Very basic vertical menu in pure html5 and css -

i've been googling quite bit , can't find helps me put pieces here. specs follows:

have 3 files: index.html, menu.html, , style.css
the menu.html has content needed menu, , included index.html via html5 objects. understand objects can used this: include html file in html using html5
style.css can have very minimal. maybe blue text on red background, example.

what have managed accomplish:

my issue putting pieces together. if provide needed lines index.html (ie, object tag correctly references style) , minimal style.css, set.

thanks help, , sorry n00b question, can't seem find on combination of html5 objects , css.

what broken:

i can't object only (the menu) use style sheet , have red background. main page have white background.
clicking on menu link seems open page in new frame. want entire page change. reason having menu.html stick dry paradigm.

have tried this?

<object type="text/html" data="menu.html" id="whatever"></object>

in style.css

body {    background-color: #ffffff; } #whatever {    background-color:#ff0000; }

<a href="index.html" target="_top">home</a>

EXIT