The Ancient World
3 primary works
Book 3
Opening with a survey of the geography and climate of the region, this book looks at the pre-Inca cultures and the myths and historical reality of their rise to power. The complex and well-organized political and social structure of the Inca empire is examined in detail, followed by an examination of their ideas and religion, arts and sciences, and a window on to every-day life for an Inca family. The book concludes with a description of the Spanish conquest and the Inca legacy for Peru today. It is part of a series of comprehensive reference works providing a look at the way of life, beliefs and achievements of the ancient cultures. The emphasis is on primary resource material, both textual and illustrative.
Book 5
This text opens with a description of the origins and rise to power of this great Central American civilzation, and ends with its sudden and cataclysmic fall 200 years later at the hands of the Spanish conquistadores. In its central section, aspects of Aztec life and culture is looked at, including war, religion, technology, Aztec arts and crafts and everyday life in their great city of Tenochtitlan. The final chapter looks at the Aztec legacy. This book is part of a series of reference works that look at the way of life, beliefs and achievements of the ancient cultures. The emphasis is on primary source material, with contemporary quotations offering insights into how life was actually lived.
Book 10
This text opens with a description of the origins of the great civilization of ancient Greece, from the Minoans to the Classical era, including the birth of democracy and the rise to power of the great city states of Athens and Sparta. It ends with an account of the Hellenistic age when the power of the city states waned, but the ideas they spawned began to be taken up by the rest of the world. In between, aspects of ancient Greek life is looked at, including religion, art, science and philosophy. This is part of a series of reference works that look at the way of life, beliefs and achievements of the ancient cultures. The emphasis is on primary source material, with contemporary quotations offering insights into how life was actually lived.