The Greeks (Rebuilding the Past)
Grade 5-7-- A commendable introductory analysis of the development of the culture, life, and customs of ancient Greece. Considerable attention is given to military practices and strategy of the various Greek and Persian armies and navies, and especially to those employed by Alexander the Great. Page layout is attractive with double columns of text and generous use of full-color photographs, illustrations, and maps. The text is clearly written and readable. Some sections are presented in the form of questions and answers between the author and a ficticious individual from that period who explains his way of life on a more personal level. This technique is informative and adds a humanized dimension to the text. There is no index, but the table of contents is adequate and the information is well organized. More emphasis is given on the early beginnings of Greek culture than is found in Life in Ancient Greece (Silver Burdett, 1986) by Pierre Miquel, and it has a more attractive format than Ancient Greece by Charles A. Robinson (Watts, 1984; o.p.). A good introduction for neophytes.- Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukie,Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.