Product Description
The Student Study Guide is an important and unique component that is available for each of the eight books in The World in Ancient Times series.Each of the Student Study Guides is designed to be used with the student book at school or sent home for homework assignments.The activities in the Student Study Guide will help students get the most out of their history books. Each Student Study Guide includes chapter-by-chapter two-page lessons that use a variety of interesting activities to help a student master history and develop important reading and study skills. ... Read more

Product Description
A young archaeologist finds a primitive hand axe that is thought to be more than 400,000 years old. Engineers building a railroad discover that the gravel they're using is actually 5,000-year-old crumbling brick from the ancient Indus Valley civilization. An Englishman living in India is fascinated by the mysterious script on the ancient coins he collects and works feverishly to decode the long-lost language. These are a few of the clues to a fascinating history that you'll read about in The Ancient South Asian World. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer and Kimberley Heuston use ancient beads, terracotta pots, trash found in a sewer, and many other primary sources to trace the history of this diverse region. In these pages is the story of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, who used the power of knowledge rather than physical force to rule his people-an unusual idea at the time. Ancient texts and an epic poem called the Ramayana explain the practices and beliefs of Brahmanism and how they evolved into Hinduism. Columns inscribed by Emperor Ashoka illustrate the spread of Buddhism throughout the South Asian world. The sacred epic called the Mahabharata helps explain the development of the caste system. From geography and weather to Hindu gods and intellectual traditions, the characters and stories in The Ancient South Asian World weave the history of this vibrant region. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Intro to South Asia
Kenoyer and Heuston have put together a solid introdution to (Ancient) South Asia.This book is written at about a middle school level and I use selections for this book with various middle school and upper elementary school students that I work with. Why is this book great?one reason: It has the most up to date scholarship presented in small chapters and units that can be used for teaching non-university students.For those of you familiar at all with the writing of academics know this is an extremely rare treat. ... Read more

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A guide to Ancient Egypt containing information every tourist of past ages needs to know. Where to shop and places to eat are combined with facts about politics, history, art and architecture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A "Trip" to Ancient Egypt
What a fun way to learn more about Ancient Egypt! This book is written as if you were living in Ancient times and planning a trip to Egypt during the reign of Ramesses II, around 1250 BC.It is written in the style of a travel guide, with information on practicalities, getting around, where to stay, food and drink, and what to do if you get sick.Like all good guidebooks, there is information on the best souvenirs to get(papyrus sandals, amulets, and scarabs)and where to find the best entertainment. And of course there is lots of information on the top sights: the Great Pyramids, the Step Pyramids, the sights of Memphis, the Valley of Kings and Tomb Art at Thebes, and the sights of Nubia.At the front is a fold-out map of the entire region so you won't get lost. "Tourists tips" are scattered throughout the book. A very entertaining way to learn history! ... Read more

Product Description
The third book in the Time-Stone Travelers Series finds Josh and his siblings transported to the 17th Century Prague where they soon meet up with an alchermist's apprentice named Benjamin.The alchemist tries to entice the time travelers to come work along side of him and offers them eternal life through his magical elixir.Will they take the potion?Will they stand up for Christ and defraud the alchemist?Only time will tell! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Time Stone Travelers Series
Our 12 year old started this series back when he was 11 and it still sits on his shelf. He reads it over and over so I guess it's pretty good. Great to see him reading books that help him rely on Jesus Christ for everything.

Good Reading
My son (12 yrs) read all five books in this series and loves them.He wishes there were more books. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great information!
I have an older, probably less edited version of this book that I picked up at a used book store locally, but I would highly recommend reading it! You can read through various documents that were recorded in ancient historical cultures. Since the listing here doesn't really explain what's in this book, I will give you a quick rundown of the materials in it.

Cuneiform documents such as the Epic of Creation, The Law Code of Hammurabi, Nebuchadrezzar's Expedition to Syria, The Cyrus Cylinder, The Story of the Flood, Letters from Tell El-Amarna, Historical Records and Assyria and Babylonia, The Jehoiachin Tablets, Texts relating to Nabonidus, The Murashu Tablets, The Babylonian Theodicy, Babylonian Moral Teachings, Prayer to Any God, and Texts from Ras Shamra.

Egyptian documents in this book include - The Hymn to Aten, The 'Israel Stele' of Merenptah, The Tale of Two Brothers, The Teaching of Amenemope, The Penitential Psalm, The Instruction for King Meri-ka-re, A Dispute over Suicide, and Love Songs.

One Moabite Document - The Moabite Stone.

Hebrew Documents - The Gezer Calendar, Inscribed Potsherds from Samaria, The Siloam Inscription, Letters from Lachish, and Hebrew documents relating to seals, weights, and coins.

Aramaic Documents - The Milqart Stele, The Zakir Stele, Letter from Saqqarah, Papyri from Elephantine, The Words of Ahikar.

Hope this review has helped you to determine whether or not you want this book. If you are interested in ancient cultures, spirituality, and mythology, this book will be of interest to you!

Provides other literature from the Old Testament period
This is an amazing book that is well worth the purchase price for any of the translations found within it let alone all of them.

In this book, you will read:

-- The translated text of the Babylonian Flood story.By reading the text you can see the elements of the biblical flood story in another story written some one thousand years earlier.Where did the bible stories originally come from?Fortunately, this translation is but one of many in this book that will inspire thought and wonder.

-- The translated text of the Merneptah Stele. Put to stone in 1215 BCE the Merneptah Stele essentially tells the Egyptian version of a great campaign of conquest waged by the Pharoah Merneptah (son to Ramses II the Great...the traditionally reputed Pharoah of the biblical Exodus).Read properly, one could take this to be the original telling of the Egyptian version of the Exodus.See my review of Asimov's Guide to the Bible for more details.

-- The translated text of the Code of Hammurabi. Inscribed in 1750 or so BCE, it may well be the first recorded law code.This is significant because merely oral law codes only have the consistently and fairness their reciter imputes to them.The merger of the art of writing with the rendition of written law may well have been the inspiration for the axial age itself.See my review of Karen Armstrong's The Great Transformation and also Jack Goody's Writing and the Organization of Society for more details.

-- The Egyptian Tale of Two Brothers.This tale is significant for its many points of literary similarity to the tale of Potipher/Potiphera (Potipher's wife) in the biblical Joseph cycle in Genesis.Just how free were the original bible writers in the practice of their craft and if they were limited, why?This tale figures heavily according to Gary Greenburg in his book 101 Myths of the Bible for why their was indeed an Egyptian sojourn on the part of the Jewish people.Similarly the tale is used by James Hoffmeier in his book Israel in Egypt as support for his view of an Egyptian sojourn.Significantly, like their are American versions of foreign movies and foreign versions of American television shows, the bible's use of a pre existing Egyptian tale may be nothing more novel than the process of the mere cultural borrowing of one good story from another culture.Critically, this book gives you an opportunity to examine that original story.

-- The Assyrian and Babylonians accounts of the fall of Israel and Judah.First with the falling of Israel under Hoshea in 722 BCE by Sargon II and ultimately with the toppling of Judah under Zedekiah in 586 BCE by Nebuchadrezzar you can see the accounts as viewed by Israel and Judah's enemies.

As can be gleaned through these few examples, this is a wonderful book and well worth the time necessary to review it.Indeed, this book in one hand and a bible in the other may far outweigh the value of any other biblical revisionism book in print.

There is nothing like reviewing the primary data to make one really understand.

If you can, buy or read this book. ... Read more

Product Description

In this revised edition, Matthew Dillon and Lynda Garland have expanded the chronological range of Ancient Greece to include the Greek world of the fourth century. The sourcebook now ranges from the first lines of Greek literature to the death of Alexander the Great, covering all of the main historical periods and social phenomena of ancient Greece. The material is taken from a variety of sources: historians, inscriptions, graffiti, law codes, epitaphs, decrees, drama and poetry. It includes the major literary authors, but also covers a wide selection of writers, including many non-Athenian authors. Whilst focusing on the main cities of ancient Greece - Athens and Sparta- the sourcebook also draws on a wide range of material concerning the Greeks in Egypt, Italy, Sicily, Asia Minor and the Black Sea.

Ancient Greece covers not only the chronological, political history of ancient Greece, but also explores the full spectrum of Greek life through topics such as gender, social class, race and labour. This revised edition includes:

• Two completely new chapters - "The Rise of Macedon" and "Alexander ′the Great′, 336-323" BC
• New material in the chapters on The City-State, Religion in the Greek World, Tyrants and Tyranny, The Peloponnesian War and its Aftermath, Labour: Slaves, Serfs and Citizens, and Women, Sexuality and the Family

It is structured so that:

• Thematically arranged chapters arranged allow students to build up gradually knowledge of the ancient Greek world
• Introductory essays to each chapter give necessary background to understand topic areas
• Linking commentaries help students understand the source extracts and what they reveal about the ancient Greeks

Ancient Greece: Social and Historical Documents from Archaic Times to the Death of Alexander the Great. Third Edition, will continue to be a definitive collection of source material on the society and culture of the Greeks.

Product Description
Siddhartha Gautama lived 2,500 years ago, but the effects of his life are still shaping the world today. The son of a king, he left a world of wealth and privilege to seek a better life—and he found it in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. After he had found what he was seeking, he did not retire to a quiet place where he could spend all of his time in meditation. Instead, he devoted himself to sharing what he had discovered with others.

His following grew over the years, and during the centuries that have followed his death, his teachings have spread around the globe. Today, Siddhartha Gautama is known by countless millions—as the Buddha. His wisdom and compassion are legendary, and many have followed the path that he identified, hoping to reach enlightenment as he did. He deliberately chose a humble life rather than the life of a king, but his fame is greater than any he would have earned as a ruler. The Buddha gave himself to poverty and service, but he left a rich and enduring legacy. ... Read more

Product Description
Since its original publication by UNC Press in 1980, this book has provided thousands of students with a concise introduction and guide to the history of the classical tradition in rhetoric, the ancient but ever vital art of persuasion.

Now, George Kennedy offers a thoroughly revised and updated edition of Classical Rhetoric and Its Christian and Secular Tradition. From its development in ancient Greece and Rome, through its continuation and adaptation in Europe and America through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, to its enduring significance in the twentieth century, he traces the theory and practice of classical rhetoric through history. At each stage of the way, he demonstrates how new societies modified classical rhetoric to fit their needs.

For this edition, Kennedy has updated the text and the bibliography to incorporate new scholarship; added sections relating to women orators and rhetoricians throughout history; and enlarged the discussion of rhetoric in America, Germany, and Spain. He has also included more information about historical and intellectual contexts to assist the reader in understanding the tradition of classical rhetoric. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Must-Have for Classical Schools
Beyond "excellent" in content and detail, this book can be described as an "anthology of summaries and reviews" of classical writers from Homer to Umberto Eco. For those involved in the Classical Christian school movement, Kennedy's book helps to explain how Jewish scholars assigned authority differently from the Greeks and how both the Greek and Jewish traditions carried on into the Christian era.The book addresses both the content and artistry of classical rhetoric, is well-indexed and documented, and includes an excellent bibliography.Highly readable as well, this survey (in my opinion) should be in every library in a classical school. ... Read more

Product Description
The Story of the World CD audiobook is a collaboration between Jim Weiss, whose voice is "liquid gold" (CNN TV), and Susan Wise Bauer, whose writing has been described as "timeless and intelligent" (Publishers Weekly). These spirited readings of the first volume in Bauer's history series bring to life the stories and records of human history from ancient times to the present.Written in an engaging, straightforward manner, this volume of the popular Story of the World series weaves world history into a storybook format. The first volume begins with the ancient nomads and ends with the last Roman emperor.This audio CD edition may be used along with the print books, as a supplement to a traditional history curriculum, or independently. 6 audio CDs. ... Read more

Product Description
Victor David Hanson, author of the highly regarded classic The Western Way of War, presents an audacious and controversial theory of what contributes to the success of military campaigns.

Examining in riveting detail the campaigns of three brilliant generals who led largely untrained forces to victory over tyrannical enemies, Hanson shows how the moral confidence with which these generals imbued their troops may have been as significant as any military strategy they utilized. Theban general Epaminondas marched an army of farmers two hundred miles to defeat their Spartan overlords and forever change the complexion of Ancient Greece. William Tecumseh Sherman led his motley army across the South, ravaging the landscape and demoralizing the citizens in the defense of right. And George S. Patton commanded the recently formed Third Army against the German forces in the West, nearly completing the task before his superiors called a halt. Intelligent and dramatic, The Soul of Battle is narrative history at it’s best and a work of great moral conviction.
Amazon.com Review
On first glance, The Soul of Battle appears to be threedifferent books: biographies of two well-known generals--Sherman andPatton--and one who is virtually unknown today, the ancient Greekleader Epaminondas. Yet VictorDavis Hanson, a classics professor and author of The WesternWay of War, makes a compelling connection between these threemen. They were "eccentrics, considered unbalanced or worse by theirown superiors" who led democratic armies on missions offreedom. Epaminondas crushed Sparta's military dominance of Greece ina single winter, Sherman delivered a deathblow to the slaveholdingSouth in the U.S. Civil War, and Patton was the general most feared byhis Nazi enemies in the Second World War. Hanson disputes theconventional notion that soldiers fight only for their buddies, ratherthan abstract ideals. He writes: "Theban hoplites, Union troops, andAmerican GIs were ideological armies foremost, composed ofcitizen-soldiers who burst into their enemies' heartland because theybelieved it was a just and very necessary thing to do. The commanderswho led them encouraged that ethical zeal, made them believe there wasa real moral difference" between what they and their opponents stoodfor. Epaminondas, Sherman, and Patton each became extremelycontroversial for his success, but Hanson argues persuasively thattheir efforts demonstrate "that on rare occasions throughout the agesthere can be a soul, not merely a spirit, in the way men battle." Withthis idiosyncratic approach, Hanson makes a unique contribution to ourunderstanding of not only these three men and their troops, but alsothe role of the military in a democratic society. --JohnJ. Miller ... Read more

Customer Reviews (61)

Good job
Product arrived on time and in condition described. Will use again if possible. Thank you!

Two points from a unique perspective
First and foremost, I loved the book; it was clearly written and a fascinating read.

The first point I would like to make is that I am not an expert on historical matters -- I am a history major who has not yet completed his degree, so keep that in mind. With the studies I have done, however, nothing in this book is inaccurate or misleading; the theme appears sound, logical and well researched.

That being said, the second -- and primary -- point I would like to make is thus: I read this book while deployed in support of OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and conducting operations in theater. In light of that, the themes discussed in this book were not only interesting, but downright prescient to events occurring in real time in my life.

The theme of the book is, regardless of negative reviews, about leadership. These are three dynamic leaders who, in time of war, did incredible things for their country. And their lives are chalk-full of lessons that should be studied by current leaders, because the mistakes made in today's war are the same as they were in previous wars; we are not learning from history, and VDH points to several reasons why these are important studies in leadership.

The secondary theme of the book -- as denoted by the title -- is that the great armies of the past have had a "soul" because great leaders developed that and encouraged it. To the reviewer who claims that VDH dislikes or hates the military, you couldn't be further from the truth. This book is a look into the lessons of history that can show our leaders of today how to better develop a sense of esprit de corps in their units. Unfortunately, short of Generals like David Petraeus and a handful of others, our military is sorely lacking in leadership that is up to the task.

To keep it short, if you are interested in profiles of great military leaders and/or great democratic marches in military history and/or whether or not a particular army can have a "soul," then this book is for you. If, on the other hand, you are like some of the negative reviewers on this site who want a book that bashes Generals Epaminondas, Sherman and Patton, look elsewhere.

*One other note: I knew absolutely nothing about Epaminondas before reading this, and found it fascinating to read about the guy who basically kicked the crap out of the famed Spartans.

Thought-provoking historical comparisons of exceptional military leaders:
A treatise on wars fought over the centuries, and what makes for leadership for victory, keeping casualties on both sides as low as possible.Victor Davis Hanson uses his great knowledge of Greek culture to springboard into comparisons with Civil War General Sherman, and World War II General Patton and their philosophies.

This book will make you rethink a lot of your conceptions of World War II and the Civil War, and the contributions Gen. Sherman and Gen. Patton made to final victory.

Patton and The Soul of Battle
The Soul of Battle by Victor Davis Hanson examines more than just the wartime accomplishments of three military leaders from democratic societies. Professor Hanson explains why three Generals - Epaminondas, William T. Sherman, and George S. Patton differ from other great military figures, (such as Caesar and Alexander), that lead wars to conquer, acquire territory, and enslave: Generals who lead democratic soldiers and who achieve greatness in battle reach a level not found in others. This spiritual dimension he calls the soul of battle.

What then is the soul of battle? A rare thing indeed that arises only when free men march unabashedly toward the heartland of their enemy in hopes of saving the doomed, when their vast armies are aimed at salvation and liberation, not conquest and enslavement. Only then does battle take on a spiritual dimension, one that defines a culture, teaches it what civic militarism is and how it is properly used.

PART III - The Third Army, Patton's Race into Germany

This review is limited to Part III, which presents a portrait of Patton the "simple soldier." Patton the military figure is brought to life as a unique officer for his times and a warrior who seemingly prepared his entire life to defeat the Nazis in World War II. We learn how Patton was able to create a level of morale unique among the allied forces even though the Third Army was a makeshift force cobbled together as a diversionary tactic. We gain an appreciation for Patton's insights into warfare and why his favorite expression and guiding principle about audacity saved lives and could have saved tens of thousands more, but for the failures of Eisenhower and Bradley. We discover how the challenges facing Patton differed from those encountered by Epaminondas and Sherman and why to some extent Patton's accomplishments rival or exceed these earlier figures.

Many today think of Patton as reckless and not politically correct, but these pages provide a profile showing Patton as eminently prepared and confident. Professor Hanson writes: "Critics forget that behind the foul mouth, sometimes offensive and near-lunatic pronouncements, and showy dress, Patton was without question the best educated, most experienced, and most widely read general in the American Army." We learn that Patton was dyslexic and an average student at West Point, but unlike many of his contemporaries, such as David Eisenhower and Omar Bradley who were more bureaucratic and bothered with his zeal, Patton was intellectually curious and combined a lifelong habit of reading with his studies of military history, warfare, and leadership. He represented America in the 1912 Olympics and placed fifth in the pentathlon, served in World War I, was a talented horseman and Calvary officer, and joined General Pershing to travel into Mexico to catch Pancho Villa. Patton befriended the King of Sweden, took fencing lessons during a two-year period in France from the master of arms of the French Calvary School, and through a disciplined regimen of study he read about the great battles including those of ancient and modern Europe. He was the best-prepared and most knowledgeable American tank commander, and he read Field Marshall Rommel's book on tank warfare. He made time to walk the battlefields of Europe and absorbed the lessons from those battles and the role of geography in warfare in a way than none of the other senior Allied officers fighting in Europe had done. The Germans feared him more than any other allied officer. While Eisenhower and Bradley sounded compassionate and caring, they were more concerned about the sensibilities of the British and Russians, appearances, and public comments. Their concerns cost a tragic number of lives. It was Patton's audacity and ruthlessness in battle that could have ended the war in Europe in the fall of 1944 when Patton saw an opening to march through the heartland of Germany, take Berlin, and then march on to Czechoslovakia to stop the Russians from taking Eastern Europe.

Professor Hanson follows Patton in his march through Europe and examines each of the numerous occasions when allied commanders (Eisenhower and Bradley) refused to take Patton's advice, placed roadblocks in his way, were unable to see the tragic consequences of a flawed battle plan or delay, and prevented him from racing forward. In each case tens of thousands died in German death camps, the German army, and the allied forces, as the war dragged on longer than necessary.

While each General is covered in a separate part, in Part III focusing on Patton there are comparisons to Epaminondas (his battle against Sparta) and Sherman (the Civil War) - how their challenges differed; the size of their Armies and the particular problems they faced with re-supply, terrain, the enemy, and their own chain of command; and how the changing nature of warfare created new obstacles or advantages for each.

In one chapter, for example, we learn how slavery differed in early Greece, from America during the Civil War, and Germany during World War II. Professor Hanson explains how Germany was unique in its efforts to murder entire categories of Jews, Poles, Slavs, and gypsies. In addition to the efficient delivery of death to the Jews, Professor Hanson explains how in the two earlier cases the Greeks and the South looked on their slaves as property and maintained them as valuable assets. This rationale was entirely absent for Germany and more died from slave labor than the number of Jews murdered in the concentration camps.

For anyone who has recently seen the George C. Scott performance of Patton, scenes from the movie come alive on these pages as Patton races recklessly to the front to lead his men into battle. Furthermore, the past speaks to us about the pressing issues facing us today in Iraq, the Middle East, our military leadership, our news media coverage of the war, and how we conduct warfare.

The Importance of Moral Conviction in War
This book explores three immensely effective generals: General William Tecumseh Sherman, General George Patton and the lesser-known Epaminondas of Thebes. General Sherman planned and led the infamous "march to the sea" during the U.S. Civil War. This campaign annihilated everything in its path, including the city of Atlanta. However, this march did shatter the spirit of the Confederates and was instrumental in securing the victory for the North.

Patton was an innovative general who always demanded hot meals and clean socks for his men but also expected prompt compliance, tidy appearance and flawless execution of his edicts. Patton is also known for his ruthlessly efficient campaigns in North Africa, Sicily as well as his leadership during the Battle of the Bulge and his blitzkrieg-like march from Normandy to Czechoslovakia.

Epaminondas is a little known general from the Greek city-state of Thebes who heroically led his people out of subjugation from the brutal Spartan rule. Unfortunately, I found this section more difficult to read, as I had almost no prior context of knowledge of Epaminondas to build on.

Hanson draws many convincing parallels between the three. All three enjoyed legendary success during their military campaigns. All three also understood the unfortunate necessity of engaging in total war when forced into war with an ideological enemy. Moreover, all three led highly controversial campaigns despite being instrumental in winning the war. Sherman is known for the devastation that he left behind him in Atlanta. Patton's career was nearly ended for slapping a weeping soldier who claimed to suffer from battle fatigue.

Most importantly, all understood the importance of moral conviction. Hanson persuasively argues how having moral certainty was crucial to the success of each of these leaders. Each recognized that they were combating a true evil (Epaminondas - Spartan oppression; Sherman - chattel slavery; Patton - Nazism). Sherman would frequently write about the savage racism and the brutal treatment of slaves that he observed in the South. Patton would constantly make fiery moral condemnations of Nazi Germany. Contrast the success of these conflicts to the failures of conflicts when one army lacked the moral certainty to fight (e.g., U.S. in Vietnam or Athens during the Peloponnesian war.)

Overall, despite some unnecessary repetition, this book is well worth reading simply as a biography on these three great generals. Moreover, Hanson's thesis is fairly good, but it can certainly use some polishing. In particular, I would have preferred to see Hanson delve into what these men were fighting *for*; not just what they were fighting against. Hanson does repeatedly claim that they fought for "democracy". However, since Hanson never really clarifies what the essentials of a democracy are (i.e., Is it the democratic elections? Is it the limited government? Is it the relatively pro-market orientation of the governments?). Unfortunately, this makes Hanson's thesis more superficial than it could be.

If you enjoyed this book, then I also highly recommend 'Nothing Less Than Victory' by John David Lewis. ... Read more

Product Description
Spanning the wide world of sports, this volume is packed with everything you could possibly want to know about hundreds of sports. Along with detailed information on how sports are played around the world, the Encyclopedia of World Sport explores emotions and issues surrounding the sporting life and looks at sport as an essential part of the human experience. Readers will find fascinating entries on baseball and badminton, tennis and takraw, as well as on an incredible range of activities played around the globe from ancient times up to the present. Lucid and authoritative, this work-- called "the newest sporting bible" by The Times of London--covers every Olympic sport, obscure activities such as buzkashi and jousting, and indigenous games in dozens of nations.

In addition to its coverage of individual sports, the Encyclopedia examines the history and evolution of sport as a societal institution as well as the events and influences shaping the contemporary sporting world. Entries provide unique coverage of aggression, ethics, sports psychology, media, law and medicine, the development of women's sports, and the business and politics of modern sport. The Encyclopedia of World Sport is the definitive reference on the history, practice, and culture of sports throughout the world.Amazon.com Review
You name it--from acrobatics to yachting, with stuff likeboomerang throwing, gymkhana, jousting, korfball, and wushu inbetween--if it's a sport, it's in here. Of course, this thoroughlycomprehensive and sophisticated reference is far more than a hymn toarcane competitions; the majors--baseball, football, basketball,soccer, tennis, and golf--all receive thoughtful and extensivetreatment. Still, it's the breadth of the Encyclopedia of WorldSport that turns a fascinating reference for the sports-curiousand sports-obsessed into a truly staggering one.

Within each sport(more than 200 make the cut), individual entries vary in length anddepth depending on popularity and/or importance, and for the majorsports they are quite extensive. Yet most entries provide someinformation about history, rules, and cultural influences. Some evenoffer rudiments of how the games are played, though the "Encyclopedia"is certainly no how-to manual. Most importantly, the volume seeks tograsp the larger picture and import of games and competitions aroundthe world; with entries on aggression, drug testing, law, ethics,media, environment, commercialization, spectators, literature, andeven movies, it's a volume assembled to appeal as much to thoseinterested in thinking about sports as to those who play them. Most ofthe contributors are academics, and at times the text reflectsthat--and illustrations, especially of the more obscure activities,would have only helped the effort--but that's a fair price to pay fora one-volume compendium that can place the wide world of sports quiteliterally in your hands. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

One of the Best Syntheses Available of Florida's Native American Cultures
This book is a synthesis of Milanich's previously published works on Florida's pre-columbian and colonial-era archaeology and history.Beginning with the Paleoindian period and ending with the modern Seminole Indians, Milanich does a fantastic job of giving good, detailed, interesting, and readable information about all of Florida's Native American cultures, from the ancient past through the present.

For those who have previously read Milanich's two-volume set, ARCHAEOLOGY OF PRECOLUMBIAN FLORIDA and FLORIDA INDIANS AND THE INVASION FROM EUROPE, this book combines and updates both, and is a very useful reference tool for the general reader interested in Florida's archaeology and history and for the specialist needing to refer to Florida's Native cultures.I highly recommend it.

An excellent introduction to Florida Indians
This book is an excellent introduction to the history of the real Florida Indians - tribes other than the Seminoles and Miccosukee. The author weaves together an interesting history through a timeline approach, providing enough detail to satisfy an academic audience, but he is also a good storyteller to keep novices interested. Provides rich detail on lifestyles, culture and everyday life of the Florida Indian.

Lots of info, fun to read
Jerald T Milanich's "Florida's Indians from the Ancient Times to the Present" provides a comprehensive easy to read account of Florida's rich archaeological heritage. Milanich's style is entirely assessable to the general public without compromising the academic content. The book includes a temporal and geographic discussion of Florida's native peoples and key sites from the paleo period to the present. There is a 16 page section of full color photographs as well as several sections of sidebars that include information ranging from accounts of 19th century archaeologists to recipes for acorn cakes. The only signifigant problem with the content is that statements regarding agriculture in the area are not based on any direct evidence and, more importantly, the book lacks an index which makes its use as a reference source difficult. The book, however, relays a vast amount of information interestingly and efficiently. It would be a valuable entry to the library of both the amateur archaeologist and the academic. ... Read more

Product Description
This lavish visual history traces and records the development of Britain's finest secular buildings in the years up to 1486. It describes and explains the changes in method and style from the ancient earthworks and Roman forts to the splendors of castle building. ... Read more

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Discusses how pottery was made and used in ancient times and describes how archaeologists use these vessels today to learn about the past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Light on details, but interesting
This book is part of the new Changing Times series, which discusses the culture and customs of Ancient Greece (the first four books in the series were more general). This book discusses crime and punishment in Ancient Greece, covering everything from the laws and law enforcement, through the crimes and the various punishments handed out.

Overall, I found this to be an interesting book. It is rather light on details, but its focus on a little-known subject (at least to me) makes it quite interesting anyway. The focus of the series is to interest the younger reader in other times, and what they were like, and I think that the book is very good at that.

So, if you are looking for a bright and colorful introduction to crime and punishment in Ancient Greece, then this is a good book for you to get. If you want a highly informative book that will give you a deep understanding on Greek jurisprudence, then you will be disappointed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Very Misleading Title

I was excited to buy this book to help with history education for my children. HOWEVER, it is possibly the worst excuse for a "history" book that I have ever seen. Any "history" book that contains extensive biographies of people that haven't been proven to have truly existed (such as Eve and Noah)is not what I want for my children.They can decide in church about those things. I want my history to be about ACTUAL people/events that are proveable and documented by more than one source. As I read through the book it made me wonder why she didn't have "biographies" of Paul Bunyan, The Headless Horseman, or The Leprechaun King.

By including those possibly fictional characters it really made me wonder about the validity of the other biographies of documented people in the book.It also made me really question the overall intelligence of the author. I would not buy this or any other book associated with this author ever again.

Biblical FICTION and not historical biographies
This is a book of biographies of people in the bible.If its supposed to be biographies of ancient figures, why not Plato? Caesar?Nebuchadnezzar?Instead its filled with Eve, Daniel and Noah.These are not biographies either.Its fictionalized stories of what the author THINKS might have happened.I have no problem with Biblical characters, but why would I read someone's fictionalized version instead of reading the 1 and only true account from the Bible? It looks like great fiction, but NOT historical biographies!

People in Ancient Times Come to Life
I loved reading biographies as a kid, but many of them can be pretty dry. My kids don't enjoy them as much as I do because they prefer stories. This collection has been a Godsend for us because the 8 biographies read like stories, not typical biographies. When you're reading one of the passages, it's as if the author has put himself/herself in the famous person's shoes and is talking from a first-person perspective. Purists might object to some of the dramatic license taken with some of the stories, but the embellishments are an enhancement for kids, not a detraction. We also have "What Really Happened During the Middle Ages," and this year we're going to get "What Really Happened During Colonial Times."

Brings history to life...
Wonderful series!Several famous people from Ancient Times are brought to life in this collection of stories that are the perfect length for read-aloud evenings with your children.If you enjoyed the narrative style of "Adam and His Kin" by Ruth Beechick, then you'll enjoy this book as well.

Great book - educational and fun reading for entire family!
I am always looking for fun ways to bring history into my homeschool. My kids, grades 5 and 7, have an extreme love of our daily read-aloud time. History textbooks can be very boring with their lists of dates or rules to memorize ... or their often "dry" articles which only serve to try and impart boring fact after boring fact. Even if I use a textbook in my homeschool, I try to supplement with reading that is interesting to my children. What Really Happened in Ancient Times is a "collection of historical biographies" and fits the bill perfectly!

This book includes biographies on Eve, Noah, Gilgamesh, Imhotep, Daniel, Cyrus the Great, Eratosthenes, and Constantine. The majority of the chapters are written in story fashion, with each contributing author embellishing historical fact with their own interpretation of what they believe life was like during that historical person's life. Each chapter also includes a map of the area being discussed and a beautifully drawn portrait of the subject. Because the histories are written in story fashion, the reader is transported back in time and is able to visualize what life was like thousands of years ago - what the people wore, what they ate, where they lived and worked, etc. Because we are not familiar with several of these historical figures, it does take a bit of thinking to read two of them, Cyrus and Constantine. I recommend reading these chapters twice. During the first reading, draw out a chart of the names and places to see how they are interconnected or related. This makes the second reading much easier because the chart helps the reader through the chapter.

Several of the chapters piqued my interest due to the story they told. The "Imhotep" chapter portrays Joseph (from the Biblical story of "the coat of many colors") as Imhotep himself - he is renamed after becoming the Pharoah's second in command. I had never heard of this before, but a quick search on the Internet displayed some articles comparing the historical and Biblical accounts of both men and I can see that this is a definite possibility! The chapter on Noah was my favorite as I tried to visualize the ark's length, which is equivalent to one and one-half lengths of a football field. A recent article in an Answers in Genesis newsletter states that only about one-third of the ark was full!

When stories can paint pictures for my children and spark interest for further research of a topic (for me!), then I want to have that book used in my homeschool! The other currently available title in this series is What Really Happened During the Middle Ages? Two more titles are to be published in 2007 - What Really Happened in Colonial Times? (tentative spring release) and What Really Happened During the Modern Era? (tentative fall release). I would recommend this book for ages 8 and up, with the parent giving more assistance to the younger students so that they can understand the story being told.
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