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Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors

Marian Broida - Author

Choose it for a hands-on exploration of several ancient societies, with projects that turn topics such as writing, clothing, food and building into activities.

More about this book

Want to speak Hittite? Hold out a glass and ask for “wa-tar.” This unique activity book for children ages nine and up shows what life was like among the Nubians, Mesopotamians, Hittites, and their neighbors the Egyptians from around 3100 B.C., when Upper and Lower Egypt became one kingdom, to the death of Queen Cleopatra under the Romans, in 30 B.C. Projects such as building a Nubian irrigation machine, creating a Mesopotamian cylinder seal out of clay, making kilts like those worn by Egyptian boys and men, and writing in Hittite cuneiform help young readers to connect with these ancient cultures and see how profoundly they have influenced our own.

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Hands-on learning· ExplainedAncient cultures· ExplainedEgypt· Explained

Consider

Grief and lossBereavement

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

hands-on learningancient culturesEgyptNubiaMesopotamiaHittites

Non-fiction

Themes in Context

Learning through making

The guide pairs cultural and historical subjects with projects such as a Nubian irrigation machine, a Mesopotamian cylinder seal and Hittite writing.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: Its structure uses practical activities to connect readers with information about several ancient societies.

Talk about: Which project helps make an unfamiliar part of daily life or culture easier to picture?

Comparing neighbouring societies

The book covers these societies in separate sections, with recurring subjects including architecture, clothing, writing, work, food and religion.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The arrangement supports looking across cultures through shared topics, without establishing that they are treated as interchangeable.

Talk about: How do the sections show differences in how each society wrote, worked or built?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

The guide places Egyptians alongside Nubians, Mesopotamians and Hittites, giving families a way to compare distinct societies rather than focus on Egypt alone.

What Deserves Attention

The contents include mummies and burial rituals, as well as religion and a project imagining a Mesopotamian god; these topics may prompt questions about ancient beliefs and death.

A Conversation Worth Having

If the different cultures describe similar things—such as writing, food or clothing—what might those similarities and differences tell us about how people lived?

Reading Approach

Try one project alongside its related topic, then pause to look up unfamiliar terms together; the contents include dedicated sections on history, geography and writing.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Learning through making: The activities range from making a Nubian irrigation machine and a Mesopotamian cylinder seal to writing in Hittite cuneiform.
Comparing neighbouring societies: The sections address recurring subjects—including architecture, clothing, writing, work, food and religion—across the four societies.

Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors by Marian Broida | Open Library

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: General book context

Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide - Marian Broida - Google Books