“War is the father of us all. Some it makes gods, some it makes men, some it makes slaves, some free.”
– Heraclitus of Ephesus
This summer, I am bridging my children’s ancient to medieval history progression with Victor Davis Hanson’s “The Father of Us All: War and History, Ancient and Modern.”
Victor Davis Hanson is one of my favorite historians. His essays and books are examples of superb writing technique and his logic is unwavering.
While some of his writing is not PG-rated, I have discovered that if I read his books aloud to my children I can redact those portions I feel they are not yet ready to hear. What is left is a wonderful perspective on history, culture, and society, steeped in classical thought and with a solidly conservative foundation. And thanks to Mr. Hanson’s extensive vocabulary and the dictionary poised at the ready in our living room, my children get the added benefit of enhancing their command of the English language while we read.
The book is a down-to-earth, approachable comparative study of ancient and modern history with many, many wonderfully vivid examples. Thus my kids are reminded of the ancient heroes and villains they studied last year, while learning the background of much of the modern events they catch snippets of while listening to conversation at the family dinner table. Overall they are gaining a broad perspective on history, human nature, and war.
Perfect for summer in our classical homeschool, and especially for the week celebrating our Independence Day.