Books in Peoples of the Ancient World series

This book is intended for ages 8-14. The Indus River Valley was once home to thriving communities of peoples who worked the land now known as Pakistan. Some of the world's oldest civilisations, including the Harappans and the Maurya and Gupta empires, grew in this fertile region. This beautiful new book, beautifully documents the lives of these remarkable people from long ago. The topics include: farming innovations that helped support larger populations; the arrival of Hinduism and Buddhism; daily life in a Harappan village; the development of the caste system; early language and writing; and the arrival of the White Huns.

Intended for ages 8-14, this fascinating new book describes how Japan grew from rule by local chieftains to an emperor-led nation with many noble families competing for prominence. Beautiful spreads and full-colour photographs unveil Japan's rich history and the people who struggled to make it their own. Topics include: wet rice cultivation; trade with other cultures, their influence, and isolation in the 17th century; from early pit dwellings to the development of castle towns; nature worship, the rise of Shinto, and Buddhism and Confucianism; life as a samurai warrior; sword making and pottery; and herbal medicine.

This volume is a concise introduction to the history and culture of the Huns. This ancient people had a famous reputation in Eurasian Late Antiquity. However, their history has often been evaluated as a footnote in the histories of the later Roman Empire and early Germanic peoples. Kim addresses this imbalance and challenges the commonly held assumption that the Huns were a savage people who contributed little to world history, examining striking geopolitical changes brought about by the Hunnic expansion over much of continental Eurasia and revealing the Huns' contribution to European, Iranian, Chinese and Indian civilization and statecraft. By examining Hunnic culture as a Eurasian whole, The Huns provides a full picture of their society which demonstrates that this was a complex group with a wide variety of ethnic and linguistic identities. Making available critical information from both primary and secondary sources regarding the Huns' Inner Asian origins, which would otherwise be largely unavailable to most English speaking students and Classical scholars, this is a crucial tool for those interested in the study of Eurasian Late Antiquity.

Thousands of years ago, a variety of civilizations developed throughout the land we now know as China. Over time, they grew and changed, eventually forming a single empire. This title details the details the birth and development of ancient China, from its earliest days to its transition into more modern times. Readers will learn about ancient Chinese religion and culture and discover how the work of ancient Chinese scholars and inventors continues to affect our world today.

Want to speak Hittite? Hold out a glass and ask for “wa-tar.” This unique activity book for children ages nine and up shows what life was like among the Nubians, Mesopotamians, Hittites, and their neighbors the Egyptians from around 3100 B.C., when Upper and Lower Egypt became one kingdom, to the death of Queen Cleopatra under the Romans, in 30 B.C. Projects such as building a Nubian irrigation machine, creating a Mesopotamian cylinder seal out of clay, making kilts like those worn by Egyptian boys and men, and writing in Hittite cuneiform help young readers to connect with these ancient cultures and see how profoundly they have influenced our own.

Throughout history, many civilizations have sprung up and later disappeared in the land we now call India.This book charts the rise and fall of these civilizations, exploring their governments, culture, and geography. Readers (Grades 6-9) will also discover how archaeologists have uncovered artifacts to learn about these ancient peoples and how the discoveries and innovations of Ancient India continue to influence the world today.