Lessons from our Ancestors: Winner of the 'Discover British Book Award 2024': Equality, Inclusivity and Sustainability in the Ancient World

by Raksha Dave, Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong (Illustrator)

Rediscover the past with this book that uncovers forgotten histories and underrepresented stories.

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
· The black pharaohs, forgotten from Ancient Egypt's history
· The Indus civilisation who built a sustainable city
· The female warriors who led battles in Ancient China
· The peaceful Viking traders
· The African engineers behind the greatest city in the medieval world

Join archaeologist and broadcaster Raksha Dave on an unforgettable journey back through time.

Age 7 and up.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Picture Books, Nature

64 pages, Hardcover

Published May 11, 2023

Reviews

[Maggie Timlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raksha Dave has produced a brilliant and really important children's book.


Lessons From Our Ancestors talks about places and periods in history that I was already aware of and ones that I knew nothing about and I learned something new each time.

The book has a very clear structure. Raksha lays out the assertion - the chauvet cave paintings were done by women and children - and on the next page she explains how the archaeological record can prove that - analysis of the hand stencils in the caves show that 75% of the hand owners we're women and children.

I have a degree in archaeology and I learned so much. From Fu Hoa and the female warriors of ancient China, to the extraordinary trading routes which resulted in a Ming dynasty plate being excavated in the Great Zimbabwe. This is such an informative book.

Also the illustrations are stunning. The one small criticism I might have is I would have liked a map to see where each of the sites mentioned lay in relation to the rest of the world, but I must admit I think most books could be improved with maps.

I think the reading age of this would be about 8-12 and above although very advanced readers of a younger age woul enjoy it too.


Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

[Immie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geschichte für Kinder - ganz neu
Es gibt viele Geschichts-Sachbücher für Kinder auf dem Markt, aber häufig nicht unbedingt auf dem neuesten Wissensstand. Das ist bei diesem von einer Archäologin geschriebenen Buch auf jeden Fall anders. Man erhält einen spannenden Einblick in ehemalige Gesellschaften der Steinzeit, der Antike, dem Leben im Mittelalter. Dabei wird bewusst der Schwerpunkt weg von der üblichen eurozentrischen Darstellung gelegt. Von Hochkulturen auf jedem Kontinent wird berichtet und von deren architektonischen und kulturellen Errungenschaften. Der Leser erfährt von neuen Erkenntnissen, die eine diversere, nachhaltigere, gleichberechtigtere und inklusivere Geschichte widerspiegelt als bisher üblich.

Ich habe das Lesen in diesem Buch sehr genossen und hatte große Freude an der fortschrittlichen Darstellung der unterschiedlichsten Kulturen und teilweise vergessene Geschichten in der Geschichte.
Mit vielen Illustrationen wird die Geschichte für Kinder anschaulich dargestellt. Die kleinen Textstücke, die die Darstellungen erklären, fand ich gut zu lesen. Kein erdrückender Fließtext, sondern Informationen zu vielen Themen der entsprechenden Kultur, findet man auf jeweils vier Seiten.

Der kleine Einblick in die Archäologie am Ende des Buches hat mir ganz besonders gut gefallen. Das Cover ist natürlich passend zu den Illustrationen im Buch.
Ein liebevoll gestaltetes Buch mit tollen, spannenden und interessanten historischen Informationen. Ich bin begeistert.

[Bärbel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rezension zur deutschen Ausgabe
[Auf den Spuren unserer Vergangenheit; E.A. Seemann Verlag]

Mein Enkel ist großer Archäologie-Fan und interessiert sich sehr für vergangene Kulturen. Ich habe mich sehr gefreut, ihm dieses Buch schenken zu können.
Zunächst hatte er eine klare Erwatungshaltung (Maya und Inka) und war dann erstaunt, wieviele weitere Lebensweisen und geografische Siedlungsräume “unsere Vorfahren” kannten. Genau dies finde ich als Betrachtung auch toll: von der Menschheit und Ihrer vielgestaltigen Lebensweise auszugehen, statt von einer wie immer gearteten nationalen oder ethnischen Abkunft. Alle diese Vorfahren, die in diesem Buch gezeigt werden, zeigen Potentiale auf, die gegebenenfalls auch noch meinem Enkel zur Verfügung stehen, es fällt ihm leicht, eine Verbindung zu diesen Darstellungen zu finden.
Das Buchkonzept ist toll und die visuelle Umsetzung sehr ansprechend und farbenfroh. Hin und wieder gerät die Sprache urplötzlich sehr akademisch, sie ist nicht immer ganz so kindgerecht und zugänglich wie es die Narrative und Illustrationen sind, das irritierte manchmal.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Reviewed of physical copy)

This opens with a helpful note to readers from the expert/author whose work intends to provide accessible, informative, intriguing reading about early civilizations, much of it rarely told. The illustrations, main text, captioned elements, and labeled details weave an understandable account of what archeologic/anthropological evidence suggests as the real history of humanity one this planet.
Following a two page account that constructs likely/potential life of the described era, the next double spread is focused on objects and their relationships to themselves and the conclusions that had formed the prior pages.
This pattern effectively reveals fifteen different under-reported eras and societies throughout archeologic history. Back matter includes a valuable glossary and a double spread labeled "Ask the Archeologist". This is book is engaging and informative on its face, but may also spark career interests in young readers. The work is made both fascinating and challenging, with a "solve-the-puzzle" appeal that stands out.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging read that focuses on some keys moments in history that were unfortunately missed. Did you know the people that painted the Chauvet Cave art were primarily women and children? In the same community, women were equally responsible for hunting for food. Or that ancient community’s learned how to live sustainably? So many fascinating tidbits are noted on these pages - with gorgeous illustrations to engage readers and allow them to explore the world they’re reading about.

With poignant facts that were somehow overlooked, readers of all ages will learn more about the history of gender equality, sustainable living, conservation, black pharaoh’s that ruled Egypt, peaceful Vikings, and so much more. Daisha Dave highlights the objects that share the secrets of time. Highly recommend! A great supplement to a history or ancient cultures and peoples curriculum.

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely fantastic. An all ages picture book (or mature children) that really taught me a lot about forgotten history I didn't know.

I love that it taught me about the history, and then followed up with a page about how archaeology proves this history. It also delves into the why of the history being forgotten -- whether that is due to racism, sexism or otherwise.

The illustrations are brilliant, bright and colourful. They really contribute to the book coming together as a complete entity.

It does a great job of being truly international in the scope of history it explores as well.

[Richard Vaughan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have visited Great Zimbabwe many times in the course of writing a chapter for a book that was distributed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Harare back in 1991. What this author has written about it is so detached from reality that I gave up on the rest of the book. It is very unfortunate that material like this is being fed to children who do not have the resources to get a more detached perspective.

[Jack Potter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I ended up finding this book because of my nephew and trying to get him to read. Reading it with him I was stunned at the authors poor historical knowledge, the seizing on vagueries to build an area of history into something it never was and the agenda driving behind it all. Safe to say, I am going out to get my nephew a different book on history and not a fan fiction about the past.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern view on ancient societies and the ways we've learned about their equal, inclusive, and sustainable habits. Dave examines history for lessons our day needs, showing with great graphics how we know about societies of the past, instructing us on ways to apply these lessons to our modern world. This is a unique feature of how archeology teaches us the things we've discovered about past cultures.

Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

[Aleksandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

As for me it failed to explain exactly why the author thinks for example aboriginal Australians were conservatonists. Maybe I missed something, not sure. I liked the pictures, pages of objects/artifacts and the concept itself.

[Nez Planc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super engaging book that is perfect to share with children. I wish history was presented like this when I was a kid!

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and inspiring!

[rapunzel xxl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich würde dieses Buch wärmstens empfehlen

„Auf den Spuren unserer Vorfahren - 50 Funde erzählen die Geschichte neu“ ist ein Sachbuch für Kinder von Raksha Dave mit Illustrationen von Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong. Das Buch ist für Leser ab sieben Jahren geeignet und erzählt anhand von 50 archäologischen Artefakten wichtige Episoden der Weltgeschichte neu.

Das Buch beginnt mit einer Einführung in die Archäologie und nimmt junge Leser anschließend mit auf eine historische Reise anhand von 50 von Archäologen entdeckten Artefakten. Das Buch führt die Leser chronologisch in 14 Regionen der Welt ein, von Australien bis China und von den Wikingern bis zu den Inuit. Jedes Thema erhält einen vierseitigen Abschnitt. Das Buch ist voller reicher archäologischer Entdeckungen, und der Text ist leicht verständlich und präsentiert Geschichte auf lebendige und kindgerechte Weise.

Ich kann dieses Buch wärmstens empfehlen – nicht nur für Kinder ab sieben Jahren, sondern auch für Erwachsene, die ihren Horizont in der Menschheitsgeschichte erweitern möchten.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

J’ai apprécié l’intention, moins le résultat.