At Sheridan Classical Christian Academy, history is a unified story of God’s sovereignty, encompassing every age and civilization. Our curriculum takes students on a chronological expedition from creation through antiquity, the Middle Ages, early modernity, and into the complex currents of the modern world, always framed by Scripture as the ultimate reference point.
The Architecture of Our History Curriculum
In the classical tradition, history is more than a collection of dates—it is a grand conversation across the ages. Sheridan CCA structures its history study in a four-year rotation that corresponds to the four major epochs of Western civilization, allowing students to encounter each period multiple times at increasing levels of depth. This spiral approach ensures that from the earliest grades, children build a solid timeline of God’s redemptive work, and as they mature into the upper levels, they learn to analyze, debate, and write about the philosophical and cultural currents that shaped the world.
Every student engages with a rich blend of primary sources, living books, and carefully selected textbooks. The curriculum is anchored by a biblical worldview, meaning that in every era—whether studying the pharaohs of Egypt, the rise of the church, or the ideological battles of the twentieth century—teachers guide students to ask, “What is God doing in this moment?” This integration of faith and learning is central to our mission (learn more about our Faith & Values).
“The history of the world is ultimately the story of God’s dealings with mankind, and to study it rightly is to trace His finger across the pages of time.”
Ancient History: From Creation to the Fall of Rome
The first year of the cycle transports students to the very dawn of civilization. Beginning with Creation, the course delves into the histories of ancient Israel, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Mesopotamia, showing how these foundational cultures set the stage for much of what followed. A significant emphasis is placed on placing the Bible in its historical context—students see Abraham walking through Ur of the Chaldeans, Moses confronting Pharaoh in light of Egyptian religion, and Paul preaching within the Roman Empire. This approach makes Scripture come alive not as isolated stories but as part of a real, tangible world.
Students explore the cuneiform tablets of Sumer, the pyramids of Giza, the wisdom of Solomon, the democracy of Athens, and the might of the legions. They learn to compare the law codes of Hammurabi with the Laws of Moses, and to trace the prophecies of Daniel against the backdrop of Babylonian and Persian rule. While the primary focus rests on the Mediterranean basin, the curriculum also introduces ancient cultures in other parts of the globe—such as the Indus Valley and early China—to foster a global awareness. Through timelines, map work, and narratives, young scholars begin to grasp the ebb and flow of empires under God’s sovereign hand.
The Middle Ages: Christendom to Reformation
Following the fall of Rome, Europe entered a millennium often misunderstood as a “dark” age. Our second-year study illuminates the vibrant tapestry of the medieval period, from the rise of monasteries and the spread of the Gospel to the crowning of Charlemagne and the chivalric code. Students discover how the church became the central institution of Western life, preserving learning, shaping law, and inspiring the great cathedrals. They also examine the feudal system, the role of monarchs, and the interplay between secular and sacred authority.
While the spine of the course is European history, students are not confined to one continent. They journey along the Silk Road, encountering the Tang dynasty in China and the Islamic Golden Age, gaining perspective on how God was at work beyond Christendom. The Crusades, the Magna Carta, the Black Death, and the early rumblings of reform all come under scrutiny. By the year’s end, students see how the medieval synthesis broke down, paving the way for the Renaissance and Reformation. Literature selections—such as tales of King Arthur or Dante’s Divine Comedy—further immerse them in the worldview of the time.
Early Modern History: Reformation to Revolution
The third year covers the seismic shifts from the Reformation through approximately 1800. Students trace the splintering of Western Christendom as Luther, Calvin, and other Reformers sought to return the church to biblical foundations; they then follow the ripples across Europe through religious wars and the rise of Protestant nations. A major theme is exploration: the opening of the New World, the encounters between Europeans and indigenous peoples, and the founding of colonial America. Students see the providential timing that brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth and the Puritans to Massachusetts Bay.
The narrative crescendos with the American and French Revolutions. Students grapple with the ideas of liberty, republicanism, and human nature that animated the Founding Fathers, and they study the U.S. Constitution as a document infused with a Christian understanding of sin and limited government. European developments—the English Civil War, the rise of absolutism, the scientific revolution—are woven throughout. By the close of the year, learners have a firm grasp of how the modern world began to take shape, and they have read primary sources like the Federalist Papers and biographies of key figures.
Modern History: 1800 to the Present
The final year brings students into the turbulent and fast-paced modern era. Beginning with the young United States, the course examines the antebellum period, the tragedy of slavery, and the Civil War, then moves to westward expansion and the waves of immigration that transformed the nation. Industrialization, the rise of great banks and corporations, and the social upheavals of the Gilded Age set the stage for the twentieth century’s global conflicts. Both World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Cold War are studied not merely as political events but as spiritual and ideological battles.
Students analyze the competing types of governments and economic systems that have been tried across the globe—communism, fascism, liberal democracy—and evaluate them against a biblical understanding of justice and human dignity. The curriculum also addresses the role of religion in modern society: the secularization of the West, the persistence of faith, and the challenges posed by scientific materialism. Contemporary issues are approached with a view to understanding their historical roots, equipping students to engage culture with wisdom and grace. Literature selections include twentieth-century classics that reflect the anxieties and hopes of the age.
Levels, Literature, and the Art of History
At Sheridan CCA, history is taught across four levels, each corresponding to a stage of the classic and Year 2 (roughly the grammar stage), students delight in stories, songs, and memory work that cement a timeline of persons and events. By Year 3 and Year 4 (logic and rhetoric stages), they begin to question cause and effect, write analytical essays, and participate in Socratic discussions. This layered approach ensures that by graduation, students do not merely recall facts but possess a deep, integrated understanding of the flow of history.
Integral to every level is the use of living literature. Alongside a core textbook, students read historical fiction, biographies, and classic works that breathe life into each era. For example, while studying Rome they might read a novel set in the early church; while exploring the colonial period they could engage with the journals of early settlers. These literature selections are carefully chosen to enhance historical understanding and to nurture a love for great writing. Through these books, students walk in the shoes of those who came before, developing empathy and insight.