Enduring Cultures

 

 

Ancient Cultures Comparison:

Mesopotamia, China, Greece and Rome

 

Note: Teacher requested a few books on Mesopotamia and China, but to focus research on Greece and Rome.

 

PRINT RESOURCES: NON-FICTION

 

          General Books on Ancient World

Usborne Book of the Ancient World, Jane Chisholm 

http://tinyurl.com/ydsmsyx

An overview book with wonderful illustrations.  It begins with Ancient Civilizations and continues with Egypt, Greece, Rome and China.   

 

 

          Mesopotamia 

Ancient Mesopotamia (Cultural Atlas for Young People series), Erica Hunter

http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Mesopotamia-Cultural-Atlas-People/dp/0816068240/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264600222&sr=1-1

Part of a series, these are highly reviewed.  This newer edition of Ancient Mesopotamia is noted for it's thoughtful insights.  See others in this series including Ancient Greece and Rome, listed below. 

 

Mesopotamia (DK Eyewitness Book), Philip Steele

http://www.amazon.com/Mesopotamia-Eyewitness-Books-Philip-Steele/dp/0756629721/ref=pd_sim_b_27 

The familiar and effective DK Eyewitness format on all things Mesopotamia.  

 

Mesopotamia: Creating and Solving Word Problems, Bonnie Coulter Leech

http://tinyurl.com/yj9ca59

This book approaches the teaching of Ancient Mesopotamia through realistic math problems.   The idea to integrate math and social studies is so rare that I thought this book would be a good one for you to use as a springboard.   Mathematical problems include multiplication, division, percentages, and determining area and volume. Sumerian and Babylonian number systems, including cuneiforms and the base 10 number systems, are compared.  School Library Review voted it as a "Best Books For Middle And Junior High Readers: Grades 6-9" for 2009.  High praise.

 

 

          Ancient Greece 

Ancient Greece, Anne Pearson

http://tinyurl.com/ye6xb6r

These DK books are hard to beat.  They have beautiful illustrations, lots of information without being too "word-heavy" for students.  Covers lots of ground without sacrificing students' attention. Grades 4-8

 

Ancient Greece, Andrew Langley

http://tinyurl.com/yb5syor

"They introduce not a history of art, but rather a history through art" is how School Library Journal Review explains this unique book.  Well organized, primary source information will help your students become historians themselves as they delve into the art of the era and make their own theories and conclusions. Gr 5-8

 

Ancient Greece, Anton Powell 

http://tinyurl.com/yh4jnlc 

The series this book comes from is called "Cultural Atlas for Young People".  However, the book holds much more than atlases of Ancient Greece.  Powell, a historian from Wales, incorporates information on the people, culture, and geography of Ancient Greece.  It may be a tad high reading level for some of your students, however, a book worth checking into further. There is another title in this series for Ancient Rome.

 

History News: The Greek News, Anton Powell 

http://www.amazon.com/History-News-Greek-Anton-Powell/dp/0763641979/ref=pd_sim_b_31

From the series you requested.

 

Trade & Warfare, Robert Hull

http://tinyurl.com/yjduja5

Focuses on the economics aspect of trade in Ancient Greece.  There are more titles in this series available through WCLS.  It is nice that the topics are broken down into sub topics such as "Everyday Life", "Religion and the Gods", however, some lackluster reviews of these topics which can be better served by books such as Anne Pearson's Ancient Greece.  However, this title on Trade and Warfare so specifically encompasses what you are studying, it might be worth a closer look.

 

You Are In Ancient Greece, Ivan Minnis 

http://tinyurl.com/yca79fb

Social history written in a second-person, present-tense voice brings life in Ancient Greece to life.  Learn about the busy streets, how people dressed, what they ate and what life was like for children. There is a whole series of these books that fit your topic (one on Egypt and Rome) and could be really great for getting kids excited and connected to this period of history, especially lower-end readers as this is written for grades 3-6. 

 

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Slave in Ancient Greece!, Fiona MacDonald

http://www.amazon.com/Wouldnt-Want-Slave-Ancient-Greece/dp/0531162036/ref=pd_sim_b_6

This is such a fun series and a must-have for your collection.  Great illustrations provide a sometimes humorous, though informative, and unquestionably kid-friendly format.  Highly recommened with sturdy reviews. Other titles include one on "You Wouldn't Want to be an Egyptian Mummy". Gr 4-6.

 

   

       Ancient Rome 

Ancient Rome (Cultural Atlas for Young People),

http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Cultural-Atlas-Young-People/dp/0816068224/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264600502&sr=1-4

 

The Ancient Romans, Allison Lassieur

http://tinyurl.com/ykrhjjq

High praise for this series from School Library Journal Review who state that "even libraries that have plenty of material on the topic may want to consider this volume..."  Lots of solid and interesting information that goes beyond the standard looking into topics such as laws that prevented women from owning land and wealth.  For grades 6-8. 

 

Eyewitness Ancient Rome, Simon James

http://tinyurl.com/yg2hgmn

The Eyewitness book have lots of illustrations and pictures that can provide some of the primary source artifacts you requested. 

 

History News: The Roman News, Andrew Langley

http://www.amazon.com/History-News-Roman-Andrew-Langley/dp/0763641995/ref=pd_sim_b_1

From the series you requested. 

 

Staying Alive in Ancient Rome: Life in Ancient Rome, Brian Williams

http://www.amazon.com/Staying-Alive-Ancient-Rome-Raintree/dp/141092890X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264602765&sr=1-1

How can you pass up this title without looking further?  Reviewers from Horn Book note that the book "tends to oversimplify the complexities of ancient life, the plentiful illustrations and graphics and the range of topics make these books useful."  Grades 4-6.

 

The Romans: Life in Ancient Rome (Life in Ancient Civilizations), Liz Sonneborn

http://www.amazon.com/Romans-Life-Ancient-Rome-Civilizations/dp/0822586797/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264600799&sr=1-1#noop

Comic book style illustrations, artifact photos and "conversational" writing style make this book notable among the many on this topic.  Covers topics such as ideas and inventions, which I think might mesh well with your study, as well as the basics around daily life and government. Check out others in this series as well.  For grades 4-6. 

 

Your Travel Guide to Ancient Rome, Rita J. Markel

http://tinyurl.com/ygftc6z

Borrowing the format of a travel guide, the author takes kids on a "tour" of Ancient Rome.  Readers delve into the world in a sort of 'chose your own adventure' while learning about the Ancient World.  While not a book you would use for a full-scope, it does have lots of fun tidbits, maps, illustrations, boxed information and a whimsical style that is sure to appeal.  Strong reviews.

 

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Gladiator!, John Malam

http://www.amazon.com/You-Wouldnt-Want-Roman-Gladiator/dp/0531162044/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264483641&sr=1-3

See review above for You Wouldn't Want to be series.

 

 

     Ancient China

Ancient China, Jane Shuter

http://tinyurl.com/yf635bo

From the "Time Travelers" series, find out "what to eat" and "where to stay" in this adventure-packed study of Ancient China.  These texts can tend to oversimplify the topic, according to SLJ reviewer, but are very engaging.

 

Ancient China,  Arthur Cotterell

http://tinyurl.com/yhynd9y

Another DK Eyewitness book, always a popular book to browse with lots of pictures and informative text.

 

Exploring the Life, Myth, and Art of Ancient China (Civilizations of the World), Edward Shaughnessy

http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Ancient-China-Civilizations-World/dp/1435856171/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264601106&sr=1-1 

These books are written by experts in their field, which give them a lively intensity and go much deeper than others in its class.  Photos, illustrations accompany text.  I like that they start with the culture's mythology to give readers a sense of how the cultures thinks of themselves.  Though written for 7 and up audience, it might be just fine for some of your more motivated students. 

 

National Geographic Investigates: Ancient China,  Jacqueline Ball and Richard Levey

http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Investigates-Ancient-Archaeology/dp/079227783X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264602407&sr=1-1

Fantastic photographs accompany all the books in this series.  Check out the others for Ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece.  Focuses on archeology of the region and what finds have taught us about the society.  Might not mesh well with your topic, but high reviews make it worth a look.

 

 

PRINT RESOURCES: FICTION

His Majesty, Queen Hatshepsut, Dorothy Sharp Carter  

http://tinyurl.com/ylkgrtf   

The teen queen who declared herself king is brought to life through this fictionalize work.  For ages 10 and up.  From reviews, novel starts off strong, but lacks momentum for kids as she is an adult for much of the book. Still, might be worth checking out.

 

 

DVD/CD-ROM RESOURCES

Ancient Civilizations for Children DVD Series

http://tinyurl.com/qb74mz

Strong reviews for these productions for their fast-pace yet informative look at the Ancient World.  Booklist lauds the videos as "...solid, polished productions."  The series excells in making connections between ancient cultures and our world today.  There are 10 videos in the series and you can purchase Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Rome and China individually.

 

Timelines of Ancient Civilizations Series 

http://www.libraryvideo.com/product.asp?sku=F0605&mscssid=DFQ0NXTTXD918KJAGKF72XDM41839F0B

Another series similar to the Ancient Civilizations for Kids, but no professional reviews.  I included it just to give you a sense of what else is out there.  I think the Ancient Civ. for Kids is a much better choice as it gets strong thumbs up from all reviews.   

 

 

 

 

ONLINE RESOURCES

     Premium Digital Resources (must have WCLS card to access) 

elibrary

http://elibrary.bigchalk.com.ezproxy.wcls.org:2048/elibweb/elib/do/search

Be sure to check out this fantastic resource available to you through the WCLS website for free.  Just type in your library card number and then start searching for full text magazine articles, photos, videos and much more on any given topic.  I didn't have time to research this in depth, however , just by plugging in "Ancient Rome" in the search box, I got these results:

     Ancient Rome: http://elibrary.bigchalk.com.ezproxy.wcls.org:2048/elibweb/elib/do/results?set=search&source=&maxresultsperpage=0&start=1&secondaryNav=

 

 

     Other Digitial Resources (do not need WCLS card to access) 

Mr. Donn's

http://www.mrdonn.org/

Who is this magical Mr. Donn?  I'm not sure, but clearly a Mrs. Donn is also part of the teaching duo. Amazing website.  Check at the bottom of the home page -even has free powerpoint presentations. 

 

Life in Mesopotamia,  Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago

http://mesopotamia.lib.uchicago.edu/

An extensive website filled with lesson plans for K-12 all on Mesopotamia.  One lesson plan has kids break a vase and recreate what archeologist do by trying to glue it back together.  The "Learning Connections" section allow you to zoom in on a primary source and have a closer look.  The "Interactive" link allows students to come up with theories about various artifacts such as in this ancient pull-toy interactive:    

     Pull Toy Interactive: http://mesopotamia.lib.uchicago.edu/interactives/pulltoy.html 

 

World History Lesson Plans, EDSITEment

 http://edsitement.neh.gov/tab_lesson.asp?subjectArea=3&subcategory=32

Take a seat and start clicking - this website has some good stuff.  Lots of high quality lesson plans organized by grade level, subject and on so many topics it is a bit overwhelming.  All have links to primary source material incorportated into the lessons. 

         Life in Old Babylonia: The Importance of Trade

         http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=644