How to Find Further Information (An Appendix to Brief Histories: Ancient Greece)

Towards the end of finalising the manuscript for my recently published book, Brief Histories: Ancient Greece, I had a dream that I had included an appendix that basically outlined where people could find more information about either the ancient sources or scholarship, should they wish to dig further into it. That appendix did not end up making it into the book, so here it is!

Please keep in mind that this is the draft of the appendix, that has not been though editing, beyond me re-reading it!

---

Guide to Further Research in Ancient Greek History

This appendix serves as a concise guide for readers seeking to expand their knowledge of ancient Greek history beyond the scope of this book. It provides an overview of available resources, both ancient and modern, and offers guidance on how to approach further study in the field of ancient history.
 
Understanding Source Materials
In the study of ancient Greek history, it is crucial to differentiate between ancient and modern sources. Ancient sources, often referred to as primary sources, provide direct evidence from the period under study. These may include ancient texts, inscriptions, numismatic (coin) evidence, and archaeological findings. It is important to note, however, that not all ancient sources are contemporary with the events they describe. For instance, while Plutarch's works are invaluable for understanding Classical Greece, but he wrote around five centuries after the period in question.
 
Modern scholarly or academic sources, on the other hand, are works produced by contemporary researchers who analyse and interpret the ancient evidence. These secondary sources offer critical insights, contextual information, and academic discourse on various aspects of ancient Greek history. It is worth noting that the field of ancient Greek history encompasses a wide range of scholarship spanning several centuries; works that might be considered outdated in other academic disciplines may still hold relevance in this field. However, while older academic discourse, such as George Grote's seminal work on Greek history (originally published in 1846), remains of interest for historiographical purposes, it often does not reflect current methodologies or perspectives for understanding the ancient world as conceptualised by modern scholarship.
 
Ancient Sources
Several digital resources provide access to ancient Greek source materials:
1. The Perseus Digital Library (www.perseus.tufts.edu) offers an extensive collection of ancient Greek (and Latin) texts, along with translations, commentaries, and lexical tools.
2. Major museums such as the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Louvre provide digital access to their collections of ancient artefacts.
3. The Beazley Archive (www.beazley.ox.ac.uk), maintained by the University of Oxford, is a comprehensive database of ancient Greek pottery and ceramics, containing information and images of over 250,000 items.
4. Attic Inscriptions Online (https://www.atticinscriptions.com) provides translations of many inscriptions from Athens and its surrounding area, including a very good search function.
 
Geographical Resources
For those interested in the geographical aspects of ancient Greek history:
1. The Pleiades database (www.pleiades.stoa.org) provides detailed geographical information on ancient sites, including coordinates and historical names.
2. The Polis database (polis.stanford.edu) offers comprehensive information on over 1,000 ancient Greek city-states, including their history, politics, culture, and economics.
3. Topos Text (topostext.org) presents an interactive map that correlates ancient locations with relevant textual sources, and includes the text of those sources.
 
Scholarly Literature
To effectively explore scholarly literature relevant to your interests:
1. Identify key terms and concepts related to your area of focus.
2. Utilise these keywords to conduct searches in academic databases such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, and an institutional library catalogue.
3. When evaluating sources, consider factors such as the author's credentials, the publication venue (with peer-reviewed journals generally being the most reliable), and the currency of the information.

Abstracts and introductions often provide concise overviews of an article's main arguments, methodologies, and conclusions, allowing for an initial assessment of its relevance to your interests. Consulting the bibliographies or reference lists of particularly useful works can lead to the discovery of additional sources and help situate your research within the broader scholarly conversation.
 
To locate scholarship: 
1. Most academic libraries utilise online catalogues, often part of the WorldCat network, which allow searches for books, journals, and articles. Many institutions also offer interlibrary loan services.
2. JSTOR (www.jstor.org) is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources. While some content requires institutional access, a significant portion is freely available. Other databases provide less public access but can also be useful for finding relevant scholarship, these include ProjectMUSE (https://muse.jhu.edu) and ProQuest (www.proquest.com).
3. Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) indexes a wide range of scholarly literature and can serve as an effective starting point for research.
4. Archive.org (www.archive.org) is a non-profit digital library offering free access to a vast array of digitised materials, including many relevant to ancient Greek history and archaeology.
5. Email correspondence: There may be instances when you encounter difficulties accessing an article or book chapter crucial to your research. In such cases, it is acceptable academic practice to contact the author directly via their institutional email address. Many scholars are willing to share their work with interested readers. When making contact with scholars it is important to maintain a professional and courteous tone, and do not feel you should apologise for wanting to read their work. Similarly, many academics are exceptionally busy, especially during term time, and it may take a while for them to respond. Below is a template that you may adapt for this purpose:

Dear Dr [Author's surname], 
I hope this email finds you well. I am [Your Name], an enthusiast of ancient Greek history. 
 
I am interested in reading your article/chapter, '[Title of the article],' published in [Journal Name/Book Title] in [Year], but I don't have access to it.  Would it be possible for you to share a copy with me? 
 
Thank you for your time. 
Best regards, 
[Your Name]

​
Online Communities and Forums 
For those seeking to engage with both experts and fellow enthusiasts in the field of ancient Greek history, online platforms can provide valuable opportunities for discussion and inquiry. Reddit's r/AskHistorians is a notable example, offering a moderated forum where users can pose questions and receive responses from verified experts. The strict moderation ensures a high standard of academic rigour in the answers provided. Other online resources include Humanities Commons, where researchers share their work and engage in scholarly discussions, and ResearchGate, which facilitates direct communication with authors of academic papers. The Ancient History Encyclopedia (www.ancient.eu) is an excellent resources written by scholars of ancient history. Additionally, many universities and academic institutions host seminars (in person or online) that are open to the public, providing opportunities to engage with current research and pose questions to leading scholars in the field. When utilising these online resources, it is crucial to approach the information critically, considering the credentials of the respondents and cross-referencing their claims with established academic sources.
 
Expanding Research Horizons
To broaden your understanding of ancient Greek history, consider exploring these additional approaches and avenues:
1. Interdisciplinary Approaches: Ancient Greek studies intersect with numerous other fields, including philosophy, mathematics, and political science. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (plato.stanford.edu) provides a robust resource for exploring philosophical connections.
2. Digital Humanities: Projects such as AncientAthens3D (ancientathens3d.com) demonstrate how digital technologies are providing new insights into ancient Greek history.
3. Reception Studies: The Classical Reception Studies Network (www.crsn.org) offers resources on the influence of Greek ideas on subsequent literature, art, and political thought.
4. Comparative Studies: The Ancient World Online (ancientworldonline.blogspot.com) provides links to open-access material on various ancient civilisations, facilitating comparative study.

More Structured Apporaches
The Open University have a large range of 'taster' materials that cover many aspects of Classics and Ancient History, including Greek and Latin, for you to try (fass.open.ac.uk/classical-studies/tasters). There are a variety of courses on MOOC platforms like FutureLearn (www.futurelearn.com/subjects/history-courses/ancient-history).
 
By utilising these resources and approaches, you can significantly expand their understanding of ancient Greek history beyond the introductory level presented in this short book. Whether your interests lie in political structures, philosophical discourse, artistic achievements, or the quotidian aspects of ancient Greek life, these tools will provide a solid foundation for further exploration and research.