A parent might reach for this book when their child's natural curiosity about the world expands to the past, sparking questions like, “Where did cities come from?” or “Who invented writing?”. This classic Usborne guide offers a concise and visually rich tour of the world's earliest civilisations, from the dawn of farming in 10,000BC to the complex societies of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley. It brilliantly illustrates the teamwork, perseverance, and creativity required for humanity to build the very foundations of modern life. Perfect for budding historians aged 8-12, this book transforms abstract history into a tangible story of human innovation, making it an excellent starting point for school projects or for any child fascinated with how things are built and how societies grow.
The book deals with historical concepts like warfare, social hierarchies (kings, priests, slaves), and death (e.g., burial practices, mummification) in a direct, factual, and secular manner. Given its 1977 publication date, the presentation may lack modern nuance. For example, discussions of labor (who built the pyramids) might not fully explore the concept of slavery with contemporary sensitivity. There is a potential for a mild Eurocentric or Western-centric historical framing, which was common for the era.
Ideal Reader
This book is perfect for an 8 to 11-year-old who is a visual learner and loves building systems, whether in Minecraft, with LEGOs, or by drawing maps of imaginary worlds. They are curious about origins and “how things work” on a grand scale. They likely prefer non-fiction that is broken into small, manageable chunks of text accompanied by detailed illustrations and cutaway diagrams.
Parent Prep
Parents should preview the book, paying attention to the 1977 publication date. The language and framing may be slightly outdated. For example, the text might use gendered language like “early man” or oversimplify complex social structures. A parent can provide valuable context by discussing how our understanding of history changes with new discoveries and by asking critical questions about the roles of all people, including women and common laborers, in these ancient societies. A parent might seek this book after their child asks a foundational question about human history, such as “Who were the first people to build a city?” or “How did people learn to write?” It's also a great resource when a child shows a strong interest in construction, ancient myths, or is starting a school unit on ancient history.
Age Experience
An 8-year-old will primarily engage with the dynamic illustrations, grasping the “big picture” concepts: people learned to farm, they built big temples, and they invented writing. A 12-year-old can engage more deeply with the specifics: comparing cuneiform to hieroglyphs, understanding the importance of rivers to each civilisation, and thinking about the timeline and the cause-and-effect relationships between innovations (e.g., agricultural surplus leads to specialized labor).
What Makes It Special
Its key differentiator is the classic, detailed Usborne illustrative style from the 1970s. Unlike modern, CGI-heavy kids' non-fiction, this book has a hand-drawn, almost blueprint-like quality to its diagrams and cutaways, which can be very appealing. Its brevity (32 pages) makes it a highly accessible and unintimidating introduction to a massive topic, serving as an excellent visual primer rather than an exhaustive encyclopedia.
Read plot summary
This non-fiction book provides an overview of the development of the first human civilisations. It begins with the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities. The primary focus is on the major early civilisations: Sumer in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, and the Indus Valley. The book details key innovations such as farming techniques, the invention of the wheel, the development of writing (cuneiform and hieroglyphs), the establishment of laws, and the construction of monumental architecture like ziggurats and pyramids. The content is presented in thematic, highly illustrated spreads typical of the Usborne style.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
