history
Hocbigg - History
🎓 Path to a free self-taught education in History!
Contents
Summary
This roadmap provides a structured, self-paced curriculum equivalent to a 4-year undergraduate degree in History, condensed into 1–2 years of study at approximately 20 hours per week.
The program emphasizes critical thinking, primary source analysis, and historical interpretation, balancing chronological, regional, and thematic approaches.
Organization
The structure follows a logical progression:
- Intro: Builds foundational skills and broad context.
- Core: Develops essential knowledge across key periods and methods, equivalent to the first three years of traditional study.
- Advanced: Offers specialization tracks for depth, allowing learners to choose 1–2 tracks based on interest.
- Capstone: Synthesizes learning through independent application.
Prerequisites ensure sequential learning, with milestones for self-assessment (e.g., reflective essays or quizzes on key concepts). Assume 20 hours/week total; allocate time across concurrent subjects in each semester (e.g., 10 hours each for two subjects). Adjust based on personal pace.
Specialization tracks in the Advanced phase include:
- Ancient and Classical History: Focus on early civilizations and foundational empires.
- European History: Emphasis on Western developments from medieval to modern eras.
- American History: Exploration of North and South American contexts, including colonial and contemporary periods.
- Global/Non-Western History: Coverage of Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Oceania, highlighting interconnected global narratives.
- Thematic History: Cross-cutting themes like economic, social, cultural, or environmental history.
Learners should select one primary track and optionally one secondary for breadth.
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.
Communities
- Forums:
- Subreddits:
- Discord servers:
- Other:
- 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
Introduction
Orientation to historical inquiry and broad overviews. Build skills in reading, writing, and analyzing sources. Milestone: After completion, write a short essay synthesizing a historical event using primary and secondary sources.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historical Methods and Thinking | Introduces the discipline’s tools, fostering critical analysis and evidence-based reasoning essential for all historical study. | From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods by Martha Howell and Walter Prevenier; Free alternative: The Historian’s Craft by Marc Bloch (available via Project Gutenberg). | Introduction to Research for Essay Writing (Coursera, University of California, Irvine) |
| World History Survey I (Ancient to Medieval) | Provides a global foundation, helping contextualize human development and avoid Eurocentrism from the start. | World History: Cultures, States, and Societies to 1500 by Eugene Berger et al. (free open textbook); Authoritative: The History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer. | Introduction to Ancient Egypt and Its Civilization (Coursera, University of Pennsylvania) |
Core
Phase I
Deepen chronological understanding and introduce regional perspectives. Build on intro skills for more complex analysis. Milestone: After completion, create a timeline and comparative analysis of two historical periods.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| World History Survey II (Early Modern to Contemporary) | Completes the global overview, enabling connections between past and present events. | Modern World History by Anthony Esler (free open textbook edition available); Authoritative: A History of the Modern World by R.R. Palmer and Joel Colton. | The Modern World, Part One: Global History from 1760 to 1910 (Coursera, University of Virginia) |
| Western Civilization I (Ancient to Early Modern Europe) | Establishes key narratives in European history, which influence many global interactions. | Western Civilization: A Concise History Volume 1 by Christopher Brooks (free open textbook); Authoritative: Western Civilization by Jackson J. Spielvogel. | Western Civilization: Ancient and Medieval Europe (edX, Arizona State University) |
| Introduction to Non-Western Histories | Broadens perspectives beyond the West, promoting inclusive understanding of global dynamics. | World History: Cultures, States, and Societies to 1500 by Eugene Berger et al. (free open textbook); Authoritative: A History of Asia by Rhoads Murphey. | Indigenous Canada (Coursera, University of Alberta) |
Phase II
Thematic and methodological depth, integrating theory with practice. Emphasize synthesis across regions and periods. Milestone: After completion, conduct a small research project on a core theme, including annotated bibliography.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic and Social History | Examines how economic forces and social structures shape societies, providing tools for analyzing inequality and change. | An Economic History of the World since 1400 by Donald J. Harreld; Free alternative: Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction by Robert C. Allen. | An Economic History of the World since 1400 (Coursera, The Great Courses) |
| Political and Military History | Explores power dynamics and conflicts, crucial for understanding governance and international relations. | A History of Warfare by John Keegan; Free alternative: The Art of War by Sun Tzu (public domain). | Paradoxes of War (Coursera, Princeton University) |
| Historiography and Historical Theory | Deepens critical engagement with how history is written, addressing debates on objectivity and interpretation. | The Idea of History by R.G. Collingwood; Free alternative: What is History? by E.H. Carr (widely available online). | Making History: How Great Historians Interpret the Past (The Great Courses) |
Advanced
Specialization for expertise, followed by integration. Choose subjects from 1–2 tracks (total ~12 hours/week on advanced subjects, plus capstone prep). Milestone: Complete capstone proposal before starting the project.
Select 3–4 subjects from your chosen track(s). Each is designed for deeper focus, with emphasis on primary sources and original analysis.
Ancient and Classical History
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Near East and Egypt | Uncovers origins of writing, law, and urban life, foundational to human civilization. | Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture by William H. Stiebing Jr.; Free alternative: A History of the Ancient Near East by Marc Van De Mieroop (excerpts online). | Introduction to Ancient Egypt and Its Civilization (Coursera, University of Pennsylvania) |
| Greco-Roman World | Analyzes democracy, philosophy, and empire-building, influencing modern institutions. | The Greeks: A Global History by Roderick Beaton; Free alternative: The Oxford History of the Classical World by John Boardman et al. | Greek and Roman Mythology (Coursera, University of Pennsylvania) |
| Early Asian and African Civilizations | Highlights non-Western ancient innovations, balancing global historical narratives. | Early Civilizations of the World by various (open resources); Authoritative: Africans: The History of a Continent by John Iliffe. | Archaeology and Heritage of Africa (FutureLearn, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) |
European History
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medieval Europe | Examines feudalism and church-state relations, bridging ancient and modern eras. | Medieval Europe by Chris Wickham; Free alternative: The Inheritance of Rome by Chris Wickham (excerpts). | The Early Middle Ages, 284-1000 (Open Yale Courses) |
| Modern European History (18th–20th Century) | Explores Enlightenment to wars, shaping contemporary politics and culture. | A History of Modern Europe by John Merriman; Free alternative: Europe and the World: 1648-1914 (open lectures). | European Civilization, 1648-1945 (Open Yale Courses) |
| European Intellectual History | Traces ideas that influenced global thought, from rationalism to postmodernism. | European Intellectual History from Rousseau to Nietzsche by Frank M. Turner; Free alternative: The Cambridge History of Modern European Thought. | European Intellectual History since Nietzsche (Yale Online) |
American History
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial and Revolutionary Americas | Investigates origins of modern nations in the Americas, including indigenous impacts. | American Colonies by Alan Taylor; Free alternative: Colonial America open texts. | Colonial and Revolutionary America (Gilder Lehrman Self-Paced Courses) |
| 19th-Century American History | Covers expansion and conflicts, key to understanding democracy and inequality. | The Republic for Which It Stands by Richard White; Free alternative: What Hath God Wrought by Daniel Walker Howe. | American Politics, Society, and History (Coursera, University of Leeds) |
| 20th–21st Century Americas | Analyzes modern challenges like civil rights and globalization in hemispheric context. | The Unfinished Nation by Alan Brinkley; Free alternative: America in the World open resources. | American Government: Constitutional Foundations (Harvard Online) |
Global/Non-Western History
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian History (Ancient to Modern) | Provides insight into diverse cultures and economies shaping today’s world. | A History of Asia by Rhoads Murphey; Free alternative: East Asia in the World open textbook. | Chinese Thought: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science (edX, University of British Columbia) |
| African and Middle Eastern History | Addresses underrepresented narratives of innovation, resistance, and globalization. | Africans: The History of a Continent by John Iliffe; Free alternative: A History of the Middle East by Peter Mansfield. | Archaeology and Heritage of Africa (Coursera, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) |
| Oceanic and Indigenous Histories | Focuses on Pacific and native perspectives, emphasizing environmental and cultural resilience. | Oceanic Histories by David Armitage et al.; Free alternative: Indigenous Peoples’ History open resources. | Indigenous Canada (Coursera, University of Alberta) |
Thematic History
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental and Technological History | Explores human-environment interactions, vital for addressing current crises. | Something New Under the Sun by J.R. McNeill; Free alternative: Down to Earth: Nature’s Role in American History by Ted Steinberg. | The Age of Sustainable Development (Coursera, Columbia University) |
| Gender and Cultural History | Examines identity and representation, promoting inclusive historical analysis. | Gender and the Politics of History by Joan W. Scott; Free alternative: Women and Gender in Global Perspectives open texts. | A Global History of Sex and Gender (FutureLearn, University of Glasgow) |
| Global Economic History | Analyzes trade and inequality patterns, connecting past economies to present. | Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction by Robert C. Allen; Free alternative: An Economic History of the World since 1400 excerpts. | Global History of Capitalism (edX, Princeton University) |
Capstone
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Videos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capstone Project: Independent Historical Research | Synthesizes program knowledge through original work, demonstrating mastery and preparing for further study or application. | The Princeton Guide to Historical Research by Zachary M. Schrag; Free alternative: Writing History: A Guide for Students by William Kelleher Storey. | How to Write an Essay (Harvard Online) |
Congratulations
After completing the requirements of the curriculum above, you will have completed the equivalent of a full bachelor’s degree in History. Congratulations!