Great Empires of the Past

Gr 9 Up—Highlights of 12 ancient empires are presented in capsule yet extremely comprehensible form using a rich blend of images and a pleasant narrator. The program features simple, clear maps as well as photographs of brilliantly colored artwork and classic sculpture. The empires represent a global perspective. In addition to the classics (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome), Western civilizations (Maya, Inca, Aztec, West African) and Eastern societies (Persia, Medieval Islamic World, Mongol) are included. The information for each empire is divided into three segments: an introduction to the culture that summarizes its significance in its time period as well as its contributions to and impact on the future, and two parts that focus on various noteworthy aspects of that empire. Each segment is individually accessible and runs between two and three minutes. While not intended as an in-depth resource, this program would be an excellent introduction to further study of these central elements of our collective civilization.—Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL