The Ancient World: Readings in Social and Cultural History (2nd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: A Wide Range of Sources
Review: Finding translated sources in the ancient world is becoming ever easier -- especially thanks to the World Wide Web. However, even with everything out there, I still find this text to be the gold standard for an introductory ancient history survey. The selections are well organized (both thematically and chronologically). They offers readers a glimpse not only into the important military and political events of the ancient past, but also the social, cultural, religious, worlds of the men and women who lived in ancient times.
Additionally, I find the introductory blurbs very helpful in grounding students who are approaching primary material for the first time. They can avoid the frustation often assoicated with primary sources and can start digging into the texts for the wealth of information waiting for them.
As a student of women's history in ancient Rome, I am particularly impressed with Nagle and Burstein's selection of materials that address gender issues in the ancient world.

Rating:
Summary: A Wide Range of Sources
Review: Finding translated sources in the ancient world is becoming ever easier -- especially thanks to the World Wide Web. However, even with everything out there, I still find this text to be the gold standard for an introductory ancient history survey. The selections are well organized (both thematically and chronologically). They offers readers a glimpse not only into the important military and political events of the ancient past, but also the social, cultural, religious, worlds of the men and women who lived in ancient times.
Additionally, I find the introductory blurbs very helpful in grounding students who are approaching primary material for the first time. They can avoid the frustation often assoicated with primary sources and can start digging into the texts for the wealth of information waiting for them.
As a student of women's history in ancient Rome, I am particularly impressed with Nagle and Burstein's selection of materials that address gender issues in the ancient world.

Rating:
Summary: Not terribly impressed by selections
Review: One of the most difficult things about teaching ancient history is either the lack of textbooks for students or the lack of really good textbooks. For a long time, Nagle's survey books were the only ones available. This is not true for the "readings" book that is written to accompany his survey book. Overall the selections are rather haphazard -- they are organized both thematically and chronologically but not culturally or geographical. Some of the entries are great but many are far too brief to be of real use to students. There are many "source" books for ancient history but they all have this same problem. Ultimately I suspect that most instructors will spend time creating course packets than relying on these source books.

Rating:
Summary: Not terribly impressed by selections
Review: One of the most difficult things about teaching ancient history is either the lack of textbooks for students or the lack of really good textbooks. For a long time, Nagle's survey books were the only ones available. This is not true for the "readings" book that is written to accompany his survey book. Overall the selections are rather haphazard -- they are organized both thematically and chronologically but not culturally or geographical. Some of the entries are great but many are far too brief to be of real use to students. There are many "source" books for ancient history but they all have this same problem. Ultimately I suspect that most instructors will spend time creating course packets than relying on these source books.