Alongside a study of homeland geography, an introduction to botany and decimal fractions, Class 5 takes a look at a range of ancient cultures, their customs and beliefs.
The Fifth Year – Viewing Humanity’s Past
The path of human development we study is distinguished by the unique fact that it links five great cultural epochs.
Passing the flame of innovation from one region to the next, this path begins in distant India, climbs the plateau of Persia, descends into the river plain of Mesopotamia and crosses the deserts of Egypt to arrive among the myriad islands of Greece.
Ancient Cultures
Each culture is explored through its geographical situation, its customs and beliefs, and it is seen that all manifestations of cultural life crystallise around the central wellspring of a people’s faith.
All of life’s aspects stem from the gods and refer back to them. Whatever happens is seen as the will of a deity or a demon, and everything is done with a view to pleasing or appeasing the gods.
Every cultural age has its particular focus, style and flavour, but all have this in common: Seeking to reconnect with the spiritual background they know to be life’s origin.
Class 5 learn that reconnecting is the meaning of the term religion – and that there is not just one way to reconnect, but many.
Sacred Scriptures
In each culture the main works of literature are holy books, ancient anthologies of praise and prayer and philosophical thought.
India’s Vedas, the Persian Avesta, the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, the Egyptian Book of the Dead – their outlook on the spirit world translates into practical guidance on the right way to live and to prepare for death; so that, when the soul finally stands before the gods, their judgement may be favourable.
Only the comparatively young culture of Greece has no ancient holy book, but it has the identity-establishing epic poetry of Homer.
Ancient Wisdom
Manu, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Ahura Mazda, Zarathustra, Osiris … these are big names with big stories, and Class 5 is captivated by the wisdom that speaks from ancient texts and tales.
Particularly reassuring is the view – identical in every culture – that death is not the end but the gateway to the soul’s true home.
India’s concept of reincarnation and karma sparks intense discussion and many interesting questions.
Persia’s twin kingdoms of light and darkness are identified as the prototype of heaven and hell.
Cultural Achievements
The ziggurat of Sumer’s stargazing priests and their inspired division of the circle into 360 degrees, Egypt’s pyramids and its death cult – all of it took place in the wake of an agricultural revolution.
Hitching oxen to the plough made bigger fields and larger harvests possible. Storing surplus grain gave rise to the first cities.
Trading led to the invention of writing, and writing to the beginning of recorded history.
Thus we trace the birth of civilisation.
The Classical Age
The journey of Class 5 culminates in Classical Greece, where a pantheon of very human character engages the imagination with famous tales of gods and heroes.
The Fall of Troy, the Odyssey and a celebration of the children’s very own Olympic Games round off an exciting year that widens their horizon and changes their outlook on life.
