Research guides: CLA101H5: Introduction to Classical Civilization: Background Information

Definitions of Primary and Secondary Sources

The definition of 'primary source' does differ in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural and Applied Sciences. The UBC Library offer clear definitions of primary and secondary sources.

The Faculty of History at the University of Cambridge offers a virtual classroom that includes, for example, Reading Primary Sources, How to use Historical Sources, and Where do Historical Sources come from?.

Look up any unfamiliar words, names, or people using the following resources:

The Oxford Classical Dictionary (4th ed.)
Call Number: Online and Print (Reference DE5 .O9 2012)
Publication Date: 2012
Brill's New Pauly: Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World
Call Number: Online and Print (Reference DE5 .N48713 2007)
The section on Antiquity of Brill's New Pauly are devoted to Greco-Roman antiquity and cover more than two thousand years of history, ranging from the second millennium BC to early medieval Europe. Special emphasis is given to the interaction between Greco-Roman culture on the one hand, and Semitic, Celtic, Germanic, and Slavonic culture, and ancient Judaism, Christianity, and Islam on the other hand.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome (2009)
Call Number: Online and Print (DE5 .O95 2010)
It offers a comprehensive overview of the major cultures of the classical Mediterranean world—Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman—from the Bronze Age to the fifth century CE.
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History by Roger S. Bagnall; Kai Brodersen (Editor); Craige B. Champion (Editor); Andrew Erskine (Editor); Sabine R. Huebner (Editor)
Publication Date: 2012

The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization (2014)
Call Number: Online and Print (DE5 .O94 2014)
– Over 700 A to Z entries covering various aspects of classical civilization: history, politics, ethics, moral law, punishment, family life, society, religion, mythology, reception, technology, and scholarship
– The variety of topics ranges from abortion and censorship to disease and historiography to painting and Zeus
The Cambridge Ancient History (Series)
Call Number: Online
A searchable online version of the encyclopedic 14-volume Cambridge Ancient History collection.
— Volume 10, The Augustan Empire, 43 BC–AD 69 (2nd ed.)
— Volume 11, The High Empire, AD 70–192 (2nd ed.)

Your professor has recommended the following sites if you want to have a little fun.

RogueClassicism
A blog about ancient Greece and Rome created by a Canadian classics teacher.
Classics Confidential
News, Gossip and Curiosities from the Ancient World created by two Lecturers in the Department of Classical Studies at The Open University, UK.
Mary Beard: A Don’s Life
Blogs by Mary Beard, Prof. of Classics, University of Cambridge within the Times Literary Supplement Limited (TLS). For the past articles, visit Times Literary Supplement (TLS) Historical Archive, 1902–2014