Daily life in ancient and modern Mexico City

Gr 3-6In these books, the authors trace life from ancient times through the present. Chapters in Rome are grouped by eras (Early Republic, Late Republic and Early Empire, Late Empire, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Modern Times) while Mexico City separates chapters by historical periods (Beginnings, the Aztecs, Spanish Colonization, Independence, A Modern City). The writing is straightforward and concise, but provides more detail than would be found in most encyclopedias. Emphasis is on the cultural aspects of daily life, whether the topic is slavery in Rome or the ecological issues raised by the 1986 earthquake in Mexico City. Each subtopic is accorded a double-page spread, usually with one page devoted to a reproduction of a painting, a historical photograph, or an original drawing. Webbs pen-and-ink and watercolor artwork is detailed but flat, so it is less successful than the archival images. There are no pronunciation guides, which is particularly disappointing in Mexico City. Purchase these titles where there is interest or for curriculum support.Jeanette Larson, Texas State Library, Austin (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Historical photographs and drawings, as well as competent if unremarkable artwork, illustrate this social history of the [cf2]Cuidad de México[cf1]. Cory's clear prose presents information on private and public life during the major periods of the city: its ancient beginnings, the Aztec period, Spanish colonization, independence, and life in contemporary times. Bib., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.