1. What is the main theme of chapter 1 in “The Secret History of The World”? (p. 1)
2. According to the author, what is the difference between exoteric and esoteric knowledge? (p. 3)
3. What is the significance of the Hermetic tradition in the history of Western civilization? (p. 5)
4. What is the role of alchemy in the Hermetic tradition? (p. 7)
5. What is the connection between the Hermetic tradition and the Renaissance? (p. 9)
6. What is the author’s view on the relationship between science and spirituality? (p. 11)
7. What is the significance of the Rosicrucian movement in the history of Western esotericism? (p. 13)
8. What is the author’s view on the nature of reality? (p. 15)
9. What is the connection between the Hermetic tradition and the modern New Age movement? (p. 17)
10. What is the author’s view on the importance of esoteric knowledge in the modern world? (p. 19)

Inferential Questions: 1. What can we infer about the author’s perspective on the Hermetic tradition based on his discussion of alchemy? (p. 7) 2. What can we infer about the author’s view on the relationship between science and spirituality based on his discussion of the Rosicrucian movement? (p. 13)

Timeline Activity: Create a timeline of the major events and figures discussed in chapter 1, including the Hermetic tradition, alchemy, the Renaissance, the Rosicrucian movement, and the New Age movement. Include dates and brief descriptions of each event or figure.