Timeline Battle Castles

Gr 6 Up—Europe's mightiest fortresses and key battles are just a tap away in Ballista Media's updated app, created by the producers of the British "Battle Castle" documentary television series and the show's popular host, Dan Snow.A highly interactive time line is filled with more than 1,000 entries that link users to text, photos, film clips, museum quality archival images, and maps. The app offers a sizeable amount of information in easily digestible bites, perfect for young enthusiasts of medieval life. Each entry provides well-written content on major castles across Europe and the Middle East, as well as key battles, sieges, and historical profiles from 1,000–1,500 BCE.The map can be searched and filtered by century, decade, or year. Viewers can also access information by swiping through the illustrated chronology or using a keyword search box. A quick tap on the help screen yields a video featuring Snow demonstrating how to use the app. (An Internet connection is required for the videos.)The app's visual experience is top-notch. The tablet's retina capability makes viewing the photographs a real treat. Users can effortlessly navigate European history and explore more than 500 stunning photos of castles, many with computer-generated 360-degree views. In addition, students will be captivated by the more than 100 videos, including clips from the TV series of siege weapons in action, footage of actual replica castle construction, and demonstrations of various aspects of medieval life, such as how to catch a rat or how to make a pen out of a goose feather. Superb edutainment in a highly polished, multilayered package, and an essential purchase for secondary history buffs.—Celeste Steward, San Leandro Public Library, CA