Rating: 8/10
Despite it's name, this book is not really so much an atlas as a book that gives a brief summary of the ancient civilization, plus shows maps with major towns and rivers. There is also some photography, but most of the maps are cartoonish type accurate drawings. Each civilization takes up at least a 2 page spread, some take up 2 2-page spreads.
First is a map of the entier ancient world, with major civilizations pointed out, and a timeline. Next comes an introduction to how we know about the past. The first towns is next. Each major topic has a timeline along the side as well. Each also has illustrations of where major monuments or items are located on the map. For example, stonehenge and newgrange, or Solomon's Temple.
Mesopotamia is the first civilization covered, followed by Ancient Egypt, Ancient Europe,The Indus Valley, Minoans and Myceneans, Peoples of the Mediterranean, Ancient Greece, Roman Empire, Ancient Africa, Ancient India, Ancient China, North American Peoples, Central and South America, and Australia and Polynesia.
I like it, because it doesn't just include the most common civilaztions, but takes a more global approach. Also, it is nice to have a map that is more kid-friendly than many ancient world maps. This book would get a higher rating, except I don't feel it is completely necessary for the core. However, if your child is into geography, or you like mapping along with your core, this is a fun resource to help find some of those ancient places. Every page is full color and nicely done, with little blurbs of into here and there, but not Usborne-y in appearance.
No comments:
Post a Comment