Lessons from Our Ancestors: Uncovering Ancient World Wisdom

by Raksha Dave, Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong (Illustrator)

Overview

Join archaeologist Raksha Dave on an unforgettable journey back through time as she explores ancient cultures that built sustainable cities, established public hospitals, supported gender equality, and more in Lessons from Our Ancestors: Uncovering Ancient World Wisdom, featuring illustrations by Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong.
 
Rediscover the ancient world as you’ve never seen it before and meet:

• The women and children who painted the world’s oldest-known cave art
• Black pharaohs, forgotten from Ancient Egypt’s history
• The Indus civilization who built a sustainable city
• Female warriors who led battles in Ancient China
• Workers who migrated to Machu Picchu
• Peaceful Viking traders
• The African engineers behind Great Zimbabwe
• Indigenous peoples of North America who built cosmopolitan cities and lived in harmony with nature
• and more . . .

Archaeologist and broadcaster Raksha Dave casts a spotlight on forgotten histories and misrepresented stories using 50 objects unearthed during archaeological digs to show how we discover more about ancient civilizations. This groundbreaking book offers a fresh perspective on our past to inspire you to build a better future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419771200
Publisher:	Magic Cat
Publication date:	06/04/2024
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

British Asian archaeologist and television broadcaster Raksha Dave was named the president of the Council for British Archaeology in 2021. Lessons from Our Ancestors is her first children’s book. Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong is an Asian American illustrator, designer, and ceramicist from Hawaii. She currently travels between tropical Honolulu, Hawaii, and temperate Michigan with her family. Clinthorne-Wong’s diverse range of work includes everything from conceptual editorials to whimsically surreal and playfully imagined worlds for children’s illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

"[F]resh perspective...the emphasis on diversity and inclusion makes this a noteworthy addition..."— Booklist

From the Publisher

★ 2024-04-20
Focusing on 14 cultures spanning more than 40,000 years, archeologist Dave invites readers to “celebrate equality, inclusivity, and sustainability across the ancient world.”

Though many may assume that misogyny was pervasive in the ancient world, the author spotlights the hunter-gatherer society of Çatalhöyük (in what is now Turkey), where men and women were considered equals. While racist historians have stated that Black Africans weren’t capable of great achievements, the author counters that claim by citing the city of Great Zimbabwe. Sustainability might sound like a more recent concept, but from 2500 to 1900 B.C.E., the inhabitants of the city of Mohenjo-daro, in modern-day Pakistan, drank rainwater and used an inspired sewage system that brought waste directly to farmers who used it to fertilize crops. Dave examines 50 artifacts that archeologists have studied to understand these cultures—for instance, small handprints on the walls of Chauvet prove that women and children created cave paintings. Dave’s explanations are cogent and her content is fascinating and well supported; discussions of the ethics of archeology are especially noteworthy. At times, she strays into generalization (a heading states “Women Triumphed at the Ancient Olympic Games” when she presents evidence of one particular woman). Still, those who are familiar only with the history taught in textbooks will come away surprised and enlightened. Bright and cheerful illustrations are detailed in their depictions of cultural practices and artifacts.

Captivating lessons from the past that are all the more relevant today. (information on archeology, glossary) (Nonfiction. 7-13)

Kirkus Reviews