350 BCE – 500 CE (3,410 – 4,260 on the Jewish calendar)
This page provides an overview of book options for History and Literature for both Jewish and Secular studies. The Jewish studies on this page provide only an overview of Jewish history and Jewish texts written during this time. For a more in depth study of Jewish texts please see our separate page for textual study.
- For a Pre-Planned Guide, please see Ani VeAmi Curriculum Guide: Talmud, which is broken down into monthly and weekly units including copywork, maps, literature, music, and art.
- For a Custom Plan to fit your family’s needs, an Ani VeAmi Planning Guide is in the works in conjunction with A Charlotte Mason Plenary. Consultations specific to Ani VeAmi are also available through A Charlotte Mason Plenary.
History
| Jewish History | Secular History |
| Elementary: Sand And Stars, Volume 1  by Yaffa Ganz and Rabbi Berel Wein Understanding Jewish History, Volume 1  by Sol Scharfstein Middle grades: The Sages of the Mishnaic Age: The Tannaim by Nissan Mindel The Sages of the Talmudic Age: The Amoraim by Nissan Mindel 2000 Years of Jewish History by Chaim Schloss High School: History of the Jewish People: The Second Temple Era  by Hirsch Goldwurm History of the Jewish People: From Yavneh to Pumbedisa  by Meir Holder The Jewish War: Revised Edition  by Josephus The Oral Law of Sinai: An Illustrated History of the Mishnah  by Rabbi Berel Wein Vision & Valor: An Illustrated History of the Talmud  by Rabbi Berel Wein Understanding Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism  by Lawrence Schiffman The Story of Tisha B’Av (The Torah Anthology)  , translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan The Mystery of Bar Kokhba  by Leibel Reznick | Note: It was imperative to choose history selections that represented both the West and the East as Jewish history is very much tied to both. Susan Wise Bauer was the only narrative author of history that we felt met this criteria and also represented a secular view of history. Some families may wish to skip certain sections depending on the ages and needs of their families. Elementary/Middle Grades The Story of the World, Volume 1: Ancient Times by Susan Wise Bauer (chapter 25 to the end) The Story of the World, Activity Book 1: Ancient Times by Susan Wise Bauer The Story of the World, Volume 2: The Middle Ages by Susan Wise Bauer (chapter 1 thru 5) The Story of the World, Activity Book 2: The Middle Ages by Susan Wise Bauer High School/College The History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer (chapter 68 to the end) Study and Teaching Guide: The History of the Ancient World by Julia Kaziewicz The History of the Medieval World by Susan Wise Bauer (chapters 1 thru 26) Study and Teaching Guide: The History of the Medieval World by Susan Wise Bauer |
Literature
by Shmuel Blitz 
by Dov Channen 
by Genendel Krohn 
by Genendel Krohn 
by Genendel Krohn 
by Y. Weinstock 
by Rabbi Hillel Danziger 
by Y. Weinstock 
by Barbara Diamond Goldin 
by Meir Baram 
by Meir Baram
by Linda Glaser
by Elka Weber
by Leah Perl Shollar
by Genendel Krohn 
by Jacqueline Hechtkopf 
by Rabbi Daniel Haberman (Hebrew and English) 
by Yehudis Litvak 
by Yehudis Litvak 
by Yehudis Litvak
by Irena Narell 
by Ilene Cooper 
by Rabbi Zvi Lampel 
by Rabbi Nosson Wiggins 
by Marcus Lehmann 
by Rabbi Meir Uri Gottesman 
by Rabbi Meir Uri Gottesman
by Geoffrey Trease 
by Adam McKeown While this list represents the best stories from this specific time period, you will likely need to add more literature selections from our Jewish Reading List and our Secular Reading List as your children/family have time.
For those families that need/choose to add Mythology resources this year, we have created a separate page for Mythology that offers several different levels of content so you can choose the level that best meets the needs of your family.
Additional Resources
| Jewish Resources | Secular Resources |
Audiovisual Crash Course in Jewish History by Rabbi Berel Wein Hillel and Shammai by JLI The Jewish Revolt Against Rome by JLI The Dead Sea Scrolls by JLI Books Mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls by Hagit Allon and Lena Zehavi The Shul Boy by Rabbi Meir Uri Gottesman Deep Blue by Rabbi Meir Uri Gottesman The Chase by Rabbi Meir Uri Gottesman Three Special Days by Rabbi Yaakov Meir Strauss Seven Special Weeks by Rabbi Yaakov Meir Strauss One Special Prayer by Rabbi Yaakov Meir Strauss King’s Special Loaves by Rabbi Yaakov Meir Strauss Special Days of Joy  by Rabbi Yaakov Meir Strauss At Masada by Sara Ester Varnai | Audiovisual History of Rome Podcast Ancient Rome 101 by National Geographic Books The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander City by David Macaulay Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfeld Mystery of the Roman Ransom by Henry Winterfeld Adventures in Ancient China by Linda Bailey Who Were the Romans? (Starting Point History) by Phil Roxbee Cox You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Roman Gladiator by John Malam 100 things you should know about Ancient Rome by Fiona Macdonald How to be a Roman Soldier by Fiona Macdonald See You Later, Gladiator by Jon Sciezska Pompeii – Buried Alive! by Edith Kunhardt |