Tag Archives: history

Celts and Roman Britain – Children’s Historical Fiction

Children's books, Children's fiction, History Books, , , , ,

There is an abundance of stories about Roman Britain, many focusing on the Celts versus Romans theme.

For younger readers:

Older children:

  • Song for a Dark Queen by Rosemary Sutcliff
  • Outcast by Rosemary Sutcliff
  • The Capricorn Bracelet by Rosemary Sutcliff
  • Heather, Oak, and Olive; Three Stories by Rosemary Sutcliff
  • The Mark of the Horse Lord by Rosemary Sutcliff
  • The Eagle of the Ninth (The Roman Britain Trilogy) by Rosemary Sutcliff
  • Frontier Wolf by Rosemary Sutcliff
  • The Silver Branch (The Roman Britain Trilogy) by Rosemary Sutcliff

    More to come…

Factual Children’s Books – Celtic or Iron Age Britain

Books and Magazines, Children's books, History Books, Learning, , , ,
Celtsceltsusborne (Usborne Beginners) by Leonie Pratt
A simple introduction for younger children. A bright, well-illustrated, clear book for younger children and beginner readers.
onthetrailceltsOn the Trail of the Celts in Britain by Peter Chrisp (Franklin Watts)
This book looks at Iron Age Great Britain (not Ireland) through the archaeological evidence, featuring sites and finds. As a result it focuses on types of buildings – and is really good at showing the diversity of building types – whether in it be hill-forts, roundhouses in wood or stone, crannogs or brochs. There are also spreads on farming, chalk figures, religion, burying the dead and human sacrifice.It rounds up with information about the Roman invasion, and the long term survival of Celtic languages.
There is a glossary, and timeline. And unsurprisingly for a book based on archaeological sites, a list of places to visit.
The pages use large scale photographs of the archaeological finds, and sites including reconstructions such at Butser Ancient Farm. The text is fairly large, and flows well over the pages. It makes good use of maps to show sites.
historydetectiveceltsThe History Detective Investigates: The Celts by Philip Steele
This books starts with a wider look geographical look at Celts, starting with different ‘Celtic’ peoples across Europe and the origins of the this cultural group. 
It then focuses on British Celtic people, looking at everyday life – rulers, war, clothes, homes, food, metalworking, religion. It then looks what happened when the Romans came and the impact of their leaving. It discusses how we know about the Celts, and has several ideas of projects. It rounds off with a Glossary, answers to the questions and further sources of informaiton. 

Pages are packed with information. Though good size photographs feature too. Box outs are used to personalise the text with quotes, and for ideas for Detective Work – things to think about or do. Some pages have a question to follow up on. 

This series aims to provide a starting point for further thinking, and projects.
by Philip Steele (Author)

British Iron Age / Celts – Children’s Historical Fiction

Children's books, Children's fiction, History, History Books, , , , ,

There is very little historical fiction on the Iron Age before the coming of the Romans.

  • sunhorsemoonhorseSun Horse, Moon Horse by Rosemary Sutcliff
    Unusually this is set in Iron Age before the Romans. Although the story is concerned with inter-tribal warfare, the drama comes less from this, and more from the tension between the practical world of the warrior and and the spiritual world of the artist.
    Lubrin Dhu is the third son of the chief, and sees the world differently to others, through artist’s eyes. This is a bittersweet, story of friendship, duty and sacrifice in a tribal culture devoted to the horse.
    It is written in Rosemary Sutcliff’s signature poetic style. It is a shorter story than many of her books, and as a result makes a good introduction to Rosemary Sutcliff’s work for those unused to her style – descriptive language and long sentences.

 

 

More children’s historical fiction set in the bronze age (we haven’t read these yet)

Many of the stories from this period are viewed through Irish and Welsh mythology – the surviving tales written down in medieval times.

The Ulster Cycle:

Cornish Mythology:

 

Ottoman Empire resources

History, History Books, ,

Here I’ve gathered a few links to resources on the Ottoman Empire

Online Resources

Books

Factual

Daily Life in Ancient and Modern Istanbul (Cities through time), by Robert Bator (Author), Chris Rothero (Illustrator)

There isn’t much available on Ottomans and Istanbul, but this is a great book. It is packed with information charting the history of the city Byzantium/Constantinople/Istanbul.
It is aimed at older children, and confident readers, but we found it an informative reference for adults, and accessible enough to read parts out to younger children, for whom the whole book would have been too much. It has sections of fairly dense text, but this is balanced out by large, beautiful illustrations. Includes a timeline.
It is comprehensive, with recounting key events in the city’s history, and with lots of details of daily life.

Fiction

Children’s Historical Fiction – Ottoman Empire 

Children’s Historical Fiction – Ottoman Empire

Books and Magazines, Children's books, Children's fiction, History Books, Learning, , , , ,

Although one of the world’s longest running and most powerful empires we haven’t found much on the Ottoman Empire. But we have found a couple of gems.

Abraham Hannibal and the Battle For the Throne

Frances Mary Somers Cocks (Author), Eric Robson (Illustrator)

The second book in the Abraham Hannibal series, this quirky,  fascinating book explores life as a slave gardener in the palace of the Ottoman Sultan in the early 1700s.

Read full review of Abraham Hannibal 

LeylaBlackTulipLeyla: The Black Tulip (Girls of Many Lands)

Alev Lytle Croutier (Author)

Set in 1720′s this charts the story of a young girl tricked into slavery and taken to the Sultan’s palace in Istanbul, the heart of the Ottoman Empire.

Read full review of Leyla

 

Other books we haven’t read:

Leyla: The Black Tulip

Children's books, Children's fiction, History, History Books, , ,

LeylaBlackTulip

Leyla: The Black Tulip (Girls of Many Lands)

By Alev Lytle Croutier

Set in 1720’s this charts the story of a young girl tricked into slavery and taken to the Sultan’s palace in Istanbul, the heart of the Ottoman Empire.
We really enjoyed the way the book balances the hardships of slavery with the security and opportunity of the harem. Leyla is desperately poor and the harem provides her with a living, but at the price of her freedom and family. It manages to avoid the harem cliché of women competing for the sultans’s favours and focuses on the ordinary everyday life of women in harem. It glosses over the reality of the eunuchs, but with enough details to make it realistic enough for those with some understanding – a cleverly balanced line that allows for further examination of these issues, or not, depending on your own judgement.  The authors’ expertise on the harem shines through. The focus on the gardens and the tulip provide another layer of historical interest that gives the book an additional flavour.
See on Amazon

 

History research

History, ,

I am increasingly finding that our history journey is taking us places that I have never been before.

So here are some thoughts on how our approach to history is working out this year.
Our history group structure and my eldest’s interests are combining to challenge me. It is an interesting journey.
I want to provide my daughter (now 10) with accessible, interesting information to fuel her love of history – but we are definitely stepping outside my own knowledge, and the realm of easily available resources. So thought it would be interesting to chart a bit about how my preparation for history is meeting the challenge.

As a bit of background we are basically autonomous home educators. Two of us have an interest in history and we run a small history group.

2014 so far:

January – Europe

We were looking at a topic for Europe between 1450-1750ish and my daughter decides on Germany. Germany! What do I know about Germany? Turns out that between Roman period and World Wars – not a lot. Though that has now been rectified to some extent, with a concise history of Germany from the library, a copy of a friend’s Readers Digest Illustrated History of the World Discovery and Religious Crisis 1492 to 1648 and some Internet searching. We didn’t , unsurprisingly find any children’s books on this time and place, though our World History reference, History of the World came up trumps.

I cobble together a timeline of Germany history between 1450 and 1750. Makes me very aware of how little European history we study in England since we had never heard of one of the worst wars on European soil – the Thirty Years War.

Unfortunately it doesn’t grab either of us – except that it starts with some guys being thrown out of a window.
So now if feels like I have some idea of how to approach the research for a topic, but have yet to find a really good way of presenting information in a way that appeals to my daughter.

February – Islamic Empires

This choice is fairly easy – my daughter has been interested in Byzantine Empire, and Constantinople in turn, and something about the Ottomans has caught her attention.
Now as with Germany there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of readily available resources suitable for a 10 year old. So this month I’m planning to have a go at producing our own.
But there does appear to be lots more potentially appealing information, that I can use to create something.
E has an interest in the stories of people, the more powerful and female the better. And we find a couple of Ottoman Empire historical fiction gems.

I start with general searches –  and with much history I find wikipedia to be a great starting place – the images are Creative Commons so can be used without worrying about copyright if and when I get around to sharing them online. And for rulers there is a nice box out with many of the details needed to make sense of their lives in the context of a dynasty – parents, spouses, and children. E.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suleiman_the_Magnificent

 

 

 

Catlin Painting

North American Native American History Activity

History, Home education, Learning, Local community events, , ,

We have been exploring the people and cultures of North America before the arrival of the Europeans in the sixteenth century. We have been finding out about the different cultural regions and getting a flavour of some of the cultures.

We created an activity to do to explore different cultural regions and the diversity of cultures:

North America is a vast continent. Before Europeans arrived in what they called the “New World” North America was already full of people. The vast continent covers many different cultures, shaped by the different environments.

There were small families, big tribes and leagues of tribes. The homes and clothes varied according to climate and the available resources.

Long before Europeans arrived cultures developed, changed, people migrated from one area to another.

There were no domesticated animals, apart from the dog, so through out the continent people hunted for game, and fished. Some people were nomadic hunter-gatherers, others were settled hunter-gatherers and some were farmers. Whilst people grew many different crops maize, beans and squash were commonly grown.

This is an activity for a simplified look at the different regions of North America, giving a flavour of some of the cultures.

Preparation:

Native American People Intro_Page_11. Print out the introduction and the ten regional pdf files, each of which has four pages – an answer sheet, an information sheet, a board and a set of pictures to cut out.
2. Mix up the pictures and lay them out.
3. Keep the answer
sheets to one side.

To play:

1. Choose a board for one of the regions.
2. Read the accompanying information sheet.
3. Pick the six pictures that match up with the information on that region
4. Check your answers with the answer sheet.

Ideas for discussion:

How does the environment affect way of life –  homes, food and clothing?

World History Reference

Books and Magazines, Children's books, History, History Books, Learning, ,

It took ages to choose a world history reference book, and am really pleased with the one we have. And it turns out it is a less well known book, rather than one of the big publishers.

A good reference book forms the backbone for studying history, not only do they provide information but they also provide a starting point from which to branch out in search of other books, Youtube videos, documentaries and crafts.

History of the World

See on Amazon

Our favourite World History reference book is:

History of the World: 4 Million Years to the Present Day

Published by Bounty Books

What drew me to this book in the first place was the apparent coverage and the layout. We were doing ancient history and having trouble finding anything on the Phoenicians, despite their importance to the development of the ancient Mediterranean world. But here we found a good half page covering the basics. Over time most of what we have chosen to look at (we tend to explore the less travelled path) has been covered to some degree by the book – whether it be a small box-out on Great Zimbabwe or a double spread on the Thirty Year’s war, and Suleiman the Magnificent.

The illustrations are attractive, and full of people. The timeline on most pages helps to fill in details, and place events in time. I really like the way the pages make use of illustrations, captions and boxouts. Some pages are thematic, and revisited through the book as time progresses. The text is quite accessible, and not too complex for my daughter, but with enough details to be a good starting point for further research.

You might also try:

I would really love to hear about your favourite World History reference book.
Which one do you use and what do you like about it?

Timelines

History, Learning, Making things, ,

Timeline thumbnail

Simple Timeline

Here’s a simple timeline to print out and write on.

Covering 1050-2040.
Add your own notes and pictures above and below the timeline.
Use horizontally or vertically.
Cut along dashed line and stick to the next sheet for one continuous timeline, or print individual pages to cover a shorter period.
This one covers 100 years per A4 sheet.
Turn of the century in the middle – handy for English history from just before the Norman conquest to today.

Download - Timeline1050-2040.pdf

Monarch timeline 1050-2040_Page_07Monarchs and family tree Timeline

Covering 1050-2040.
Includes each English Monarch in the form of a family tree.
Add your own notes and pictures below the timeline.
Use horizontally or vertically.
Cut along dashed line and stick to the next sheet for one continuous timeline, or print individual pages to cover a shorter period.
This one covers 100 years per A4 sheet.
Turn of the century in the middle – handy for English history from just before the Norman conquest to today.

Download - Monarch timeline 1050-2040.pdf