In 480 BCE, 300 Spartan soldiers sacrificed themselves so that Greece would unite against the Persian invasion. This is the story of Leonidas I, the man who led them. Readers experience the rich culture of this ancient Greek city-state, a domain notorious for its intellectualism and diplomatic prowess. Readers will learn about how Leonidas I furthered democracy while maintaining the prosperity of his people, even in the face of adversity. Santillian and Macgregor Morris team up to prove th...

The name Ramses II evokes the epitome of ancient Egypt. But why was he the final ruler of the New Kingdom? And what was it that made him pursue peace when such treaties didn’t exist? The life of Ramses II offers some particularly unique intrigues that appear in his many campaigns throughout the ancient world. Santillian and van Basten offer an expansive account of the many contributions Ramses II offered in his unusually long and active life, including leaving a legacy of being ancient Egy...

A leader for the people, Solon would go down in history as the lawmaker who set the stage for Athens to become the first democratic state. Solon’s incorruptible spirit, along with his oratorical skills and poetry, were a refreshing break from the tyrants of his time, whom the people of Greek city-states feared as they rose to power. Readers will benefit from an understanding of how an environment of political turmoil bred a new, more inclusive system of law when what existed wasn't working...

The height of the Roman Empire’s power was during the reign of Hadrian. While endless predecessors and their rivals fought for expansion, Hadrian focused on sustaining his domain and his people’s livelihood. Readers will learn how even such an internal focus can lead to tragedy, specifically by intersecting religion with absolute statesmanship, as the Bar Kokhbah Revolt demonstrated. Regardless, conducting massive city-building projects, fortifying the borders of the empire, and other feat...

The Golden Age of Athens was derived from the leadership of Pericles, politician extraordinaire. Readers will learn how one man moved his country to complete such works as building the Parthenon, Propylaea, and other projects, ending revolts against Athenian rule, leading Athens into the Peloponnesian War, and more, all while taking on various battles with domestic political rivals. This dynamic text utilizes call-outs to draw connections between ancient Athens and modern times and helps r...

If not for Snefru, the first pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty, most of the massive pyramids of Egypt would not exist, and no pharaoh would have ever been buried in one. Libya and Nubia would not have become the main sources of the forced labor that built these massive works, and the cattle from those defeated lands wouldn’t have been their sustenance. The story of an Egypt that took what it wanted to build its name is one that Santillian and Thomas graciously bring to young readers.

The only time in which the known world was united under one empire was during the reign of Alexander the Great. This book tells of a triumphant life of war and carnage that was inspired by an upbringing that encouraged unending ambition. Readers will learn about how massive differences in managing the Macedonian and Persian armies resulted in a strikingly decisive outcome, while engaging call-outs situate Alexander the Great in history, describing the evolution of phalanx warfare, the trea...