Culture 4.0: Contextual Guide and Int. Index to W. Civilization
© 2000 Cultural Resources, Inc.
Billed as the "ultimate research tool for arts and humanities", this CD offers 25,000 links to the web, 159 historical maps, 1700 images, plus hundreds of profiles of famous authors, artists and composers. From Shakespeare to the Parthenon, Venus De Milo to the Great Pyramid, this reference is deep in content. The software is keyword searchable, but not very easy to use— you end up really having to hunt for basic information. For instance, a keyword search on Picasso gives you over 20 results, but in apparently random order of importance. Better results are had when you use the Internal Text Link Index, which is done alphabetically. The bottom line? For basic student research, we'd use an encyclopedia instead. For in-depth inquiries, this will be a useful resource. Note, too, that secondary and higher education teachers will find it a helpful tool as they are preparing for their classes. There are some real finds here— ancient maps of Rome, for instance. Teachers' resources (i.e., exam questions) are available in supplemental book form or right on the CD.
$69, Win, Mac OS (CD-ROM)
Teaches: history, social studies