Books in Picturing the Past series

First cultivated by the Sumerians, who were replaced by the Assyrians and the Babylonians, Mesopotamia is commonly known as the cradle of civilization, for it was there that the first cities and monumental temples were built, and there too that writing, schools, libraries, written law codes, mathematics and astronomy developed. Today this land is known as Iraq. Beginning with irrigation and the formation of cities, Mesopotamia: Iraq in Ancient Times covers such topics as farming, writing, craft, trade, domestic life, religion, warfare, burial, kingship and law. Using artifacts, such as a vase or a cuneiform tablet, geographical sites, and archaeological evidence, this book looks at the past in a new and exciting way. It does this by showing in simple graphic terms how ancient buildings and objects were actually used, and by providing examples of numerous everyday objects.Each two-page spread covers a different topic. text, photographs, illustrations, archaeology information boxes and time-lines are used to great affect. Captions and diagramming also are used to relate the different elements of the presentation, and each spread contains a link to an authoritative website for further information. A chronology of political and social history, as well as a glossary and index are included.Informative and amply illustrated, Mesopotamia: Iraq in Ancient Times is sure to prove of great interest, particularly at this time, in the aftermath of war and the looting of the Iraqi National Museum, which housed many of the oldest artifacts of Western Civilization. The Picturing the Past Series:How do we know what we know about ancient peoples and their cultures that have disappeared? Ultimately, there are three main sources of information: the images that survive in wall paintings, ceramics and sculptures; artifacts, such a jewelry, utensils, toys, clothing, and tools; and the writings of ancient authors that have survived the ravages of time. From such sources, it is possible to begin to reconstruct the life of the distant past with an astonishing degree of accuracy.

Much of Greece is covered by mountains. This made it hard to travel around by land in ancient times. But Greece is also surrounded by sea on three sides, and has many islands around the mainland. So the sea was always important to the ancient Greeks. They traveled by sea as much as they could. This meant they needed harbors to land in. Some of these harbors grew into ports – places where ships came from all over ancient Greece. Ports were especially useful to traders, because they could meet there to trade.

Rome grew from a small settlement on the banks of the Tiber to become a great city, and eventually the capital of the greatest empire of the ancient world. The legacy of Rome is its Latin language, its laws, its architecture and the urge to create empire, from the Holy Roman Empire itself to the European Union.Ancient Rome recreates the lives and beliefs of the ancient Romans in a lively and historically specific manner through linking text with photographs and illustrations to describe daily life over a period of 600 years (200 BCE-400 CE). By connecting an illustration of the past to current photographs, Ancient Rome provides a clear picture of how ancient life is reconstructed. Archaeology and "How Do We Know?" boxes, providing evidence for the information presented, show how knowledge of the past is authenticated. A detailed timeline, a glossary, a further information section and an index round out this clearly presented and engaging book.Rich with evidence and colorful descriptions, Ancient Rome is a valuable guide to discovering the roots of western civilization.Ancient Rome is part of the Picturing the Past Series from Enchantend Lion Books:How do we know what we know about ancient peoples and their cultures that have disappeared? Ultimately, there are three main sources of information: the images that survive in wall paintings, ceramics and sculptures; artifacts, such a jewelry, utensils, toys, clothing, and tools; and the writings of ancient authors that have survived the ravages of time. From such sources, it is possible to begin to reconstruct the life of the distant past with an astonishing degree of accuracy.

The Picture the Past series looks at the many kinds of communities in America's past. Each book describes what made each community different and what children and adults did each day. Life in a Colonial Town In this book, visit one of the first towns in America. See how craftspeople made clothes, tools, and wagon wheels. Visit a house to find out how families found and made their food. Then use a recipe to cook a real American treat–apple pancakes!

This book describes what life was like in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam from 1624 to 1664. A colony is a small town created by a country in a new or different land. New Amsterdam was first settled along the Hudson River Valley of what is now New York State. Soon after the colony was set up, it became centered on what is today the island of Manhattan in New York City. The colony was named after the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, from where many of the colonists had come. We have illustrated the book with paintings and drawings from colonial times and with artists’ ideas of how things looked then.

The Picture the Past series looks at the many kinds of communities in America's past. Each book describes what made each community different and what children and adults did each day. Life in a California Mission In this book, learn why Spanish settlers built missions in California. Find out how the Spanish missions changed the way native Americans lived. Discover what life was like for people living and working there. Learn about mission churches, workshops, and farms, and the foods they grew. Then use a recipe to make a California mission treat–jiricalla!

Egypt was one of the great civilizations of the ancient world. Egyptian monuments, temples and royal tombs have provided a rich source for understanding the lives of ancient Egyptians. But Egypt was more the pharaohs, priests and pyramid builders. There were farmers, craftspeople, traders, doctors and artists; there were families and children. Dinners were cooked and games were played, while battles were fought and the Nile was kept from flooding. Archaeological discoveries have shed light on the lives and beliefs of ordinary people. Using photographs, illustrations, archaeology information boxes, and "How Do We Know?" boxes, which provide evidence for the information given, Ancient Egypt recreates daily life in remarkable and well-founded detail. An extensive timeline, a glossary, a further information section and an index enrich the book. Ancient Egypt is part of the Picturing the Past Series from Enchantend Lion Books:How do we know what we know about ancient peoples and their cultures that have disappeared? Ultimately, there are three main sources of information: the images that survive in wall paintings, ceramics and sculptures; artifacts, such a jewelry, utensils, toys, clothing, and tools; and the writings of ancient authors that have survived the ravages of time. From such sources, it is possible to begin to reconstruct the life of the distant past with an astonishing degree of accuracy.

The Picture the Past series looks at the many kinds of communities in America's past. Each book describes what made each community different and what children and adults did each day. Life in a Colonial Town In this book, visit one of the first towns in America. See how craftspeople made clothes, tools, and wagon wheels. Visit a house to find out how families found and made their food. Then use a recipe to cook a real American treat–apple pancakes!

The Picture the Past series looks at the many kinds of communities in America's past. Each book describes what made each community different and what children and adults did each day. Life on a Pioneer Homestead In this book, discover how pioneers made new lives in America's new lands in the West. See how they built their houses and made furniture, clothes, and soap. Visit a pioneer school, a general store, and a work party. Learn how the pioneers found and cooked their food. Then use a recipe to cook a pioneer treat–corn bread!