April 1, 2015
Gr 7 Up-It's rare for a series on the ancient world to distinguish itself in such a crowded field, but this set does so with well-documented, comprehensive coverage and a very attractive layout. Authors open books with an account of a pivotal moment or important leader, and subsequent chapters draw on recent scholarship and archaeological evidence to describe and analyze each culture's origins, governance, daily life, technological and literary achievements, and strengths and weaknesses. Well-written conclusions explain the civilizations' continuing legacies. Brief sidebars add interesting facts and outstanding "A Closer Look" spreads highlight important sites and artifacts. Striking color photos of locations, artifacts, and surviving art are a major strength. Topic coverage is similar to many extant sets, but this set's readability, contemporary scholarship, and high level of detail and analysis will support advanced-level reports and draw readers. VERDICT Excellent.
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July 1, 2015
Each volume introduces a civilization by covering a wide variety of topics including origins, political systems, religions, and daily life. Chapters are broken into subcategories, with numerous sidebars, photos, illustrations, and maps adding detail to the main narrative. The texts themselves are accessible without dumbing down the information. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.
(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)