The Romans

I am a homeschooling mom of 4 (11,9,5,3) and I purchased "The Famous Men of Rome" from Memoria Press. While I liked to book, I knew that I would lose my children and not be able to keep them interested. I decided to purchase this book and I'm certainly glad that I did. The book covers so much more and really gives an idea on what life was like during that time. While studying the people are important, I wanted my kids to see how they dressed, what they ate, what they did for entertainment, how the coins looked, etc. It's just a great book and I recommend it.

This educational, informative and handsomely illustrated book, from the Usborne Illustrated World History series, is an excellent visual reference for young readers. It offers an in-depth look at Roman civilization, from the founding of the city of Rome to the decline and fall of the empire to the birth and evolution of Constantinople and the city of Byzantium. Topics such as history, sociology, politics, economy, culture and religion are covered. This book is also packed with colorful pictures, detailed diagrams, realistic drawings, accurate reconstructions, and handy maps to help illustrate the points being explained and give the reader a vivid look into Roman history. As a bonus, this book has a wonderful appendix that contains: * A glossary that explains Latin and Latin-derived terms used throughout the text. * A collection of mini biographies of key figures in Roman history. * A date chart from around 2,000 BC to 1453 AD outlining relevant events and significant historical developments that took place both in the Roman world and elsewhere during this period. * A summary of the most important ways in which we were influenced by the Romans in building techniques, travel and communications, architecture, the arts, language, law, government, literature and ideas. * A thorough index for quick check-ups and specific consultations. Although this book was published in 1990, so some of the information in it may no longer be completely accurate, it is still a beautiful, entertaining and complete reference for children, and a fun, effective teaching tool for adults. Other recommended titles from this series: First Civilizations and The Greeks. --Reviewed by Maritza Volmar