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Ancient Weapons
Prehistoric hunters with clubs and spears, Viking raiders wielding axes, Samurai warriors in deadly combat - from the earliest times humans have always had a need for weapons, whether for hunting, attacking or for self-defence. Each weapon, from swords to scimitars and from clubs to crossbows, is set here in the context of the lives of the people who used them. Vivid illustrations, maps and photographs all bring this enthralling subject to life, making this a book to dip into over and over again.
- GenresHistory
64 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1999
28 people want to read
About the author
Will Fowler
156 books13 followersWill Fowler is Professor of Spanish at the University of St Andrews, where he has taught since 1995. He earned his PhD at the University of Bristol and worked as a lecturer in Spanish at Leicester Polytechnic (subsequently renamed De Montfort University) for four years before joining the University of St Andrews.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 4, 2023
10/10 What a wonderful series of books these are! As a historian myself I can say that these are perhaps the best researched children's reference books I have read.
Most children's books are too vague, or they reinforce common stereotypes, or they do not give a complete and comprehensive picture of their subject. They don't cover famous people who were crucially important but have been neglected by popular history. Too often children have Christopher Columbus and Magellen hammered into their head but Abel Tasman, John Cabot and Vitus Bering are ignored. These books restore such people to their rightful place in history.
The exploring history books divide their topics into clear, logical sections. For example, Exploring History: The Story of Medicine has topics such as diagnostic medicine, Surgery, Aesthetic and antiseptic, sewage and clean drinking water, Bacteria and Immunisation. It introduces people too often ignored such as Marcello Malpighi, Leopold Auenbrugger, John Hunter, Robert Koch and Roland Ross. As such it becomes fascinating for children and parents.
The content is advanced so it is aimed more for older children than younger children. Teenagers will get the most from it, but it contains enough detail that it will have a long lifespan. It is clearly written so younger children can handle it, though they will be more interested in some volumes, ancient weapons, exploration and discovery rather than others, prehistoric people and the story of medicine, which are for older children. In fact, I have shown them to many an adult who has also been completely absorbed stuttering; "Why I don't know that," or "How come I've never heard of this person?"
Another great achievement is that they are wonderfully well organised. It is clear and easy to understand with a well organized layout, simple definitions and timelines of key discoveries and inventions. I also contains many excellent illustrations that bring people and places to life. So it is very accessible.
If I have any complaints, then it is that, 'science and technology', though an excellent volume, bites off more than it can chew and feels like it would have been better in two more complete volumes. The one volume I didn't like was Modern weapons and warfare which I felt failed to show the evolution of each weapon and it's significance. It seemed to give quite random examples sometimes and I couldn't make any connections with the weapons discussed. for example, there was an excellent diagram of the different trajectories of Cannon, Howitzers and Mortars which clearly showed how they function and what job each has in war. Why couldn't there be more of this kind of information? These are small complaints and these volumes are still excellent by any other measure.
All in all, this series is a triumph and should be sitting on every child's desk. Note that there are eight volumes; Prehistoric Peoples, Ancient Civilisations, World Religions, Exploration and discovery, Science and Technology, The Story of Medicine, Ancient Weapons, Modern Weapons and Warfare. Children's Illustrated Encylopedia: Exploring History contains all the volumes at a bargain price. However, it is a much smaller volume. It is convenient to read but it does not do justice to the excellent illustrations! I actually bought all the volumes and the encylopedia. The encyclopedia takes a beating! If you want your child to have a well-rounded education, you probably can't do better! Please, please, please Hermes house, more books like these! Another 100 volumes would be welcome!
Most children's books are too vague, or they reinforce common stereotypes, or they do not give a complete and comprehensive picture of their subject. They don't cover famous people who were crucially important but have been neglected by popular history. Too often children have Christopher Columbus and Magellen hammered into their head but Abel Tasman, John Cabot and Vitus Bering are ignored. These books restore such people to their rightful place in history.
The exploring history books divide their topics into clear, logical sections. For example, Exploring History: The Story of Medicine has topics such as diagnostic medicine, Surgery, Aesthetic and antiseptic, sewage and clean drinking water, Bacteria and Immunisation. It introduces people too often ignored such as Marcello Malpighi, Leopold Auenbrugger, John Hunter, Robert Koch and Roland Ross. As such it becomes fascinating for children and parents.
The content is advanced so it is aimed more for older children than younger children. Teenagers will get the most from it, but it contains enough detail that it will have a long lifespan. It is clearly written so younger children can handle it, though they will be more interested in some volumes, ancient weapons, exploration and discovery rather than others, prehistoric people and the story of medicine, which are for older children. In fact, I have shown them to many an adult who has also been completely absorbed stuttering; "Why I don't know that," or "How come I've never heard of this person?"
Another great achievement is that they are wonderfully well organised. It is clear and easy to understand with a well organized layout, simple definitions and timelines of key discoveries and inventions. I also contains many excellent illustrations that bring people and places to life. So it is very accessible.
If I have any complaints, then it is that, 'science and technology', though an excellent volume, bites off more than it can chew and feels like it would have been better in two more complete volumes. The one volume I didn't like was Modern weapons and warfare which I felt failed to show the evolution of each weapon and it's significance. It seemed to give quite random examples sometimes and I couldn't make any connections with the weapons discussed. for example, there was an excellent diagram of the different trajectories of Cannon, Howitzers and Mortars which clearly showed how they function and what job each has in war. Why couldn't there be more of this kind of information? These are small complaints and these volumes are still excellent by any other measure.
All in all, this series is a triumph and should be sitting on every child's desk. Note that there are eight volumes; Prehistoric Peoples, Ancient Civilisations, World Religions, Exploration and discovery, Science and Technology, The Story of Medicine, Ancient Weapons, Modern Weapons and Warfare. Children's Illustrated Encylopedia: Exploring History contains all the volumes at a bargain price. However, it is a much smaller volume. It is convenient to read but it does not do justice to the excellent illustrations! I actually bought all the volumes and the encylopedia. The encyclopedia takes a beating! If you want your child to have a well-rounded education, you probably can't do better! Please, please, please Hermes house, more books like these! Another 100 volumes would be welcome!
Displaying 1 of 1 review