ANCIENT CHINA

This entry in the See Through History series chronicles major events and periods from 3,500 years of the world's oldest continuous culture. Beginning with the Shang dynasty in the Bronze Age, Williams covers war, daily life, religious beliefs, farming, burial, class structure, civil service, cities, homes, and many other aspects of culture and custom, gradually working forward to the modern era. Interspersed throughout is information about the various dynasties and empires, as well as four spreads with transparent overlays, showing the exteriors and interiors of buildings, etc. These are terrific and readers will wish for more of them, and page back and forth for every detail. Lavishly illustrated and dense with information, this is a noteworthy volume. (map, chronology, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)