Michael Woods

Mary B. Woods

Did you know . . . • The ancient Maya built magnificent pyramid-temples? • Ancient Chinese builders created central home heating systems? • One ancient Greek monument was taller than a ten-story building? Construction technology is as old as human society itself. The first humans on Earth built simple structures. They made houses from wood, clay, and animal skins. Over the centuries, ancient peoples learned more about construction. People in the ancient Middle East made clay roofing tiles. The ancient Egyptians moved thousands of stones into place to build giant pyramids. The ancient Chinese built a wall across northern China. The ancient Romans created massive arched roofs, long bridges, strong roads, and systems for moving water. What kinds of tools and techniques did ancient builders use? Which of their buildings and monuments are still standing? And how did ancient construction set the stage for our own modern building technology? Learn more in Ancient Construction Technology.

From Pyramids to Fortresses

Ancient Construction Technology

Imagine watching a space shuttle on the launchpad, ready to blast off into orbit. Astronauts have embarked on some of the most amazing adventures and made incredible discoveries. Yet sadly some the most well-planned launches have ended in tragedy. In fifty years of space travel, space disasters have claimed the lives of more than twenty astronauts and one hundred space workers. In two of the worst disasters, space shuttles exploded, killing all the astronauts onboard. With dramatic images and eyewitness accounts—plus the latest facts and figures—this book gives you a close-up look at space disasters.

Space Disasters

This book describes the geology of volcanoes, and how some of them have erupted throughout history.

Volcanoes

A winter snowfall can be beautiful. But if conditions call for dense snow, freezing temperatures, and bone-chilling wind, you are in for a dangerous blizzard. These blinding, swirling storms can shut down roads and damage buildings. Violent winds can thrash vehicles driving on icy roads. Snowdrifts can pile up to block streets or even cover houses. Blizzards can knock out power and threaten the lives of people stranded inside for days or worse, those caught outside in the storm. With dramatic images and first-hand survivor stories plus the latest facts and figures this book shows you blizzard disasters up close.

Blizzards

Did you know that people first used road signs more than 2,000 years ago? Did you know that Ancient Rome had its own postal service? Did you know that Egyptian writers used flakes of limestone for scrap paper? Pens, storytelling, alphabets communication technology is as old as human society itself. The first humans on Earth used simple communication tools. They painted on cave walls with twigs and animal fur. They carved simple pictures into bones and rocks. Over the centuries, ancient peoples improved the ways they communicated. People in the ancient Middle East kept records on clay tablets. The ancient Chinese made paper from wood pulp. The ancient Greeks and ancient Mayans thought of different ways to design books. So what kinds of tools and techniques did ancient people use? How did writing systems improve over time? And how did ancient communication set the stage for our own modern communication technology? Learn more in Ancient Communication Technology.

From Hieroglyphics to Scrolls

Ancient Communication Technology

Looks at seven natural wonders, including the Bay of Fundy, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Mariana Trench.

Seven Natural Wonders of the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Oceans

With dramatic images and first-hand survivor stories plus the latest facts and figures, this series takes you up close with the world's most devastating disasters. Each book covers a disaster from both the scientific and human side, capturing the impact and the emotion through primary source quotations and photographs.

Mudflows and Landslides

Discusses the methods of computation developed in various civilizations around the world, from prehistoric times up until the end of the Roman Empire.

From Counting to Calendars

Ancient Computing

Computing technology is as old as human society itself. The first humans on Earth used basic computing skills. They counted by carving tally marks in bone. They used body parts and basic tools to measure. Over the centuries, ancient peoples learned more about computing. People in the ancient Middle East used scales to measure goods for trading. The ancient Egyptians wrote textbooks including multiplication and division problems. The ancient Chinese developed an abacus for speedy calculations. Ancient Greeks made advances in geometry. What kinds of tools and techniques did ancient mathematicians use? Which of their inventions and discoveries have stood the test of time? And how did the ancients set the stage for our own modern computing? Learn more in Ancient Computing Technology.

From Abacuses to Water Clocks

Ancient Computing Technology

An introduction to the people, places, and beliefs behind seven creations of ancient Central and South America.

Seven Wonders of Ancient Central and South America

Take a new look at ancient history through the seven wonders of a geographical or cultural region. Each book in this series explains the qualities that makes something a 'wonder', with information about how the wonders were constructed, how they were discovered or preserved, how they are studied, and if and how they are used in modern times.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Seven Wonders of Ancient Africa

Presents seven wonders of the ancient Greek world, including Knossos, Delphi, Mycenae, Olympia, and the Parthenon.

Seven Wonders of Ancient Greece

Describes seven monumental ancient Asian architectural sites that still exist today, including the Great Wall of China, Angkor Wat, and Borobudur Temple.

Seven Wonders of Ancient Asia

A winter snowfall can be beautiful. But if conditions call for dense snow, freezing temperatures, and bone-chilling wind, you are in for a dangerous blizzard. These blinding, swirling storms can shut down roads and damage buildings. Violent winds can thrash vehicles driving on icy roads. Snowdrifts can pile up to block streets or even cover houses. Blizzards can knock out power and threaten the lives of people stranded inside for daysor worse, those caught outside in the storm. With dramatic images and first-hand survivor storiesplus the latest facts and figuresthis book shows you blizzard disasters up close.

Describes what earthquakes are and explains what causes them and tells what happened during and after major earthquakes that have occurred in the past two hundred and fifty years.

Earthquakes

Describes the technology used by ancient farmers, covering the evolution of farming tools, irrigation methods, animal breeding, and the processing of crops, including the ancient civilizations of China, Greece, Rome, India, and the Middle East.

Mary B. Woods

Books

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