Across the Centuries [Hardcover]

Jacqueline M. Cordova (Author), J. Jorge Klor De Alva (Author), Gary B. Nash (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 558 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395930669
• ISBN-13: 978-0395930663
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Actually a very even-handed textbook, May 6, 2005

By 

Norma J. Sassone "Norma J" (Olympia WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Across the Centuries (Hardcover)

I have taught history to 7th graders in Washington using this text for 5 years. Yes, it covers the history of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Mesoamerica in addition to the usual Eurocentric view of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. As with all texts for middle grade students, it probably does not get into the "negatives" of any of these civilizations in depth. True, some of Mohammad's less savory practices are not discussed, but neither is the fact that thousands of children were virtually kidnapped during the Crusades to die on the front lines of losing battles in the Holy Land or that girls in China had their feet brutally bound to help keep them subservient. My only complaint about this very thorough text is that it is on too high a reading level for some of my struggling readers, although there are good supplemental materials to help with this.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Rates at an 11th grade reading level... for a 7th grade textbook!!, February 16, 2006

By 

Darcy L. Mott "carmenbee" (Minot, ND) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Across the Centuries (Hardcover)

I am currently a college student in a class on reading in the content areas. In our class, we recently completed a textbook readability survey for this book (as well as several others) using the "Fry Readability Model." This model measures reading difficulty based on word syllables and sentence length. After evaluating three random passages in this book (from the beginning, middle, and end), this book rated at an 11th grade reading level. It was easily the largest disparity of all the books my class rated.

I just wanted to post this information because I found it to be very interesting, in a negative way (of course). If you are thinking of adopting this textbook for your class, please think twice. It is likely to be well over the heads of your average 7th grader.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Interesting and Well-Writen w/ No Bias, August 12, 2004

By 

J. Perry "History Buff" (Ukiah, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Across the Centuries (Hardcover)

I'm a 13 year old entering the 8th grade and having read the 8th, 7th, and 6th History book in this series I must say that for anyone of any age who is thouroughly interested in the Middle Ages and the Reformation, can enjoy this book beyond anything. It's the best basic text you could ever want to rely on. As a 13 year old who's primary vocation is to become a college professor of history I am truely begging you, even you're not interested in this particular section of historical events, to buy this book, because I beleive that if you read it, you will become interested.