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Overview
Some events from history are not well explained by history books. This may be because people are not sure why or how these events happened. Find out about some of history's most amazing mysteries in Enigmatic Events.
Synopsis
Some events from history are not well explained by history books. This may be because people are not sure why or how these events happened. Find out about some of history's most amazing mysteries in Enigmatic Events.
Children's Literature
The authors begin their book with an explanation that some historical events are based on fact, yet appear mysterious because nobody is really sure how, why, or even what happened. Chapter one takes a look at the lost colony of Roanoke, established by the English in Virginia in the late 1500s. Roanoke was disastrous due to unfriendly Indians, lack of food, drought, and cold winters. When the ship's captain returned to the island after just a few years, the colonists were gone. They never found. When a new English colony was established in Jamestown in 1607, people kept wondering what happened to the colonists in Roanoke. No one knows, and that is why the lost colony is considered an enigmatic events. Also included in this book is another historical event, the Salem witch trials. Witch hunts were common in Europe, and in the late 1600s, they appeared in a Massachusetts colony. A series of events and superstitions led to the arrest of 75 people. On June 10th, the first accused witch was hanged. There were many possible reasons for the witch hunt, but nobody is really sure why or how it led to the trials and execution of at least nineteen people with more dying in jail. This slim thirty-two page book is a quick read that will hold the interests of young readers. Includes black-and-white and color illustrations and photographs, as well as a glossary, a book list, and a list of websites. Part of the "History's Mysteries" series. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi
Editorials
Children's Literature
In this fascinating title from the "Unsolved History" series, the author examines seven historical mysteries. These include the extinction of the dinosaurs, the lost colony of Roanoke, the Salem witch trials, the story of the Mary Celeste ship, the explosions of the Maine and of the Hindenburg, and the Tunguska event. For each historical incident, the author presents the basic facts, and then explains the questions that puzzle historians, such as how and why the colony at Roanoke disappeared. Several theories as to the cause of the unexplained phenomenon are introduced; for example, in describing the extinction of the dinosaurs, Blackwood explains the dominant theory regarding a comet or meteorite hitting the earth. However, he also discusses the gradualist theory that the dinosaurs slowly died out, offering explanations as varied as parasites or disease to other humorous ones, such as aliens hunting them slowly to extinction. In doing so, the author shows how history, as well as science, is a field with a continually evolving body of knowledge. As the author reveals, this leads to a continually changing understanding of the world, as well as the past. Ultimately, Blackwood leaves it up to the reader to decide what theory best explains what happened. Intriguing illustrations help to capture each story's mysterious appeal, as this book is well-designed to encourage readers to delve into history. 2006, Benchmark Books/Marshall Cavendish, Ages 10 to 12.—Laura Ruttig