What’s fun when you’re 12 and into Japanese / Greek / Roman history?
November 28, 2021 5:19 AM   Subscribe

My nearly 12 year old nephew is really into history, especially Greeks, Romans and Japanese history. I’d love to get him something related for Christmas, but I don’t want to just get him ‘plain old books’ - I’d like something that doesn’t resemble homework.

I was wondering if there are good graphic novels on these subjects suitable for kids his age, maybe? A couple of years ago he was into Asterix, but if he hasn’t outgrown that his parents are already all over it. Are there some really great themed board games?

I think mythology would go down well too and so I’ve had a look at this previous and this one, though I suspect he knows all about Percy Jackson already, and ideas that go beyond books of any sort are especially welcome - so many fun history gifts are a bit young for him now.

He’s also weirdly into 19th-century German history. If any of you can come up with a 12-year-old-friendly gift for that, I’ll be deeply impressed.
posted by FavourableChicken to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (25 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Genuine roman coins are plentiful enough to be affordable as a Christmas present, and holding something that was actually used to buy things 2000 years ago would have blown my nerdy mind at that age.
posted by wattle at 5:41 AM on November 28, 2021 [18 favorites]


There's lots of 3-d puzzle/lego type options for the colosseum and I bet other historic building.
posted by beccaj at 5:50 AM on November 28, 2021 [4 favorites]


I loved purusing the historical illustrations in the books by David Macaulay when I was a kid.
posted by Theiform at 5:54 AM on November 28, 2021 [8 favorites]


When I was 12 I and my friends played Top Trumps a lot. How about a 3 pack of Ancient Civilizations Top Trump card decks?
posted by underclocked at 5:55 AM on November 28, 2021


If he's never played any of the computer games in the Civilization series, he's at the perfect age to get hooked on them.
posted by Johnny Assay at 6:00 AM on November 28, 2021 [6 favorites]


Coincidentally, I was recently reminded of a wacky (but quite commercially successful) Japanese manga and anime series called Saint Seiya or Knights of the Zodiac. Since you mentioned Asterix, perhaps the 12 year-old might like manga, too? Saint Seiya uses Greek mythology as a set of motifs for modern super-powered characters in a very action-heavy adventure story. The anime is usually available to watch on American streaming services, too, if the manga turns out to be interesting to your nephew.

I just checked on Amazon and it's not clear if the first volume is available. You might be able to find it from other online sources, though. Individual volumes of manga aren't expensive, so it could be a low-risk attempt at a suitable present.
posted by Tchozz at 6:14 AM on November 28, 2021


Does he have the Horrible Histories books? I loved them when I was that age.
posted by Tamanna at 6:41 AM on November 28, 2021 [1 favorite]


Gareth Hinds has some great graphic novels about Greek Myths: The Iliad and The Odyssey. You might also pop "Greek Myths" into the Etsy search bar and see what comes up- there are book sellers as well as crafts people who might make something that will impress your nephew.
posted by momochan at 6:42 AM on November 28, 2021 [1 favorite]


This new addition to the 7 Wonders family of board games might be a good fit: 7 Wonders Architect
posted by leastlikelycowgirl at 7:14 AM on November 28, 2021 [1 favorite]


Not sure it's age appropriate for your 12-year-old (adult situations, nothing graphic), so YMMV. But the Legion-cycle of books by Harry Turtledove are pretty good historical fantasy with Romans. Lots of good stuff about the pre-Empire Roman army and general outlook on life. I'm not so much into fantasy myself. But the Roman side of the books was enough to make it interesting for me.
posted by Stuka at 7:53 AM on November 28, 2021


For the German connexion I'd go for a [framed?] map of the Deutscher Zollverein or the Deutsches Kaiserreich.
posted by BobTheScientist at 8:52 AM on November 28, 2021


The video game Apotheon is a platform/fighting game illustrated like a Grecian Urn. It's pretty and fun, with some mythology sprinkled in. And on sale for a few bucks.
posted by roue at 9:53 AM on November 28, 2021


Assassins creed odyssey discovery mode strips out all the violence and assassin stuff and leaves you with an elaborate re creation of Ancient Rome, along with some fetch quests, quizzes and narratives, if they have access to a video game system or computer.
posted by WedgedPiano at 10:12 AM on November 28, 2021


May I recommend an artifact from the Sumerian culture rather than the cultures you mentioned? Ever since seeing this video with Irving Finkel and Tom Scott, I've been wanting the board game, The Royal Game of Ur. Finkel is with the British Museum, and I see that they sell a copy of the game, but I also see lots of other versions around the web, including Amazon, Etsy, even free downloads for 3D printing your own.


Chinese culture: I've given my kids, over the years, copies of Sun Tzu's "Art of War", mainly because I was tired of militaristic aficionado's referencing it and wanted to de-mystify it. Also because it's remarkably non-militaristic and anti-war. I found copies that are those tiny 3x3 inch editions; great bathroom reading.

I think one of life's great ironies is that people avoid classic literature because it seems so stuffy, but it's a classic because it's not stuffy. Homer's already been recommended, so maybe Marcus Aurelius' Mediations? Something on Socrates?
posted by at at 10:28 AM on November 28, 2021 [1 favorite]


He might enjoy Larry Gonick's The Cartoon History of the Universe vol 1-7 (big bang to Alexander the Great). It occasionally touches on slightly risqué subject matter, but only a problem if the family is extremely conservative in some way.

2nding coins and eBay is a great place to get small, clean assortments or larger lots of uncleaned, commonly found coins.
posted by brachiopod at 10:57 AM on November 28, 2021 [4 favorites]


Another video game recommendation: Hades!
posted by pazazygeek at 11:04 AM on November 28, 2021


Yo Soy jr., of approximately the same age and a Greek/Roman enthusiast, recommends the board game Santorini. Also Zeus on the Loose, with a warning that it might be a bit young.
Also, museum passes.
If they've read the Percy Jackson series, apparently the next read should be The Trials of Apollo/The Heroes of Olympus, which are spinoffs of the PJ books.
posted by Yo Soy La Morsa at 1:25 PM on November 28, 2021


Lots and lots of boardgames with Greek/Roman/Japanese themes. If into specific history, many great period specific wargames exist, Sekigahare, Hannibal, and Comands and Colors Ancients, as some examples.

Also many, many non-wargames with these themes. Would depend on what part of those histories they are into. On preview, Santorini is a good abstract game with an appropriate theme.

Also would depend on how well your nephew would be at slightly more complex games. Most of my kids had been raised with games from the start, so they could play serious stuff at like 9 years old, but YMMV, (in relation to the wargames I listed above)...
posted by Windopaene at 3:55 PM on November 28, 2021 [2 favorites]


Not sure about Japanese or Roman history, but I know for a fact that there’s a Greek gods tome of Choose Your Own Adventure, because I spent HOURS with it around that age.
posted by Liesl at 5:11 PM on November 28, 2021


Amazon hosts a platform for live virtual tours by local tour guides; there are a bunch available for Rome and other Italian sites. They're 50% off right now, and you can buy a gift card version so they can choose their own.

Seconding Gonick's "Cartoon History" books.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:18 PM on November 28, 2021


I think something that has a hint of the "feel" of a historical era to it would be pretty cool. He probably gets more exposure to Greek and Roman history than Japanese, so I lean that way. A few suggestions that I see linked on this list: a bonsai starter kit, a matcha tea ceremony set.
Also, whatever you get you should consider wrapping it in a furoshiki cloth (or similar) as a second gift / neat thing to play with.
posted by Lady Li at 8:58 AM on November 29, 2021


Just FYI, since obviously I don't know this particular kid, when I was a 12-year-old obsessed with Roman, Greek, Egyptian and Russian history, there was absolutely no better gift than a "plain old" history book. Are you sure that isn't what he'd like? To give it that special holiday feel, it can be a well-illustrated hardcover.
posted by Dolukhanova at 9:51 AM on November 29, 2021 [1 favorite]


I second Dolukhanova's excellent point. If this 12-year-old is heavy into history, then even something that is pure reference would be pretty cool and not be homework. If it's something they're genuinely interested in, it won't be homework. It never was for me! Make sure it has plenty of pictures and maps, cool stuff to look at.
posted by Stuka at 10:13 PM on November 29, 2021


Response by poster: Thanks all, a terrific list of suggestions and ideas to research.
posted by FavourableChicken at 2:49 PM on November 30, 2021


The Satsuma Rebellion might be later in Japanese history than he is interested in, but does touch on the samurai in a historical sense - most graphic novels about them don't.

They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei (yes, that George Takei) is Japanese-American history, about his experiences when his family was sent to an internment camp during World War Two.

Please note: the fact that these links go to the Barnes & Noble site don't mean I am advocating that you buy them there - these were merely where my search results led me.
posted by TimHare at 12:32 PM on December 2, 2021


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