The Mystery of History Volume 4
From Bach to the War on Terror, Volume IV turns modern history into a vivid, Gospel-centered journey—blending bold storytelling, big questions, and hands-on projects for deep, credit-worthy learning.
$99.95
Quantity:
Complete Course
Faith-Based
In a Curriculum Kit
Multiple Grades
2026 Tenth-Grade Curriculum Kit
The Mystery of History Volume IV
The Mystery of History Volume IV explores a period when the pace of change accelerates dramatically. As nations expand, technologies advance, ideas spread faster, and societies reshape themselves, students are challenged to understand not just what happened—but why events increasingly influenced one another across the world.
Typically counted as one high school credit, this volume follows world history chronologically from 1708 to 2014 through 84 lessons organized across 28 weeks.
Students move through major historical periods, including:
- The Enlightenment and expanding scientific thought
- Revolutions and independence movements
- Industrialization and changing societies
- Global conflicts, including world wars
- Modern political, cultural, and religious developments
Written from a Christian perspective, the course continually connects world events with church history and Biblical worldview while encouraging students to think critically about historical movements and their consequences.
The included downloadable Companion Guide expands the course with:
- Mapping activities and timelines
- Research assignments and projects
- Quizzes, pretests, and review work
- Hands-on activities and discussion prompts
- Age-appropriate assignments for different levels
While the Student Reader can function independently, the Companion Guide transforms it into a complete curriculum suitable for independent study, co-ops, or family learning.
Because the reading level, historical complexity, and subject matter become increasingly demanding, this volume generally works best for older students.
This is the kind of course where students gradually realize modern history is less about isolated events and more about understanding how political movements, scientific advances, religious ideas, economics, and human decisions continually shape one another.
How to Use The Mystery of History Volume IV
- Plan on completing three lessons each week. This pace moves students through all 84 lessons in about 28 weeks while leaving room for review, deeper study, or unexpected interruptions.
- Begin each week with the pretest, work through the lessons, and use the built-in reviews, quizzes, and questions as regular checkpoints.
- Use the Companion Guide selectively. Between projects, mapping assignments, timelines, research activities, discussions, and supplemental resources, there is more available than most students will realistically complete—and that flexibility is intentional.
- Choose projects and assignments that fit your student’s interests and goals. Some students may dive into additional research and essays, while others spend more time with mapping activities, projects, discussions, or hands-on extensions.
- Encourage reflection along the way. As historical events become more complex, students benefit from spending time thinking about causes, consequences, competing ideas, and how events connect.
- This course works well independently, in co-ops, or as family learning because the structure provides guidance while leaving room to adjust depth and pacing.
- History in this volume rarely stays inside neat categories for long. Students may start by studying events one lesson at a time, but over time they begin to notice how politics, technology, economics, religion, and culture continually overlap and influence one another.
In the 2026 kits this course earns high school credit:
1 credit of Modern World History
History & Social Studies · 10th grade · Classic kits
View Lesson Samples
Publisher's Information
Publisher: Bright Ideas Press
Author: Linda Lacour Hobar
Age Recommendation: 14+
Grade Recommendation: 9th+
Faith-Based: Yes
Consumable: No
Pages: 632
Lessons/Projects: 84 (divided into 28 week plans)
ISBN: 9781892427304
Format: Hardcover
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.
Typically counted as 1 high school credit.
- October 24, 2020
History
Rebecca O.
My daughter loves this fun and interesting approach to history
- October 24, 2020
History
Rebecca O.
My daughter loves it. It has a fun and interesting approach to history
- November 23, 2019
Love Mystery of History
AJPatton
My 15 year old son is completing the 4th volume in conclusion to this series having read all of them. I love how it intertwines secular history with Biblical history making the Bible come alive and brings context. My son reads the weekly chapters Mon-Wed and does the map and quiz on Thur. This has given him a well rounded historical worldview. It's not technically heavy and is written in an engaging format even for a boy where history isn't his favorite subject. Great series.
- January 8, 2018
The Mystery of History Volume IV
Amber Y.
I ordered the entire set plus the CD set of the Mystery of History for my 5 boys, ages: 12, 9, 6, 5, & 3 and they are all super excited to begin learning History! As a child, I hated every subject except reading, grammar and spelling but I am amazed at how intriguing this History curriculum is. I am learning alongside my children and I am loving it as much as they are!
