The Ancient Time Period (Creation - 400 A.D.)

Year one of the cycle begins with creation and goes to the Fall of Rome. In this cycle, children are exposed to the arts from a Biblical foundation with the arts of all the ancient civilizations being studied from God’s perspective rather than through the eyes of our current culture which tends to praise the worship of false gods through the arts.

Our spiritual target in this time period is the building of a foundation, for if we do not understand both God’s foundational truths for the arts, as well as the foundational principles for creating the arts, we are doomed to create more of the mindless drivel which consumes our society today.

The Medieval-Renaissance Time Period (400 A.D. - 1600 A.D.)

In the Medieval/Renaissance cycle, which covers the fall of Rome to 1600, the children are shown the decline of culture in the Dark Ages and the rebirth of culture during the periods of the Renaissance and Reformation. The spiritual target focuses on the idea of rebirth and regeneration and is illustrated through the study of how a new found focus on God produced some of the greatest creative works ever known to man.

Our spiritual target in this time period is the building of a foundation, for if we do not understand both God’s foundational truths for the arts, as well as the foundational principles for creating the arts, we are doomed to create more of the mindless drivel which consumes our society today.

The Baroque Time Period (1600 A.D. - 1750 A.D.)

The third year of the cycle is called the Baroque and covers the years 1600-1750. In this period our spiritual emphasis comes in "adding line upon line and precept upon precept" in order to add to the truths that the students have learned in the previous two years.

The arts of this period are distinguished by their embellishments and excessive emotionalism, as is much of the culture found in the monarchies of Europe. In sharp contrast is the exploration and early colonization of America by the Pilgrims, Puritans, and others seeking religious freedom and a simple way of life. This obvious dichotomy sets the stage for year four of the cycle.

The Classical Time Period (1750 A.D. - 1830 A.D.)

As seen in the previous time period, there were extremes of thinking that caused the rising middle class, as well as Bible-believing Christians, to seek balance in all things during this period, which encompasses the years 1750-1830.

This balance, which is our spiritual focus for this period, was obtained at the high cost of revolution and war. The opposing forces of humanism and Christianity squared off to move from the out-moded systems of the Middle Ages, into an era of freedom. Yet in so doing, some nations were established on Biblical foundations while others, to their own detriment, were founded on the principles of the Enlightenment and the perfectibility of mankind. The arts of this period reflect not only the ideas of freedom and revolution, but also a return to balance and order of form.

The Romantic Time Period (1830 A.D. - 1900 A.D.)

The fifth period of the cycle is the Romantic Period, spanning the years 1830-1900. No word better describes this time of history than movement, which is also our spiritual target for this year. Beginning with the end of the Revolutionary period, there is an amazing increase in movement in all areas, including the Industrial Revolution which brought about new transportation and work modes thus setting the stage for Westward Expansion and immigration. Vast manufacturing interests and growing agricultural pursuits required more workers which in turn led to the twin evils of child labor and slavery. Revolt against these evils led to the Civil War and new social reform systems.

Even the arts of this period were in movement from the traditional forms to new and unique forms as a result of experiment with the new equipment and scientific discoveries made possible by the Industrial Revolution.

The Modern Time Period(1900 A.D. - 2000 A.D.)

In our final year, we discuss the changes in society which, for the first time, led to wars that involved the whole world, thus making our spiritual emphasis in this period, revolution. In seeing the continual decay of society through the lawlessness and self-centeredness of man, we can indeed see a battlefield being drawn where the children of God must again do warfare to maintain the principles of God over the ways of the world. Warfare in the arts is emphasized through teaching a return to God’s truth as our central focus for creativity.