Rulers of Ancient Rome

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Two series titles about the lives and contributions of important ancient Greeks and Romans. Black-and-white photographs, diagrams, and maps help identify the people and events and provide breaks in the lengthy texts. Although bland in appearance, the volumes are well written, logically organized, and lucid. Rulers begins with a brief history of Rome and proceeds to give a biographical background and discussion of eight military and political figures from Quintus Fabius Maximus, famous for his defense of Rome against Hannibal, to Justinian and his efforts to reunite the Roman Empire. Nardo does a commendable job of presenting their successes as well as their failures. Rosalie F. Baker's Ancient Romans (Oxford Univ., 1998) is another informative source about leading Romans in various fields. Scientists opens with an introductory chapter about the development of scientific thought in ancient Greece before introducing Democritus, Plato, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Archimedes, Ptolemy, and Galen. Although biographical material is included, the emphasis of each chapter is on the men's scientific theories and work. Rosalie F. Baker's Ancient Greeks (Oxford Univ., 1997) includes famous Greeks in the arts, philosophy, and government as well as science. Both of Nardo's titles are reliable resources for reports and provide insight and a better understanding of these two civilizations and their impact on modern life.-Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, OR