This research guide introduces selected academic publications in the field of ancient history. Use the menu on the left to navigate and feel free to contact me if you have questions. Use the book now button on the right to schedule a meeting with me.
EZBorrow and Interlibrary LoanUse the interlibrary loan (Illiad) form to request pdf scans of book chapters from the Falvey collection.
Encyclopedias, Companions, Handbooks
The Library has a large collection of subject-specific encyclopedias, handbooks, and companions with exhaustive and well-researched articles written by subject experts. These essays are great introductions to the historiography of a topic and helpful in defining and focusing it. Look out for recommended secondary and primary sources.
Encyclopedia of Ancient History (Wiley-Blackwell)
Covers all civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean world including the Near East and Egypt.
Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt
Covers ancient Egyptian civilization, from the predynastic era to its eclipse in the seventh century CE.
Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd. ed.
Presents a cross-cultural approach that emphasizes religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture.
Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East
A Companion to Ancient Egypt (Wiley-Blackwell)
A Companion to Ancient History (Wiley-Blackwell)
A Companion to Women in the Ancient World (Wiley-Blackwell)
Companion to the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Wiley-Blackwell)
Oxford Handbooks Online (Oxford University Press)
Each handbook introduces and surveys the state of scholarship in a field of study through review articles written by leading subject specialists.
Cambridge Histories Online (Cambridge University Press)
Provides online access to the well-regarded Cambridge Histories series. Includes the Cambridge Ancient History (12 vols., 2nd ed.) and other titles that cover ancient Egyptian history such as the Cambridge History of Africa and the Cambridge History of Religions in the Ancient World.
Encyclopedia of Ancient History (Wiley-Blackwell)
Covers all civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean world including the Near East and Egypt.
Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt
Covers ancient Egyptian civilization, from the predynastic era to its eclipse in the seventh century CE.
Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd. ed.
Presents a cross-cultural approach that emphasizes religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture.
Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East
A Companion to Ancient Egypt (Wiley-Blackwell)
A Companion to Ancient History (Wiley-Blackwell)
A Companion to Women in the Ancient World (Wiley-Blackwell)
Companion to the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Wiley-Blackwell)
Oxford Handbooks Online (Oxford University Press)
Each handbook introduces and surveys the state of scholarship in a field of study through review articles written by leading subject specialists.
Cambridge Histories Online (Cambridge University Press)
Provides online access to the well-regarded Cambridge Histories series. Includes the Cambridge Ancient History (12 vols., 2nd ed.) and other titles that cover ancient Egyptian history such as the Cambridge History of Africa and the Cambridge History of Religions in the Ancient World.
Books & Book Chapters
Much of the scholarly literature in the field is published in books which are often referred to as monographs. Find books in the Library’s collection with a Books & Media search. Start with keywords that describe your topic and use the hyperlinked subjects in the book records to reduce and focus search results. Notice facets such as topic and language which will further narrow results. Subject searches can significantly increase or decrease the number of results. For a more comprehensive review of the literature consult WorldCat and use the integrated Borrow from other libraries feature to request books which are not locally available.
Falvey Library Catalog (Books & Media)
Keyword and subject searches in the Library's catalog are good starting points when first exploring a topic. Search results can be narrowed with facets such as topic, era, language or region. Facets are located on the right hand side of the results screen.
JSTOR
Provides a full text archive of academic journals and books in the humanities, social sciences, and mathematics. The most recent three to five years of a journal are usually not included.
WorldCat (FirstSearch)
Presents a combined catalog of the catalogs of more than 10,000 libraries worldwide. WorldCat highlights publications available at Villanova University. Other items can be requested via an inter-library loan request form.
Falvey Library Catalog (Books & Media)
Keyword and subject searches in the Library's catalog are good starting points when first exploring a topic. Search results can be narrowed with facets such as topic, era, language or region. Facets are located on the right hand side of the results screen.
JSTOR
Provides a full text archive of academic journals and books in the humanities, social sciences, and mathematics. The most recent three to five years of a journal are usually not included.
WorldCat (FirstSearch)
Presents a combined catalog of the catalogs of more than 10,000 libraries worldwide. WorldCat highlights publications available at Villanova University. Other items can be requested via an inter-library loan request form.
Search tips
Suggested Library of Congress subjects:
Egypt AND dynasty
Queen of Egypt
Egyptian language - Writing
King of Egypt
Pharaohs - Egypt
Egyptian language - Inscriptions
Suggested keyword searches:
magic AND religion AND Egypt
Egypt* AND pyramid*
Hyksos AND Egypt*
Academic Journals
The Library subscribes to a range of ancient history journals including the Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Iraq, the Journal of Cuneiform Studies, and the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. Use the Journal & Article Finder or the Articles & more search options on the Library’s website to look up known references. Request articles from journals that are not part of the Library's collections through interlibrary loan. The journal databases listed here index the contents of most if not all ancient history journals and are by far the best tools to discover articles published in these journals.
JSTOR
Provides a full text archive of academic journals and books in the humanities, social sciences, and mathematics. The most recent three to five years of a journal are usually not included.
Online Egyptological Bibliography (Oxford University) Access Instructions
Indexes publications in Egyptology and includes the records and abstracts of the Annual Egyptological Bibliography (1947-2001), the Bibliographie Altägypten (1822-1946), and the Aigyptos database. Coverage goes back to 1822.
Art Full Text (EBSCO)
Indexes the contents of academic journals and magazines in the fields of fine and decorative arts, architecture, and photography. Includes citations for dissertations, book reviews, and art reproductions published in indexed journals. Abstracts are available back to 1984 with selective full text available back to 1995.
TOCS-IN (University of Toronto)
TOCS-IN provides the tables of contents of a selection of Classics, Near Eastern Studies and Religion journals. Covers published works from 1992-present.
Articles & More Search
This page enables you to search millions of full text articles and other electronic resources available through the Falvey Library. While it doesn't provide access to everything the library has to offer, it is an excellent starting point for your searches.
JSTOR
Provides a full text archive of academic journals and books in the humanities, social sciences, and mathematics. The most recent three to five years of a journal are usually not included.
Online Egyptological Bibliography (Oxford University) Access Instructions
Indexes publications in Egyptology and includes the records and abstracts of the Annual Egyptological Bibliography (1947-2001), the Bibliographie Altägypten (1822-1946), and the Aigyptos database. Coverage goes back to 1822.
Art Full Text (EBSCO)
Indexes the contents of academic journals and magazines in the fields of fine and decorative arts, architecture, and photography. Includes citations for dissertations, book reviews, and art reproductions published in indexed journals. Abstracts are available back to 1984 with selective full text available back to 1995.
TOCS-IN (University of Toronto)
TOCS-IN provides the tables of contents of a selection of Classics, Near Eastern Studies and Religion journals. Covers published works from 1992-present.
Articles & More Search
This page enables you to search millions of full text articles and other electronic resources available through the Falvey Library. While it doesn't provide access to everything the library has to offer, it is an excellent starting point for your searches.
Trying to decipher a journal abbreviation?
Check the journal abbreviations lists below for the full journal title:
Abbreviations for titles of Classical/Medieval Studies journals (Indiana University Libraries, based on L'Annee Philologique)
Bibliographical Abbreviations (compiled for the Egyptologists' Electronic Forum)
Citing Your Sources
Chicago Manual of Style Online
The 17th edition of the Manual is the most current. The online version includes a Citation Quick Guide with examples. The Library's website offers a short introduction and overview to the Notes and Bibliography System commonly used in the humanities.
The 17th edition of the Manual is the most current. The online version includes a Citation Quick Guide with examples. The Library's website offers a short introduction and overview to the Notes and Bibliography System commonly used in the humanities.