About the Course

The Ancient World

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
 

Course Overview

Summer Dates & Locations

Registration deadline:

Session One

Gilman School Baltimore
The Gilman School
Baltimore, Maryland
-
Commuter cost: $3,099
Enroll
Speyer School
The Speyer School
New York, New York
-
Commuter cost: $3,599
Enroll

Session Two

Gilman School Baltimore
The Gilman School
Baltimore, Maryland
-
Commuter cost: $3,099
Enroll
Speyer School
The Speyer School
New York, New York
-
Commuter cost: $3,599
Enroll

Testing and Prerequisites

  Math Verbal
Required Level Not required CTY-Level
Check your eligibility using existing test scores If you do not have existing test scores:

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

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Cost and Financial Aid

  • Tuition
    • Varies
  • Application fee
    • Nonrefundable Application Fee - $50 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
    • Nonrefundable International Fee - $250 (outside US only)

Financial Aid is available

We are committed to serving all talented youth regardless of financial circumstances. Financial assistance is available based on need.

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Course Materials

Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
 

Sample Reading

These titles have been featured in past sessions of the course, and may be included this summer. CTY will provide students with all texts; no purchase is required.

  • Ancient Rome, Andrew Solway and Peter Connolly
  • The Ancient Greeks, Rosemary Rees
  • India: Exploring Ancient Civilizations, Marilynn G. Barr
  • Eyewitness: Ancient China, Arthur Cotterell

About History and Social Science at CTY

Enhance your critical thinking skills

Expand your ability to reason through difficult problems by taking one of our philosophy or logic classes. Learn how to craft strong and clear arguments in Big Questions, or explore the techniques of logic that lawyers, doctors, and mathematicians utilize to be successful in their fields in Logic: Principles of Reasoning.

Explore social justice in action

Develop knowledge and skills that will help you address issues of systemic inequality throughout the world. Engage in the study of those who worked within and outside of the legal system to effect monumental societal change in Great Cases: American Legal History.

Meet our instructors and staff