About the Course
Between 2000 BCE and 300 CE, cultures with lasting impact flourished all around the world. In this course, you will learn about the daily life, social structures, governments, economies, and religions of these cultures, and consider how traces of them live on today. You and your classmates will read historical accounts of ancient societies and explore myths, legends, and arts. You will examine which mummified animals have been found in pharaohs' tombs; discern ancient Egyptians' beliefs about the world and the afterlife; analyze the meaning of dragon images on the garments of Chinese emperors and generals; and consider how Indian oral traditions reflected in the 2,000-year-old epic poem Ramayana shaped the politics, religion, and art of modern South Asia. In addition to group work, you'll choose a topic to research on your own. Ultimately you will build your critical thinking and research skills while learning to appreciate the richness and diversity of ancient cultures.
Typical Class Size: 12
Learning Objectives
- Describe how geography and environmental factors impact the development of civilizations
- Explain the criteria used to identify a society as a civilization
- Compare and contrast various aspects of ancient civilizations including geography, religion, achievements, politics, economics, and social structure
- Use secondary resources to research relevant topics
- Identify aspects of ancient civilizations that continue to exist or influence the modern world
About Advanced Enrichment courses
These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges. Students work individually and may finish the course early if they complete all requirements before the course end date.
Requirements
CTY courses have grade-level requirements and most require minimum test scores. Some courses may also have prerequisites.
Identification DetailsDates and Tuition
In Person
Speyer School
New York, NY
Day Site
Register by: June 21, 2026
Full
Time Commitment:
Course Materials
Students should bring basic school supplies like pens, notebooks, and folders to their summer program. You will be notified of any additional items needed before the course begins. All other materials will be provided by CTY.
Sample Reading
These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY provides students with all texts; no purchase is required.
Ancient Egypt: The Definitive Visual History, by DK Publishing
Ancient Rome: The Definitive Visual History, by DK Publishing
Imperial China: The Definitive Visual History, by DK Publishing
Oxford First Ancient History: Rebuilding the Past, by Elizabeth Baquedano
Registration Fee and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees will be waived or reduced for students who qualify for financial aid.
Learn more about Financial Aid