Ancient Wonders (See Through History)
Grade 3-6?Another publication that offers a cursory glance at some of the major wonders of the ancient world without covering new ground or providing any new details. Spanning 9000 years, from c. 8000 B.C. through the 9th century A.D., the standard sites surveyed include Egypt's pyramids, sphinxes, and tombs; the City of Troy; the Palace of Knossos; and Stonehenge. Although reference is frequently made to the Seven Wonders of the World, coverage is broader, creating some confusion as to the scope of the book. Four of the original wonders are accorded more substantial treatment, while the Temple of Artemis, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and the Colossus of Rhodes receive only brief mentions. The marvels of Rome and the Americas are touched on briefly, as are Easter Island, Hagia Sophia, and two Asian structures. Photographs and drawings of various sizes and style add little information or understanding. Four overlays allow readers to look at several structures from both inside and out but the acetate is fragile. The only locator maps are found in the introductory section, making it difficult to place the structures geographically. The text is disjointed, simplistic, and undocumented. Stick with Mike Corbishley's The World of Architectural Wonders (Peter Bedrick, 1997), Joanne Jessop's Big Buildings of the Ancient World (Watts, 1994), or Philip Wilkinson's Amazing Buildings (DK, 1993).?Jeanette Larson, Texas State Library, AustinCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.