Roman Amphitheaters

The targeted audience for "Roman Amphitheaters" is students ages 9-12. Designed as an information book for a school library, this volume makes a wonderful research tool for reports, projects, and personal reading. With at least one picture, sometimes three and four, per two-page spread, plus sidebars, the book invites older children to come in and spend time learning about Roman amphitheaters. It is also a quick and easy go-to book for adults wanting information they can attain quickly and with pictures. "Roman Amphitheaters" is one of the best information books for its intended age group I have ever seen. The writing follows good writing practices with proper vocabulary and sentence structure. Not one word is wasted, nor is the book dumbed down. Don Nardo, the author, simply kept his audience in mind as he wrote. The organization is first-rate. Nardo introduces his subject with a modern description of the Colosseum and a brief history of the founding of Rome and the story of its builders. To be sure, Romans were great builders and "without a doubt the most skilled and successful builders in the whole ancient world" (11). The first stone amphitheater was constructed in Pompeii and later completely preserved by volcanic ash. The epitome of amphitheater, is, of course, the Colisseum, which has outlived the Empire The Colisseum could hold 140 modern high school gyms and was three stories high, that is stone arches on stone arches on stone arches. The gladiators were considered both crude and esteemed. Whatever people thought, they came for miles to watch the matches. Another big-time favorite was the wild beast shows. Animals from all over the known world were brought in to display their talents, fight another animal or a human gladiator. The shocking role for animals turned into mass graves for them: about 9000 animals died in the Colisseum in the three months following its opening. So what happened to the amphitheaters? Christianity brought converts, included emperors and their families and followers, who abandoned blood sports as un-Christian. In the centuries following, local merchants, builders, and homeowners helped themselves to the marble, travertine, marble, and stone. In 1825 the first conservation effort was initiated by stone removal. Efforts are still in process. Information. Pictures. Quick facts. A great source: "Roman Amphitheaters." Look for the other two in the series: "Pyramids of Egypt (Watts Library)" and "Greek Temples (Watts Library)".

Roman Amphitheaters by Don Nardo is a fascinating and well-researched study for young readers about the history of amazing Roman architectural structures such as the Colosseum, embellished with full-color photographs and illustrations. Touching upon the history of Rome, and showcasing both the splendor of the ampitheaters and the cruelty to which they were sometimes put, Roman Amphitheaters offers children an amazing glimpse into history itself....