Lyceum of History

When I got my first job teaching ancient history, I was jumping into a cold pond. We all know how chaotic the beginning of the school year is. Add to that a new curriculum and you’ve got yourself a busy schedule. I was strapped in and ready to go. Decision time. I ended up starting with ancient China because the Olympics were in Beijing that year. Looking back, I just shake my head and smile. So what’s this have to do with history?

When I reached the subject of Chinese philosophers, I wanted to approach it in a way that would really connect with my students. Sure, I was going over what they taught and how their ideas spread, but there was always something missing. Ideas have consequences and I couldn’t fully communicate that. Fast forward to now. 

When I started my YouTube channel, one of the first things I tackled was creating videos that compared and contrasted historical figures. For the next several weeks, I poured into researching the ancient philosophers from the East and the West. As I worked through creating new resources, I began to notice how familiar many of these ideas were to each other, yet still distinct. I took this idea and turned my attention to making classroom resources about eastern and western philosophers. My emphasis was on how their teachings affect us today.

If you’re looking for resources that compare the east and the west, I’ve put together several compare and contrast passages perfect for introducing your students to the ideas that have shaped history. Click here to scroll through and see what works for you.

Ryan Wagoner

Lyceum of History

“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.” ~Alexander the Great