Nardo, Don. Classical Civilization: Greece.

Nardo, Don.  Classical Civilization: Greece.    Morgan Reynolds   112  $28.95 978-1-59935-173-5   ms/hs     Series: World History     VG-BNS

This book provides an overview of ancient Greece and its continuing influence on contemporary society.        Modern-day Greece is a small country with modest input into contemporary world affairs.  However, the ancient Greeks set in motion ideas and practices that greatly influenced Western civilization as a whole. 

Readers will find the concise, straightforward prose easy to understand as they learn about Greek warfare, tactics, and heroes.  Nardo clearly describes how the ancient Greeks created the foundations of modern political, artistic, and social culture.  The Greeks’ contribution to the development of scientific disciplines such as biology, botany, and astronomy are also discussed, as well as Greek architecture.  The chapter on the Olympics dispels the myth that the original games were limited to amateur athletes who received no financial gain through participation. 

Photographs and illustrations are judiciously included, highlighting related text.  The sidebars contain useful facts and offer more insight into the topics under discussion.

A useful timeline, extensive source list and bibliography are included, plus a list of related websites that will be helpful to student researchers.  There is also a glossary and index.

Nardo’s text provides a solid overview of the many ways the Greeks helped to shape western civilization, and continue to influence contemporary life.                                                  --Hilary Welliver

Nardo, Don. Classical Civilization: Rome.

Nardo, Don. Classical Civilization: Rome.  Morgan Reynolds  128p  $28.95      978-1-59935-174-2       jr/sr Series: World History           VG         

This is a historical overview of ancient Rome, its leaders and its world expansion.       It is not known where the Romans originally came from, but there are legends that point in the direction of ancient Troy and one of its survivors.  Regardless of where they came from, they settled in Italy and took over the region and expanded their rule.  There were numerous excellent Roman leaders, such as Julius Caesar, a Roman Statesmen and military leader who left a lasting impression on Rome. The Romans conquered a very large part of the world, and everywhere they went they built roads, aqueducts, baths, magnificent buildings and many other wonders. The Romans left a legacy that is still influential today.  For example, the U.S. Senate was fashioned after the Roman senate, and today we use Roman models for roads and urban planning.

World History is a series that includes eight books on ancient worlds.  Each book has a bibliography, a list of sources, a timeline, pictures, maps, a list of web sites, a glossary and an index.       --Magna Diaz

Trueit, Trudi Strain. The Vikings.

Trueit, Trudi Strain.           The Vikings. Marshall Cavendish/Benchmark, 2012.  64p  $26.28.  ISBN 978-1-60870-76          ms       VG-BNS                    

This book focuses on the discoveries and inventions of the ancient Viking civilization in the areas of transportation, agriculture, architecture, science, and technology.  Students who need to gain extensive knowledge about the Vikings will find this title appealing.  Filled with information about the male warriors, The Vikings teaches students that the Vikings were incredibly gifted at sea and used their skills and technology in sea travel to gain wealth, conquer territories, establish settlements, make trades, and discover new lands.  The Vikings made raids to provide for their families back home and to create adventures that sometimes led to new settlements and discoveries.  The author provides readers with a sense of what life was like during the Viking Age and how the institution of family was at the center of Viking civilization.  Many ideas were developed by their ancestors, and perhaps they borrowed ideas from other cultures as well.  The author includes an entire chapter on how Viking men and women made a living and/or did their jobs, including farming, fishing, and cooking.  The architecture used during the Viking era included sturdy structures that could withstand wind, snow, and rain.  Since Viking families usually grouped together to live, building designs needed to be simple but also make use of all the space available for family members.  The Vikings traveled by land and sea, and as they traveled they discovered new establishments and territories.
The Vikings includes color photographs, portrait reprints, interesting fact boxes, a timeline of events, a glossary, a list of recommended books and websites, and a comprehensive index.    It is one book in the series Technology of the Ancients.  Each title in this series focuses on world history, beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the twentieth century.  Each book gives readers an up-close look at the ingenuity of forward-thinking inventors and engineers from the early civilizations.

Subject: Vikings                                                                                              Charleen Forba-Mayer