Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War is a hardback textbook that provides a comprehensive history of Persia's wars with the East and West from the 6th century BC. It also discusses the culture and the exchange of ideas and how this affected the arts, religion, medicine, technology, and science of the time period. Illustrations throughout the book draw attention to these aspects of Persian culture. The book includes a chronology, endnotes, a bibliography, and an index. It covers such topics as the Achaemenids, the Parthians, the Sassanians, and the use of the terms Persia and Iran. Basically, it covers everything you need to know about Ancient Persia from 10000 BC to AD 838.

This product requires a high level of reading comprehension, so it would be best for the high school level. It is suitable for a homeschool setting but should be used within the framework of a traditional method of teaching and with a child that excels in that type of teaching environment. The book is best suited for visual and auditory learners. Kinesthetic learners may not find it as helpful.

The material is compiled in a very concise and organized manner, making this an excellent addition to your high school student's study of ancient civilizations. It does read like a textbook, so it is not necessarily something to be read during your family reading time. But it is an excellent example of the genre of military history and would make a wonderful addition to your reference library.

Product review by Christy Sensenig, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, August 2007