Famous Men of Greece (Greenleaf Press)

Author: John Haaren , A.B. Poland
ISBN: 1882514017
Manufacturer: Greenleaf Press (TN)
Customer Rating:

, based on 8 reviews

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Editorial Review:

by Poland & Haaren,
edited and updated by Rob and Cyndy Shearer
The history of Greece is taught chronologically, as students read short biographical sketches outlining the lives of important figures.

The selections begin with the Greek creation and flood stories, then continue with legendary figures like Perseus, Hercules, and Jason. Then come the leaders of the Trojan War: Agamemnon, Achilles, & Odysseus. The lawgivers of the Greek cities (Lycurgus, Draco, & Solon) are profiled and the leaders who led the defense of Greece against the Persian invasion are covered (Miltiades, Leonidas, & Themistocles).

The second half of the book covers the Greek classical period (Pericles, Alcibiades, & Socrates) and finally, the age of Alexander the Great (Demosthenes, Aristotle, & Ptolemy).

Your fourth or fifth graders should be able to enjoy it independently,older students can read it as well and not feel like they have been given something that is babyish.

The text includes a new preface by Rob & Cyndy Shearer, as well as an essay for Christian parents titled, "What to do about Mythology?"
Note: The Greenleaf Press edition is NOT identical to the 1904 edition, or to the editions reprinted by other publishers. It has been edited, updated, and supplemented with additional material.

Customer Reviews:

Not factually correct!

In the section on the Greek gods, the author gives them their Roman names. He calls Zeus Jupiter. Quite a blunder.

2008-02-10

Famous Men of Greece

This work is part of the "Famous Men" series brilliantly done by Greenleaf Press. Each book has a focus of a particular time period with short biographies, and stories of those times. Some are legendary, but many of the legends do have basis in fact. We are not full-fledged historians, either by academic training or career pursuit, but have found these books to be a thrill to define the culture and thought of the time period. The primary challenge has been to keep the books in hand, as the kids love them and "borrow" them. It is fun since the stories are short and can be acted out, or built with Legos, or enjoyed in any learning style. They are also easy to use, with questions for each lesson which you can discuss. For younger children(3rd-6th grades)it is a new experince, older children(7th-12th grades) like the adult style of learning via discussion. In our experience, it can be helpful to get the small group of books that comes each "Famous Men" book, which will give you more information (and neat things to do)in that time period.Each book is a treat both visually and in the text.

2000-09-08

Whet their appetite for history!!

We used _Famous Men of Greece_ and the accompanying _Greenleaf Guide to Famous Men of Greece_ to teach ancient Greek history to our elementary age children. They loved it! The style is very story-like and makes a great read-aloud. It cover Greek mythology, legendary historical characters, and all of the traditional famous men I wanted our children to know about. Although we are extremely conservative Christians, I found nothing objectionable in the book. I think one of the other reviewers must be talking about another book!

This title gave our children a real love for history. They begged for another lesson! One day my husband came home to find them playing the Battle of Thermopylae with their Lego men :-) I can not recommend the Greenleaf series highly enough for "real history" and memorable studies.

2000-09-07

Great series for history studies!!!

We are a homeschooling family and we have thoroughly enjoyed the "Famous Men" series for our world history studies. I highly recommend it! The "Famous Men" books are core texts and the study guides have helpful questions, vocabulary words, project ideas and recommendations of other great books to expand the study. The "Famous Men" books were written in 1904. Greenleaf Press has republished them and written study guides to go with them. Contrary to the insinuation in a previous review, the "Famous Men" books are not in use in the New York public school system unless an individual teacher chooses to provide her students with a classical education. Frankly, we chuckled at the pornography charge of the previous review. It is a bit of a stretch.

2000-09-06

Very interesting for young minds

My 5th grader can't seem to put it down. It is filled with classical paintings (though in black and white) and on one there is some nudity, as there ususally was in the paintings of history. We covered that up with a black marker, but on the whole it is very tastefully done. For learning the history of Greece it makes a great supplement.

2000-09-06

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