Medieval History Homeschool Curriculum

The Mystery of History Volume II: “The Early Church and the Middle Ages”

Volume II covers world history from the ascension of Jesus Christ (c. A.D. 33) to the invention of the printing press (1456). Where most medieval studies hover over the Dark Ages of Europe, The Mystery of History Volume II goes further to blend the history of the early church with worldwide events of the Middle Ages—on one meaningful timeline.
"That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
(Colossians 2:2-3)

Church History Alongside Medieval History

The Mystery of History Volume II retells the stories of the Early Church and integrates them chronologically with significant medieval events. Imagine founding members of the church and their world-famous contemporaries—side by side in your studies!
c. A.D. 35

Paul

c. A.D. 35
Saul, a strict Pharisee, saw Christ on the road to Damascus—believed—and became Paul of the New Testament.
A.D. 45

Nero

A.D. 45
Nero, the 5th emperor of Rome, blamed a great fire on Christians and persecuted Peter and Paul.
793

Invasion of the Vikings

793
For three centuries, Viking raiders pillaged, plundered, and burned down villages across Great Britain and mainland Europe.
871

Alfred the Great

871
Alfred the Great, the goldy king of Wessex, shared Christ with the Danish Vikings to bring peace to England.
900

The Great Zimbabwe of Africa

900
Through the trade of gold, and magnificent buildings, Zimbabwe rose to great prominence in southeast Africa.
929

Good King Wenceslas

929
Though slain by his cruel brother, Wenceslas was kind and generous, as the Christmas hymn implies.
1431

Joan of Arc

1431
For leading the French army, Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake by her accusers—whom she forgave in the flames that engulfed her.
1456

Gutenberg Prints the Bible

1456
Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, first used his device to print the Word of God.

Imagine lining up such amazing figures and events on one master timeline! Imagine learning their stories back to back in the order they happened! For most of us, it’s an illuminating experience.

Take a Look Inside—The Mystery of History Volume II

Download Lesson Samples (from our Student Reader)

Lesson samples from Week 18 (Leif Erikson Discovers America; Macbeth, King of Scotland; El Cid, a Spanish Hero)


Week 18 (Student Reader)

Free Download

Download Curriculum Samples (from our Companion Guide)

Curriculum samples from Week 18 (Pretest; activities; review)


Week 18 (Companion Guide)

Free Download

Listen to The Mystery of History Audiobook (narrated by the author!)

The following audio sample, both with and without music, is the first lesson from Week 7.

Activity Samples

A few of the interactive activities students will participate in.

Activity 37A—The Crown of Charlemagne (Pattern provided.)

Activity 39B—Viking Banana Boat (Made with a banana!)

Activity 44B—Moari War Face (Designed to scare!)

Good news! We’ve Done the Hard Work for You!

Each of our four volumes is carefully laid out with interesting lessons in a Student Reader—and optional curriculum in a Companion Guide. (We have it all!) Here’s four easy steps to follow:
Look
Look ahead at what the week holds. (Our Planning Pages will help!)
Book
Turn to our beautiful books to read your lessons. (Or listen by audiobook.)
Choose
Choose age-appropriate activities. (We offer choices for different learning styles!)
Review
Review at the end of the week. (Use any of our retention tools.)
How to Use
washington crossing

Engaging World History—Loved by the Whole Family

Kids love it
Parents Love It
  • "Your Mystery of History deserves thundering applause. All the facts will stay with me the rest of my life."

    Abigail
  • "I really like The Mystery of History! It's really fun to read, and History is one of my favorite subjects. and now History is more fun because of your book. "

    Anna
  • "One of my favorite activities was about the early crusaders. My brothers and sister and I walked one and a half miles with 20lbs in our backpacks and no shoes on our feet. I learned that the crusaders walked really far and it must of hurt when they walked on gravel."

    Robert
    10 Years Old
  • "My son and I are ready for Volume 4 and after 3 other books, it feels as though you are part of our family! I love your writing style and wish I had your curriculum when I was a secondary student or in college."

    Renae L.
    Homeschool Mom
  • "Our girls are 5, 7, and 11. We are thoroughly enjoying our study of history this year. We all look forward to sitting together on the couch to read lessons and I love having age-appropriate activities already prepared for each child."

    Shelley B.
    Homeschool Mom
  • "I can't begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed teaching this to my 1st, 5th, and 10th graders. My history knowledge was inadequate and piecemeal before we began this study. You wrote this history book the way I can understand history-chronologically, and from a biblical perspective. "

    Carol W.
    Homeschool Mom

Volume II “Best-Seller Bundle”

Looking for a great deal? This is it! We are offering our best-selling products for The Mystery of History Volume II in one exclusive money-saving bundle.
Includes:
Volume II, Second Edition (Color hardback Student Reader with a code for the Companion Guide PDF)
Rand McNally’s Historical Atlas
Rand McNally’s World Atlas—Know Geography
Volume II, Second Edition Quarter 1 Audiobook (MP3 with music; Quarters 2-4 are in production)
Homeschool in the Woods “Resurrection to Revolution” Cardstock timeline figures
View product
Volume 2 Best Seller Bundle

or

Free MP3 from the Author!

Start Simple!

1. Read the lessons in our beautiful hardback Student Reader.
2. Access the code (in the inside cover of your reader) to download a digital Companion Guide loaded with curriculum for all ages!
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The Mystery of History Volume 2: The Early Church and the Middle Ages

Expand Your Collection

The Mystery of History offers a wealth of information and enrichment. But to make life easier, we offer add-ons!
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Volume II FAQs


  • A historical atlas is unique in that it uses old names of old boundaries to define the land rather than modern names.   Example: In Volume II, students are asked to map the boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire on a blank student map.  This is very challenging and students need a historical atlas for the answers. The mapping exercises in all volumes of the MOH range from easy to difficult allowing you to choose those appropriate for your students.

  • No. While there is a great deal of European history in Volume II, the author thoughtfully spans the globe to take students to other cultures as they emerge in history. Examples would include: medieval Japan and China, Iceland, New Zealand, the Great Zimbabwe of Africa, the Aztecs of Mexico, and the Inkas of South America.

  •  Linda Lacour Hobar, the author of The Mystery of History, offers a statement of faith that you can read here. She defines herself as an evangelical Christian. 

  • Yes! If used properly, any one of our four volumes of world history can be counted as a high school world history credit. The key is utilizing the Companion Guide features to their fullest to incorporate research, writing, geography, literature, quizzes, Bible reading, and more. 

  • We feel that students in and around 3rd grade are ready to listen to stories of medieval times because even elementary children can see the conflict that emerged in the Dark Ages. It’s a great place to begin to address church history, issues of authority, differing faiths, and diverse cultures. Apart from traditional medieval topics centered on chivalrous knights and feudalism, students will additionally read about: the Great Jewish Revolt, the Golden Age of India, Attila the Hun, Mohammed and the Birth of Islam, the Song dynasty of China, Marco Polo, the Aztecs, and much more.

  • Yes! Many families will occupy little hands with coloring pages while listening to an audiobook, narrated by the author. Furthermore, after each lesson students can choose a hands-on activity to reinforce the story using their god-given senses. They can eat, burn, dye, sculpt, color, write, or build a multitude of projects to stimulate their learning experience. The “fun” stuff will help shape a positive attitude toward school.