The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition (Story ... the World: History for the Classical Child) | 
 enlarge | Author: Susan Wise Bauer
Publisher: Peace Hill Press
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $10.00
You Save: $6.95 (41%)
New (38) Used (13) from $10.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  105 reviews
Sales Rank: 2101
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revised
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 350
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 1933339004
Dewey Decimal Number: 371
EAN: 9781933339009
ASIN: 1933339004
Publication Date: April 26, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: I bought it but never used it - excellent condition
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
What terrible secret was buried in Shi Huangdi's tomb? Did nomads like lizard stew? What happened to Anansi the Spider in the Village of the Plantains? And how did a six-year-old become the last emperor of Rome?
Told in a straightforward, engaging style that has become Susan Wise Bauer's trademark, The Story of the World series covers the sweep of human history from ancient times until the present. Africa, China, Europe, the Americas—find out what happened all around the world in long-ago times. This first revised volume begins with the earliest nomads and ends with the last Roman emperor. Newly revised and updated, The Story of the World, Volume 1 includes maps, a new timeline, more illustrations, and additional parental aids.
This read-aloud series is designed for parents to share with elementary-school children. Enjoy it together and introduce your child to the marvelous story of the world's civilizations.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 100 more reviews...
 Narrative & comprehensive ancient history for kids (& adults). July 3, 2008
I bought this book while homeschooling my two girls. The book was such good story that I began using it for evening reading to the girls before bed (that way I got to read it too!)
I found that the narrative format (story telling) was much more engaging than a collection of facts (as textbooks tend to do). The author selects information, individuals and nations and so obviously leaves out a lot of information (as noted in other reviews.) HOWEVER, I personally found this style VERY helpful since the story moves very fast this way and this comprehensive style makes it easier for readers and listeners to see the connections between cultures, nations, individuals etc.
There is an unavoidable tradeoff in writing about history: more detail provides greater sense of context, but makes it difficult to develop a comprehensive overview of the relationship between significant events and places. This book errs on the overview instead of detail and does that perspective VERY well. After reading "Story of the World" you can go and investigate the areas that interest you (or that you need to know) in more detail with books that take the "detail" perspective.
By the way, for home schooling, an old (Victorian) writer who does some great historical fiction on specific periods is G. A. Henty. His books are hard to find, but worth reading. His book on Hannibal (the general) called "The Carthagian," was a wonderful adventure which told me what I wanted to learn about that man and his wars.
Make history come alive-read Story of the World and then focus on the people, events and times that make you particularly interested and find books and movies that give you more details!
 Not for all ages June 22, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I homeschooled our older daughter for six years back in the Dark Ages (the mid 90's). We switched over to learning about history chronologically, a relatively "new" idea then,after being convinced at a curriculum fair presentation of its sensibleness. It was the best advice we ever had, and that daughter is graduating college next year as a history major, and as president of her history honorary fraternity. (We used GreenLeaf Press' "Famous Men..." series, BTW.)
Now 10 years later we are taking our younger daughter out and will begin homeschooling her in 2nd grade. Enough of the public school "Twaddle"!!
"Famous Men" is too high a reading comprehension level for her, so I have been researching the plethora of chrono-history books out there to find an alternative. I followed the guidelines by Susan Wise Bauer of "The Well-Trained Mind" to use "The Story of the World" series.
However, after thumbing through it and comparing it with others, I do not feel it will hold the interest of my wiggly 7 year-old. The reading level seems minimally for 4th-grade. I wouldn't want to turn her off right from the start.
For me the benchmark is Hillyers' "A Child's History of the World." The writing style is so personal, clever, and engaging. But if you want a curriculum that has an even stronger Christian bent, and that teaches from a Biblical chronology, look into Linda Hobar's "The Mystery of History". This author comes closest to Hillyer's wit and child-friendliness, and yet does not dumb it down. There are age-appropriate activities built right into the book (no second purchase required), plus instructions on making your own timeline and historical figures to add as you read. (a la a famous Unit Study series). Like "History of the World", it is a several-volume series. You will probably have to go outside Amazon to find it. (http://www.themysteryofhistory.com/)
Another very Christian-based chrono-history curriculum is "Tapestry of Grace." Not as "warm and fuzzy" in my view, but lots of great multi-age teaching and activities that suppport a classical education. Appropriate through high school.
Good Resource! May 20, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is very well written. A great help to helping children understand History. It makes reading about the past fun and enjoyable.
 Fundamentally Flawed May 3, 2008
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
I'm not even going to get into how bad this book needs a copy editor. It reads like it was rushed (far prematurely) into print.
This book was so bad that it made me view all the other Wise/Bauer works through a new, gimlet eye.
I have edited this review extensively, because having thought it over, I think that this book's premise is a poor one after all. I think that it reads disjointedly and muddles facts because it skips around so much- it reads like "Here's five chapters on the Middle East. Meanwhile, over in China..."
I think that it makes more sense to study the history of a particular culture, nation, or area. In other words, use geography as the spine. Trying to tell what was going on all over the world during any given year (or century) is going to be haphazard most of the time.
Very good resource April 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Only one caution, there are some map inaccuracies in the workbook. Ninevah is on the wrong side of the Tigris river on two of the worksheets. Very nice foundation for young children; mine look forward to reading every day.
|
|
|
