Ancient Rome ¦ The Aztecs

Striking jacket designs give these titles immediate visual impact. Inside, generous double-page spreads feature not only the usual blend of artist's impressions and photos, but equally colourful acetate cutaway pictures which enable us to 'see' both the exteriors and interiors of a range of buildings from temples to town houses.

Happily, the accompanying texts are equally stimulating and succeed in bringing the history of these two contrasting civilizations vividly to life.

In The Aztecs, Tim Wood has provided an absorbing account of the growth, development and eventual destruction of their Empire. He doesn't shirk the importance of human sacrifice in the Aztec religion, but is at pains to balance this aspect of their lives with a description of their many artistic and cultural achievements. This title is especially welcome in view of the dearth of suitable material currently available.

Books about the Romans are not in such short supply, but Simon James more than holds his own with his evocation of daily life in Rome and the provinces. Some of his descriptions have an uncannily familiar ring. We learn that city streets were often 'noisy, dirty and dangerous' and 'crime was common'. Many people lived in poor housing, sometimes in tall blocks of flats, and lacking kitchen facilities had to exist mainly on 'take-away' food!

Both writers are adept at putting flesh on the bones and it is this that makes these books so enjoyable to read.