Ancient Greece (Picturing the Past)

Ancient Greece brings the Golden Age of Greece (5th century BCE)--the era of Socrates, Plato, Pericles, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Herodotus--to life. It does so through covering such topics as: geography, farming, education, slaves, festivals, religion, the city and politics, war, science and medicine, sports and games, theater, music and crafts. Using artifacts, such as ceramics, medical tools or a piece of clothing, geographical sites, and archaeological evidence, this book looks at the past in a new and exciting way. By showing in simple graphic terms how ancient buildings and objects were actually used, and by providing examples of numerous everyday objects, Ancient Greece makes the distant past come to life.

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 full chronology of the political and social history of ancient Greece, as well as a glossary and an index are included.

Informative and amply illustrated, Ancient Greece is sure to engage and spur further interest.

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.