Ancient Rome

Children's Literature

AGERANGE: Ages 10 to 14.

Imagine walking through a marketplace in ancient Rome. Vendors hawking their wares call out to you. A cohort of soldiers dressed in their metal armor marches past with gladuses hanging from their hips. Men and women trail behind wealthier customers as is proper for a slave. The smells of the produce and fresh meat fill the air. It is this clarity of imagery that is presented in Michael Corbishley's contribution to the "Cultural Atlas for Young People" series. In Ancient Rome Corbishley provides a brief overview of the history and functioning of Republican and Imperial Rome. This illustrated book is split into two primary sections. In part one the author details facts linked to Roman history, keynote personalities, and the daily functioning of the Roman world. Part two is a cultural geography that offers a brief analyses of the characteristics of life in the various portions of the Roman Empire. Throughout the text lavish illustrations capture the spirit of the Roman way of life. This combination of text and imagery makes Ancient Rome a book that will appeal to youngsters interested in this ancient civilization, its people, and the ways in which Roman life continues to influence the modern world. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck

Children's Literature - Beverly Kobrin

This 9 1/2 x 12 inch, lavishly illustrated atlas is a first-rate introduction to its culture. You can use the well-organized presentations as lesson plan guide. Your students will find the two-page subtopics ideal introduction to subjects they'll want to research further. Coverage includes the Etruscans, the beginnings of Rome, the rise of Julius Caesar and plenty more.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Good overviews of ancient civilizations utilizing an atlas format as a guide for organization. Topical spreads address political, cultural, and historical subjects. In Rome, Corbishley covers its founding to the reign of Diocletian. A chapter on Pompeii and its destruction is included. Information on architecture and typical towns and villas provides a glimpse of Roman life. Major cities of the provinces are also mentioned. Egypt begins with 3100 B.C.E. and ends with the coming of the Romans. Detailed descriptions of the treasures of Tutankhamon and the city of Memphis are particularly interesting. Greece includes a brief history from the Minoan civilization to the Roman conquest. Discussions of Athens, Sparta, Philip of Macedon, and Alexander the Great are also included. The Olympic games, religion, daily life and the role of women, as well as discussions of the Akropolis and the sculptures of the Parthenon, will heighten readers' interest. In all three titles, some information has been updated and new illustrations, including digital maps, added. Color drawings, photographs, and maps elucidate the texts. A table of dates provides a visual correlation of the time periods for historical events, art, architecture, and literature. Insets in the chapters offer additional information, especially historical periods. These books are valuable for research and for a brief overview of the history of these civilizations.-Lana Miles, Duchesne Academy, Houston, TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.