My review from 5 years ago (which includes a review from a few years before that:
<i>Middle-School Ancient History. Here's my review from a few years ago:
<i>This covers the MesoAmerican, Incan, Maya, and other cultures of South and Middle America from 5000BCE to the Spanish conquistadors of the 1400 & 1500s. There were chapters on several cultures I don't remember having learned of before and it was amazing to see the incredible art and ways they came up with to not only survive but thrive and what rich cultures came and went during that time. As always, the more I read this series of history books the more impressed I am with them. Much more detail in these than even my high schoolers World History text.
This time had the added bonus in that a few years ago, my family and I took a trip were we got to see some of the ancient Maya ruins and speak with some of their descendants so that part of the book definitely had a deeper resonance with me this time around in a very wonderful way. </i>
Page count: 176p/18,052p ytd/326,747p lifetime
Showing posts with label World in Ancient Times. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World in Ancient Times. Show all posts
Monday, September 16, 2019
Thursday, May 23, 2019
33:100 The Ancient Roman World by Ronald Mellor & Marni McGee
My review from a few years ago:
Covering from the legends regarding the founding of Rome to the fall of the Roman Empire. There were some famous people like Archimedes that didn't get mentioned so won't be heard of at all in this entire series which I find to be a shame (time to pull out some other books and rectify that) but on the whole a good installment for this series and for middle-school history in general. It is very difficult reading this one while at the same time reading the "a-g approved" high school Glencoe as it makes Glencoe look absolutely horrid for all the glaring omissions. This series is just so much richer and goes so much deeper than what is given to our high school kids. Just continues to go to my point that we should stop worrying about quantity and worry more about quality because what they are being taught in high school really isn't worth anything when it's so shallow the bottom of your shoe barely gets wet if you step in that puddle.
Here's my review from a few years before that:
Part of "The World in Ancient Times" history series for middle school by Oxford. I learned a lot with this one starting from the beginning as they had more than one version of the founding of Rome. Weird since all I had ever heard about previously was the story of Romulus and Remus. There was also a fair amount on the emperors that came after Augustus, how they were chosen, how they ruled, etc. There was a chapter on the Jews and their history as well as a chapter on how Christianity started and spread. In all, I felt it was a good well-rounded history book that presented a lot more than just what seems to be typically known and explained the findings that told us these things.
Page count: 192p/8,252p ytd/319,137p lifetime
Covering from the legends regarding the founding of Rome to the fall of the Roman Empire. There were some famous people like Archimedes that didn't get mentioned so won't be heard of at all in this entire series which I find to be a shame (time to pull out some other books and rectify that) but on the whole a good installment for this series and for middle-school history in general. It is very difficult reading this one while at the same time reading the "a-g approved" high school Glencoe as it makes Glencoe look absolutely horrid for all the glaring omissions. This series is just so much richer and goes so much deeper than what is given to our high school kids. Just continues to go to my point that we should stop worrying about quantity and worry more about quality because what they are being taught in high school really isn't worth anything when it's so shallow the bottom of your shoe barely gets wet if you step in that puddle.
Here's my review from a few years before that:
Part of "The World in Ancient Times" history series for middle school by Oxford. I learned a lot with this one starting from the beginning as they had more than one version of the founding of Rome. Weird since all I had ever heard about previously was the story of Romulus and Remus. There was also a fair amount on the emperors that came after Augustus, how they were chosen, how they ruled, etc. There was a chapter on the Jews and their history as well as a chapter on how Christianity started and spread. In all, I felt it was a good well-rounded history book that presented a lot more than just what seems to be typically known and explained the findings that told us these things.
Page count: 192p/8,252p ytd/319,137p lifetime
Friday, April 12, 2019
20:100 The Ancient Greek World by Jennifer T. Roberts & Tracy Barrett
From a few years ago:
A look at history from the earliest civilizations that we have records for and how those civilizations eventually came to be called Greek through cultural similarities, language, and religious beliefs but how the lack of true community and nation forming eventually led to it's downfall. Again, a rich look at the culture not just the bare bones history and mythology.
Here's what I said when I read it a few more years ago:
I felt this did a very good job of going through ancient Greek history. It didn't focus over much on religion and mythology as I've seen so many others do. It focused more on how people lived and how their lives developed. Lots on the wars since that was, unfortunately, a fairly common occurrence but also on the development of the poleis (Greek city-states). They told of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans against Xeres of Persia (the basis for the recent movie 300). Lots on the inventors and philosophers as well. Overall, very pleased with this series for middle school history.
Page count: 191p/5,116p ytd/316,321p lifetime
A look at history from the earliest civilizations that we have records for and how those civilizations eventually came to be called Greek through cultural similarities, language, and religious beliefs but how the lack of true community and nation forming eventually led to it's downfall. Again, a rich look at the culture not just the bare bones history and mythology.
Here's what I said when I read it a few more years ago:
I felt this did a very good job of going through ancient Greek history. It didn't focus over much on religion and mythology as I've seen so many others do. It focused more on how people lived and how their lives developed. Lots on the wars since that was, unfortunately, a fairly common occurrence but also on the development of the poleis (Greek city-states). They told of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans against Xeres of Persia (the basis for the recent movie 300). Lots on the inventors and philosophers as well. Overall, very pleased with this series for middle school history.
Page count: 191p/5,116p ytd/316,321p lifetime
Thursday, February 28, 2019
13:100 The Ancient Chinese World by Terry Kleeman & Tracy Barrett
From 2014:
Middle school history. Covering China since earliest records and mythology through 589CE and the defeat of the Chen dynasty which led to the reunification of China. Fabulous stories and such a rich culture and heritage. I enjoyed reading this as much this time as I did the last. I still contend that it's a shame that this is so much richer than what we give our high school students.
Page count: 174p/3,298p ytd/314,203p lifetime
Middle school history. Covering China since earliest records and mythology through 589CE and the defeat of the Chen dynasty which led to the reunification of China. Fabulous stories and such a rich culture and heritage. I enjoyed reading this as much this time as I did the last. I still contend that it's a shame that this is so much richer than what we give our high school students.
Page count: 174p/3,298p ytd/314,203p lifetime
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
5:100 Ancient South Asian History by
My review from 5 years ago:
Middle School History. It's my second time reading this and here is my review from 4yrs ago:
The book covered from 400,000 years ago to about the time of the Huns invading South Asia. Yes, it's coverage in brief but it was a good introduction to the material. I knew a little about the Indus Valley people but hadn't heard of the Harrapan civilization before. So much of the history of that time period is lost which is a shame. I enjoyed reading more about their religion and how some things have developed, many things stayed the same for many, many centuries even while incorporating bits and pieces from so many other cultures through trade and conquest.
A vibrant and rich culture warmly explained for the middle schooler.
Page count: 172p/1,607p ytd/312,512p lifetime
Middle School History. It's my second time reading this and here is my review from 4yrs ago:
The book covered from 400,000 years ago to about the time of the Huns invading South Asia. Yes, it's coverage in brief but it was a good introduction to the material. I knew a little about the Indus Valley people but hadn't heard of the Harrapan civilization before. So much of the history of that time period is lost which is a shame. I enjoyed reading more about their religion and how some things have developed, many things stayed the same for many, many centuries even while incorporating bits and pieces from so many other cultures through trade and conquest.
A vibrant and rich culture warmly explained for the middle schooler.
Page count: 172p/1,607p ytd/312,512p lifetime
Saturday, December 8, 2018
92:100 The Ancient Egyptian World by Eric H. Cline & Jill Rubalcaba
From 2014:
Middle-school ancient history covering from the earliest records of ancient Egypt through the 3rd Intermediate Age with a brief synopsis covering the Ptolemys through Cleopatra and Rome. This looks at not just the lives of the Pharaohs and the gods of Egypt but also how the common man lived, the advancements they made throughout the ages, their art and literature, and the discoveries that have led to our current understanding of their culture.
I love this series so much and it really makes the high school world history I'm having to read just look awful in comparison as we learn so much about each culture, not just what they did but what we believe are the reasons behind what they did and how we came to those conclusions. It's not just boring and dry names and dates with little else behind it but works hard to bring it more alive.
Page count: 190p/16,818p ytd/308,834p lifetime
Middle-school ancient history covering from the earliest records of ancient Egypt through the 3rd Intermediate Age with a brief synopsis covering the Ptolemys through Cleopatra and Rome. This looks at not just the lives of the Pharaohs and the gods of Egypt but also how the common man lived, the advancements they made throughout the ages, their art and literature, and the discoveries that have led to our current understanding of their culture.
I love this series so much and it really makes the high school world history I'm having to read just look awful in comparison as we learn so much about each culture, not just what they did but what we believe are the reasons behind what they did and how we came to those conclusions. It's not just boring and dry names and dates with little else behind it but works hard to bring it more alive.
Page count: 190p/16,818p ytd/308,834p lifetime
Saturday, November 3, 2018
85:100 The Ancient Near Eastern World by Amanda H. Podany & Marni McGee
Review from 2013:
Middle-school The World in Ancient Times series by Oxford Press. Looking at the kingdoms of the Middle East including Mesopotamia and Babylon as well Hammarabi, Gilgamesh, the founding of the Jewish religion and Israel, the five great kingdoms and their relationships, the last Mesopotamian king, and the rise of the Persian Empire.
I really love how the book always takes time to explain how we know the things that we do, what we have found, and why we believe what we do about those findings. It brings it alive for me much better than just a dry recitation. There are also stories of people who lived during that time, not just the kings but the regular people as well. Truly one of the most fun history series for kids I've come across.
Page count: 174p/15,152p ytd/307,168p lifetime
Middle-school The World in Ancient Times series by Oxford Press. Looking at the kingdoms of the Middle East including Mesopotamia and Babylon as well Hammarabi, Gilgamesh, the founding of the Jewish religion and Israel, the five great kingdoms and their relationships, the last Mesopotamian king, and the rise of the Persian Empire.
I really love how the book always takes time to explain how we know the things that we do, what we have found, and why we believe what we do about those findings. It brings it alive for me much better than just a dry recitation. There are also stories of people who lived during that time, not just the kings but the regular people as well. Truly one of the most fun history series for kids I've come across.
Page count: 174p/15,152p ytd/307,168p lifetime
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