Civilizations The history of the ancient world

Gr 5-8-This book examines aspects of life in four cultural spheres from antiquity: the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Vikings. Specific topics are covered in two-page sections, such as religion, fashion, pastimes, art and architecture, and food and drink. The volume is similar in format to the "Eyewitness Books" (DK), most notably in its heavy use of captioned images to re-create past lives and times. Its strength is in the quantity of the color photographs detailing artifacts, statuary, paintings, frescoes, ruins, and reconstructions, and in the paintings revealing everyday dress; the text weaves around the numerous photographs and illustrations that dominate each spread. In some instances, due to the volume's unique format, images from very different time periods appear on the same page (for example, a fresco from the Bronze Age is arranged beside a terracotta figure from a much later time, because both images depict food production in the Greek cultural hemisphere). While presenting a mishmash of cultural, social, and political aspects of ancient civilizations, the purpose of the work is ultimately accomplished: children will enjoy the heavy pictorial elements, all complemented by light, digestible text. It is also noteworthy that everyday tasks and items are included, providing a window into common life in ancient times. Though the text is not as substantive as the "Eyewitness Books" titles, young readers will be drawn to the visual orientation of this volume.-Jeff Meyer, Slater Public Library, IA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.