Upcoming Themes for CALLIOPE ^®

2007 - 2008 School Year

September	Akhenaten, Egypt's Heretic King Here's your chance to meet a king that changed history! Find out why this royal figure dared to tamper with millennia-old religious beliefs. Did his wife, the queen, also believe in his one divine being? What about their children? What about the new art style that resulted - does it have secrets it is willing to reveal? Some letters from his time period have survived - and CALLIOPE ® has contacted an expert to translate them for you. Intrigued? Then, don't miss this exciting issue - including a trip to Tomb 55. Who knows what we will find!
October	Greek Olympics Think you know all about the Olympics? Well, CALLIOPE ® is sure you know lots, but you may be surprised to find out there's much you don't know. So, in anticipation of the 2008 Games, here's a nifty guide. You'll meet ancient Greek Olympic heroes and learn how their fans treated them. You'll read, too, of a mother who so wanted to see her son perform that she broke the law barring women from attending the games. And, you'll have a press pass that will get you into the athletes' training areas and right on site for each event. Then, to help you in 2008, CALLIOPE ® will bring you up-to-date on just how today's games imitate and emulate those hosted by the ancient Greeks.
November	Maps Ready for a surprise? Well, CALLIOPE ® is just anxious to introduce you to a new way of looking at maps. We travel back in time to check out an ancient Egyptian papyrus map, fast-forward a bit to the time when maps included all sorts of monsters that were thought to inhabit unknown parts of the world. We'll even check out a T-map! Intrigued? Good - because there's lots more. CALLIOPE ® is waiting to take you along the ocean's floor and up to Mars and the Moon - lots of mapping to be done in both places. And, there's also an article on the truths and untruths in cartography. To be sure, you'll never look at a map in the same way again after reading this issue!
December	Heroes and Heroines of Early Rome Romulus and Remus are familiar legendary Roman figures, but what about Camilla, Juno's sacred geese, and Horatio Cocles? You're probably thinking that the "geese" are a mistake in this list, but no, they do belong in it. Had it not been for their actions, there might never have been a Roman Empire. And, such was the case so often in early Roman history - just one person's daring made the difference between a town that stayed a town and one that became a world empire. You'll also find out why George Washington was often called "Cincinnatus" and how triplets battled triplets for the prize - Rome. You'll want to make sure you remember these articles, because the heroes and heroines will be just what you need to "spice up" your term papers with just the right cross-reference. As they say, "all roads lead to Rome," so, too, do so many heroes.
January	The Birth of the Indus Civilization Where's the Indus Valley, you might ask. For many years, newspapers focused little attention on this area. However, in recent years, most every day there is a news item about India or Pakistan or the Indus Valley cities. But, these cities and civilizations are not recent. Rather, they date back thousands of years, and CALLIOPE ® is just waiting to time-travel with you to investigate such booming metropolises as Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, and Dholavira. We'll go onsite as present-day construction workers begin to re-create what life was like some five to six thousand years ago - including the great plumbing, with toilets, and trade enterprises. We'll meet some families as well - and the artifacts they left us to piece together to tell their story. See you then!
February	Mythical Monsters Better read this issue in daylight! Unless, of course, you believe monsters are just fiction and fun! CALLIOPE's just waiting to introduce you to lots from around the world. If you are a non-believer, you might change your mind and actually decide for yourself that some may even have lived in some form or another! But, believer or non-believer, you are sure to learn lots - and enjoy the learning process - as CALLIOPE introduces you to some of the better known creatures such as Medusa, the minotaur, and Nessie of Loch Ness and some not so well known as the Kappa, mermen, and the Nyaminyani. You might want to keep this issue for October and model your next Halloween costume on the monster that best captures your imagination!
March	Genghis Khan A secret history! A new language script! A central government designed to rule a vast, vast empire! A state-of-the-art postal system! A policy that promotes religious tolerance! Advice from two geese and a frog! More advice - this one on reading tracks in sand! All this and much much more is sure to intrigue and fascinate you in the upcoming issue on Mongolia's Genghis Khan!
April	Joan of Arc Who was Joan of Arc? Whose voices did she claim to hear? What did they say? Why did a king listen to this young maiden? Why did those who praised and followed her turn against her? Who condemned her to die? Why did she admit wrongdoing and then deny it almost immediately? We have the answers for you in the April 2008 issue of CALLIOPE! And, much more - Joan's own words taken directly from the letters she wrote. A pass to the coronation of her King Charles VII. A seat at her trial - and you can be a juror deciding her fate. Whatever your feelings toward Joan and her actions, you're sure to be astounded at her relentless belief in her own actions.
May	Inventions Ever wonder what makes an invention an invention? How about what are the major "breakthroughs"? Well, it is all in this issue. And, we will take you back, not just centuries, but thousands of years ago to cave sites where the first tools were invented. And, we'll be checking on early computers - and we mean early - long before electricity and batteries were invented. After a plane ride to China, we cross a few suspension bridges and find out how really old this technology is! You'll never cross a bridge in the same way again. We don't want to spoil the suspense and tell you all that you'll find in the issue, but we do want to let you know that there will be a great play about Archimedes and some fascinating facts about Leonardo and his inventions of the future. See you in May!

2008 - 2009 School Year

July/Aug	Zeus and His Children Always wanted the inside scoop on mighty Zeus' adventures - and misadventures? Well, here it is! CALLIOPE has a special pass for you to Mount Olympos - a ringside seat at the table of all the powerful deities who ruled the Greek and Roman world. We'll watch and marvel at how Zeus outwits his father and then his relatives to gain the highest seat on Mt. Olympos. Then, we'll be off on a journey around the Mediterranean world to watch Zeus' children in action. And, what action it is with Daphne trying to escape the clutches of Apollo and Endymion unable to wake because of Artemis' spell. But, there's more as CALLIOPE tells you of the adventures of Zeus' best-known grandchild, little Cupid, who in this issue will pierce his own heart with his fateful love arrows. To be sure, this "divine" issue will make perfect summer reading - and you just might keep it close the rest of the year as well!
September	Hatshepsut: Pharaoh of Egypt A queen who would be king - that's the theme of this issue, and what an issue it is! Find out what the real significance of the royal beard is, and why Hatshepsut, as king, sported one. March in step with her army as she extends her control of lands far beyond the Nile's banks. Meet Senmut, the most trusted man in her empire, and marvel at the grand structures he oversaw as foreman. But, all was not "golden" in Hatshepsut's empire. Read the known facts and then decide for yourself what her end was - and whether her mummy has indeed been uncovered. Regardless of the title - whether it be king or queen - Hatshepsut is one person history will never forget!
October	A Day in Court: Law in Greece and Rome How did the ancient Greeks and Romans treat criminals? Were there criminals? How about political prisoners? Did jails exist? Have you ever wondered about the answers to these questions? Well, CALLIOPE has all the answers in its "Day in Court" issue. We read a first-hand report of Socrates' trial, his guilty verdict, and the method of death he chose. And, get your theater clothes ready, as we have a ringside seat at a performance of "The Arbitration" - something you really do not want to miss! Then, it's a short trip west to Rome, where the master orator Cicero will convince you of the innocence of Roscius and the guilty verdict the conniving Verres should receive. And, that's not all! Find out what happened to those who were not citizens and charged with crimes. Hint - this was not a situation you would ever want to be in! And, what if the people decided they did not like a certain politician? We have impeachment, the Greeks had a policy that was really quite effective - and swift. Sound interesting? Definitely! So, join us!
Nov/Dec	World Religions Read the newspaper, listen to the news, watch TV - and you are sure to hear the word "religion" mentioned every time you do any one of these activities. But, just what is religion? Whether you have an answer or are still wondering about the best answer is, this issue is sure to intrigue you! You'll meet Hinduism' Seven Sages, attend a Jewish wedding, accompany a Buddhist monk on his daily ritual, learn how an emperor declared Christianity a "world" religion, and experience the hajj through "Muslim" eyes. And, that's not all! Those questions you've had about symbols, festivals, prayers, plus a few other topics - well, here's a fun way to get the answers!
January	Arabic Legacy in the World Here's an issue that's sure to have many surprises for you! There's a personal tour of Baghdad, Cordoba (Spain), and Sicily to "watch" just how these areas became the stepping stones for ideas and inventions from the East to enter the West. Just wait until you read about the advanced water technology and conservation methods being used 1,000 years ago - you might want to take notes. Like math? Even if it's not your favorite subject, you'll enjoy reading about the Arabic math connection to the West. Maybe your view of math will change! Been to the doctor lately? Well, many medical theories and practices trace their origins back to the Middle East! Interested? You must be! We found it a most fascinating issue to research and design and can't wait for you to join us on this amazing adventure.
February	China's Forbidden City Heard of China's Forbidden City? Wonder how it got its name and who lived there? Well, CALLIOPE has all the answers - and right from the city itself! You'll go on rounds with the emperor, enter the empress' bedroom, check out the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, even have a ringside seat at the opening ceremony in 1421. And, there's more. As you walk through the palace today you'll see paintings of emperors dressed in "dragon robes." We have the scoop on those as well - and on who could wear what color. So, don't miss this exciting issue that's sure to keep you turning pages, from 1 to 49!
March	Celtic Ireland Ready for a trip back about 2,000 years to a period in time that still holds many secrets fast? CALLIOPE knows your answer is "yes," and is eager to have you as an "armchair" companion. We'll be going onsite to see what the remains reveal, and we'll be checking the written word to see what tales there are - and which are fact and which fiction. And, you'll be learning some new terms, like "Fulachta foadh" and "Emain Macha." Ever read or heard these words? How about "Cu Chulainn" and "Lia Fail"? Well, CALLIOPE can't wait to introduce you. Some are legendary and some are real, but all played a role in Ireland's history and development. And, there's much more, like the games of Hurley and fidchell and the connection between the god Dagda and the Irish harp. And, don't worry about the language barrier - CALLIOPE has the truth about the Gaelic language for you, too. So, get ready for a fascinating read!
April	Marco Polo
May/Jun	Catherine the Great
Jul/Aug	Gladiators

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Updated: 5/18/08 09:30 am
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