Usborne Book of World History Dates (Illustrated World History Series) (Paperback)

• Save $10 when you spend $50 and pay with Bill Me Later. The fast and convenient way to buy without using your credit card. Offer limited to items purchased from Amazon.com between July 14, 2008 and July 21, 2008. One per customer account. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Here's how (restrictions apply)

Gr 4-8-By combining a fairly dry, annals-style time-line format with brief topical essays, Chisholm has created a volume likely to be as useful for teachers introducing a time period or geographic area as it is for student reports. The double-page chronologies are broken into columns for each geographic area included within a specific range of dates-for example, "The Ancient World, 1000-501 BC" features Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Students can move from column to column to learn that in about 700 BC, the Scythians spread from Central Asia to Eastern Europe; the Lydians developed coins; cattle and sheep were domesticated in West Africa; and Monte Alb n, sacred city of the Olmecs, was founded in Mexico. In "The Dark Ages, 700-899," the columns shift to Southern and Western Europe; Northern and Eastern Europe; Africa and the Middle East; the Far East; and the Americas. The short essays, generally also contained on double-page spreads, include such topics as the Vikings, the British in India, ancient Egypt, the scramble for Africa, and the Cold War. Small, colorful drawings, photos, and maps appear throughout. While the book makes no attempt to provide an in-depth look at any of its topics, a remarkable amount of information is surveyed and is made more accessible by a detailed index. On the other hand, the appendix, "Monarchs and political leaders," is limited to the various components of the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.-Coop Renner, Coldwell Elementary-Intermediate School, El Paso, TX

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.