The Mystery of History Volume 3
Renaissance thinkers, global empires, and spiritual revolutions—this volume connects the dots across continents with a biblical worldview and clear, chronological storytelling your teen can truly engage with.
$99.95
Quantity:
Complete Course
Faith-Based
In a Curriculum Kit
Multiple Grades
2026 Ninth-Grade Curriculum Kit
The Mystery of History Volume III Student Reader
The Renaissance was not simply an era of artists and explorers. It was a period when governments shifted, scientific ideas challenged old assumptions, religious movements reshaped nations, and the modern world slowly began to take shape.
The Mystery of History Volume III follows world history chronologically from 1455–1707 A.D., weaving Biblical history, church history, and world events together into a unified timeline.
Written by homeschool mom Linda Hobar in a conversational style, this volume guides students through major historical movements and figures, including the Renaissance, Reformation, exploration, scientific discoveries, political change, and expanding global connections.
Students encounter people and events such as:
- The Medici family and Renaissance influence
- The Reformation and changing religious landscapes
- Scientific discoveries from figures like Galileo
- Exploration, colonization, and expanding global trade
- Political shifts across Europe and beyond
Typically counted as one high school history credit, this volume asks students to move beyond memorizing names and dates by exploring how events, ideas, and movements influenced one another.
The included digital Companion Guide expands learning with projects, mapping assignments, timeline activities, memory work, research prompts, and additional reading suggestions for multiple age levels.
While this volume naturally follows Volumes I and II, it also functions effectively as a stand-alone course.
This is the kind of history course where students gradually realize that religion, politics, exploration, science, and culture were rarely separate stories—they were shaping one another the entire time.
How to Use The Mystery of History: Volume III
- Plan on completing three lessons each week. The course moves chronologically from 1455 to 1707, helping students connect the Renaissance, Reformation, exploration, scientific discoveries, and early American history into a single continuous timeline.
- Start each week with the pretest, work through the lessons, and use the built-in reviews, quizzes, and questions as regular checkpoints rather than saving the review until the end.
- Use the Companion Guide selectively. Between projects, research assignments, mapping activities, timeline work, memory cards, and supplemental reading, there is more available than most families will realistically complete—and that flexibility is intentional.
- Choose assignments that match your student's level and interests. Some students may prefer research projects while others gravitate toward mapping activities, creative assignments, timelines, or hands-on projects.
- Keep timeline work moving as you go. Much of the value comes from gradually seeing how historical figures, movements, discoveries, governments, and religious changes overlap across centuries.
- At three lessons each week, students typically finish the 84 lessons in about 28 weeks, leaving room for review, deeper study, rabbit trails, or busy seasons.
In the 2026 kits this course earns high school credit:
1 credit of World History
Combinations · 9th grade · Classic kits
Download Table of Contents pdf
Download Student Reader Sample pdf
- Eighty-Four Lessons
- Teaches History from A.D. 1455 to A.D. 1707
Publisher's Information
Publisher: Bright Ideas Press
Author: Linda Lacour Hobar
Age Recommendation: 12+
Grade Recommendation: 7th+
Faith-Based: Yes
Consumable: No
Lessons/Projects: 84 (divided into 28 week plans)
ISBN: 9781892427083
Format: Hardcover
Copyright: 2008
Made in: USA
Awards and Endorsements from:
- The Old Schoolhouse Excellence in Education Winner
- Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum
- Tied for first place in Mary Pride’s “Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards”
- Old Schoolhouse Magazine “The Excellence Award – 3rd Place” in the category of “History”
- Voted Reader’s Choice by About.com readers in Best Homeschool History Resource Contest
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about this product below:
One difference between the two series is their target age. The Story of the World is primarily for elementary students, with Volume I recommended for 1st through 4th grade and Volume IV for 4th through 8th grade. The Mystery of History's reading level begins at about 4th or 5th grade in Volume I and progresses to 10th or 11th grade in Volume IV, although it is easily adaptable for multiple ages.
Another key difference is the religious perspective. The Story of the World aims to narrate from a neutral perspective. It covers major religious characters and historical events but does not endorse a particular religious view. The Mystery of History is written from a clearly Christian perspective and integrates biblical and church history into the text.
A minor difference between the two series is the student work involved. The Story of the World revolves around the narrative, so all activities, while engaging, are optional. The Mystery of History is also narrative-based but expects more student work. Nonetheless, it is highly adaptable to each student's age and family preferences.
- March 3, 2020
Awesome history book
Emmy D.
My daughter has loved learning about Martin Luther and the reformation, renaissance times, and has fallen in love with history all over again.
- May 11, 2018
The Mystery of History Volume II
Kelly, M.
It's good.
- May 31, 2012
MOH Works
Pam f.
My daughter did not care for the author's personal comments throughout the text. She thought the author was too girly! Despite that, my 7th grader learned a lot going through volumes I-III, as evidenced by her scores on a standardized test she took. She was impressed with how well she did on the test. We skipped a lot of the activities because they felt like busy work to me. On ocassion, we used the books as a starting point for exploring a time period in more detail. I did like that history from different geographic places was presented concurrently with European and Middle Eastern history.
- May 31, 2012
Student favorite
Mom o.
We own all three volumes of Mystery of History. Even though it's intended to be used much like a unit study with the activities, extra reading and timeline, we've chosen to not do all the extras. My children just read one lesson a day and then tell me about it. They've found it interesting and many times will tell their dad about what they learned during dinner at night. My oldest has more than once heard something mentioned or a name and remembered it from Mystery of History.
- October 25, 2011
Still loving it
Melissa M.
Our family has used The Mystery of History I and II and now The Mystery of History: Volume III. We have enjoyed each volume. I really like Volume III and the reader. For my older children we are trying for more independence, but we still like to have days were we all get together and do certain subjects together. It is one of the easiest to use among different aged children. We absolutely LOVE The Mystery of History: Volume III!!
- September 14, 2010
Mystery of History, Volume III
Diane
As a child, history was boring to me! But Linda Hobar has completely changed my opinion. She writes in a very personable style, and tells fascinating stories about the people and events of history. As you read, you almost feel like you are meeting these people of long ago - you learn not only of the facts of their lives, but of their emotions, too. And of the events that shaped their future. Linda also speaks directly to the reader. She makes you feel that she is sitting in the room with you, telling stories. In addition, the organization of the text helps to break up the reading into manageable portions. The text is divided into 28 weeks, and each week is broken into 3 lessons. That means, out of a 36 week school year, we can miss a few weeks here and there and still finish the book. I would highly recommend this text to anyone with students 4th grade or older. And if you read the text aloud to them, it could easily be used with younger children.
- August 23, 2010
I really love it and can't wait to see Vol 4!
Theresa
We have used this series from Vol 1 through Vol 3 and love the content. I love being able to teach my girls history, not only with a godly perspective, but also chronologically. I love the author's efforts to show us how each item studied was part of God's plan and how each person was prepared and used by God. I also love that she has laid out all the plans for extra activities, extra reading, and also has maps and timelines to make history even more tangible. I do like the format of Vol 1 and 2 better than 3, though. The 3-ring binder was much easier for me to use in the earlier volumes. The newer hardcover book isn't as easy for us as we move about our church and community or even as we write summaries at the computer. (Timberdoodle doesn't have anything to do with that, though, that was the publisher's choice.) Overall, I really love it and can't wait to see Vol 4!
- August 24, 2009
It's incredibly flexible.
Lynn F.
You can use it as a springboard for older students, as is. I've used it for help with writing and studying skills--picking out important facts, writing a summary as well as imprinting an overall history timeline with my kids. It works with all types of learners as well with their variety of tasks to complete
- October 30, 2008
We have thoroughly enjoyed this series!
Cyndy B.
The Mystery of History series is the best history program we have used. Linda teaches history in from a Christian perspective. The chronological format she uses of teaching "His Story" is great for establishing a timeline in our childrens' minds. I love the classical nature of the lessons as well. As a family, we have thoroughly enjoyed this series. We are now on Volume 3!
- October 27, 2008
I would recommend to all homeschool families!!
Mary A.
The Mystery of History series has made teaching history in our homeschool very simple. The material including quizzes, exercises and semester tests is all in one book (NOTE: This is true in Volumes 1 and 2, Volume 3 is divided into two books, the Reader and the Activity). There are great activities for younger, middle and older students. I can pick which ones fit my child's needs and interests at the time. The bibliography includes films as well as books. This makes it easy for me to go to the library to find the movies mentioned. Christ is the focus of the text and many events in Christian history are covered but other cultures who did not have Christianity at the time are covered also. I would recommend all volumes of Mystery of History to all homeschool families.
