James Madison University
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History

Ancient History

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.

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Contents

Finding Books	Published Primary Sources
Guides/Bibliographies	Atlases and Gazetteers
Dictionaries/Encyclopedias

 

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Finding Books

Use LEO to search for books and media in the JMU libraries; use WorldCat (online in Research Databases & Resources) to extend your search beyond JMU, to find books, media, and other sources that you may be able to borrow through Interlibrary Loan.

The following subject headings are examples useful in searching LEO, or any catalog that uses Library of Congress classification. When you do a keyword search and find a book that looks appropriate to your research, look at the subject words on the catalog record to find other subject words and headings to use in continuing your search.

Archaeology Civilization, Ancient Civilization, Assyro-Bablylonian Excavations (Archaeology) Geography, Ancient History, Ancient

Names of countries of Antiquity e.g.: Egypt - Antiquities Egypt - Civilization Names of ancient peoples e.g.: Hittites Names of individuals e.g.: Tutankhamen Nefertiti

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Guides/Bibliographies

Bibliographies and guides may be useful in locating additional sources on your topic.

Bengtson, Hermann. Introduction to Ancient History. Berkeley, Cal: University of California, 1970.
(Ref 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.

Bertman, Stephen. Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. New York: Facts on File, 2003.
(Ref DS 69.5 .B47 2003)

Helpful illustrated guide includes chapters on varied topics, such as geography, archaeology, government, religion, language, architecture, and transportation. Each chapter concludes with a bibliography.

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. 2nd ed. Santa Barbara, CA.: ABC - Clio, 2004.
(Ref D20 F75 2004).

The standard guide to history research, with comprehensive coverage of geographic areas and time periods. International in scope. Excellent annotations supplement the 930 entries, which are arranged by type of resource.

Leick, Gwendolyn, ed. The Babylonian World. New York: Routledge, 2007.
(Ref DS 69.5 .B23 2007).

Each scholarly chapter is written by an expert and ends with an excellent bibliography.

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).

An excellent handbook for world history. Arranged in 48 topical sections, this work contains extensive bibliographies, mostly covering English-language publications published between 1961 and 1992. Each bibliographic section is preceded by a short essay that provides an overview of the development of the topic at hand. Earlier editions are at Ref D 20 .A55 (1961) and Ref D 20 .A55 (1931).

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Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias and dictionaries are useful early in the research process to assist in defining the research topic. Many encyclopedias include bibliographies at the end of each article.

 

Canick, Hubert and Helmut Schneider, eds. Brill's New Pauly: Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World: Antiquity. Leiden: Brill, 2002-present.
(Ref DE5 .N4813 2002).

A work in progress, this is the English translation of an authoritative German work, covering the period from the 2nd millenium BC to the formation of early modern Europe (AD 600 to 800). Scholarly bibliographies.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East. New York: Oxford University, 1997. 5 vol.
(Ref DS 56 O9 1997).

A scholarly study. Maps, timelines, and illustrations are included. Entries contain bibliographies.

Redford, Donald B., ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. New York: Oxford University, 2001. 3 vol.
(Ref DT 58 O94 2001).

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, CA: Salem Press, 2001. 3 vol.
(Ref CB 311 E54 2002).

This scholarly encyclopedia is arranged alphabetically and includes brief bibliographies for the entries. Twenty-six essays treat topics such as agriculture, art, and death. Appendices include a time line, glossary, geographical guide to the entries, chronological list of entries, a list of web sites, and a bibliography. Worldwide in its coverage, the time frame extends to the end of the Classical Period.

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Published Primary Sources

The following are examples of primary sources available in Carrier Library. When searching LEO, it is helpful to use the keyword "sources," which often appears in the subject heading of books that contain primary documents.

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)

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)

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Atlases and Gazetteers

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).

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.

Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Edited by Richard J. A. Talbert. Princeton: Princeton University, 2000.
(Ref G 1033 .B3 2000 with 2 supplements).

A scholarly and beautifully produced atlas. The supplements provide a map-by-map directory with and introduction to each map, key information on each place name, including the period it is associated with, its modern name, and bibliography for each location.

The Columbia Gazetteer of the World. Edited by Saul B. Cohen. New York: Columbia University, 1998.
(Ref G103.5 C65 1998)

Excellent standard gazetteer, providing geographical and historical information on places throughout the world and through all time periods.

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)

Maps only, no commentary.

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)

 

Have a suggestion? Need Help? Ask Patricia Hardesty -- hardespn@jmu.edu
This page last reviewed by P. Hardesty on 1/9/2009.