The ancient cultures and civilizations of the Egyptians, Nubians, Hittites, and Mesopotamians are vividly brought to life in this excellent resource book. The fascinating history of these peoples is presented in a lively text, interspersed with instructions for approximately 40 projects about the clothing, architecture, writing, food, and other cultural aspects of the times. Easily obtained materials such as pillowcases, clay, styrofoam, and paper-towel tubes are used, and instructions are presented for making such things as Hittite shoes, a Nubian tomb, Egyptian sailboats, a Mesopotamian queen's headdress, and an Assyrian feast. Other activities include doing math, Sumerian style; reading Egyptian hieroglyphs; and playing games that illustrate travel of the times. The book will add excitement to ancient history units.
(Helen Rosenberg, Booklist)

The author of Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors (1999) offers a companion volume about the Iron Age peoples who lived in Judah, as Israel, Phoenicia, and Philistia were known during the Iron Age. Beginning with a time line comparing important events in the three cultures, Broida explains what B. C. E and C. E. mean and provides some general background about each group. Later sections elaborate on the individual civilizations, describing history, architecture, clothing, language and writing, work, food, and religion. The author also provides directions for 35 child-friendly projects, ranging from stomping grapes into juice to making a model ship. Broida's reliance on archaeological finds and written historical records rather than religious traditions and biases makes for a stronger book. Frequent sidebars and black-and-white drawings, diagrams, photographs, and charts help to clarify and extend the information. With lists of books, articles, and websites, this will be a welcome addition to world history classes and a boon to religious-school teachers looking for new activities.
(Kay Wiseman, Booklist)

Labels: ANE history