Junior Biographies from Ancient Civilization

Rescued Baby. Shepherd. Prophet. Moses was a smart and curious scholar. While he was best known for leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, he was also human. He was a brilliant student, but he was not always patient. Since none of his writings were left behind, it is not always easy for historians to know what is true about Moses. Some people saw him as a prophet. Others felt he made some bad decisions. Moses' determination and willingness to follow God's path for him shaped the events in the Bible. The events of Moses' life have given scientists, archaeologists, and religious scholars much to ponder over for three thousand years.

Caesar grew up to be a powerful politician, general and leader. He expanded the already powerful Roman Republic into new lands, creating one of the most important civilizations in world history. He fought against pirates, other nations and powerful politicians who wanted to destroy him, before meeting a bloody end at the hands of his fellow citizens. In his amazing career, Caesar changed the world and introduced many of the customs we still use today. Learn more about this extraordinary man and the time in which he lived in this exciting biography of one of history's greatest leaders.

The story has been told for centuries-yet it remains one of the most exciting tales in history. The chivalrous King Arthur, his beautiful Queen Guinevere, and the brave knight Lancelot. Even the characters themselves seem too incredible to be real . . . So were they? Did a real king named Arthur ever actually exist? And if so, did he fight with a magical sword named Excalibur or lose his beloved lady to his most trusted friend and protector? Like most legends, a fair part of Arthur's story was likely embellished over the centuries to be certain. But a real King Arthur may have indeed lived during the fifth century.

The name Cleopatra instantly brings to mind an image of a beautiful, raven-haired woman- the Queen of the Nile. This most famous ruler of Egypt was actually the sixth ruler with that name. Known in history for her boldness, Cleopatra was just seventeen years old when she took the throne. Her youth did not stop her from becoming one of the most powerful rulers her country had ever seen. Cleopatra joined forces with two of Rome's most powerful leaders, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony- and she fell in love with both of them. Her reign, along with her life, came to a tragic end. Bu many historians consider that last pharaoh of Egypt its best.

The English called him Charles I. The Germans referred to him as Karl der Grosse. In Latin he was known as Carolus Magnus. Today he is best known by his French name-Charlemagne. It means Charles the Great, which is no surprise, for this Frankish king went down in history as the ruler who united the European continent. Charlemagne's passion for Christianity along with his skill as a military leader set him apart from the other leaders of his era. By drawing on these qualities, he converted the masses to Christianity as quickly as he brought them under his rule. As time went on, Charlemagne's massive kingdom just kept expanding further and further.

In the United States laws apply to everyone, they are written down, and they are not easily changed. It was not always like this. Over 3,000 years ago, a Middle Eastern king wanted to rule fairly. He had the laws of his kingdom written in stone, and then he shared the laws with his people. His name was Hammurabi and he ruled Babylon- where the country of Iraq is today- for over forty years. Although he expanded his country and won many wars, today he is best remembered for his code of laws. The way laws are written in the United States owes so much to Hammurabi that pictures of him can be seen in the House of Representatives.

Mathematician. Philosopher. World traveler. Pythagoras was an intelligent and curious scholar and teacher. While he's best known for the Pythagorean theorem, he shared ideas about numbers, animals and many other areas of knowledge with his students. Since none of his writings were left behind, it's not always easy for historians to know what's true about Pythagoras and what may be legendary. What does seem apparent is that he was a vegetarian but not a trendy dresser. Some people saw him as godlike. Others felt he made false claims about things. No matter what, Pythagoras's curiosity and willingness to grapple with complex issues have helped further the knowledge of mathematics and philosophy for thousands of years.

Hippocrates, who was born in 460 BCE and lived during the Golden Age of Greece, is known as the Father of Modern Medicine. He is responsible for changing the way that ancient Greeks thought about medicine. No longer were illnesses seen as punishments from the gods or the result of superstition. Hippocrates' method of treating illnesses was based on observation. His ideas that the parts of the body functioned as a whole in sickness and in health were an important foundation for modern medicine. Even today, new doctors take a Hippocratic Oath based on Hippocrates' work and philosophy. Hippocrates' life included both the gods of ancient Greece and the ideas that helped start modern science. Even thousands of years after his death, he is still remembered for his important contributions to medicine.

Buddha is known throughout the world today as one of the greatest spiritual leaders in history. But, at one time he was the prince of a small kingdom in India. However, Siddhartha, as he was once known, didn't fit into his royal world very well. Although he tried in many ways, Siddhartha just didn't care about wealth and power the way other young men his age would have. Instead, he dreamed of achieving enlightenment- and helping others to discover this highest state of human existence. At the age of 29, Siddhartha walked away from his life in the palace. What he did after that departure would change the lives of countless others up to the present day.

Plato, who was born around 429 BCE, is one of the world's best known and most studied Greek philosophers. He was a student of Socrates, and he would become the teacher of Aristotle. The death of his mentor Socrates made Plato rethink his ideas about the role of philosophers in politics, and Plato ultimately founded an academy, which was the ancestor of today's modern university. He started the practice of using dialogues, a series of questions and answers between people, as a teaching method. Plato's dialogues talked about government and the philosophy of things like mathematics, politics, and religion. Two thousand years after his death, Plato is still remembered for the ideas he presented in his dialogues, especially as they laid the foundations for the creation of democratic government.