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This guide covers the Near Eastern and Mediterranean societies that predated the classical Greek and Roman civilizations. For research assistance, contact the History Liaison Librarian, Patricia Hardesty by email at hardespn@jmu.edu.
Contents
Subject Headings - LEO
The following subject headings are the most useful in researching ancient history. Individuals and specific groups or organizations may also be entered as subjects (or authors). To locate additional subject headings use the red Library of Congress Subject Headings volumes located near Reference Desk in Carrier.
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Guides and Bibliographies
Bibliographies can be useful in locating additional sources for your research. Bibliographies can be found in the sources listed in this section. They can also be found in journal and some encyclopedia articles. Few guides to ancient history exist anywhere. The one by Bengston is the standard guide. Most guides and scholarly bibliographies contain German and French published studies. The Norton bibliography is currently the standard source.
- Bengtson, Hermann. Introduction to Ancient History. Berkeley, Cal: University
of California, 1970.
(Z6202 B413) - The standard guide to ancient history up to the end of the Roman Empire. The bibliographies include many foreign language sources. For all researchers.
- Bibliographic Index: A Cumulative Bibliography of Bibliographies. New York:
H.W. Wilson
(Index/Abstracts Stacks) 1937- . Semi-annual, annual, multi-year cumulations. - Indexes research bibliographies in books and journals articles. Useful, because of continual updating.
- Coulter, Edith M., and Gerstenfeld, Melanie. Historical Bibliographies: A Systematic and
Annotated Guide. Berkley, CA: University of California, 1935.
(Z6201 A1 C8 1935) - Scholarly work which includes foreign language titles. Dated. Only for the specialist.
- Feuer, Bryan. Mycenaean Civilization: A Research Guide. New York: Garland, 1996.
(Ref DF 220.5 F48 1996) - Scholarly presentation with sections on an introduction to Mycenaean civilization, cultural history, material culture, intellectual life, and site reports. Lengthy annotations.
- Fritze, Ronald H. Reference Sources in History: An Introductory Guide. Santa
Barbara, Calif.: ABC - Clio, 1990.
(Ref D20 F75 1990). - This guide includes several reference sources on ancient history.
- Murnane, William J. The Penguin Guide to Ancient Egypt. New York: Penguin Books,
1983.
(DT60 M837 1983) - Example of a description and travel guide. Maps and illustrations.
- Norton, Mary B., ed. The American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature
. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University, 1995. 2 vol.
(Ref D 20 A55 1995). - This is the standard bibliographical source currently available for history. Coverage is universal with ancient history included. Most of the entries are in the English language. The sources were published between 1961-1992. Earlier editions were published in 1931 and 1961. They are at the same call number.
- Poulton, Helen. The Historian's Handbook: A Descriptive Guide to Reference Works.
Norman, Okla.: University of Oklahoma, 1972.
(Ref Z6201 P65) - Brief discussion of ancient history sources.
- Recently Published Articles. Washington, D.C.: American Historical Association.
1976-1990.
(Index/Abstracts Stacks) Vol. 1-15. - Index to scholarly articles published internationally. All time periods.
- Sources of Information in the Social Sciences. 3rd ed. Chicago: American
Library Association, 1986.
(Ref H 61 W433 S64 1986) - Brief discussion of the key monographic sources of ancient history.
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias are valuable in helping the researcher to choose or define a research topic. They often have valuable bibliographies that list the most important works on a subject.
- Egan, Edward W., et. al. Kings, Rulers and Statesman rev. ed. New York: Sterling, 1976. (Ref D107 W5 1976)
- Ancient history civilizations are included, e.g. Egypt.
- Langer, William L., comp. An Encyclopedia of World History: Ancient, Medieval, and
Modern, Chronologically Arranged. 5th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1972.
(Ref D21 L27 1972) - The leading general encyclopedia of world history. All the ancient civilizations of antiquity are noted.
- The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East. New York: Oxford
University, 1997. 5 vol.
(Ref DS 56 O9 1997). - A scholarly study having interest to ancient history studies. Maps, timelines, and illustrations are included. Entries contain bibliographies.
- Peck, Harry T., ed. Harper's Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities.
New York: American Book Co., 1896.
(DE5 P36 1923)- Poesner, Georges. Dictionary of Egyptian Civilization. New York: Tudor, 1953.
(Ref DT58 P653)- Redford, Donald B., ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. New York: Oxford University, 2001. 3 vol.
(Ref DT 58 O94 2001). - Poesner, Georges. Dictionary of Egyptian Civilization. New York: Tudor, 1953.
- This scholarly, and comprehensive, encyclopedia is arranged alphabetically by subject. Illustrations and maps are available. Entries contain bibliographies. A first source.
- Sasson, Jack M., ed. Civilizations of the Ancient Near East. New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons, 1995. 4 vol.
(Ref DS 57 C55 1995) - A scholarly presentation of the ancient Near East. Arrangement is by topic. Excellent bibliographies.
- Sienkewicz, Thomas J., ed. Encyclopedia of the Ancient World. Pasadena, Calif:
Salem Press, 2001. 3 vol.
(Ref CB 311 E54 2002). - This scholarly encyclopedia is arranged alphabetically and includes brief bibliographies for the entries. There are some illustrations. An "Overview" section introduces this encyclopedia. Twenty-Six topics are discussed in essay fashion. Examples include agriculture, art, death, etc. Appendices include a time line, glossary, geographical guide to the entries, chronological list of entries, chronological list of entries, a list of web sites, and a bibliography. This encyclopedia offers worldwide coverage. Its time frame extends to the end of the Classical Period.
General Sources
The Cambridge Ancient History editions are the most comprehensive English language studies on the time period. Leading scholars have written the histories. Bibliographies, maps, plates, and chronologies are included. The series is especially noted for its outstanding bibliographies. A 3rd edition is in progress. In 1982 a 2nd ed for some volumes was published. This has confused the present publishing scheme. Two sources in the Microform Area are included. They present English language research from archeological expeditions to ancient civilizations. For additional General sources of book formatted research check Leonardo under the suggested headings noted above.
- The Cambridge Ancient History. Cambridge, England: The University Press.
1923-1929. 12 vol.
(Ref D57 C25).The Cambridge Ancient History. 2nd ed. London: New York: Cambridge University, 1982- . in progress.
(Ref D57 C25 1982)- The Cambridge Ancient History 3rd ed. London: Cambridge University. 1970- . in progress.
(Ref D57 C52 1970)- Carney, Thomas F. The Shape of the Past: Models and Antiquity. Lawrence, Kan.: Coronado, 1973.
(D56 C37)- Chicago. University. Oriental Institute. Researches in Anatolia. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1929- .
(Microfiche. Microform Area) irregular. Carrier Library has vol. 8-9.- Layard, Austen H. Ninevah and its Remains. New York: Praeger, 1969.
(DS70 L42 1970)- McCown, Donald E. Nippur: Excavations of the Joint Expedition to Nippur. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1967- .
(Microfiche. Microform Area) Carrier Library has vol. 1.
Primary Sources
Primary source materials allow the researcher to read and interpret the original document(s). The following list is an example of primary sources available in Carrier Library. Frequently the subheading SOURCES is used to distinguish a book having documents, e.g. History, Ancient - Sources.
- Breasted, James H. Ancient Records of Egypt; Historical Documents from the Earliest
Times to the Persian Conquest,... New York: Russell & Russell, 1962 reprint of the 1906 ed.
5 vol.
(DT57 B76 1962)- British Museum. Dept. of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities. Annals of the Kings of Assyria. The Cuneiform Texts With Translations, Transliterations, etc. from the Original Documents in the British Museum. London: Printed by Order of the Trustees, 1902.
(DS 68 A2 v.1)- McDermott, William C. Readings in the History of the Ancient World. 2nd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970.
(D 52 M3 1970)- Pritchard, James B. Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament. 3rd ed. with supplement. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University, 1969.
(BS 1180 P83 1969)- Source Reading in Ancient History New York: Crowell, 1965.
(D52 C75) - British Museum. Dept. of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities. Annals of the Kings of Assyria. The Cuneiform Texts With Translations, Transliterations, etc. from the Original Documents in the British Museum. London: Printed by Order of the Trustees, 1902.
Chronologies
Chronologies are very useful in listing dates and putting into perspective when an event happened. The Grun book's usefulness is its listing of different types of events in the same timeline. Langer's book An Encyclopedia of World History;... (listed in Dictionaries/Encyclopedia) is also useful as a chronology. Two "King lists" are included in this section.
- Bickerman, E.J. Chronology of the Ancient World. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell
University, 1968.
(D54.5 B5 1968) - Information on calendars and their use in chronology.
- Budge, E.A. Wallis. The Book of the Kings of Egypt: or the Ka, Nebti, Horus, Suten
Bat,... New York: AMS Press, 2 vol. Reprint (1976) of the 1908 ed.
(DT83 B9 1976)- Ehrich, Robert W., ed. Chronologies in Old World Archaeology. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1965.
(D54.5 E4 1971)- Freeman-Grenville, G.S.P. Chronology of World History: A Chronology of Principle Events from 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1973. London: Rex Collings, 1975.
(Ref D11 F755 1975) - Ehrich, Robert W., ed. Chronologies in Old World Archaeology. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1965.
- Geographic and type of event arrangement.
- Grun, Bernard. The Timetables of History: A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events,
... New York: Simon and Schuster, 1975.
(Ref D11 G78) - Chronology from 5000 B.C. forward. Arrangement is by types of knowledge, e.g. history, art, science and technology, etc.
- Jacobsen, Thornkild. The Sumerian King List. Chicago: University of Chicago,
1939.
(DS68.1 J3)
Biographical Sources
Biographical information is available in sources other than those listed below. General and specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries, and general monographs will include biographical materials.
- Barnhart, Clarence L., ed. The New Century Cyclopedia of Names. New York:
Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1954. 3 vol.
(Ref PE1625 C43 1954)- Biography and Genealogy Master Index.
(CD-ROM) - Biography and Genealogy Master Index.
- Over three million names from ca. 675 biographical dictionaries are indexed here. Coverage is universal.
- Biography Index. New York: H.W. Wilson. 1946- . quarterly with annual and
3-year cumulations
(Index/Abstract Table 4) - Indexes periodical articles and books. Includes ancient history civilizations.
- Lightman, Marjorie. Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Greek and Roman Women: Notable
Women from Sappho to Helena. New York: Checkmark Books, 2000.
(Ref HQ 1136 L54 2000). - Brief sketches with note citations to the sources for the biography. Appendices contain a "Registry" listing the women in this biography, a glossary of terms, and a bibliography of ancient and modern authors.
- The McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Biography; An International Reference Work.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 1973. 12 vol.
(Ref CT103 M27) - Excellent source combining a biographical sketch with a bibliography of additional sources. Bibliographies list English language titles.
- Rice, Michael. Who's Who in Ancient Egypt. London: Routledge, 1999.
(Ref DT 76 R53 1999).- Slocum, Robert B. Biographical Dictionaries and Related Works: An International Bibliography of Approximately 16,000 Collective Biographies... 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1986. 2 vol.
(Ref CT104 S55 1986) - Slocum, Robert B. Biographical Dictionaries and Related Works: An International Bibliography of Approximately 16,000 Collective Biographies... 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1986. 2 vol.
- Comprehensive, covers all languages and time periods. Advanced research.
- Thomas, Joseph. Universal Pronouncing Dictionary of Biography and Mythology.
5th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1930.
(Ref CT103 L7 1930)- Thorne, J.O., ed. Chamber's Biographical Dictionary. Rev. ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1968.
(Ref CT103 C4 1970)- Webster's Biographical Dictionary. Springfield, Mass.: G.&.C. Merriam, 1972.
(Ref CT103 W4 1972) - Thorne, J.O., ed. Chamber's Biographical Dictionary. Rev. ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1968.
- Brief sketches.
Atlases and Gazetters
Carrier Library has a number of atlases valuable to ancient history research. Shepherd's Atlas has been a standard tool for several generations. The Times Atlas of World History is the leading modern historical atlas. Gazetteers are geographical dictionaries. The two examples include ancient history sites.
- Atlas of Ancient & Classical Geography. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1907.
(G1033 A8)- Baines, John. Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt. rev. ed. New York: Checkmark Books, 2000.
(Ref DT 60 B34 2000). - Baines, John. Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt. rev. ed. New York: Checkmark Books, 2000.
- This is a heavily illustrated atlas with an emphasis on culture and society within ancient Egypt. This scholarly atlas contains a glossary, bibliography, and gazetteer.
- The Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer of the World. Morningside Heights, N.Y.:
Columbia University, 1962.
(Ref G103 L7 1962)- Everyman's Atlas of Ancient and Classical Geography [Rev.ed.] New York: Dutton, 1952.
(G1033 A8 1952)- Grant, Michael. Ancient History Atlas. New York: Macmillan, 1971.
(Ref G1033 G65 1972) - Everyman's Atlas of Ancient and Classical Geography [Rev.ed.] New York: Dutton, 1952.
- Maps only, no commentary.
- Hawkes, Jacquetta H. The Atlas of Early Man. New York: St. Martin's, 1976.
(CD311 H35 1976) - Pictorial work showing art and artifacts.
- McEvedy, Colin. The Penquin Atlas of Ancient History. Baltimore: Penguin
Books, 1967.
(Ref G1033 M17 1967) - Series of maps, with commentary, from 50,000 BC to AD 362. Historical, linguistic and ethnic, economic, etc. Themes are presented.
- Muir's Atlas of Ancient and Classical History. 2nd ed. New York: Barnes &
Noble, 1958.
(Ref G1033 M83 1958)- Shepherd, William R. Historical Atlas. 8th ed. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1956.
(Ref G1030 S4 1956)- The Times Atlas of World History. Maplewood, N.J.: Distributed by Hammond, 1978.
(Ref G1030 T54 1978)Webster's New Geographical Dictionary. Rev. ed. Springfield, Mass.: G & C Merriam, 1972.
(Ref G103 W45 1972) - Shepherd, William R. Historical Atlas. 8th ed. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1956.
- A 1984 edition is located in the Juvenile Reference Collection @ 910 W384.
- Westermanns Grosser Atlas zur Weltgeschichte:... Braunschweig: Georg Westermann,
1965.
(Ref G1035 W4 1965)
Directories
Directories can offer assistance in locating sources of information in other libraries. Ash's Subject Collections... lists libraries having strong collections. The advanced scholar and/or the student having an extended research paper may find this type of information valuable. Information from these directories could include interlibrary loan possibilities, bibliographies and other publications, and advice from a subject specialist.
- Ash, Lee. Subject Collections: A Guide to Special Book Collections and Subject Emphases
as Reported by University, College, Public, and Special Libraries and Museums in the United States
and Canada. 7th ed., rev. and enl. New Providence: R.R. Bowker, 1993. 2 vol.
(Ref Z688 A2 A8 1978)- Associations Unlimited.
(Electronic Text). - Associations Unlimited.
Databases and Article Indexes
Academic OneFile. 1964- .
Annee Philologique. 1959- .
Art Abstracts. 1984- .
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- ATLA Religion Database. 1949- .
- Humanities and Social Sciences Index Retrospective. 1907-1984.
- JSTOR (full-text access to a number of scholarly journals).
- Periodicals Archive Online. 1770-1995.
- Poole's Index to Periodical Literature. 1802-1906. (print)
- Readers' Guide Retrospective. 1890-1982.
- Wilson Web OmniFile. 1984- .
- ATLA Religion Database. 1949- .
Websites
- ABZU: A Guide to Information Related to the Study of the Ancient Near East on Web
- A very useful guide to open access websites. A subsection of this website, ETANA (Electronic Tools and Ancient Near Eastern Archives), provides access to primary sources.
Exploring Ancient World Cultures: An Introduction to Ancient World Cultures on the World-Wide Web
The link to Internet Sites is a comprehensive list of useful web sites.
This page is maintained by: Patricia Hardesty
Last reviewed:August 2002
© James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
