A Mindboggling History of Scientists and Inventors

Take a chronological look at a some very clever scientists and inventors. Blast around the world with the brainiest people to have lived, beginning (logically) with the ancient Greeks, Plato and Hippocrates! Find out that the invention of concrete is a lot older than you might think and that for hundreds of years people believed that the Sun orbited around Earth. Discover if you would have had what it takes to work out why a magnetic rock is brilliant for finding your way, be brave (or foolish) enough to test out medical theories on your own child, become the next big thing in computer science, and discover why making paper was one of the most important inventions of all time!

Blast Through the Past takes a look at some of the weird jobs people in the past had to do and the skills they needed in order to explore new lands, win battles or make amazing breakthroughs in science. Get under the skin of the most famous and infamous, the cleverest and some of the the barmiest people who have shaped history.

Blast Through the Past is a series aimed at children aged 8+. These books build historical skills at Key Stage 2 by encouraging children to consider cause and effect, and why certain events happened at certain times.

Izzi Howell is an editor and author of books for children.