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History

Classical History

Table of Contents

Finding Books Bibliographies and Guides Dictionaries and Encyclopedias General Sources Primary Sources

Chronologies Historiography Atlases and Gazetteers Biographical Sources

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Finding Books

Use LEO to search for books and media in the JMU libraries.  The Advanced Word Search will allow you to limit your search to, for example, reference books or media.  Use WorldCat (online in Research Databases & Resources) to extend your search beyond JMU, to find books, media, and other sources that you may borrow on ILL.

 

When you do a keyword search in a library catalog, always look at the subject phrases that are used to describe the books that look most useful for your research.  Use these headings to do additional searches.  The following are Library of Congress Subject Headings that may be useful in researching classical history.

Archaeology
Chronology
Civilization, Ancient
Classical antiquities
Excavations (Archaeology)
Greece - Antiquities
Greece - Civilization
Greece - Historiography
Greece - History
Greece - Politics and government
Hellenism
History, Ancient
Roman emperors
Rome - Antiquities
Rome - Civilization
Rome - Historiography
Rome - History
Rome - Politics and government

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Bibliographies and Guides

L'Annee Philologique; Bibliographie Critique et Analytique del'Antiquite Greco-Latine . Paris: Societe d'Edition "Les Belles - Lettres, 1924- . Annual.   Now online in Research Databases & Resources.
(Bound Periodicals) 1924-1973 in microfiche periodicals. 1983- in bound periodicals.

The standard bibliography of classical studies including history. Subject arrangement. Scholarly. All modern European languages. Earlier bibliographic series are the ones by Lambrino (1896-1914) and Marouzeau (1914-1924).

Bengtson, Hermann. Introduction to Ancient History. Berkley, Calif.: University of California, 1970.
(Ref D 59 B413 1970).

A standard guide covering through the end of the Roman Empire. Scholarly, includes foreign language sources.

Bibliographic Index: A Cumulative Bibliography of Bibliographies. New York: H.W. Wilson.
(Index/Abstract Area) 1938- . Semi-annual, annual, multi-year cumulations.

Indexes research bibliographies in books and journals. Useful for its continual updating.

The Classical World Bibliography of Greek and Roman History. New York: Garland, 1978.
(Ref DE 8 C58 1978).

Bibliographical essays reprinted from The Classical Weekly. Arrangement is by classical author, e.g. Herodotus and Tacitus.

Fritze, Ronald H. Reference Sources in History: An Introductory Guide. 1990. (Ref D 20 F75 1990).

Currently this is the standard guide to history research.

Women in Antiquity: An Annotated Bibliography. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1975.
(Ref HQ 1127 G66 1975).

Classical Scholarship: An Annotated Bibliography. White Plains, N.Y.: Kraus International, 1986.
(Ref DE59 C65 H34 1986)

The standard current bibliography of classical studies. Includes books, journal articles, theses.

Classical Studies: A Guide to the Reference Literature. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1996.
(Ref PA 91 J4 1996).

A scholarly work arranged in topical chapters, e.g. individuals, reference sources, primary sources, etc. The chapter on Internet resources lists discussion groups, electronic journals, web links, etc. Annotated.

Lambrino, Scarlat. Bibliographies de l'Antiquite Classique, 1896-1914. Paris: Societe d"Edition "Les Belles Lettres", 1951- .
(microfiche)

 

Marouzeau, Jules. Dix Annees de Bibliographies Classique; Bibliographie Critique et Analytique de l'Antiquite Greco-Latine Pour la Periode 1914-1924. New York: Burt Franklin (1969). 2 vol.
(PA 3001 M35 1969)

Also available on microfiche in Media Resources.

The American Historical Association Guide to Historical Literature. 3rd ed. 2 vol. 1995.
(Ref D 20 A55 1995).

With universal coverage this is an excellent, and current, bibliography that contains citations for classical history. Most entries are English language titles. Earlier editions of 1931 and 1961 are located at the same call number.

 

 

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Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

These sources furnish an overview of the subject and assist in defining the parameters of one's research. For this reason encyclopedias are valuable early in the research process. General encyclopedias also will have articles on classical history. Encyclopedia Britannica is the most thorough and will include brief bibliographies. Der Kleine Pauly contains bibliographies. The reference work by Grant and Kitzinger will likely become the standard English language encyclopedia title for classical studies.

Handbook to Life in Ancient Greece. New York: Facts on File, 1997.
(Ref DF 77 A35 1997).

In ten sections, e.g. Everyday Life and Towns and Countryside, this handbook looks at our current understanding of ancient Greece. Illustrated with a lengthy bibliography.

Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. rev. ed. New York: Facts on File, 2002.
(Ref DG 270 B86 2002).

Brief entries of individuals and topics. Appendices include emperors, genealogies, glossary and a select bibliography.

A Dictionary of Ancient Greek Civilization. London: Methuen, 1967.
(DF16 D513)

 

Encyclopedia of the Classical World. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1965.
(Ref DE5 E533)

Classics Illustrated Dictionary. New York: Oxford University, 1974.
(Ref DE5 F813 1974)

Civilization of the Ancient Mediterranean: Greece and Rome. 3 vol. 1988.
(Ref DE59 C55 1988)

This is the standard English language Encyclopedia for Classical studies. The format is a series of 97 topical essays with appended bibliographies of primary and secondary works. Scholarly. Indispensible to serious classical history research.

The Oxford Classical Dictionary. 3nd ed. rev.  New York: Oxford University, 2003.
(Ref DE5 O9 2003)

The first choice for brief information on the classical world. Entries contain bibliographies.

 

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)

 

Harper's Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities. New York: American Book Co., 1896.
(DE5 P36 1923).

The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University, 1976.
(Ref DE59 P7)

Scholarly study of classical sites. Entries include bibliographies. Alphabetical arrangement.

A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University, 1992.
(Ref DG 68 R5 1992).

This work describes the major monuments, buildings, sites, etc. of Rome from its beginning to the sixth century A.D. Focus is on pagan Rome. A chronological list of monuments, etc., and a glossary included.

A Companion to Latin Studies. 3rd ed. Cambridge:University Press, 1921.
(Ref DG77 S3 1925)

Series of essays on a wide range of Roman studies. Scholarly. Includes bibliographies.

Encyclopedia of the Ancient World. Pasadena, Calif: Salem Press, 2002. 3 vol.
(Ref CB 311 E54 2002)

This scholarly encyclopedia is arranged alphabetically and includes brief bibliographies for the entries. There are some illustrations. 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, a list of web sites, and a bibliography.

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities . 3rd ed., rev. and enl. London: J. Murray, 1901. 2 vol.
(DE 5 S6 1901).

Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Athens. New York: Praeger, 1971.
(NA280 T68)

Attempts to show all monuments and sites. Contains bibliographies. Scholarly.

 

Illustrated Encyclopeadia of the Classical World. New York: Harper & Row, 1975.
(Ref DE 5 I44 1975).

Over 2000 articles, with brief bibliographies. Covers a wide range of subject areas.

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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.

 

The Oxford History of the Classical World. New York: Oxford University, 1986.
(Ref DE59 O94 1986)

Includes discussion of the history of the classical period. Bibliographies.

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 process.
(Ref D57 C52 1970)

 

History of Classical Scholarship from the Beginnings to the End of the Hellenistic Age. Oxford: Clarendon, 1968.
(AZ301 P4)

The Pfeiffer works offer scholarly presentations with extensive notes and bibliographies.

History of Classical Scholarship from 1300 to 1850. Oxford: Clarendon, 1976.
(AZ201 P43)

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Primary Sources

Primary source materials allow the researcher to read and interpret an original document(s). The following list provides examples of published primary source materials in Carrier Library. Generally use of the subheading "Sources" in the online catalog will locate available primary source material.

The Hellenistic World from Alexander to the Roman Conquest: A Selection of Ancient Sources in Translation.
(DF235 A1 H44 1981)

Greek Historical Documents: The Hellenistic Period.
(DF235 A1 B33)

Augustus to Nero: A Sourcebook on Roman History, 31 BC - AD68
(DG277.5 B73 1985)

Documents Illustrating the Reigns of Claudius and Nero.
(DG284 C5 1951)

Archaic and Classical Greece: A Selection of Ancient Sources in Translation.
(DF12 C7 1983)

The Fifth Century B.C. . (Greek Historical Documents).
(DF12 L48)

Sources for Roman History, 133-70 B.C. .
(DG254 G8 1960)

Sources for Greek History Between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars; . . . .
(DF209.5 H65 1951)

The Government of the Roman Empire: A Sourcebook.
(DG83 L62 1985)

Roman Civilization; Selected Readings.
(DG13 L4)

The Roman Principate: 27 B.C. - 285 A.D. .
(DG275 L48)

Select Documents of the Principates of the Flavian Emperors: Including the Year of Revolution, A.D. 68-96.
(DG286 M3 1966)

A Source Book of Roman History.
(DG210 M94 1909)

Democracy, Ideas and Realities.
(JC75 D36 D45 1975)

Documents Illustrating the Principates of Gauis, Cladius and Nero.
(DG281 S6)

Documents Illustrating the Principates of Nerva, Trajan and Hadrian .
(DG292 S6)

A Selection of Greek Historical Inscriptions.
(DG209 T5 1968)

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Chronologies

Chronologies are useful in putting events into perspective. The Grun book's usefulness is its listing different types of events in the same timeline.

Chronology of the Ancient World. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University, 1968.
(D54.5 B5 1968)

Information on calendars and their use in chronology.

Chronologies in Old World Archaeology. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1965.
(D54.5 E4 1971)

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)

Geographic and type of event arrangement.

The Timetables of History: A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events, . . . . new 3rd rev.ed. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991.
(Ref D11 G78 1991).

Chronology from 5000 B.C. forward. Arrangement is by types of knowledge, e.g. history, art, science and technology, etc.

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Historiography

The following are examples of Greek and Roman historical writings and scholarly writings on classical historians.

Austin, Norman. The Greek Historians: Herodotus, Thucydides, Polybius, Plutarch; Introduction and Selected Readings. New York: Van Nostrand-Reinhold, 1969.
(DE8 A9)

Brown, Truesdell S. The Greek Historians. Lexington, Mass.: Heath, 1973.
(DF211 B7)

Grant, Michael. The Ancient Historians. New York: Scribner, 1970.
(DE8 G7)

Herodotus. The Histories of Herodotus. New York: Dutton, 1964. 2 vol.
(D58 H5 1964)

Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University, 1914-1926. 11 vol.
(PA3612 P7 1914b)

 

Thucydides. The History of the Peloponnesian War. New York: Oxford University, 1969.
(PA4452 A2 1972)

Tactitus, Cornelius. The Annals and the Histories. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1952.
(AC1 G72 v.15)

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Atlases and Gazetteers

Carrier Library has a number of atlases valuable to classical 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. In addition to the Columbia-Lippincott and Webster's gazetters several titles include geographical information.

The New Century Handbook of Classical Geography. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1972.
(Ref DE25 N48)

The Geographic Background of Greek and Roman History. Oxford: Clarendon, 1950.
(DE29 C35)

Everyman's Atlas of Ancient and Classical Geography. [Ref. ed.] New York: Dutton, 1952.
(G1033 A8 1952)

Ancient History Atlas. New York: Macmillan, 1971.
(Ref G1033 G65 1972)

Maps only, no commentary.

Atlas Antiqus:. . . Berlin: D. Reimer, n.d.
(Ref G1033 K5)

 

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)

 

Atlas of Classical History. New York: Macmillan, 1985.
(Ref G 1033 A833 1985).

Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University, 2000.
(Ref G 1033 B3 2000).

Over 100 maps are presented in this scholarly atlas. Barrington is the standard atlas to the classical world. A separate map directory is available with matching call number designation.

Thomson, J. Oliver. Everyman's Classical Atlas. New York: Dutton, 1961.
(Ref G1033 A8 1961)

The Times History of the World. New [5th] ed. London: Times Books, 1999.
(Ref G1030 T54 1999).

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Biographical Sources

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.
(Electronic Database).

The major index to biographical information. 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 the classicalperiod. From 1984 to date available as an Electronic Database.

The Roman Emperors: A Biographical Guide to the Rulers of Imperial Rome, 31 BC - AD476. New York: Scribners, 1985.
(Ref DG274 G73 1985)

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.

Rodice, Betty. Who's Who in the Ancient World. New York: Stein and Day, 1971.
(Ref DE7 R33 1971)

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: J. Murray, 1876. 3 vol.
(DE5 S75 1876)

Comprehensive coverage. Scholarly.

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 CT 103 C4 1970).

 

 

 

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This page last reviewed by P. Hardesty on 1/9/2009.