Wonders of the World Series: Seven Ancient Wonders
This is the one of three installments in the Wonders of the World Series. They can be taken in any order.
Other courses in the series include:
Seven New Wonders
Seven Natural Wonders
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Since their creation, the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World have inspired the imaginations of those who are lucky enough to witness them. When the Greek writer Philo of Byzantium first catalogued these ancient marvels in his 225 BCE book, On the Seven Wonders, he laid the foundations of fascination that caused generations of scholars, world travellers, and the common man to become enraptured with the ancient world. In this four week class, we will be following Philo’s lead to learn more about these man-made wonders and their place in the ancient world. During the course, we will tour the ancient Mediterranean and learn more about these mystical, and sometimes legendary, features from another time.
CLASS FORMAT
No live classes- view lessons on YOUR schedule. In general, expect 1.5-2.5 hours to work through the lesson plan each week, and an additional 2-5 hours working on assignments (it really depends what assignment your child chooses to do and how they manage their time). For classes with two levels, the material is the same for both- the depth of the assignments differs. Younger students should usually be placed in Level 1. Older students, or younger students who want more of a challenge, should be placed in Level 2. Each lesson consists of a fully narrated PowerPoint presentation with images and videos to enhance the topics. Students will have access to our learning management system, Canvas, for viewing their lesson, printing worksheets, taking quizzes, viewing/submitting assignments, participating in discussions, and viewing grades/feedback. Read more details about class format.
Week 1: An Introduction to the Wonders
The first week of the course introduces Philo’s book and the concept of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. After learning the context behind these man-made marvels, we will begin our tour. And the first stop on that tour is Babylon! The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the most legendary of the seven wonders, with some historians calling their existence into question. The second half of this lesson focuses on separating fact from myth and answering the question, “Did the Hanging Gardens of Babylon exist, and if so, what did they look like?”
Week 2: Temples and Mausoleums
The second week of the course continues on our tour of the Seven Wonders. This week is focused on the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. These three wonders are all different, but they also carry the major ancient themes regarding gods and the afterlife. Much like every week of this course, we will explore who made them, how they were made, and why they were considered so important.
Week 3: Coastal Wonders
In week 3, we focus on two of the wonders sailors would likely be quite familiar with: the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. While other wonders could be seen from the sea, these two acted as important identifying features for sailors arriving in the Harbors of Rhodes and Alexandria.
Week 4: The Great Pyramid at Giza and Honorable Mentions
The final week of the class focuses on the only wonder that still stands to this day: the Great Pyramid at Giza. As the oldest and longest lasting of the Seven Wonders, the Great Pyramid stands as a monument to the magnificence and the persistence of the ancient world. The first half of this week is dedicated to learning about the Great Pyramid and other Egyptian pyramids that inspired its design. We will wrap up the course with a quick look at a few other pieces of ancient Mediterranean architecture that deserve an honorable mention as man-made wonders of the world.
Course Features
- Schedule Feb 6 - Mar 12
- Activities Science
- Lessons 4
- Suggested Ages 10-17 One Level
- Time This class is currently closed for enrollments. Please join our mailing list to find out when it is open again.
