All resources listed below have been recommended and reviewed by Nada Boskovic Micic, Ancient History and HASS Senior Teacher.

These resources are designed to complement the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) resource list developed for the Year 11 and 12 General Course. This list focuses mainly on more recent publications, i.e. those published after 2015, but does also contains some older publications which have been omitted in the SCSA list. It also focuses on MLSHS' Ancient History courses and electives.
  • GENERAL RESOURCES - BOOKS
    ​The resources listed here contain resources suitable for multiple ancient civilisations.
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    Barrie, A., & Sloper, A. (2022). QCE Ancient history, Units 1-4 (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
    Includes: Investigating the Ancient World, Social and Cultural aspects, Personalities (Hatshepsut, Cleopatra, Agrippina the Younger, Alexander the Great), Rome – the fall of the Republic, Augustus, Egypt – New Kingdom etc.
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History - Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - Egypt - New kingdom, Hatshepsut
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Egypt New Kingdom, Alexander the Great, Cleopatra
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - Rome - Republic and Augustus
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    Bradley, P. (2018). The ancient world transformed (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
    Fresh, engaging and in-depth content across a wide range of topics in the study of Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Near East and China offer flexible options for teachers and genuinely engaging studies for today's students. Each chapter is carefully structured to allow students to develop the critical analysis skills required of an historian and includes valuable overviews, activities and tools such as graphic organisers to develop critical thinking and writing skills and also enable effective revision.
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Rome, Julius Caesar and Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Egypt and Alexander the Great (Greece)
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - The Trojan War (Greece) and Egypt
    • ​Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - Rome
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    Burstein, S.M., & Shek, R. (2012). World history: Teacher edition: Ancient civilizations through the Renaissance. Holt McDougal.
    This book is relevant to all the ancient history courses.
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    Burstein, S.M., & Shek, R. (2019). World history: Guided reading workbook: Ancient civilizations through the Renaissance. Holt McDougal.
    This book is related to the book above. 
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    Cameron, K., Lawless, J., & Young, C. (2018). HTA year 11 ancient history. History Teachers' Association of NSW.
    Includes: Nature of ancient history, case studies e.g. Tutankhamun’s tomb, Troy, Thera, ancient Australia, Persepolis, the Roman games, and the features of ancient societies e.g. funerary customs of Old Kingdom Egypt, slavery in Greece and Rome, weapons and warfare – Rome, power and image – New Kingdom Egypt and Persia.
    This book is relevant to:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Old Kingdom Egypt, Warfare of Rome, Slavery of Rome
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - Troy, Thera, ANcient Australia, New Kingdom Egypt
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Tutankhamun's tomb, New Kingdom Egypt, Persepolis - Alexander the Great, Roman games, Slavery of Greece
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    Cameron, K., Lawless, J., Kennedy, M., Forrester, Mootz, D. (2019). HTA ancient history study guide. History Teachers' Association of NSW.
    Topics include:
    • Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum
    • Ancient Societies - New Kingdom Egypt society to the death of Amenhotep III, Bronze Age - Minoan Crete, Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC, Athenian society in the time of Pericles
    • Personalities – Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Xerxes, Julius Caesar, Agrippina the Younger
    • Historical Periods - New Kingdom Egypt to the Death of Thutmose IV, The Greek World 500-440 BC, The Fall of the Roman Republic, The Augustan Age 44 BC-AD 14, The Julio-Claudians and the Roman Empire AD 16-69
    This book is relevant to:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Julius Caesar, Agrippina the Younger, The fall of the Roman Republic
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - New Kingdom Egypt, Hatshepsut, Bronze Age
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - New Kingdom Egypt, Hatshepsut, Akhenaten
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - The fall of the Roman Republic, Julius Caesar, The Augustan Age
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    Grippon, A., & Roberts, P. (2019). Year 12 ancient history. Pascal Press.
    Topics include:
    • Cities of Vesuvius—Pompeii and Herculaneum 
    • Ancient Societies - New Kingdom Egypt Society to the Death of Amenhotep III, Bronze Age—Minoan Crete, Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BCE, Athenian Society in the Time of Pericles 
    • Personalities in their Times - Egypt—Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, The Near East—Xerxes, Rome—Julius Caesar, Agrippina the Younger 
    • Historical Periods - New Kingdom Egypt to the Death of Thutmose IV, The Greek World 500–440 BCE, The Fall of the Roman Republic 78–31 BCE and The Julio-Claudians 14–69 CE.
    This book is relevant to:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Julius Caesar, Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - Bronze Age - Greece, New Kingdom Egypt
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - New Kingdom of Egypt
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - The fall of the Roman Republic, Julius Caesar, the Julio-Claudians
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    Hurley, T., & Murray, C. (2018). Antiquity 1 (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
    Topics include:
    • Investigating ancient history
    • Features of ancient societies
    This book is relevant to all ancient history courses in regards to the investigation skills. It is also suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Old Kingdom Egypt
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - Ancient Australia, Troy, Thera
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Tutankhamun's tomb (New Kingdom), Persepolis (Alexander the Great)
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    Hurley, T., Murray, C., Medcalf, P. & Rolph, J. (2018). Antiquity 2 (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
    Topics include:
    • Pompeii and Herculaneum
    • Ancient societies
    • Personalities
    • Historical periods
    This book is relevant to all ancient history courses in regards to the investigation skills. It is also suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - New Kingdom Egypt, Minoan Crete, New Kingdom - Egypt
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - New Kingdom - Egypt
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - The Augustan Age -  Rome, Pompeii and Herculaneum
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    Lawless, J. (1998). Ancient history skills. Personalities and groups. Nelson.
    Topics include:
    • Egypt: Old and New Kingdom
    • Greece – Classical Greece and Alexander the Great, Cleopatra
    • Rome – Republican period, J. Caesar; Imperial period: Agrippina the Younger, Constantine
    • Near East – Xerxes; Assyria
    This book has a variety of activities which are linked to ancient and modern sources. An excellent source for assessment preparation. It is suitable for :
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Old Kingdom, Julius Caesar and Agrippina
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - 
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - New Kingdom, Alexander the Great
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - Rome
    GENERAL RESOURCES - WEBSITES
    general resources - journals
    Amphora: A Peer-Reviewed Ancient World Journal

    The Ancient History Bulletin

    Classicum     - Classical Association of New South Wales

    Minerva - Current Publishing

    National Geographic History - National Geographic

    Scholia: Studies in Classical Antiquity - University of Otago
  • ancient egypt - books
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    Ancient history: A captivating guide to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. (2018). Captivating History.
    Ancient Egypt is one of the most fascinating and sophisticated civilizations in the known history. The Ancient Egyptians are remembered by their gods, pyramids, pharaohs, mummification, hieroglyphs, agriculture and much more. This book reveals the secrets of the captivating world of Ancient Egypt, the intriguing stories of its celebrities, such as the Akhenaten, Ramses the Great, Queen Cleopatra, and the boy-king Tut. You’ll learn about mighty gods and the magical link between the Sun and the people of Egypt, and explore the horrendous burial rituals that warranted a safe path to the afterlife. Find out the secrets of one of the most magnificent societies that ever existed and discover why it still manages to seize the attention of the world.
    This book is suitable for all courses on Ancient Egypt.
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    ​Baines, J., & Malek, J. (1991). Atlas of Ancient Egypt. Time-Life.
    The book is divided into three parts. The first establishes the cultural setting of ancient Egypt, with chapters on its geography, archaeology, history, art and architecture. The central section of the book takes the reader on a journey down the Nile, calling at some 90 sites where significant discoveries have been made or spectacular monuments stand. From the rock-cut tombs of Aswan to the pyramids at Giza, from the treasures of Tutankhamun to the shifting sands of the delta, the reader is transported effortlessly by means of maps, photographs, site plans and descriptive accounts of the visible remains. A further journey takes the intrepid traveller into Nubia and to the temples of Abu Simbel, rescued from the waters of Lake Nasser. The third part considers important aspects of Egyptian society and daily life.
    This book is suitable for all courses on Ancient Egypt.
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    ​Bauer, S. W. (2010). The history of the ancient world : From the earliest accounts to the fall of Rome. W.W. Norton.
    This is the first volume in a bold new series that tells the stories of all peoples, connecting historical events from Europe to the Middle East to the far coast of China, while still giving weight to the characteristics of each country. Susan Wise Bauer provides both sweeping scope and vivid attention to the individual lives that give flesh to abstract assertions about human history.
    Dozens of maps provide a clear geography of great events, while timelines give the reader an ongoing sense of the passage of years and cultural interconnection. This narrative history employs the methods of "history from beneath" -- literature, epic traditions, private letters and accounts -- to connect kings and leaders with the lives of those they ruled. The result is an engrossing tapestry of human behavior from which we may draw conclusions about the direction of world events and the causes behind them.
    It is suitable for all the ancient history courses. ​
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    ​The British Museum. (2013). Secrets of the afterlife. Western Australian Museum
    This exhibition explains the concepts, rituals and magical procedures which would guide the dead through the fearsome hall of judgement and onto the paradise of the Field of Reeds. Mummies, statues, painted coffins, amulets and jewellery from the unparalled collections of the British Museum are presented alongside papyrus documents containing the actual texts of the book of the Dead, the illustrated collection of spells which served as the guidebook and passport to the hereafter. ​
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Ancient Egypt, Old Kingdom
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Ancient Egypt dynastic change, New Kingdom
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    Hart, George. (2007). Ancient Egypt. DK.
    Content includes:
    • Meet the experts – with a focus on the archaeological methods and discoveries
    • Activities
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Old Kingdom of Egypt
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - New Kingdom of Egypt
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - New Kingdom of Egypt
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    ​Hart, George. (2021). Ancient Egypt. DK.
    In Eyewitness: Ancient Egypt, travel back in time and discover one of history's most remarkable civilizations — from the legends of the great Pharaohs to the triumphs of the ordinary people. Explore the inside of the Great Pyramid in Giza or learn how Tutankhamun's tomb was found. Images and supported text throughout the book showcase the pottery, weapons and other objects Ancient Egyptians left behind, the architecture they created, the food they ate, their system of Hieroglyphic writing, and more, giving an eyewitness account of this incredible empire.
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Old Kingdom of Egypt
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - New Kingdom of Egypt
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - New Kingdom of Egypt
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    Schumann-Antelme, R. & Rossini, S. (2002). Illustrated hieroglyphics handbook. Sterling Publishing.
    Whether sculpted, painted, or drawn on ceramics, hieroglyphics ornamented the temples, palaces, and tombs of ancient Egypt. What did those intriguing and elusive pictures mean? With this new approach to hieroglyphics, you'll step back 5000 years into the past and begin to understand their significance. More than 200 original hieroglyphs combine with detailed semantic explanations to bring a new dimension to drawings almost astonishing in their modernity. Go through it like a dictionary, reading phonetic and graphic interpretations: every element in each panel is broken down, revealing how and why a picture of two serpents, plus a rope and legs in movement, signified destruction. You'll feel as if a whole old world is opening up to you.
    This book is relevant to all the courses on Ancient Egypt. 
    ancient egypt - websites
    ancient egypt - videos
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    All Out History - Premium History Documentaries. (2022, July 2). The ordinary life of Egyptians | Life and death in the Vally of the Kings [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejKNwaVIrT0
    When we think of the Ancient Egyptians, we think of pharaohs, the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. But what was life like for the ordinary people? Joann Fletcher travels across Egypt, piecing together what life was like for the ordinary folk of one of the greatest empires in the ancient world.
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    Ancient Egypt: Land of the pharaohs [Video]. (2007). Discovery Channel.
    A look at some of the most fascinating chapters of Egyptian history, including Cleopatra, Ramses the Great and Tutankhamen.
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    EncourageTV. (2022, Sepetember 20). Great mysteries of the sphinx (2020) documentary [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDQPX3u4uHg
    What is the riddle of the sphinx' This ancient monument has been lying in the Egyptian desert for thousands of years. Take a look into the mysteries of one of the oldest monuments on earth! Great Mysteries of The Sphinx is a new and breathtaking documentary presenting new and unfounded evidence of the mysterious events surrounding the building of this great structure.
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    Gharavi, T. (Director)., Smith, J.P. (Executive Producer). (2023).Queen Cleopatra [TV Series]. Netflix. ​https://www.netflix.com/
    Docudrama about Queen Cleopatra of Egypt of the Ptolemaic lineage from Macedonia, Greece, that ruled for 21 years, between the years 51 BC and 30 BC, ending with her suicide.
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    The History Channel. (2023, August 15). Engineering an empire - E1 Rome [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nXy9ym1juo
    Long before the Romans built their first mud huts, ancient Egypt's mighty pharaohs began commissioning and building monumental masterpieces whose scale, beauty and sophistication still boggle the mind. Through cutting-edge digital graphics and interviews with noted Egyptologists, this video explores the civilization's awe-inspiring engineering accomplishments, chronicling the pharaohs and feats that helped build the world's first superpower.
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    Salomon, M. (Director). (2023). Unknown: The lost pyramid [Video]. Netflix. ​https://www.netflix.com/
    In the sands of Saqqara, two of the world's most famous Egyptologists, Dr. Zahi Hawass and his protege and rival, Dr. Mostafa Waziri race with their teams against the clock to see who will make the biggest discovery.
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    Sandra Freitas. (2017, January 16). Ancient Egypt the Egyptian Books of the Dead [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGETDuy5OwA
    It’s a story that spans 4,000 years, older than the Bible…and it’s all true. It was lost for thousands of years, discovered a century ago, and its true meaning recently resurrected by the miracle of computer graphics! The reason the Egyptians built the pyramids, it’s the first written description of any religion–and is the likely source of the 10 Commandments! In this 2-hour special we follow the ancient scroll from creation around 1800 BC near the site of the Egyptian city of Thebes, to rediscovery (and theft!) in 1887 AD. Join us in a tale that spans from the age of papyrus to the age of silicon…and beyond. Biblical scholars agree that portions of the Old Testament are direct descendants of the Egyptian text, and some archaeologists argue that Moses must have read and carried a copy of it with him when he fled Egypt! And now, a new generation is reexamining the ancient text for wisdom that can still affect our inner lives!
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    Tovell, J. (Director). (2020). Secrets of the Saqqara tomb [Video]. Netflix. ​https://www.netflix.com/
    After unearthing a tomb that had been untouched for 4,400 years, Egyptian archaeologists attempt to decipher the history of the astonishing find.
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    Zola, N. (Producer). Thomson, A. (Producer/Director). (2014). Great pyramid [Video]. Blink Films.
    Can a newly discovered 4500-year-old diary resolve unanswered questions about the apparently impossible construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza?
    ANCIENT EGYPT - PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
  • ancient greece - books
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    Ancient history: A captivating guide to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. (2018). Captivating History.
    The culture and events of Greece were so influential they have a significant effect on modern-day people all over the world. The ancient Greeks gave birth to democracy, a political system frequently used and considered by some as the best form of government. Great minds from Greece also made incredible and vital discoveries such as the water mill, the basics of geometry and using medicine to cure illness. The ancient Greek philosophers laid the groundwork for a whole new field of thought and study. Ancient Greece offered the foundation of the Olympic games, which still run regularly today. Particularly famous historical figures such as Alexander the Great and Cleopatra also had ties to and roles during Greek history, through the course of wars and empire expansion.

    Given the influence of Ancient Greece, as you learn about this time and place, you will learn about your history and the origins of the people, places, and institutions you likely regularly studied in school. Starting in the Dark Ages, this book will take you on a captivating journey through the darkness, democracy, discovery, and development of Western Civilization.
    This book is suitable for all courses on Ancient Greece.
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    Arrian. (1971). The campaigns of Alexander (J. R. Hamilton, Ed.; A. De Selincourt, Trans.). Penguin Books.
    Although written over four hundred years after Alexander's death, Arrian's account of the man and his achievements is the most reliable we have. Arrian's own experience as a military commander gave him unique insights into the life of the world's greatest conqueror.
    He tells of Alexander's violent suppression of the Theban rebellion, his defeat of Persia and campaigns through Egypt and Babylon - establishing new cities and destroying others in his path. While Alexander emerges as a charismatic leader, Arrian succeeds brilliantly in creating an objective portrait of a man of boundless ambition, who was exposed to the temptations of power.
    This book is relevant to Year 12 Ancient History General - Alexander the Great
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    Boardman, J., Griffin, J., & Murray, O. (Eds.). (2001). The Oxford history of Greece and the Hellenistic world. Oxford Paperbacks.
    Now, in this vivid volume, readers can embrace the spirit of the classical world, from the eighth to the first centuries B.C., a period unparalleled in history for its brilliance in literature, philosophy, and the visual arts. This work also treats the Hellenization of the Middle East by the monarchies established in the area conquered by Alexander the Great. The editors, all celebrated classicists, intersperse chapters on political and social history with sections on literature, philosophy, and the arts, and reinforce the historical framework with maps and historical charts
    This book is relevant to Year 12 Ancient History General - Alexander the Great
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    ​Bowman, R. (2007). Ancient Greece for senior students. Cengage Learning Australia. 
    ​This book includes the following topics:
    • Studies of Archaeology: Archaeology of ancient Greece
    • Studies of changing practices in society and government in the Greek world: Changes in Athenian government
    • A study of conflict: Athenian Empire
    • Studies of the Arts: Greek architecture and sculpture
    • A Study of Everyday Life: Relationships in ancient Greece. 
    This book is relevant to Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - The Trojan War
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    ​Martin, T.R. (2013). Ancient Greece: From prehistoric to Hellenistic times. Yale University Press.
    Focusing on the development of the Greek city-state and the society, culture, and architecture of Athens in its Golden Age, Thomas R. Martin integrates political, military, social, and cultural history in a book that will appeal to students and general readers alike. Now in its second edition, this classic work now features new maps and illustrations, a new introduction, and updates throughout. “A limpidly written, highly accessible, and comprehensive history of Greece and its civilizations from prehistory through the collapse of Alexander the Great’s empire. . . . A highly readable account of ancient Greece, particularly useful as an introductory or review text for the student or the general reader.”―Kirkus Reviews “A polished and informative work that will be useful for general readers and students.”―Daniel Tompkins, Temple University
    This book is relevant to:
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - Bronze Age - Greece and Minoan Civilisation
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Alexander the Great
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    ​Pandermalis, D., Eleftheratou, S., & Vlassopoulou, C. (2015). Acropolis Museum guide. ​Acropolis Museum Editions
    ​An amazing exhibition of historical, archaeological and artistic evidence of ancient Greece.
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - Bronze Age - Troy, Minoan Civilisation
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Alexander the Great
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    Plutarch. (2004). The life of Alexander the Great (A. H. Clough, Ed.; J. Dryden, Trans.). Modern Library.
    In 336 b.c. Philip of Macedonia was assassinated and his twenty-year-old son, Alexander, inherited his kingdom. Immediately quelling rebellion, Alexander extended his father’s empire through-out the Middle East and into parts of Asia, fulfilling the soothsayer Aristander’s prediction that the new king “should perform acts so important and glorious as would make the poets and musicians of future ages labour and sweat to describe and celebrate him.”
    The Life of Alexander the Great is one of the first surviving attempts to memorialize the achievements of this legendary king, remembered today as the greatest military genius of all time. 
    This book is relevant to Year 12 Ancient History General - Alexander the Great
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    Pomeroy, S. B., Burstein, S. M., Donlan, W., Roberts, J. T., Tandy, D. W., & Tsouvala, G. (2020). A brief history of Ancient Greece : Politics, society, and culture (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
    Revised and updated throughout, the fourth edition of Ancient Greece presents the political, social, cultural, and economic history and civilization of ancient Greece in all its complexity and variety. Written by six leading authorities on the classical world, this captivating study covers the entire period from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic Era.​
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - Bronze Age - Minoan civilisation and Troy
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Alexander the Great
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    Rodgers, N. (2017). Ancient Greece. Lorenza Books.
    The legacy of the ancient Greeks has shaped our world. Classical Greece's military prowess, political sophistication and cultural innovations continue to influence modern society. The first half of the book focuses on political and military history, from Mycenae and the Golden Age of Athens to the campaigns of Alexander the Great. The second half concerns ancient Greece's buildings, sculptures, mythology and dramas, including the Parthenon, the Erechtheum and the works of Aristophanes and Euripides. This is an outstanding exploration of the world of the ancient Greeks and an indispensable resource for both the general and specialist reader.
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History ATAR - Bronze Age of Greece
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Alexander the Great
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    ​Scarborough, K. (2020). Ancient Greece. DK.
    ​Divided into sections, the book starts with fast facts on topics including the ancient Greek world, city-states, Greek gods and goddesses, home life, and Hellenism; and ends with charts of famous Greeks and art and architecture. Using this information, you can complete the puzzles in the main part of the book, plus there are hands-on activities such as making your own chiton (tunic) and learning the Greek alphabet.
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 12 Ancient History General - Alexander the Great
    ANCIENT GREECE - WEBSITES
    ANCIENT GREECE - VIDEOS
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    Ballantyne, H., Elliott, S., & Slee, M. (Directors). (2024). Alexander: The making of a god [TV series]. Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/
    In this historical docudrama, the life of Alexander the Great is reavealed through reenactments and expert interviews.
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    The History Channel. (2023, August 15). Engineering an empire - E3 Ancient Greece [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClUdLS-UAZ0
    Western Civilization has been influenced by many cultures, but it was born in Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks laid a foundation that has supported nearly 3000 years of European history. Philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates, Olympian gods, the beginnings of democracy and great conquering armies can be attributed to the Ancient Greeks. This strong and charismatic people strategically harnessed the materials and people around them to create the most advanced technological feats the world had ever seen. From The Tunnel of Samos: a mile-long aqueduct dug through a large mountain of solid limestone, to Agamemnon's Tomb, to The Parthenon, we will examine the architecture and infrastructure engineered by the Greek Empire.
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    Wood, M. (Writer)., Dobbs, R. (Producer)., & Wallace, D. (Director). (1998). In the footsteps of Alexander the Great. Parts 1 and 2 [Video]. BBC.
    Combining popular history with adventure and travel, historian Michael Wood embarks on an odyssey of discovery, following the ancient triumphal march of Alexander of Macedonia from Greece to India, to bring us the truth behind one of history's most famous and enigmatic heroes.
    18Ty. (2023, October 20). Footsteps of Alexander the Great [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=six_OeDus3U&t=222s
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    Adams, D. (Producer/Director)., & Akdogan, M. (Producer). (2013). Alexander's lost world [Video]. BBC.
    Throughout the wild highlands and war-torn plains of Afhanistan and Central Asia the tantalizing traces of the ancient world. it was here, 2,300 years ago, that Alexander the Great became the first European to rule the East. In 334BC he discovered a highly developed civilization along th banks of the mighty Oxus River. This six part series follows Australian photojournalist and director David Adams on an epic 7000km journey though the region - from Greece tot he borders of china. His mission is to follow the trail of Alexander the Great, and to uncover the history buried along the ancient super highway.
    Odyssey - Ancient History Documentaries. (2023, October 14). Uncovering the lost seas that connected the ancient world [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYomqjx7Y7E&list=PLCbUkfDYSjwlL-7q9jGM-HeNXB9c826of
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    Rex Maximus History Videos. (2017, October 13). The true story of Alexander the Great - full documentary history channel [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imRNmDnkUcE
    Peter Woodward hosts this documentary (with re-creations) which recounts Alexander's life through the narratives of ancient historians and interviews of modern day historic scholars, while also featuring contemporary re-enactments and guided visits of critical historic locations from Greece, to Turkey, to Egypt, and to the countries of the middle east and central Asia.
  • ancient rome - books
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    Ancient history: A captivating guide to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. (2018). Captivating History.
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    Ancient history: A captivating guide to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. (2018). Captivating History.
    The Roman civilization is probably the single most important civilization in the history of the planet. Its expansion defined Europe. Its constitution shaped societies from Russia in the east to the United States and Latin America in the west. Not even its conquerors were immune to the superior Roman culture.

    In this new captivating history book, you’ll learn all you need to know about Roman institutions and politics. But our focus will be on the captivating stories and curious personalities of the Roman emperors, politicians, and generals—from Romulus, Caesar, Augustus, Trajan, and Hadrian, to Constantine, Justinian, and Belisarius.

    Equally important (and perhaps even more interesting) are the stories of influential women—mothers, wives, and lovers, from Cleopatra and Agrippina, to Theodora and Zoe with the Coal-Black Eyes—whose schemes often redirected the course of history.
    This book is suitable for all courses on Ancient Rome.
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    Beard, M. (2016). SPQR: A history of ancient Rome. Profile Books.
    In SPQR, an instant classic, Mary Beard narrates the history of Rome "with passion and without technical jargon" and demonstrates how "a slightly shabby Iron Age village" rose to become the "undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean. This work examines not just how we think of ancient Rome but challenges the comfortable historical perspectives that have existed for centuries. With its nuanced attention to class, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries
    This book is suitable for: 
    • Year 11 Ancient History General – Julius Caesar
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR – Ancient Rome​
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    Beard, M. (2024). Emperor of Rome. Profile Books.
    A sweeping account of the social and political world of the Roman emperors by “the world’s most famous classicist” ( Guardian ). In her international bestseller SPQR , Mary Beard told the thousand-year story of ancient Rome. Now she shines her spotlight on the emperors who ruled the Roman empire, from Julius Caesar (assassinated 44 BCE) to Alexander Severus (assassinated 235 CE).
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    Emperor of Rome is not your usual chronological account of Roman rulers, such as the mad Caligula, the monster Nero, the philosopher Marcus Aurelius. Beard asks bigger questions: What power did emperors actually have? Was the Roman palace really so bloodstained? She tracks down the emperor at home, at the races, on his travels, even on his way to heaven. She introduces his wives and lovers, rivals and slaves, court jesters and soldiers―and the ordinary people who pressed begging letters into his hands.

    Emperor of Rome goes directly to the heart of Roman (and our own) fantasies about what it was to be Roman, offering an account of Roman history as it has never been presented before. 
    The book is suitable for: 
    • Year 11 Ancient History General – Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR – Ancient Rome
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    Beard, M. (2021). Twelve Caesars: Images of power from the ancient world to the modern. Princeton University Press.
    What does the face of power look like? Who gets commemorated in art and why? And how do we react to statues of politicians we deplore? In this book - against a background of today's 'sculpture wars' - Mary Beard tells the story of how for more than two millennia portraits of the rich, powerful, and famous in the western world have been shaped by the image of Roman emperors, especially the 'Twelve Caesars,' from the ruthless Julius Caesar to the fly-torturing Domitian.
    This book is suitable for: 
    • Year 11 Ancient History General – Julius Caesar and Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR – Ancient Rome
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    Boardman, J., Griffin, J., & Murray, O. (Eds.). (2001). The Oxford history of the Roman world. Oxford University Press.
    In less than fifty-three years, Rome subjected most of the known world to its rule. Written by a team of specialist scholars, this book traces the rise of Rome from its origins as a cluster of villages to the foundation of the Empire and its consolidation in the first two centuries CE. It includes chapters on social and political history, the emperors, art and architecture, and the works of the leading Roman poets, historians, and philosophers.​
    This book is suitable for all courses on Ancient Rome.
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    de la Bedoyere, G. (2017). Praetorian: The rise and fall of Rome’s Imperial Bodyguard. Yale University Press.
    A riveting account of ancient Rome’s imperial bodyguard, the select band of soldiers who wielded the power to make―or destroy―the emperors they served.
    This book is suitable for: 
    • Year 11 Ancient History General – Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR – Ancient Rome​
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    Cartledge, P. (2016). Democracy: A life. Oxford University Press.
    As Cartledge shows, after a golden age in the fourth century BC, there was a long, slow degradation of the original Greek conception and practice of democracy, from the Hellenistic era, through late Republican and early Imperial Rome, down to early Byzantium in the sixth century CE. For many centuries after that, from late Antiquity, through the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance, democracy was effectively eclipsed by other forms of government, in both theory and practice. But as we know, this was by no means the end of the story. For democracy was eventually to enjoy a re-florescence, over two thousand years after its first flowering in the ancient world: initially revived in seventeenth century England, it was to undergo a further renaissance in the revolutionary climate of late eighteenth century North America and France - and has been constantly reconstituted and reinvented ever since.​
    This book is recommended as an extension to the studies related to Year 12 Ancient History ATAR students (Rome - Republic and Augustus)​
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    Davies, G. (2007). Ancient Rome for senior students. Thomson Learning.
    Content includes:
    • Republican Rome
    • Studies of everyday life during the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire
    • Studies of personalities – Roman Emperors and the first century AD
    • Studies of archaeology
    • Technologies, innovations – Roman army, genius, engineering, roads
    • Studies of religion – Rome including Christianity and Constantine
    This book is suitable for:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Roman Republic and emperors of the first century AD​
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - All Roman aspects
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    Holland, T. (2015). Dynasty: The rise and fall of the House of Caesar. Doubleday.
    Now, in the sequel to Rubicon, Tom Holland gives a dazzling portrait of Rome's first imperial dynasty. DYNASTY traces the full astonishing story of its rule of the world: both the brilliance of its allure, and the blood-steeped shadows cast by its crimes. Ranging from the great capital rebuilt in marble by Augustus to the dank and barbarian-haunted forests of Germany, it is populated by a spectacular cast: murderers and metrosexuals, adulterers and druids, scheming grandmothers and reluctant gladiators.
    This book is relevant to:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Julius Caesar and Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - The Roman Republic and Augustus
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    ​Martin, T.R. (2013). Ancient Rome: From Romulus to Justinian. Yale University Press.
    With commanding skill, Thomas R. Martin tells the remarkable and dramatic story of how a tiny, poor, and threatened settlement grew to become, during its height, the dominant power in the Mediterranean world for five hundred years. Encompassing the period from Rome's founding in the eighth century B.C. through Justinian's rule in the sixth century A.D., he offers a distinctive perspective on the Romans and their civilization by employing fundamental Roman values as a lens through which to view both their rise and spectacular fall.
    This book is relevant to:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Julius Caesar and Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - The Roman Republic and Augustus
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    Rodgers, N. (2011). The illustrated encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. Hermes House.
    The story of Rome is one of the great tales of human history. This superbly illustrated book offers a fascinating insight into the rise of Rome, which, for six centuries, ruled almost the whole known world. Over 1500 years after Rome's final decline and fall, this detailed examination of the people, places and events of this military and political empire will continue to fascinate. Readers can examine the legacy of Rome - the legal system it established, the military tactics it developed, the one church it promoted and its ideal of a universal empire that offered peace and stability to all its inhabitants and yet which finally itself crumbled through a combination of excess, decadence, hubris and over ambition. Magnificent photographs, specially commissioned illustrations, family trees, maps, battle plans and time-charts build up a colourful panoramic picture of the political strength of ancient Rome and its ruthless military conquest of the ancient known world.
    This book is relevant to:
    • Year 11 Ancient History General - Julius Caesar and Agrippina the Younger
    • Year 12 Ancient History ATAR - The Roman Republic and Augustus
    ancient ROME - websites
    ANCIENT ROME - VIDEOS
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    Beard, M. (Writer/Presenter)., MacGregor, H. (Director)., & Turroni, C. (Producer). (2012). Meet the Romans [Video]. BBC.
    Professor Mary Beard takes a look beyond the stories of emperors, armies and gore in ancient Rome, a city at the heart of a vast and dominating empire -- in order to meet the everyday people at the heart of the empire. The program draws a portrait of the first global metropolis as seen through the eyes of an ordinary Roman living during the period. In each episode, Beard travels through the land to visit sites like the Colosseum and the excavations at Monte Testaccio. 
    Cardo Maximus. (2013, May 16). Meet the Romans with Mary Beard 1/3 [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rggk_H3jEgw
    Cardo Maximus. (2013, May 16). Meet the Romans with Mary Beard 2/3 [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JFw8M4PBUI
    Cardo Maximus. (2013, May 16). Meet the Romans with Mary Beard 3/3 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UvG0LDeYBA
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    Hedgecoe, M. (Producer). (2009). Ancient Rome: The rise and fall of an empire [Video]. BBC.
    A docu-drama covering the rise and the fall of the Roman world, including the establishment of strong individual rule by Julius Caesar and the rebuilding of Rome under Nero.
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    The History Channel. (2023, August 15). Engineering an empire - E1 Rome [Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nXy9ym1juo
    Long before the Romans built their first mud huts, ancient Egypt's mighty pharaohs began commissioning and building monumental masterpieces whose scale, beauty and sophistication still boggle the mind. Through cutting-edge digital graphics and interviews with noted Egyptologists, this video explores the civilization's awe-inspiring engineering accomplishments, chronicling the pharaohs and feats that helped build the world's first superpower.
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    McLennan, K. (Producer). (2011). Destiny of Rome [Video]. SBS Australia.
    This two-part miniseries delves into the passions and politics that changed the course of human history. At the Battle of Philippi, Marc Antony and Octavian fight back their joint enemies to lay claim to Caesar's throne. Eleven years later, the two square off in the naval Battle of Actium to decide once and for all the destiny of Rome. Using groundbreaking production techniques, the program blends live actors with virtual sets to create a gripping reconstruction of events.
    ancient rome - journals
    The RAG - The Roman Archaeology Group