Big Book of History

In our plan for schooling we will most likely follow a Classical Christian approach with a repeating four stages of history (Ancients ~5000 BC - AD 400, Medieval/Renaissance 400-1600, Late Renaissance/Early Modern 1600-1850, Modern 1850-Present day) and keeping a timeline will be very important to have a tangible way to look at facts. While I am certain we will make some of our own timelines as a craft, I know that I want a reliable reference that we can use both as a guide for making our own, but also to go to in a pinch if that activity does not come through. Delightfully that is what I have discovered in the [b:Big Book of History: A 15' Fold-Out Time-Line from Creation to Modern Computers 12736984 Big Book of History A 15' Fold-Out Time-Line from Creation to Modern Computers Master Books http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327955902s/12736984.jpg 17875177]. My edition is a bound fold-out, but it is also available in pages that could be posted on a wall ([b:Big Book of History-Panels Only 13048879 Big Book of History-Panels Only Laura Welch http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327953959s/13048879.jpg 18213488]). This thing is awesome. Containing four different color lines it is easy to keep track of Biblical/Christianity, World Events, Inventions/Technology, and Civilizations/Empires. This timeline comes from Master Books (New Leaf Publishing Group) and [a:Ken Ham 35740 Ken Ham http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1256117977p2/35740.jpg] of Answers in Genesis is a contributing editor which to me makes this a well researched and Bible-based resource. It starts with a list of the days of creations labeled at 4004 BC. There are detailed days of the Floor and historical pictures of early technology. The pages are filled with photos and vibrant illustrations as well as maps. There are charts full of facts and paragraphs of trivia just begging to be memorized. Each section has a “did you know?” bubble that provides an interesting detail of history that is carried through today. Any student could pour over this timeline for hours and still find more to learn and be intrigued by. While the first mention of an Eastern Empire was in 220 AD with the end of the Han Dynasty of China, overall for what this timeline does contain is awesome. It truly brings what we know from the times told of in the Biblical scriptures to almost-today to life. From Mayan calendars in 300 AD to the first chocolate bar in 1847 to 2011 and the end of the US Space Shuttle Program. Each and every page/panel is bright and detailed and while there is more out there, this is a great resource and starting point to building a knowledge of history and when it occurred. I am very lad to have this in our homeschool resources. Thanks to New Leaf Publishing Group for providing a copy for review.