Product Description
Using primary sources the political, military, social, cultural and religious histories of Ancient Greece are covered. There are relevant time lines, maps, plans and photographs. Particular attention is also given to the society, literature and architecture in its golden age. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Very solid, short review of Ancient Greece
Ever wanted a great over view of Ancient Greece but did not want to read a thousand page book. Well this book is made for you??
This book is under 250 pages and will provide you a great general overview of Ancient Greece.
Topics include: Persian vs. Greek wars, famous Pelopon. War of Athens and Sparta, Dark Age Greece, Minoans and Mycenaean Greece, Classical Athens and Hellenistic age.

This book will provide you will a solid overview of Ancient Greece. Don't expect to be an expert on Greece but you will greatly enhance you overall knowledge and this book can be completed in a couple of days.


Finally, the writing style is excellent. Very direct and to the point. The way a book should be written.

A good overview in 221 pages
Ancient Greece: From Prehistoric to Hellenistic Times (Yale Nota Bene)
As a general reader with no expertise in ancient Greece, I found this book to be comprehensive and a quite readable way to both refresh my stale knowledge of the subject and to significantly add to it.

It is not a breezy or riveting popular history (although the mind-boggling treachery of Alcibiades had me turning a few pages), so I did read its 221 pages over several days.It seems to be written for the undergraduate college student, but little prior knowledge of ancient Greece is assumed. In fact, so little is assumed that at one point the author even explains the meaning of the word "granary".

To the best of my knowledge, all major aspects of Greek politics, military history, sociology, philosophy, literature, architecture, religion and science from the Paleolithic to the Hellenistic are covered. The author seemed to take special care to explain the roles of women during the different time periods, since it would be easy to neglect them in a history of the Greek male dominated societies.

As another reviewer has noted, one of the book's strengths is its citations and references to original Greek sources.Its maps are decent and frequent.Its illustrations are only fair since, in the paperback edition I read, they are printed on the same, almost newsprint paper as the text, rather than on glossy plates.There is a 16 page bibliography of additional suggested readings.

Overall, I'd recommend the book to a friend who was willing to invest a bit of time and attention.

Cumbersome at Times
If you are a casual reader who wants to pick this up and be finished with it quickly, I'd recommend a different book.Although it is a short book, it is not one that can be read very quickly.The sentences are long, often repetitive, and verbose.I'm not sure if the author cannot convey his message in more reader friendly terms, or if he simply wants to flaunt his extensive vocabulary.

For example, on page 17: "The thorniest question concerning the Indo-European background of Greek culture is whether groups of peoples collectively labeled Indo-Europeans migrated into prehistoric Europe over many centuries and radically changed the nature of the society already in place there, of which indigenous inhabitants of Greece would have been a part" (Martin 17).Although this is comprehensible, the same thing could be said in shorter and less confusing language.

The good thing about the book is that the author quotes many primary sources, unlike many others who quote secondary sources.The use of maps and time lines help to put events into perspective.I gave the book a three because it is a useful source for a student, but it is not a leisurely read, it is one you must reflect on and often stop to think about and to decipher the language used by the author.The book could use a good editing to clean up the language and sentence clarity if the author wishes for a broader audience than undergraduates.

Superb summary
If your knowledge of ancient Greece is poor, but you're not a "dummy" so to speak, Martin's account may be a good start for you.The writing is clean and crisp, at times superb.Surely he covers much ground and undoubtedly leaves gaps, but admits as much and tells you why.His approach is for the first-timer and he clearly explains what he's leaving out while offering a detailed list of sources for additional review.
As for the history, the big wars and big names are covered, as well as a smattering of social history.For a novice, it's difficult to think that any more basic facts could be communicated in a thoughtful way than in these 221 pages, espesically given the breadth of the coverage (pre-history through the Hellenistic Age).
Martin deals with difficult and debatable topics thoughtfully, noting where a general consensus holds sway and where more varied opinion exists, lending credibility to his effort. Experts may feel short-changed but newcomers to Ancient Greece will find they've caught up fairly quickly -- and positioned to learn more.

Trees Should Not Die For Books This Moronic
It baffles me the good reviews on this book as in the first chapter, the words, "PERHAPS, COULD BE and MAYBE" are how the writer writes about history he states, "we just do not know".
Then Mr. Martin continues on in succeeding chapters to inform the Greeks that they do not know their own history as Dorians, who are spoken of, had their own language, invaded Greece, "do not exist".
This is beyond the dumbing down of America, this is the complete moronic view of history! If Mr. Martin does not know about the subject then he should not be writing about the subject nor should others be leaving feedback that this waste of trees for paper is anything but 1 star.

For the record, to prove I know the subject, one only has to look at the "Phoenicians" whom Mr. Martin does mention, but never correlates that this "lumping of peoples" details the facts and archeology found in the Bible.
The invasions of Greece and subsequent changing of character to one of MILITARY KINGS, ELDERS and ELECTED OFFICIALS mirrors exactly the traditions found in the Israelite nations, which include the first Republican form of government which so many people like Mr. Martin refer to "democracy" which is not people rule but MOB RULE.
The key line in this Biblical connection is "every man did what was right in his own eyes as there was no king in Israel". That is individual voting rights at it's genesis.
Furthermore ancient sources factually connect the time of Greek upheaval to the period when Assyria conquered the Israelite kingdom of the north which contained the seafaring people of the Danites.
This tribe of Dan had 2 groups. One exiled in ships touching on many coastal areas to Ireland with the Lebanese (Phoenicians) where they were called the Tuatha de Danaan or Tribe of Dan. Today they can be found in Denmark which means Mark of Dan.
Jewish scholars have long pointed out that Dan spent time in Greece and that the Benjamites were sojourners there. Many have eluded to the fact that the Spartans who practiced homosexuality and are termed "Dorian invaders" by the Greeks are in fact the ancient base of Spartans.

This is where Mr. Martin also comes up with the most heinous of disgustingconclusions when he speaks of Spartans taking children from their parents as boys to live in military camps with older males. Mr. Martin then lists the activities which included "physical love". THERE IS ANOTHER NAME FOR THAT ON WORLD LAW BOOKS AND IT IS CALLED CHILD MOLESTATION.
Yes Mr. Martin terms pedophiles a "physical love".

How on this planet Yale which published this book and others who give this book publication and glowing accounts is beyond the pale of morality.
Check it out, PAGE 78; LINE 18.

Mr. Martin also concludes that the making of metal artifacts for war and agriculture was due to everyone wanted them for prestige and NEVER CONCLUDES ONE HAS METAL DUE TO THE FACT IT IS A MUCH BETTER IMPLEMENT THAN ROCKS OR FLINT.

This is the absolute nonsense found in this book which beyond boring. This book is the dumbing down of professorship in the United States and our academia should be ashamed to put something like this out.

This book is so surpassed by the original Greeks in their writings and for example the book, The Tribes by Yair Davidy has more Greek information in passing WHICH IS ACCURATE that people should not waste time nor money on this nonsense.
I paid 30 cents for the hardcover and that was 30 cents too much.

One does not author books nor go to schools to hear, "might be, could be, probably or I don't know" nor does one want conclusions that people had plows because they were pretty and everyone had them.

I can not strongly enough not recommend people buying this book. If it would not cost more to send the letter for a refund to Yale, I would be demanding a refund from them as this was not history nor even a discussion. This was pure uninformed scribbling.
If this is the product of American secondary education at billions of dollars just turn out the lights and give the people beer money as this book inspires no thought nor reaches a discerning mind.

It is a pure void of information and morality. ... Read more

Product Description
In this wide-ranging survey of ancient Greek narrative from archaic epic to classical prose, Alex Purves shows how stories unfold in space as well as in time. She traces a shift in authorial perspective, from a godlike overview to the more focused outlook of human beings caught up in a developing plot, inspired by advances in cartography, travel, and geometry. Her analysis of the temporal and spatial dimensions of ancient narrative leads to new interpretations of important texts by Homer, Herodotus, and Xenophon, among others, showing previously unnoticed connections between epic and prose. Drawing on the methods of classical philology, narrative theory, and cultural geography, Purves recovers a poetics of spatial representation that lies at the core of the Greeks' conception of their plots. ... Read more

Product Description
History has been taught in a boring way for far too long.
A subject as moving and powerful as humanity's past should be inviting, and when it is told well, it is. Susan Wise Bauer succeeds in telling the captivating story of history with her best-selling history series. Parents and young readers have fallen in love with her narrative history, The Story of the World, and its accompanying Activity Book. Now teachers and home educators can take advantage of a new and valuable learning tool: the Tests and Answer Key package.

Included are 42 tests: one for each chapter of The Story of the World. Perfect for evaluating comprehension and retention. The narrative format of The Story of the World helps children remember the famous people, places, and events in history. These tests offer you an easy way to make sure that your child is absorbing the important events from world history. A combination of multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and short writing samples allow you to evaluate your child's retention and comprehension of key events in The Story of the World. The Tests package contains an answer key for all tests.

These easy-to-use tests and answer keys, successfully used by hundreds of parents and teachers, provide an objective method for measuring retention of key facts, figures, and events from history. A combination of sequencing, matching, short-answer, and essay-style questions gives students a chance to show what they've learned. Used with The Story of the World Text Book and Activity Book (sold separately), the Test and Answer Key gives educators a complete history curriculum for their elementary school students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (184)

Hands On Best History Read Ever!
We have been using this for our homeschool and my girls are loving it!This volume seems to be geared for the younger elementary students, but can be used for middle school as well (when utilizing other books).The book is written in what some would call plain English and does not have the stuffy air of most textbooks.My girls particularly love the stories told that take them into another time frame in history.This is definitetly the best history book I've read for younger children!

Very Engaging Reading
I bought this book to read to my 8 year old as part of a history curriculum for our first year homeschooling. I purchased this with the accompanying activity book and testing book, which are wonderful accompaniments. I am very pleased with how engaging this has been for us. My daughter listens, absorbed in the stories of civilizations past. I find that because she is so interested in the stories and details, she retains most of the information absorbed. Adding the oral questions, crafts and map work and activities from the activity book and reinforcing with the tests in the test book guarantee 100% success with these history lessons.

WOW !
My 5 year old saw this book and begged to start homeschool early this year. She enjoys doing the coloring page in the accompanying activity book while I read her the stories. No such thing as dividing a chapter out over a whole week for her! She likes this book so well that she begs to do 2 or 3 chapters a day! I find myself condensing the activities because she narrates the reading so well and is so hungry for the information that she doesn't want to stop! I mean it, there are dishes, dinner, laundry...life really must go on, but she doesn't want to stop reading this book! She adds other details to the coloring pages that I read from the story (of her own initiative) and relates other things she knows from other sources (Bible, History Channel, and other books she's read, etc.). This is narration at its best! We look up some of the things in history encyclopedias, especially different pictures because she wants to add more to the coloring ( /narration) pages. Wow. What else can I say? Just...WOW!

Good introduction to an important subject.
I searched out this book after listening to Ms. Bauer's audiobook, "The History of the Medieval World," which is well worth an adult's time to digest. I am reading "The Story of the World" to my six-year-old son, and he loves it. I wasn't sure he would take to a long book without many pictures, so I'm pleasantly surprised.

Perhaps you should know my purpose and background, in order to evaluate this review. I am not an expert on history, as many reviewers here claim to be. If Ms. Bauer makes a historical mistake, it'll need to be glaring for me to catch it. My son attends a public school, so I'm not using this as a textbook at home. I want my son to know history because that's the best way to know what to expect from people. In our opinion, this book is excellent for its purpose. I'm sure we'll want more detailed, mature treatments of the subject later on. Right now, the beginning exposure is what's most important.

I read the negative reviews with interest. Most seem disappointed on religious grounds; either Ms. Bauer's story is too Christian or not Christian enough. I'm an atheist, and I think her treatment of myths and religious history is appropriate and manageable. I'm not expecting her to deliver enlightenment on that front. I encourage anyone interested to read the sample pages offered on the Amazon site. I think the gaps in this series can only be remedied by further reading, not an attempt to find one perfect textbook. Good luck to all you parents.

so-so retelling of legends
I really wanted to like this book. I like the idea of it much more than the book itself. We're ten chapters in and both the kids and I are losing interest fast. It reads like a Grimm's fairy tale written by a middle school student. At least half the text is comprised of stories and not history. The stories are rather dark for my sensitive first grader. I find myself skipping large sections of text and having to edit what I do read aloud. The writing is overly simplified and seems patronizing, even for very young children, and contains frequent typos. I had planned on using this as the basis of our homeschool history for this year but am now looking for an alternative. I will still read the rest of the book to the kids before selling it but plan on continuing to skip many of the stories and just read the meat of the text. ... Read more

Product Description
First published in hardback in 1994 and selected by the American Library Association as an Outstanding Academic Book, the revised and updated paperback edition includes the Barings crisis and the report by the Bank of England on Barings Bank; up-to-date information on the state of Japanese banking; changes in the financial scene in the United States; the UK housing market and the problem of negative equity. The paradox of why more coins than ever before are required in an increasingly cashless society is clearly explained, as is the role of the new Euro coin as the lowest common denominator in Europe's controversial single-currency system. The final section provides evidence to suggest that for most of the world's richer countries, the era of persistent inflation may well be at an end. This new edition is updated and takes account of important recent developments such as the independence of the Bank of England, the introduction of Euro notes and coins from January 1, 2002, and developments in electronic money. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A solid, detailed study bordering on the tedious
This history of money is very thorough and detailed. There are good pages on Ancient Greece and Rome which are very interesting and rarely found in similar studies. Yet I found the book disappointing and rather pedestrian, hiding the forest behind the trees. It is very descriptive, with a lot of material about the development of banking regulations, which I found a bit boring. It's also very Anglo-centric: more than half the book is dedicated to British banking and monetary history.

For a "big picture" yet very clear history of money, I found Galbraith's book "Money, whence it came and where it went" much, much better - and much shorter. I also recommend "the Great Wave" by David Hackett Fischer, which, although not as rigorous, is a fascinating read.

Best History of Money Yet Published
Almost all English-language books on the history of money are extremely eurocentric. They are written as if the world outside of western Europe did not have an economy before Europeans colonized it. As far as I know, Glyn Davies has written the only monetary history book that dedicates more than a few token pages to non-Western and pre-modern economic history. It is perhaps the only book on the history of money with a truly global scope.

Easy to read, fascinating, and fun exploration of money
This is one of my favorite books related to history and economics.

The former Professor Davies has given us a wonderful collection of stories about the original forms of money used and the evolution of money and financial institutions.This is a book that will appeal to a historian, anyone working in the financial sector, anyone interested in economic development or the development of economic and business institutions.

My favorites are the stories about primitive, commodity money, such as giant stones way too big to pack around or exotic teeth!My second favorite stories are those of the Goldsmiths of Engand, who were the first commercial bankers in western Europe.I encourage you to read this book and find your own favorite chapters. ... Read more

Product Description
In a witty and informative way, Vicki Leon profiles 150 women who made their mark around the Mediterranean between 2800 B.C. and 450 A.D.--3,200 years of history from a female vantage point. Among those featured are the Assyrian queen of Babylon who is credited with inventing trousers and the Queen of Kish who began her career as a bar owner. Photos & illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Quite funny
Loved the ability of the author to twist the true dramas of these women into what they really were - soap opera material.Reading other reviews here stuns me.Can people really expect a serious disertation on the subject when the title is "Uppity Women.."?It's very obvious from this title that this was going to be a humerous take.Nevertheless, I found it very interesting and enjoyed how life was breathed into these women, when one can guess very little actual material about them exists.

Tries too hard to be cute....
I like books on ancient peoples, particularly, women, so I picked up "Uppity Women" hoping for a factual and engrossing account of the lives of women in ancient times. Instead I read a collection of seriously silly bios with so much slang, and so much silliness it was difficult to understand WHAT the author was trying to say.

The author's 'gossip column' style of writing seems more appropriate for magazines featuring two-headed-alien-babies than a serious work on historical feminism. Sure, this may appeal to teens or people who don't have serious scholarly inclination. But for those looking for true facts on the lives of ancient women might be disappointed in this hodge-podge of history and modern lingo.

3 stars. I found the writing poor, and the author's slang-ridden 'voice' irritating, incomprehensible, and distracting.

Good concept, but go elsewhere for in depth information
I really appreciate the thought behind this series of books but constantly find myself frustrated at the tiny amount of space given to each subject.I always want to know more and am annoyed when that's all there is.I would instead recommend something like "The Mammoth Book of Outrageous and Heroic Women", which gives you a one paragraph summary of each woman, but then goes on to give you another six or eight pages of detail.

please by-pass if you're looking for "scholarly"
This book (and the rest of the series) is written for people who are NOT fascinated by dry, scholarly textbooks. Plenty of people are subjected to the usual bland recounting of historical events and have surmised that history is not only boring, it's sexist. This series turns both notions on their heads. If you are looking for a "serious" tome on feminist history, don't bother reading this. The author wrote in conversational, slang-ridden style in order to appeal to people who AREN'T history buffs. Why so many people wrote reviews trashing this book because it isn't boring just shows the elitist snobbery that academica carries within. If you are mildly interested in learning a bit about women who never got their fair shake in male-centric world of historical writing, this book is for you. THe research is solid, the stories are true and nothing in this book is "bad" other than her glib style. If writing in an appealing way is somehow tantamount to heresy in historical writing then so be it. I personally cannot understand why a book with so much to say (in a short amount of time) is so maligned just because it isn't written to put you to sleep.

!!!!!amazed...
...at how bad this book is and at how so many reviewers gave it 5 stars (not humanly possible, they must be friends).. I spent this last New Years reading it with a couple of friends.. and laughed and laughed on how stupid it all is... for a laugh its great... a waste of money though. ... Read more

Product Description
From basic infantry weapons to large artillery, weapons are what make battles so explosive. Discover the tools of combat involved in some of the most important wars in history. ... Read more

Product Description
Middle schoolers never had it so good! Complete your ancient history collection with this series for students in grades 6 -8. A unique and engrossing collaboration between scholars and young adult fiction writers, The World in Ancient Times covers the ancient world from India to Greece, America to China.Each chapter is filled to the brim with the widest possible range of primary sources, giving each history lesson the texture missing from many general introductions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent series for Middle School
This series by Oxford University Press, is an excellent reference set for 6th-8th grade. Perfect for homeschoolers and those following the Well Trained Mind classical education sequence, especially the Primary Sources volume:
The World in Ancient Times: Primary Sources and Reference Volume

I also recommend the Teachers Guides and Student Guides that are available for this series; I have these for Egypt, Greece and Rome and they are very helpful and useful.

OUP published a second series, The Medieval and Early Modern World, which is equally good.
The Medieval and Early Modern World: Seven-Volume Set

Great Age Appropriate Text for 3rd-6th grades!
All the books in THE WORLD IN ANCIENT TIMES series (2005 ed) are excellent--no matter the contributing author.The publisher (Oxford) has envisioned and produced high quality books that present rich content in a pleasing visual and tactile product.

There are generally 20-30 chapters of 3 to 10 pages each.Each chapter is thematic that runs more or less chronologically.Photographs and sidebars are dispersed throughout a chapter, and each page has plenty of white space. The only detraction--a little more line spacing would help those children with borderline vision issues. Several maps are incorporated throughout the book, so that purchasing additional specialized maps may not be necessary for the cash-strapped. At the back of the book, there is a Timeline, reading & website list, as well as an index.

There is also a single Primary Material and Resource book that supports the whole series for deeper enrichment.

Children like the fact that each ancient world volume is library bound in its own text.They are a manageable size. They do not have to lug a heavy tome around for year, that inevitably gets tattered due to its size.I have used these volumes in two rotations and will use them again for third and they appear like new.

This series is an excellent investment without having to cost an arm and a leg.
... Read more

Product Description
The World in Ancient Times is a unique series of books that tells the story of the ancient world using a broad range of primary sources, from Homer's Odyssey to a Mesopotamian marriage contract, from the Buddha's Four Noble Truths to a Maya altar with hieroglyphs. These documents help students take an active role in understanding history.
The World in Ancient Times Primary Sources and Reference Volume brings together 76 additional documents from all the regions covered in the series. From the ancient Near Eastern epic Gilgamesh to an Aztec poem, from Chinese oracle bones to a comic tale from the Pancha-tantra, a South Asian story collection, this volume paints the colorful history of the ancient world in vivid detail. Students will also find letters, diary entries, laws, fables, plays, poems, sermons, schoolbooks, proverbs, and even graffiti in this fascinating volume. Each excerpt is set in context by an introduction, and helpful marginal notes define unfamiliar words and identify the proper names within the text. For each source, there is a handy guide to further reading on the topic. This sourcebook also contains a world map, a cast of characters, and a timeline that help students understand how the histories of the various regions of the ancient world fit together as a whole.
A thematic index helps students compare documents on topics of interest across the ancient world. A comprehensive index to the entire World in Ancient Times series completes this engaging volume. ... Read more

Product Description
Through verse, young readers can explore the fascinating civilizations of the past. The rich worlds of Ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt and Africa come to life in engaging and lively rhymes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Modern Rhymes About Ancient Times Ancient Greece
Terrific Book. Rhymes and Illustrations are Fantastic.It is a wonderful way to learn about Ancient Greece. Children will love it.!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
In this classic work George Hourani deals with the history of the sea trade of the Arabs in the Indian Ocean from its obscure origins many centuries before Christ to the time of its full extension to China and East Africa in the ninth and tenth centuries. The book comprises a brief but masterly historical account that has never been superseded. The author gives attention not only to geography, meteorology, and the details of travel, but also to the ships themselves, including a discussion of the origin of stitched planking and of the lateen fore-and-aft sails. Piracy in the Indian Ocean, day-to-day life at sea, the establishment of ancient lighthouses and the production of early maritime guides, handbooks, and port directories are all described in fascinating detail. Arab Seafaring will appeal to anyone interested in Arab life or the history of navigation. For this expanded edition, John Carswell has added a new introduction, a bibliography, and notes that add material from recent archaeological research. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Rare book on rarely looked subject
This classic masterpiece deserved reprinted more than anything else and itis done with an excellent expansion, especially on narrated accounts oftravellers and geographers of the time. Inside you'll find an interestingcorrelation proposed between Islamic trading activities and their masteryof the Indian Ocean, its height and downfall until the 1000 AD. Buy it,especially if you're an Indonesian Muslim. ... Read more

Product Description
This illuminating study is about the absence of a concept of time in ancient Judaism, and the predominance instead of process in the ancient Jewish world-view. Sacha Stern draws his evidence from the complete range of Jewish sources from this period: mainly early rabbinic literature, but also Jewish Hellenistic literature, Qumran sources, Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, and inscriptions.Following a methodological introduction drawing on anthropological studies, the author starts by focusing on the word used for time in early rabbinic literature, zeman. He shows that it means only 'points in time' or finite periods of time, but that the concept of time as a continuum-of time as a whole-is totally absent from rabbinic texts. It is unknown even in such obvious contexts as discussions of age, accounts of the creation of the universe, and in other matters relating to timing and time reckoning, the calendar, and chronology. He shows convincingly that although timing was central to early rabbinic halakhah, it was not conceived of as a measuring of the time dimension, but rather as a way of co-ordinating different processes (e.g. co-ordinating the reading of the Shema with sunrise or dusk).The calendar, likewise, was not a measurement of time but an astronomical scheme, and therefore only process-related. Similar conclusions apply to early rabbinic notions of chronology, history, and even ethics: the notion of time as an entity or a resource, so familiar in modern society, is completely unknown in rabbinic ethics.Further confirmation emerges from the author's study of non-rabbinic ancient Jewish sources in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, including Apocryphal and Pseudepigraphic works and Dead Sea Scrolls, sources that are also concerned with the calendar and chronology but without any notion of time per se. The absence of a concept of time is also attested in other Near eastern cultures, but stands in contrast to Graeco-Roman culture with its pervasive concept of chronos. The ancient Jewish view also stands in contrast with medieval Judaism, when the concept of time became well established in ethics, philosophy, biblical exegesis, and halakhah, a development which Stern attributes partly to the influence of Greek philosophy on medieval Jewish thinkers.He concludes with reflections on the wider implications of these findings, especially regarding the limited Hellenization of ancient Judaism and its cultural isolation within the Graeco-Roman world.This perceptive work, clearly, cogently, and convincingly argued, offers a new perspective on the world-view of ancient Judaism and its links with other cultures in the Near East of late antiquity. ... Read more

Product Description
Dates form the backbone of written history. But where do these dates come from? Many different calendars were used in the ancient world. Some of these calendars were based upon observations or calculations of regular astronomical phenomena, such as the first sighting of the new moon crescent that defined the beginning of the month in many calendars, while others incorporated schematic simplifications of these phenomena, such as the 360-day year used in early Mesopotamian administrative practices in order to simplify accounting procedures. Historians frequently use handbooks and tables for converting dates in ancient calendars into the familiar BC/AD calendar that we use today. But very few historians understand how these tables have come about, or what assumptions have been made in their construction. The seven papers in this volume provide an answer to the question what do we know about the operation of calendars in the ancient world, and just as importantly how do we know it? Topics covered include the ancient and modern history of the Egyptian 365-day calendar, astronomical and administrative calendars in ancient Mesopotamia, and the development of astronomical calendars in ancient Greece. This book will be of interest to ancient historians, historians of science, astronomers who use early astronomical records, and anyone with an interest in calendars and their development. ... Read more

Product Description
Alphabetically arranged articles present information about the ancient world, covering events, people, and practices around the world from prehistoric times to 500 A.D. and treating such topics as architecture, politics, family life, and religion. ... Read more

Product Description
From the Olympic Games of Greece to the gladiatorial contests of Rome, sport in the ancient world was fiercely competitive and included a wider range of physical contests than we moderns might suspect. The early Chinese played forms of polo and golf, while half a world away, Hohokam and Maya Indians enjoyed team ball games.

Nigel Crowther, a leading authority on classical Greek sport, here casts his net over the entire ancient world to reveal the variety, and often the intensity, of sport in earlier times, from 3000 b.c.e. to the Middle Ages. Taking in twenty premodern societies on five continents--with particular emphasis on ancient Greece and Rome and the Byzantine Empire--he traces connections to modern sporting attitudes, practices, and institutions as he describes how athletics figured in cultural arenas that extended beyond physical prowess to ritual, social status, military associations, and politics.

Crowther takes us back to the birth of sumo wrestling in Japan and describes the sports of the Sumerians and Hittites. He documents bull leaping and boxing as recorded on pottery in Crete, as well as running and archery as practiced by the pharaohs in Egypt. He shows the significance of the early Olympic Games, describes the Romans' use of gladiatorial contests for political ends, and analyzes the influence of Byzantine chariot racing on society. He also notes the changing role of women in ancient sports--from their prominence in Egyptian contests, to the mythological Atalanta, to female Roman gladiators.

As informative as it is entertaining, Sport in Ancient Times opens new vistas for general readers, students, and sport historians. It offers a broad look at ancient sport and will enrich readers' appreciation of games they enjoy today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A scholarly and fascinating look at humanity and its sports
Humanity at its very nature is a competitive species. "Sport in Ancient Times" looks at the ancient sports of the Eastern and Western worlds where people fought one another in sport. From early forms of golf in China, to the original Greek Olympics, to countless other early sports scattered through the ancient world and how they have evolved into the games of today. "Sports in Ancient Times" is a scholarly and fascinating look at humanity and its sports. ... Read more

Product Description
Color a picture of a Minoan bull-jumper, make a model of the Nile River, create Roman armor and Celtic jewelry and more...don't just read about history—experience it!This comprehensive, 8.5" x 11" curriculum guide and activity book contains map activities, coloring pages, games, projects, review questions, cross-references to illustrated encyclopedias, and extensive book lists. Children and parents love the activities, ranging from cooking projects to crafts, board games to science experiments, and puzzles to projects.

Each Story of the World Activity Book provides a full year of history study when combined with the Textbook, Audiobook, and Tests—each available separately to accompany each volume of The Story of the World Activity Book. Activity Book 1 Grade Recommendation: Grades 1-5. Illustrated throughout with black-and-white drawings and maps ... Read more

Customer Reviews (70)

Wonderful Activities!
This is a wonderful companion to The Story of the World!I use it almost daily in our homeschool and the girls can't wait!It is full of coloring pages to reinforce the "stories" being told.It has a map worksheet for every chapter to reinforce the geography being taught.There are also TONS of activites to bring history alive which, in my opinion, are what helps my girls remember their lessons long-term!I would definitely reccommend buying this book as a companion to the text itself!

Great for our family
Great book, a must if you are using the Story of the World Book.Comes with lists of other books to read for more in depth study, hands on crafts and projects for kids of all ages.We just did the first activity of a mock archeological dig and my kids loved it (ages 6, 4, and 2).Having fun while learning at the same time?Who would've thought it was possible!

Biffed it on the Jesus section
I saw this in a book store and wanted to see what it said about Jesus.Lots of false assertions.1. It says that Jesus was popular.2. It says that the Romans were afraid of Jesus.This is utter non-sense.Jesus was a barely a blip on their radar screen.He only became important to the Romans after the church grew and threated the idol trade and Christians refused to worship the Emperor.3. It says the Romans killed Jesus on a charge of treason.This is also non-sense.Pilate wanted to let Jesus go but the Jews pushed the issue and chose for Pilate to release Barabbas instead of Jesus.They even accepted moral responisbility for it.
Matthew 27:21-26
21The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus actual arrest warrant is preserved in the historical record as well and it clearly shows the Jews arrested him to appear before the Sanhedrin on the charge of blasphemy.

This maybe politically correct because the Romans are not around to complain so I will complain for them.This is either outright anti-Roman or anti-Italian bigotry!

Great Accompaniment
I bought this book with the "text" book and test booklet. I love the activities in this book! The oral questions are very good in reinforcing what has been read. I usually ask the review questions while my daughter is coloring the included pictures or maps. I highly recommend this activity book as it is an enjoyable way to study a very interesting curriculum.

A tiny error on Page 33.
For those of you who use the book, there seems to be a minor error on Page 33.The question asked is: "The Chinese first settled in many small villages.Do you remember the name of the emperor who united them into one empire?"The answer provided in italics is "Huang Di", which translated, is not a name but a title, and in this case, "sovereign emperor".

Actually, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, born as Ying Zheng in 259 BC, was the son of the king of the Qin State.Ying Zheng unified and subjugated all the states like Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan and Qi by the power of the Qin State, thereafter building the first feudal and centralised empire in Chinese history in 221 BC.Today, he is famous for the Great Wall and the Terracotta warriors and horses (even in Epcot, Orlando Disneyworld).When Ying Zheng unified China, he considered his achievement surpassing the legendary "San Huang (three emperors)" and "Wu Di (five sovereigns)", so he created a new title for himself: "Huangdi" together with "Shi (the first)", giving rise to the name "Qin Shi Huang" or "Qin Shi Huangdi", which means he was the first emperor of China. Later generations called him "Qin Shi Huang".

Very often, in Mandarin Chinese, the name comes before the title, unlike in the West, where one would call the monarch of England, for instance, "Queen Elizabeth" (not "Elizabeth Queen") which is probably what caused the confusion.To some, this might seem like splitting hairs, but if you speak Mandarin, it is like saying that the name of the emperor who united China is "Mr."I think very highly of this book for its layout, coverage and engaging activities and hope my entry has been helpful.

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This new series looks at civilizations in the ancient and medieval worlds, and explains the technological advances that were made in those times ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive history traces the development of mathematical ideas and the careers of the men responsible for them. Volume 1 looks at the discipline's origins in Babylon and Egypt, the creation of geometry and trigonometry by the Greeks, and the role of mathematics in the medieval and early modern periods. Volume 2 focuses on calculus, the rise of analysis in the 19th century, and the number theories of Dedekind and Dirichlet. The concluding volume covers the revival of projective geometry, the emergence of abstract algebra, the beginnings of topology, and the influence of Godel on recent mathematical study. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive history traces the development of mathematical ideas and the careers of the mathematicians responsible for them. Volume 1 looks at the discipline's origins in Babylon and Egypt, the creation of geometry and trigonometry by the Greeks, and the role of mathematics in the medieval and early modern periods. Volume 2 focuses on calculus, the rise of analysis in the 19th century, and the number theories of Dedekind and Dirichlet. The concluding volume covers the revival of projective geometry, the emergence of abstract algebra, the beginnings of topology, and the influence of Godel on recent mathematical study. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

pretty good
if flawed. Not only do you have to wade through the gentleman amateur flavour of the first couple of hundred pages or so, but Kline manages to describe William Hamilton as 'the greatest English theoretical physicist after Newton'; even an Irishman would concede that the greatest English theoretical physicist after Newton was Maxwell - Hamilton was third.However with the first impact tremors announcing the approach of Leonard Euler, when the technical issues start to thicken, things improve enormously. Kline is clearly in awe of Euler, and does a good job of communicating why awe is appropriate.

It is nevertheless fortunate that the history of mathematics, unlike that of science, is a discipline essentially invulnerable to whiggish prejudice.

disappointing
Morris Kline's "history" is a disappointment. I have no doubt that Kline knows his mathematics, but he either does not know his history, or prefers to distort it so that it fits into his preconception of that history. To furnish an example: on page 181 Kline writes "In 529...Justinian closed all the Greek schools of philosophy...Greek scholars left the country and some for example, Simplicius - settled in Persia."(!) What Kline omits is that after a very short stay in Ctesiphon, Simplicius (and the other philosophers) returned to Greece. This is known from the Byzantine historian, Agathias',"Histories": "Priscianus of Lydia's Solution ad Chrosroem", (Chrosroes being the Persian king) which recounts a philosophical debate in Persia. Further, Justinian did not close centres of Greek thinking, but specifically those that were pagan; Alexandria's academy, it must be remembered, remained open as it was led by Simplicius' adversary the Christian Philoponus. The allusion by Kline that the Greek mathematical past was rejected is even more bewildering when the building of the Agia Sophia (built during Justinian's reign) is considered. This building was designed by 2 classically trained mathematicians (Athemius of Tralles & Isodore of Miletus) using the mathematical principles of antiquity which were still extant, known and in use (in the Greek east)!

On p. 197 Kline writes "The significant contribution to mathematics that we owe to the Arabs was to absorb Greek and Hindu mathematics [and] preserve it." Amazingly, his main reference for this chapter is O'Leary's "How Greek Science Passed to the Arabs". O'Leary makes it incontrovertibly clear that the "translations" of various Greek mathematical & scientific works paraphrased into Arabic came directly from Byzantium. Byzantium does not get a mention in Kline's book until later. It was not the Arabs who preserved Greek material, but the Greeks themselves! Further, his claims on Christian denunciation of pagan thinking might be true in the Roman Latin west, but in the Greek Byzantine east, Greek past achievements were a source of pride! (Anna Comnena's "Alexiad" is a good indication of the "pagan" aspects of Byzantine civilization. References to Homer alone - out of all other "pagan" authors - outnumber all biblical references.). In the Greek east, as a counter-point to the Latin west, St Basil decreed in his "Discourse to Christian Youth on the study of the Greek Classics", that "pagan" literature should be referenced as an aid to understanding scriptures. This text justified studies of the "pagan" past in Byzantium and proved invaluable when the Italians "discovered" it during the renaissance (this "discovery" was made by Leonardo Bruni in the 15th century).

On p.206 Kline, does not even seem to realise that Greece & Byzantium are part of Europe... Or rather, it is inconvenient for him to mention this without having to reorganise his premise... And so, on that page, he writes "...since the Arabs did have almost all the Greek works, the Europeans acquired a tremendous literature." The problem here is that the Arabs only ever paraphrased Greek technical manuals - not literature; Homer, Hesiod,Greek historians (eg Plutarch, Herodotus, Thucycides, etc) Greek playwrights (eg Aristophanes, Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles, etc), were totally unknown to Arabs. What is even worse, in O'Leary's book (which to reiterate is one of Kline's references), O'Leary wrote "...the Greek writers who influence the oriental world were not the poets or historians, or orators, but exclusively the scientists..." p. 1.

Of equal interest is what Kline writes on pp. 189-190: "About the year 1200 scientific activity in India declined and progress in mathematics ceased."If the reader were to read another book, one on art for instance, "Hindu Art and Architecture" (George Michell, Thames & Hudson), they would read:
"At the very end of the twelfth century northern India was overwhelmed by Muslim invaders...virtually all temple building came to a halt..." One wonders why the destroyers of Hindu mathematics are given credit for the preservation of this mathematics?

This book would have been a great introduction had Kline not had an obvious agenda.

I would recommend any of the following books (although they require a bit more reading):
1/ Otto Neugebauer "The Exact Sciences in Antiquity";
2/ Thomas Little Heath (his histories of Greek mathematicians/mathematics);
3/O'Leary's "How Greek Science Passed to the Arabs";and
4/ Jacob Klein's "Greek mathematical thought and the origin of algebra"
as better introductions to this period of mathematical thought.

Very thorough
As one might expect from a 3-volume history, _Mathematical Thought_ is comprehensive; Kline covers basically all the important mathematical developments from ancient times (e.g. the Babylonians) until about 1930.Note that (as Klein himself mentions) the coverage of ancient mathematics, while taking up a good half of the first volume, is necessarily modest, and if that is the reader's primary interest, s/he would do best to seek out specific histories on the Greeks, Chinese, etc. [Kline gives several useful references, as always].

The reader interested in the 18th and 19th centuries will find plenty of food for thought.For example, the story of non-Euclidean geometry is covered well, and Kline does a good job of putting the discoveries in the light of the times.One notable thing I learned is that Lobachevsky and Bolyai were not the discoverers of non-Euclidean geometry, nor were they the first to publish material on that subject.Others before had expressed the opinion that non-Euclidean gometry was consistent and as viable a geometry as Euclidean (e.g. Kluegel, Lambert...even Gauss!)It remained for Beltrami to later show that if Euclidean geometry were consistent, so is non-Euclidean.Of course, important events like the invention of Galois theory are also mentioned.Really, if it's a major mathematical development before 1930, Kline will have it somewhere in these 3-volumes.

Incidentally, Kline advances the interesting theory that Lobachevsky and Bolyai somehow learned of Gauss' work on non-Euclidean geometry (which he kept secret and was not learned of until after his death) through close friends of Gauss: Bartel (mentor to Lobachevsky) and Bolyai's father, Farkas.[I understand that this theory has been shown false by recent research into Gauss' correspondence]Kline is careful to indicate it is only speculation by phrasing words carefully, e.g. "might have..." and "perhaps he..."I can appreciate Kline's various speculations and opinions, usually they are very interesting, and (at least in these volumes) he always does a good job of highlighting where the account of history ends and his ideas begins.Even so, luckily for those who like unbiased historical accounts, he inserts himself into the text rarely.This may surprise readers who have read his other books, like _Mathematics: the Loss of Certainty_.This history is a scholarly work, although one can't really say that about his other works.

Kline also writes quite a bit about the development of the calculus, as one should expect, given its major role in forming modern mathematics.I got a much deeper appreciation of calculus from reading various sections, which explained how this or that area was influenced or invented because of certain calculus problems.

I debated about giving this book 4 stars since there are a few minor flaws.One I've mentioned above; I think Kline should have kept his voice objective, instead of occasionally going into a little diatribe on his pet peeves.This is minor, since he doesn't do it too often, and I suppose he can be excused for being human.Another is that the index is rather weak.For a work of this magnitude, one expects that one ought to be able to find the phrase "hyperbolic geometry" in the index.Surprisingly one doesn't."Non-Euclidean geometry" is there, but not the other phrase, which is synonymous and more common nowadays.There are other examples, but this is the one that comes to mind now.

Finally, I should add that I have not read every page of this history nor am I even close to doing that.I have read parts of all three volumes, and the quality seems consistent.That said, this is not a history one should read straight through.It is meticulous and well-documented, which can make for rather dry reading, so I suggest you do plenty of skipping around.I found (and will probably still find) Kline useful for helping me understand the context of the various mathematical concepts I was studying.Not only that, but I found his explanations of some topics to be even better than those in standard textbooks.Because of the insights I've gained, I've decided to overlook the little flaws, so...five stars!

Bible of mathematical history and thought.
I found the book in college library. It is the best one on math history I have read. ... Read more

Product Description
A superbly written narrative that provides a comprehensive overview of this most fascinating of ancient civilizations. Its story begins with the first nomads who settled in the lush valley of the Nile and examines in detail the major accomplishments of the three great epochs of ancient Egyptian history. Among the topics covered are the development of writing, the rituals associated with death and the hope for an afterlife, the discoveries made in science and mathematics, and the achievements of Egyptian artists and architects. Lively descriptions help the students envision the lives of peasants and pharaohs alike, and a chart of commonly used hieroglyphs enables them to write in the style of the scribes.

The Early Times Series is written for students in grades 5-8, each of the six texts in this series provides a comprehensive overview of a particular culture. The evolution of political thought, economics, science, art and literature are made to come alive for young readers through the author's detailed descriptions of everyday life and provocative portraits of key personalities. Every chapter is followed by review questions, Ideas to think about and Projects. ... Read more

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Informative, clear, and interesting
It may have a no-frills feel, but this text really piqued my interest in Egyptian history and culture when I was younger. It is well-organized, written in a clean, almost simplified journalistic style, with interesting activities suggested, and the writing style is both appealing and clear. The book features black and white illustrations and pictures--again, not fancy, but a great introduction or starting point. ... Read more

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Astonishing true tales of the most amazing women in history They were bright and bold, outspoken and inspiring, daring and even dangerous. They were the incredible, courageous, and totally Outrageous Women of Ancient Times. These remarkable women rocked the world with their accomplishments—and their attitude! Their unusual stories will surprise and delight you. Among the outrageous women you’ll meet are: Hatshepsut of Thebes—as pharaoh of Egypt, she reigned for over twenty years Locusta of Gaul—a professional poisoner to Roman nobility who made a fortune disposing of members of the royal family Deborah of Israel—the prophetess who led an army to victory in ancient Israel’s first national war of liberation Hedea, Tryphosa, and Dionysia of Tralles—three sister athletes who won prizes in running, war chariot racing, and even lyre playing Pan Chao of China—scholar, author, and advisor to the Emperor’s family, who championed equal education for women as well as men These independent spirits defied tradition and found their own paths to success. Now their stories come alive! Coming soon! Outrageous Women of the Middle Ages Ages 10 to 14 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

sarcastic tone, poor history & writing, detract significantly from very interesting topic
What a terrific idea for a book (series)!We have read only this 1st book (Outrageous Women of Ancient Times) in the series but wanted other potential buyers to have full disclosure.

Official reviews note the author's casual tone.We were quite surprised by the author's sarcastic, flippant tone throughout the book, as well as the poor grammar and lack-luster writing style.The book is self-described as targeting 10-14 year olds, and the subject matter does make very interesting reading.

Unfortunately, most (if not all) intelligent or classically-educated readers in this age group will find the writing demeaning.Average readers in this age group who are picking up the book because of an interest in women in history, famous women, or otherwise noteworthy women in history, will at the very least be offended by the author's lack of respect for their reading ability or maturity.Homeschoolers will not enjoy this book for these reasons, as well as because the author frequently includes anecdotal references to concurrent historical events or practices that are downright erroneous.Our 8-year old pointed out more than a handful of such errors to me as she read the book.When I read the book after she finished, I was surprised to see such disjointed writing within most of the chapters, so much of the author's opinion presented as historical truth, and so many unsubstantiated (and non-illuminating) anecdotes inserted in places and ways that made little sense and significantly detracted from the book's readability.

I applaud the idea for the book and series, and wish I could rate the book high for this reason alone.The demeaning style, poor history and bad writing make that impossible.Borrow it from your local library if you really want to take a look.



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