Ancient History: Monuments and Documents (Blackwell Introductions to the Classical World)

Detailed but lively, this book offers an introduction to the sources of evidence about ancient history. Hedrick has a keen sense of irony for the varying ways in which ancient and modern people read the same documents and he is an ideal guide to help us bridge the gap.
If students are to "do" history, as opposed to "reading" it, they must learn how to engage with historical sources. This book introduces students to the chief disciplines, methods and sources employed in "doing" ancient history. It gives them a sense of the nature of evidence and its use in the reconstruction of the past, helping them to read a historical narrative with more critical appreciation; and it encourages them to consider the differences between their own academic experience of ancient sources – books, inscriptions, coins and the like – and the use of these same objects within the everyday life of ancient society. The author writes clearly, concisely and concretely, invoking ancient illustrations and modern parallels as appropriate.