Hocbigg - Ancient History
Path to a free self-taught education in Ancient History!
Contents
Summary
The Ancient History curriculum is a complete education in Ancient History using online materials.
Note: When there are courses or books that don’t fit into the curriculum but are otherwise of high quality,
they belong in extras/courses, extras/readings or extras/other_curricula.
Process. Students can work through the curriculum alone or in groups, in order or out of order.
- We recommend doing all courses in Core, only skipping a course when you are certain that you’ve already learned the material previously.
- For simplicity, we recommend working through courses (especially Core) in order from top to bottom. Some students choose to study multiple courses at a time in order to vary the material they are working on in a day/week.
- The courses in the Advanced section are electives. Choose one track to specialize in and complete all the courses listed under it.
How to contribute
Communities
- Forums:
- Subreddits:
- Discord servers:
- You can also interact through GitHub issues. If there is a problem with a course, or a change needs to be made to the curriculum, this is the place to start the conversation. Read more here.
Curriculum
Intro
| Subject |
Why study? |
Book |
Videos |
| Introduction to Historical Thinking |
To develop critical skills in evaluating evidence, understanding bias, and constructing arguments, forming the basis for all historical study. |
Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past by Sam Wineburg |
Historical Methodology: The Art and Craft of the Historian |
| Basics of Chronology and Periodization |
To establish a timeline of ancient eras, enabling learners to situate events and avoid anachronisms in analysis. |
The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome by Susan Wise Bauer |
Chronology & Periodization in History |
| Research Methods in History |
To learn how to locate, interpret, and cite sources, bridging theory and practice for independent study. |
Going to the Sources: A Guide to Historical Research and Writing by Anthony Brundage |
Understanding Research Methods |
| Overview of Ancient World Civilizations |
To gain a high-level survey of major regions and cultures, providing context for specialized study. |
The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome by Susan Wise Bauer |
Ancient Masterpieces of World Literature |
Core
Early Foundations
| Subject |
Why study? |
Book |
Videos |
| Prehistory and Human Origins |
To explore archaeological evidence of early humans, understanding the transition from foraging to settled societies. |
The Human Past: World Prehistory and the Development of Human Societies by Chris Scarre |
Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations |
| Emergence of Early Civilizations |
To examine the rise of agriculture, writing, and urbanism, revealing patterns in human development. |
Early Civilizations of the Old World: The Formative Histories of Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia, India and China by Charles Keith Maisels |
Superpowers of the Ancient World: the Near East |
| Ancient Mythology and Religion |
To analyze belief systems as windows into cultural values, influencing social and political structures. |
Mythology by Edith Hamilton |
Greek and Roman Mythology |
Regional Surveys
| Subject |
Why study? |
Book |
Videos |
| Ancient Near East (Mesopotamia and Persia) |
To study foundational empires and innovations like law codes, highlighting imperial dynamics. |
A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000-323 BC by Marc Van De Mieroop |
Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization |
| Ancient Egypt |
To investigate Nile-based society, pharaonic rule, and monumental architecture, emphasizing continuity and change. |
The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt by Ian Shaw |
Introduction to Ancient Egypt and Its Civilization |
| Ancient Greece |
To delve into city-states, democracy, and philosophy, exploring intellectual legacies. |
Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History by Sarah B. Pomeroy et al. |
The Ancient Greeks |
| Ancient Rome |
To analyze republican and imperial systems, military expansion, and legal frameworks, connecting to Western traditions. |
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard |
The Ancient World: Rome |
| Ancient Asia (India and China) |
To cover Vedic, Mauryan, and Han periods, providing non-Western perspectives on governance and culture. |
Ancient India and Ancient China: Trade and Religious Exchanges AD 1-600 by Xinru Liu |
China’s Ancient Ritual Civilization |
Thematic Integration
| Subject |
Why study? |
Book |
Videos |
| Economy and Trade in Antiquity |
To understand exchange networks and resource management, revealing interconnectedness of ancient worlds. |
The Ancient Economy by M. I. Finley |
An Economic History of the World since 1400 |
| Social Structures and Daily Life |
To examine class, gender, and slavery, humanizing historical narratives through everyday experiences. |
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World by Robert Garland |
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World |
| Warfare and Diplomacy |
To evaluate military strategies and alliances, assessing their role in shaping empires. |
Warfare in the Ancient World by Brian Todd Carey |
Great Battles of the Ancient World |
| Historiography of Ancient Sources |
To critically appraise ancient texts and artifacts, fostering analytical synthesis. |
The Idea of History by R. G. Collingwood |
Introduction to Ancient Greek History |
Advanced
Ancient Mediterranean
| Subject |
Why study? |
Book |
Videos |
| Advanced Greek Philosophy and Literature |
To engage with primary texts like Plato and Homer, deepening understanding of intellectual history. |
The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton |
Introduction to Greek Philosophy |
| Roman Imperial Expansion and Decline |
To analyze factors in empire-building and fall, applying theoretical models of power. |
The Fall of the Roman Empire by Peter Heather |
The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome |
| Hellenistic World and Cultural Fusion |
To study post-Alexander interactions, highlighting hybridity in art and society. |
The Hellenistic World by Frank W. Walbank |
The Greek World: A Study of History and Culture |
Ancient Near East and Egypt
| Subject |
Why study? |
Book |
Videos |
| Mesopotamian Law and Administration |
To dissect cuneiform records, revealing governance innovations. |
The Code of Hammurabi by Hammurabi (trans. L. W. King) |
Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization |
| Egyptian Art and Architecture |
To interpret pyramids and temples as cultural artifacts, practicing visual analysis. |
Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: A Very Short Introduction by Christina Riggs |
Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology |
| Persian Empire and Its Neighbors |
To examine Achaemenid multiculturalism, synthesizing regional influences. |
From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire by Pierre Briant |
The Persian Empire |
Ancient Asia
| Subject |
Why study? |
Book |
Videos |
| Vedic India and Religious Evolution |
To trace Hinduism’s roots, understanding spiritual and social transformations. |
The Ancient History of India (Vedic Period) by K. C. Singhal |
Great World Religions: Hinduism |
| Ancient Chinese Dynasties and Thought |
To explore Confucianism and Legalism, evaluating philosophical impacts on statecraft. |
Early China: A Social and Cultural History by Li Feng |
Chinese Thought: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science |
| Silk Road Interactions |
To assess cross-cultural exchanges, broadening global historical views. |
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan |
Crossroads of Civilization: A History of Central Asia |
Archaeological and Material Culture
| Subject |
Why study? |
Book |
Videos |
| Principles of Archaeological Methods |
To learn excavation and dating techniques, grounding history in empirical evidence. |
Archaeological Theory and Practice by various (ed. Ian Hodder) |
Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond |
| Artifact Analysis and Interpretation |
To practice classifying objects, bridging material culture with narratives. |
Tangible Things: Discovering History Through Artworks, Artifacts, Scientific Specimens, and the Stuff Around You by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich et al. |
Tangible Things |
| Digital Tools in Ancient Archaeology |
To apply modern tech for reconstruction, enhancing practical research skills. |
Digital Archaeology by Patrick Daly |
Archaeology of Portus: Exploring the Lost Harbour of Ancient Rome |
Comparative and Thematic
Final Project
| Subject |
Why study? |
Book |
Videos |
| Capstone Research Project |
To integrate theory, practice, and personal insights, producing original work like a thesis or portfolio for real-world application. |
Writing History: A Guide for Students by William Kelleher Storey |
Learning from the Past: A Guide for the Curious Researcher |
Congratulations
After completing the requirements of the curriculum above,
you will have completed the equivalent of a full bachelor’s degree in Ancient History.
Congratulations!
Code of conduct
Hocbigg’s code of conduct.