Learning plan cover

Read about history

LEARNING PLAN

Read about history

This learning plan provides essential context for understanding our complex modern world by tracing humanity's journey from ancient civilizations to contemporary times. It's ideal for curious learners who want to develop critical thinking skills, professionals seeking broader perspective on current events, or anyone interested in understanding how historical patterns influence today's political, social, and cultural landscape.

ByCommunity User
2 h 15 m
12 coursesUpdated 5 days ago
SapiensThe Lessons of HistoryThe Complete History of Human Civilization12 sources

How This Learning Plan Was Made

This plan was crafted by BeFreed’s proprietary AI to help you learn Read about history with ease. It is curated from in-depth research on the topic and structured around the most effective learning journeys proven by BeFreed users.

Each episode delivers bite-sized, high-impact lessons distilled from world-class sources — bestselling books, research papers, and expert insights. Together, they form a sophisticated yet accessible path to mastering Read about history.

What You'll Learn

  • Develop essential historical thinking skills to understand how past events shape present realities and future possibilities
  • Gain comprehensive knowledge spanning prehistoric times through modern civilization, connecting ancient foundations to contemporary issues
  • Master the ability to analyze patterns, cycles, and turning points across different eras and civilizations
  • Understand how major civilizations—from Mesopotamia and Rome to modern nations—developed systems of governance, trade, and culture
  • Learn to apply historical wisdom to interpret current global challenges and make more informed decisions about the future

Discover how to think historically while exploring humanity's remarkable journey from prehistoric times to modern civilization, gaining perspective on what makes history meaningful and how it shapes who we are today.

Sapiens cover
Sapiens

A sweeping narrative of human history

9 m
The Lessons of History cover
The Lessons of History

A concise exploration of human history's patterns and lessons, distilling wisdom from millennia of civilization's triumphs and failures.

10 m
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The Silk RoadsSapiensThe Lessons of HistoryWorld History Timeline: Key Eras & Civilizations - MindMap AI
6 sources
The Complete History of Human Civilization

Journey through world history from the cognitive revolution to modern times, exploring how trade routes, shared beliefs, and grand transitions shaped our interconnected world. Discover why Asia was civilization's true center and what patterns from the past reveal about our future.

9 m

Journey through the ancient civilizations that built the foundations of modern society, from Mesopotamia and Egypt to Greece, Rome, and beyond, understanding how these early cultures shaped governance, trade, and human thought.

Powers and Thrones cover
Powers and Thrones

An epic journey through medieval Europe, exploring the forces that shaped our world from Rome's fall to the Renaissance.

11 m
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The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt1491The Peloponnesian WarThe Cambridge Ancient History
6 sources
True Ancient World: Foundations of Human Civilization

Explore how ancient civilizations from Egypt to Mesopotamia, China to the Americas built the innovations, governance systems, and cultural foundations that still shape our modern world today.

7 m
The Silk Roads cover
The Silk Roads

A sweeping reinterpretation of world history, shifting focus to Central Asia as the pivotal region shaping global civilization.

9 m

Explore the tumultuous twentieth century and the events that reshaped the world, from world wars to social revolutions, understanding how recent history continues to echo in today's global landscape.

The Second World War cover
The Second World War

History's greatest conflict through the eyes of its greatest defender.

8 m
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich cover
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Hitler's horrifying rise: the definitive chronicle of Nazi Germany's evil

9 m
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World War II | Facts, Summary, History, Dates, Combatants, & CausesSecond World War - causes, major events, and its global impactsource 3What Were the Consequences of WWII?
6 sources
WWII: The War That Remade Everything

Explore how World War II transformed our world in just six years - from cavalry charges to atomic bombs, reshaping technology, politics, and civilization itself through the deadliest conflict in human history.

15 m

Synthesize historical knowledge by examining long-term patterns, recurring cycles, and the great debates about human progress, learning to apply historical thinking to understand contemporary challenges and future possibilities.

Enlightenment Now cover
Enlightenment Now

The case for reason, science, and human progress.

9 m
The Dawn of Everything cover
The Dawn of Everything

A provocative reexamination of human history, challenging conventional narratives and revealing diverse social structures throughout our past.

10 m
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source 1The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire: Lessons for Modern TimesRoman Empire - Expansion, Decline, Legacy | Britannicasource 4
6 sources
Rome's Rise and Fall: Timeless Civilizational Warnings

A masterclass in how empires succeed and collapse through climate change, pandemics, economic mismanagement, and leadership failures. Essential patterns for understanding modern civilizational vulnerabilities.

29 m

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments
201
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16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
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