The Persian Empire (World History Series)
Gr 7-10--Full of black-and-white maps, pictures, and intriguing boxed quotes from original sources and academic works, this clear, lively, easy-to-read history breathes life into its subject. Starting with a time line and an introduction explaining how Persia came to be portrayed, historically, as a villain because of its wars with the Greeks, Nardo traces the Persian empire from the Iranian migration (circa 1200-900 B.C.) to modern times (a very brief half page with just a mention of the Shah and Ayatollah Khomeini). Annotated and indexed, the text concludes with a selection of books for further reading and an annotated bibliography. One quibble, and it's a minor one, is with a sidebar in which Herodotus describes some remains at a battle site. He observes that the skulls of the Persians were thinner and far more fragile than those of the Egyptians, and gives a reason. Nardo offers no more explanation for his inclusion of this quote than it is "bizarre but fascinating." Fascinated but confused readers may be left doubting the accuracy of Herodotus's report, but still wondering, "Could it be?" Nevertheless, this title is a suitable addition.Herman Sutter, Saint Pius X High School, Houston, TXCopyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.