ETA: We're strongly leaning toward Duiker and Spielvogel's World History. I'm looking at options for “World History: Medieval-Renaissance†next year for a 10th grader who's pretty academically focused. I'd really like to use Daileader's excellent 3-part Middle Ages in Western Europe audio lecture series, so I'm looking more for a complementary text with a global focus and any interesting primary-sources reading in world history for period ~A.D. 1000-1800. Some of the world history options for our spine are: Strayer, Ways of the World: A Brief Global World History With Sources. I have this, it has a global focus, it has some focus on primary sources and their interpretation, so it's definitely a candidate for us. I would like to hear others' experiences, however, to see if there's something that might be better for DS. Duiker and Spielvogel, World History. A lot of people refer to using or having used “Spielvogel,†but there seem to be several versions of World History and Western Civilization by him. This one seems to be the best fit, but I'm really not sure. I don't think we'd go with his Western Civ. Book. An interesting review of an earlier edition of Spielvogel's World History: A Human Odyssey is here. It appears that Duiker was added as a co-author, and lead author, somewhere along the way, but I'm not positive. ETA: a 2008 WTM thread discusses this text; there's also an interesting review by an AP World History teacher for 9th and 10th graders here with experiences using Duiker and Spielvogel in 2001-2002. Spielvogel, Glencoe World History. This book seems clear, and I really like the extensive use of primary sources. It seems to me, however, that it's intended for a one-year non-honors 9th grade world history class, written at about a 6th grade reading level. It really looks good for its intended purpose, but I think DS is beyond that point in background, reading level, familiarity with maps, etc. ETA: In an earlier WTM thread, another reviewer considered it pre-high school and written at a 5th grade reading level. If you can handle the distracting side-bars and the reading level and background is right, it looks like a good text, however. I have Noble's Western Civilization, which has worked well for DS, but using it means I'd need to supplement for the rest of the world, which I might do, though not ideal; we'll also be using the audio lectures of “Great Authors of the Western Literary Tradition,†which is taught by Noble for the middle ages period, and it would be nice to get another perspective. SWB's History of the Medieval World. I have this, and it's a good book, but we started with her ancient book at the beginning of 9th and switched. I'd appreciate any feedback on your experiences on world history spines for the Medieval-Renaissance period (or useful primary sources to use). Thanks!

I'd like to correlate a 4-yr. WTM Great Books study with Christian Bible study, doctrine, and theology. Before I unwittingly reinvent the wheel, has this already been done? I'd love to make a plan that completely follows TWTM, utilizes SWB's HotAW or Western Civilization (Spielvogel) as the main history thread, but adds something to link Biblical history to it and Bible study (with lessons, commentary, not just a reading list of chapters/verses) as well, such as any of the following: Just the Bible section of MFW AHL (covers O.T. only, but same type of plan could be created for N.T.), TruthQuest guides, MOH, BP Companion, 100 Most Important Events in Christian History, Trial & Triumph, Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Greenleaf Guides, History Lives Chronicles, etc. I realize TOG, MFW, VP, and BP all do this (to various extents), but I really want to stick with a base consisting of the WTM plan just as it is in the book. I don't want to lose the free-flowing nature of it (i.e., the parts where the student chooses which points were most important or interesting, then chooses which to research further) by going with a program which has all of that assigned. I tried looking for correlations on the Paula's Archives of Homeschool Advice which used to be on redshift dot com but doesn't seem to exist any longer. :( Where did that go? It was such a gem. Back to my point, has anyone added a "Bible strand" to TWTM Rhetoric stage history, and more specifically, to either History of the Ancient World or Western Civilization?

(I'm sure this must have been discussed before, but I have been searching for days and can't find anything. Please point me to any existing threads if you know of them...) How do you schedule your Year 2/Medieval history using SWB's book(s) as a spine? Where do you go from there for Year 3? My oldest child will start 9th grade very soon, and I am still undecided about his history spine. I had him read a little bit of some texts, and he told me he trusts me to decide. Mixed blessing. We're doing Year 2 (400-1600 A.D.). I think I really want him to use SWB's History of the Medieval World, but as far as I can tell from the amazon Look Inside feature, it covers only 312-1129 A.D. To get through 1600, we'd have to add History of the Renaissance World, but even that goes up only to 1453 A.D. It is very unlikely that my son will want to read both books in one year (almost 1600 pages), let alone more after them. I do have Spielvogel's Comprehensive Volume World History, 4th Ed., 2004. I was thinking I would use it, as I like the look of it and the variety inside. I also thought my son could easily manage the 200 pages that cover 400-1600. But now I am thinking it might be too little for high school. Should I use this Spielvogel as a spine and use SWB's books as references for more information on topics of interest that come up while reading Spielvogel or literature? I do plan to add Daileader's Middle Ages TTC lectures if I can get them cheap or from the library, as well as TTC's 1066 and at least part of a Chaucer course (probably need to club this one with English). My son could do more reading, writing, and research if he has a shorter spine. (Related question: should I plan 1 credit history, 1 credit English, and a third credit for literature? or should the lit be spread between English and History and have just 2 credits? I think people do both. Is there one way that is more common for any reason?) I am falling asleep at the keyboard so hope it makes sense what I am asking. If you used HOMW, how did you schedule it? Do you recommend doing history this way, or was it too rushed? Thank you!

I know world history is a lot to cover in 1 year, but that's the plan. I want to cover the ancients through 1900, leaving 20th century world history for another year. I think I've read every thread here on world history. I've definitely ruled out Notgrass, Omnibus, and Sonlight 200. These are the ones I'm considering, and I can't make up my mind. Can you help push me off the fence? Option 1 Bob Jones World History using BJU tests, but not DVDs Option 2 Glencoe World History (Spielvogel) w/the Glencoe Quizzes & Tests (I currently own both) Option 3 Glencoe World History (Spielvogel) w/Oak Meadow syllabus Option 4 Glencoe World History (Spielvogel) w/Covenant Home "stuff" (what would I need to order?) Thanks for your opinions! Cherie in IL

I was at a used book store today and found several versions of Western Civilization by Spielvogel for sale. There were a lot so I was seriously confused. They did not have the one single volume that is sold in the Veritas Press catalog unfortunately so, since it is quite a hike to this store, I decided to buy some smaller volumes and ask the hive what they recommend. The first one is Western Civilization, Vol. A: to 1500, sixth edition, ISBN 0-534-64605-0 The second one is Western Civilization, Vol. II, Since 1500, fifth edition, ISBN 0-534-60008-5 (If I use both of these will it matter that one is the sixth and the other is the fifth edition?) And the last one is Western Civilization, A Brief History, third edition, ISBN 0-534-62721-8 and this one includes a CD (never been opened) with study helps, quizzes, etc. as well as a passcode (never been accessed before) to an "online library." I wonder if this would be best for a high school course. I am thinking of using one or more of these for a freshman World Civ class for ds14. Which one would be best for this? Is there anything I need to know besides knowing which volume to use?

Ds, whom I planned on heading to the textbook, told me he doesn't like textbooks....:glare: I need to keep history light and easy for him, so we can focus on battles and military history. Thoughts?

Western Civilization and Human Odyssey?

I'm guessing it's probably OK if I don't have the very newest but of the older editions, does it matter a lot?

Hi - Has anyone here made up a schedule for using World History: A Human Odyssey? I'd love to see it! Myra