TheLiving Historyseries provides students new to history with an insight into answering key questions in History:
- What are the ancient and modern origins of China, India and Southeast Asia?
- What have archaeologists and historians discovered that make this history new and living?
- How does this history impact the way in which people, cultures and ideas interact?
- How do they shape and impact todays modern world?
There are a total of three volumes in this series. Each volume is designed to introduce a range of historical events, civilisations, figures and topics in a learner-friendly and engaging way focused on selected Asian regions. In each book, historical concepts such as evidence, artefact analysis, change and continuity, and historical significance are closely interwoven with each chapter to develop student interest for historical inquiry. Filled with interesting sources, statistical representations, cartoons, colourful maps, useful research tips and glossaries, and interspersed with global perspectives, this series will make history both relevant and fun for every reader.
Because chronology and conceptual development are such important education principles in history, Books 1 and 2 focus on the ancient civilisations (3000 BC to the 15th century) and provide scaffolds for students to reflect deeply on the modern world that they live in today. Book 3 looks at the origins of modern Southeast Asia and challenges colonialism, Westernisation and other modern ideas brought into the region from 1511 to the outbreak of the Asia-Pacific War in 1941.
Book 1 introduces readers to the basic concepts and ideas used in history as a discipline. It also investigates the first civilisations of ancient India, China and Southeast Asia. The main features of each civilisation are highlighted to emphasise both their relevance and legacies to todays modern world.