Early Times Series

Written for students in grades 5-8, each of the six texts in this series provides a comprehensive overview of a particular culture. The evolution of political thought, economics, science, art and literature are made to "come alive" for young readers through the author's detailed descriptions of everyday life and provocative portraits of key personalities. Every chapter is followed by review questions, "Ideas to think about" and "Projects." Author: Suzanne Art (The Fay School) Title ISBN Wholesale Price The Story of Ancient Egypt 1-877653-24-1 $8.95 The Story of Ancient Greece 1-877653-26-8 $11.95 The Story of Ancient Rome 1-877653-23-3 $11.25 The Story of the Middle Ages 1-877653-30-6 $12.95 The Story of the Renaissance 0-9656557-0-9 $13.95 West Meets East: Travels of Alexander 1-877653-43-8 $11.50 Click to view PDF sample. The Story of Ancient Egypt A superbly written narrative that provides a comprehensive overview of this most fascinating of ancient civilizations. Its story begins with the first nomads who settled in the lush valley of the Nile and examines in detail the major accomplishments of the three great epochs of ancient Egyptian history. Among the topics covered are the development of writing, the rituals associated with death and the hope for an afterlife, the discoveries made in science and mathematics, and the achievements of Egyptian artists and architects. Lively descriptions help the students envision the lives of peasants and pharaohs alike, and a chart of commonly used hieroglyphs enables them to write in the style of the scribes. The Story of Ancient Greece Covering the major epochs of ancient Greek history from the Mycenean Age to the Hellenistic era, this text also includes an introductory section on Crete. It traces the evolution of the political ideas that lie at the heart of modern western cultures and highlights the literary and artistic achievements of the fifth century Athenians. Key personalities (real and mythical) are colorfully portrayed, and the ideas of the great philosophers are carefully examined and compared. Frequent references made to the Greek derivations of English words provide ample opportunities for vocabulary enrichment. The Story of Ancient Rome This book begins with the legend of Romulus and Remus and ends with the dethronement of the last Roman emperor in AD 476. Topics covered include the development of the Roman system of law and the principles of the republican form of government (with a mindful analysis of its transformation into an imperial bureaucracy). Descriptions of the gladiator fights and chariot races provide a taste of the seamier side of “bread and circuses,” while character studies of the emperors reveal how absolute power can corrupt absolutely. Throughout the text, the student's attention is drawn to Latin terms and expressions that have entered the English language. The Story of the Middle Ages Focusing on the exciting and turbulent thousand-year period that separated the fall of the Roman Empire from the sixteenth century Age of Discovery. Such fascinating personalities as Charlemagne, Eric the Red, Pope Gregory the Great, Eleanor of Aquitaine, King Richard the Lion-hearted, and Joan of Arc are featured along with many others who so profoundly influenced the development of western culture. Their dramatic acts are set against a colorful backdrop of tournaments, crusades, castle sieges, and village fairs. West Meets East:  The Travels of Alexander This stirring account of Alexander the Great’s legendary campaign throughout most of the known world of the 4th century BC provides middle schoolers with a panoramic view of the legacies of ancient Greece, Anatolia. Sumer, Babylonia, Phoenicia, Egypt, Persia and India. Once engaged by the high interest biography of history’s most fascinating hero, students will painlessly gain insight into the background of the West/East clash of culture issues so relevant today. The Story of the Renaissance Again written for upper middle school or early high school students, this text by Suzanne Art organizes into an integrated, manageable unit for classroom study an otherwise unwieldy mass of information. One of history’s most exciting epochs, this narrative brings to life a lavish spectacle of colorful characters, spicy political intrigues, crucial scientific discoveries, exciting overseas explorations, and unprecedented achievements in art, literature, and music.