Books in Spectacular Visual Guides series

Elizabethan London was a vibrant, growing city—and theater, especially that of William Shakespeare, played a major role in its lively culture. There was even a different play every day of the week! Here's your ticket to the Globe, the legendary 20-sided building where Shakespeare's plays were staged. Go backstage to discover how the theater was run, who chose the actors, how big an audience it could hold, and why it was build on the banks of the Thames. Extraordinary illustrations give a dramatic look at life and art in the sixteenth century.

Inside the enormous, boldly designed Roman Colosseum, gladiators fought for their lives as citizens watched the deadly "entertainment." Completed in 96 AD, it's a miraculous feat of engineering. This noble monument, and the ancient empire that created it, await young readers on these stunningly illustrated pages. Curious children can discover why and how the Colosseum was built; how it was decorated; who was allowed to enter; what took place behind the scenes; and what the Roman world was like. Full-color cutaways reveal the details of this astounding architectural achievement, and pinpoint enlargements focus on the day-to-day life of the people—including how they ate, dressed, and sometimes fought.

Step inside a luxurious Roman Villa and discover for yourself what it was like to live and work in this rural estate. From the tools and techniques used to maintain the sprawling gardens and vineyards to the story of a slave's life, A Roman Villa provides detailed information about all aspects of daily life in this ancient household. Take a closer look at history with Spectacular Visual Guides, a series that scratches way past the surface of history, examining the legacies of long lost civilisations. Each title provides the reader with a detailed glimpse of people and places during pivotal periods in time. Astounding architectural acheivements are explained and explored with full-colour cutaway illustrations. Pinpoint enlargements focus on the day to day lives of the people, looking at how they ate, dressed, entertained themselves and sometimes fought. Illustrations of artifacts and paintings from the era help to support the main text by providing proof which explains how we know what we know. Informative captions, maps, a complete glossary and an index make these titles ideal educational texts. Each one features a sturdy flexi-bound cover with gold foiling.