
From the author of the best-selling Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations: From Prehistory to 640 CE, Second Edition (2015), Sources in Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations: Documents, Maps, and Images is both a stand-alone sourcebook and a companion reader.FEATURES133 lengthy primary sources in translation, 14 maps, and 133 illustrations give equal coverage to the Near East, Greece, Roman Republic and Empire, and Late AntiquityRather than simply presenting undigested snippets of text, Sources in Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations provides fully annotated, longer text excerpts, edited for readability, sense, consistency, and flowEvery chapter opens with a full-page map that sets the sources in geographical context, and each document is accompanied by a related image and commentary that establish its authorship, historical context, and significanceIncludes two chapters on topics not covered in any other sourcebook: "Accounts of the Creation of the Universe, Humans, and the Flood" and "Civilization beyond the Near East, Greece, and Rome"
This volume investigates the historical, cultural, and social development of ancient Mediterranean civilizations through a curated collection of primary source materials. Author Ralph W. Mathisen, a specialist in late antiquity, compiles a comprehensive reader designed to bridge the gap between textbook narratives and original historical evidence. The work argues that understanding the ancient world requires direct engagement with contemporary documents, visual artifacts, and geographical data, rather than relying solely on secondary interpretation. By providing annotated excerpts and contextual commentary, the text facilitates a deeper analysis of the Near East, Greece, and Rome.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and educators frequently note the pedagogical utility of the book's annotated, longer-form excerpts compared to the fragmented snippets found in other sourcebooks. It is widely regarded as a foundational resource for undergraduate courses in ancient history due to its balanced integration of textual and visual evidence.
Page Count:
608
Publication Date:
2016-09-15
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190280913
ISBN-13:
9780190280918
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