A free, interactive first-year university history course: historical thinking, sources, archaeology, anthropology, prehistory and the ancient world.
A rigorous history course covering anthropology, archaeology, art and history, historical thinking, historical sources, geography, ancient history, and prehistory.
Start this course freeHistory I is a first-year university history course focused on how historians actually work, not just what happened. Lessons are short, and the practice pushes you to interpret sources, weigh evidence and reason about cause and change — the skills a history degree is really assessing — with interactive scenes that let you engage with timelines, maps and artefacts directly.
The course covers the methods and neighbouring disciplines that underpin history: anthropology, archaeology, and the relationship between art and history, alongside historical thinking and the critical use of historical sources. It then grounds those methods in content, from geography and prehistory through to the ancient world, so method and material reinforce each other.
It is aimed at students beginning a history or humanities degree, anyone preparing for source-based exams, and curious learners who want to think historically rather than memorise dates. Every unit is free to start, and the lesson text is open-source on GitHub.
Every lesson explanation in History I is free to read on the web. Practice questions and interactive scenes are in the app.
Yes — you can start it for free on iOS, Android and web, and the lessons are open-source under CC BY-SA on GitHub.
Anthropology, archaeology, art and history, historical thinking, the critical use of historical sources, geography, prehistory and ancient history.
No. The emphasis is on historical method — interpreting sources, evaluating evidence and reasoning about causation — which is what history exams and degrees actually test.
Students starting a history or humanities degree, anyone preparing for source-based assessments, and self-learners who want to understand how historical knowledge is built.
Through short, self-paced lessons and interactive practice questions with instant feedback, including scenes that work with timelines, maps and artefacts. Your progress saves across devices.