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Overview
With dozens of entries describing the history of ancient civilizations and the landscapes in which they thrived, this new reference series uses maps, reconstructed artworks, and photographs to provide invaluable information about the great cultures of the past.
This book describes not only the Aztec and the Maya, but also other peoples who were among the earliest Americans. It takes the reader from ancient temple mounds in Ohio to the ruins of Machu Picchu, high in the mountains of Peru.
Synopsis
With dozens of entries describing the history of ancient civilizations and the landscapes in which they thrived, this new reference series uses maps, reconstructed artworks, and photographs to provide invaluable information about the great cultures of the past.
This book describes not only the Aztec and the Maya, but also other peoples who were among the earliest Americans. It takes the reader from ancient temple mounds in Ohio to the ruins of Machu Picchu, high in the mountains of Peru.
Children's Literature
Although the title names specific groups of people who lived in Mesoamerica (today known as Central America) and in South America, the Inca of Peru are also featured. They comprise the second part of the book. The first section describes various Native American peoples beginning at about 1500 BCE. It is significant to note that the "Facts at Your Fingertips" series includes the ancient cultures of Egypt, Rome, Greece and Mesopotamia. A clear introduction helps ground the books as to their scope and structure. They are prepared for older youngsters with a good balance of basic text and colorful illustrations which include fascinating maps, drawings, artifacts, photographs, and charts. Further resources are given in a Glossary, short bibliography, websites, and an Index. Atlas-like maps state time periods and have colored keys to indicate specific regions where groups lived or migrated to. Students can then easily compare locations with present day boundaries. Ample captions supply more information for every illustration. In this particular book, the collection of data focuses on how the early Americas was a land of diversity in terms of land forms, weather, natural resources and therefore types of adaptations. According to conditions at the time, for instance, mountainous terrain required a much different set of survival skills than the Great Plains, coastal or desert regions. Whether a group was hunting and gathering, farming, or generating city growth depended more on the geographic location and accompanying supply of animals, water sources, and other natural elements. Migration and flexibility was necessary as environments changed or natural resources were exhausted. Thus, differenthome types such as mound builders, cliff or cave dwellers, and mobile tent inhabitants also reflected varying characteristics. Familiar Native Americans are discussed like the Intuit, Iroquois, Mayans, Aztecs and Incas, but lesser known ones like the Ipiutak in Alaska and the Olmec Civilization of Mexico are featured as well. Splendid archeological sites and artifacts bring to life the story of early peoples who lived in North, Central and South America. All books in "Facts at Your Fingertips" are under one hundred pages and present similar types of evidence which scientists have carefully uncovered around the world. Reviewer: Susan Treadway, M.Ed.