, translated by Robert Fitzgerald
from Vintage Classics
Ancient Literature/Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$16.00
Aeschylus I: The Oresteia (old)
The Complete Greek Tragedies
by Aeschylus (translation by Richmond Lattimore)
from University of Chicago
Ancient Greek Tragedy for 10th-Adult
in Clearance: Literature (Location: ZCLE-LIT)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Aeschylus II: The Oresteia
The Complete Greek Tragedies
by Aeschylus (translation by Richmond Lattimore)
3rd edition from University of Chicago
Ancient Greek Tragedy for 10th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$14.00
Aeschylus' Oresteia
Penguin Classics
by Aeschylus (translation by Robert Fagles)
from Penguin Classics
Ancient Greek Tragedy for 10th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$17.00
Best Things in Life
by Peter Kreeft
from InterVarsity Press
for 9th-Adult
in Philosophy (Location: XWV-PHI)
$18.00 $8.50 (2 in stock)
Chosen by God
by R. C. Sproul
from Tyndale House
for 10th-Adult
in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF)
$17.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Codes of Hammurabi and Moses
by W. W. Davies
from Book Jungle
Primary Source Document for 7th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$20.00
Early History of Rome
by Livy
from Penguin Classics
Historical Non-Fiction for 10th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$16.00
Gilgamesh
by Anonymous (translation by David Ferry)
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Ancient Poetic Epic for 7th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$16.00
Histories
Penguin Classics
by Herodotus (translation by Aubrey De Sélincourt)
from Penguin Classics
Historical Non-Fiction for 10th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$13.00
Holiness of God
by R. C. Sproul
2nd edition from Tyndale House
for 9th-Adult
in Theology Proper: The Study of God (Location: XTH-GOD)
$17.99
Horse and His Boy
Chronicles of Narnia Book 3
by Lewis, C. S.
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$12.99 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Julius Caesar
Oxford School Shakespeare
by William Shakespeare & Roma Gill, editor
from Oxford University
Historical Tragedy for 7th-10th grade
in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN)
$5.95
Last Battle
Chronicles of Narnia Book 7
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Last Battle RPG
Chronicles of Narnia Book 7
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
1956 Carnegie Medal
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Last Days of Socrates
Penguin Classics
by Plato
from Penguin Classics
Ancient Philosophy for 9th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$14.00
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Chronicles of Narnia Book 2
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$11.99
Magician's Nephew
Chronicles of Narnia Book 1
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$12.99
Odyssey of Homer
by Homer (translation by Richmond Lattimore)
from HarperCollins
Ancient Literature/Epic Poetry for 9th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$18.99
Plutarch's Lives Volume I
by Plutarch, translated by John Dryden
from Modern Library
Biography for 9th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$19.00
Prince Caspian
Chronicles of Narnia Book 4
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$12.99
Screwtape Letters
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegory/Religion for 9th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$17.99
Silver Chair
Chronicles of Narnia Book 6
by C. S. Lewis, illustrated by Pauline Baynes
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99
Sophocles I
The Complete Greek Tragedies
by Sophocles (translation/editing by David Grene & Richmond Lattimore)
3rd edition from University of Chicago
Ancient Tragedy for 9th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$14.00 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Sophocles I (old)
The Complete Greek Tragedies
by Sophocles (translation/editing by David Grene & Richmond Lattimore)
2nd edition from University of Chicago
Ancient Tragedy for 9th-Adult
in Clearance: Literature (Location: ZCLE-LIT)
$6.00 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Twelve Caesars
Penguin Classics
by Suetonius
from Penguin Classics
History for 10th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$16.00
Unaborted Socrates
by Peter Kreeft
from InterVarsity Press
for 9th-Adult
in Philosophy (Location: XWV-PHI)
Voyage of the Dawn Treader RUC
Chronicles of Narnia Book 5
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperCollins
Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Western Civilization
by Jackson J. Spielvogel
8th edition from Wadsworth Publishing Company
for 7th-12th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)