History Curriculum Reviews
Susan Wise Bauer wrote this for a reason: history taught as narrative actually sticks. Volume 1 covers ancient civilizations from the earliest nomads through the fall of Rome, and it does it in a way that kids genuinely want to keep listening to. The writing is warm and story-like without dumbing anything down. It's been a staple in classical homeschool homes for over two decades, and it holds up completely.
This text edition pairs with the separately sold Activity Book (highly recommended but sold separately), which adds maps, coloring pages, and review questions. On its own, the text works beautifully for read-alouds with kids roughly ages 6–10, though older students can absolutely use it as a spine.
Same content, different delivery. The audio edition is narrated professionally and works extremely well for families with auditory learners, kids who resist sitting still for read-alouds, or parents who need their hands free during school hours. Long car rides, quiet time, or afternoon rest — this earns its place in the rotation fast.
The one honest caveat: audio alone doesn't replace the discussion and activity components. You'll still want the text version for reference or the Activity Book to give the lessons some structure. Think of the audio as a complement or a primary tool for the right family — not necessarily an either/or against the text.
This is not a curriculum — and that's important to say clearly before you buy it. The Timeline of World History is a gorgeous, oversized visual reference that lays out major civilizations, events, and eras side by side. It's the kind of book you open to answer "wait, were the Romans and the ancient Egyptians alive at the same time?" and then spend twenty minutes just looking at it.
It earns a strong recommendation as a companion to Story of the World or any history program you're running. Hang a printed timeline on your wall, and use this book as the reference behind it. Kids who are visual thinkers especially benefit from seeing history laid out spatially. It's a one-time purchase you'll use for years across multiple children.
Here's how we'd recommend these three resources depending on where you are in your homeschool journey.
The sweet spot is roughly ages 6–10 for the read-aloud approach. That said, many families use it younger (with a parent doing all the reading) and older students can absolutely use it as a lighter spine or starting point before moving to more rigorous resources like Tapestry of Grace or The Well-Trained Mind's suggested reading lists. It's written at about a 4th–5th grade reading level, so strong readers can tackle it independently around age 9 or 10.
Technically the text stands alone — you can read it as a spine and add your own library books, narrations, and maps. But the Activity Book is genuinely worth the extra cost. It includes review questions, narration prompts, mapwork, and crafts that turn passive listening into active learning. If budget is tight, start with the text and add the Activity Book when you can. Don't skip the text to save money — it's the heart of the program.
Story of the World is written by Susan Wise Bauer, who approaches history from a broadly classical, Western perspective. It's not overtly religious, but it does include Biblical history as part of ancient world history (especially in Volume 1), which some secular families prefer to skip or supplement around. Many secular homeschoolers use it without issue and simply discuss those sections with their own family's framing. If you need a fully secular alternative, look at Pandia Press's History Odyssey or the Usborne Encyclopedia of World History as a comparison point — but for sheer narrative quality and usability, Story of the World remains hard to beat.