The Story of the World Volume 3: Early Modern Times

The Story of the World Volume 3: Early Modern Times by Susan Wise Bauer continues the acclaimed history series with a captivating tour through the years 1600 to 1850. This revised edition brings the Age of Exploration, colonial expansion, revolutions, and the dawn of the Industrial Age to life through vivid storytelling that makes complex history accessible and enjoyable for young learners.

Volume 3 covers an extraordinary range of world events: the colonization of the Americas, the rise and fall of the Mughal Empire, the scientific revolution, the Enlightenment, the American and French Revolutions, Napoleon's conquests, the abolition movement, and the opening of Japan. Students explore how different civilizations around the world were interconnected during this transformative period, gaining a global perspective that many traditional textbooks lack.

Written in the engaging narrative style that has made the series a homeschool favorite, each chapter reads like a compelling story. Bauer has a gift for making historical figures feel like real people — students don't just memorize dates and facts, they understand the motivations, conflicts, and consequences that shaped our modern world. The revised edition includes updated maps, 40 new illustrations, and an expanded pronunciation guide.

This volume works beautifully within the classical education four-year history cycle. Students in grades 1–4 enjoy it as a read-aloud, while grades 5–8 students can read independently and engage with the material at a deeper analytical level. The companion Activity Book provides narration exercises, map activities, coloring pages, and hands-on projects for each chapter.

For homeschooling parents who want a history curriculum that their kids actually look forward to, The Story of the World Volume 3 delivers. It bridges the gap between the medieval world of Volume 2 and the modern era of Volume 4, helping students see history as one continuous, interconnected story.