This read-aloud series is designed for parents to share with elementary-school children. Enjoy it together and introduce your child to the marvelous story of the world's civilizations. Now more than ever, other cultures are affecting our everyday livesand our children need to learn about the other countries of the world and their history. Susan Wise Bauer has provided a captivating guide to the history of other lands. Written in an engaging, straightforward manner, The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 1: Ancient Times weaves world history into a story book format. What terrible secret was buried in Shi Huangdi's tomb? Did nomads like lizard stew? What happened to Anansi the Spider in the Village of the Plantains? And how did a six-year-old become the last emperor of Rome? The Story of the World covers the sweep of human history from ancient times until the present. Africa, China, Europe, the Americasfind our what happened all around the world in long-ago times. Designed as a read-aloud project for parents and children to share together, The Story of the World includes each continent and major people group. Volume 1: Ancient Times is the first of a four-volume series and covers the major historical events in the years BCE 500 to 400 CE, as well as including maps, illustrations, and tales from each culture.