History Through Literature
© 1999 Clearvue/eav
Potentially useful and packed with interesting information, these 12 CDs have a cumbersome navigation system and are less than user-friendly. We looked at three of the CDs— Civilization and Writing (10,000 B.C. to 55 B.C.), Faith and Feudalism: The Early Middle Ages (A.D. 300 to 1100) and Renaissance and Reformation (1450 to 1660). Each contains a narrated slideshow presentation, a quiz feature and a presentation-maker. Information is delivered via text, narration, illustrations, photos and video. Renaissance and Writing, for instance, begins with a discussion of the famous author Thomas More and continues with an overview of the first movable type printing press, the impact of the Gutenberg Bible and so on. Although the information is interesting, we were disappointed by our overall experience. The menu icons are far from intuitive, making the program more difficult to use than it should be. Interesting visuals and interactive features are lacking— too much time is spent just sitting and listening. Note that the other titles in the series are as follows: Philosophy and Government: The World in Greek Times (800 B.C. to 287 B.C.), Empires of Heaven and Earth: The World in Roman Times (300 B.C. to A.D. 476), Chivalry and Commerce: The Late Middle Ages (A.D. 1000 to 1450), New Worlds and New Ideas (1492-1750), Industry and Enlightenment (1730 to 1820), Romanticism and Revolution (1770 to 1870), Imperialism and Progress: The Victorian Era (1860 to 1915), World Wars and the Quest for Order: The Early 20th Century (1900-1955), Liberation and Change: The Late 20th Century (1945 to present). The entire series is available for $850.
$75, Win 95, 98; Mac OS (CD-ROM)
Teaches: history, literature