College of DuPage Library

Western Civilization Until 1600

Welcome to the Western Civilization until 1600 Research Guide

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Click on a tab below to find books, articles, primary sources and websites for use in the study of Western Civilization until 1600.

If you need additional help, please contact the History Librarian or stop by the Reference Desk. You can also get help from our online reference service: Ask A Librarian.

 

  1. Books
  2. Databases
  3. Primary Sources / Websites

Finding Books

Use the COD Library's book catalog to find books & videos. Click on the "keyword" tab to search using multiple search terms and limit your results by material type (book, video), date, or language. You'll need a current library card to check out books.

I-Share

I-Share allows COD students to borrow books from over 80 Illinois academic libraries. You must have a current COD library card, and create an account to request books from an I-Share library.

E-book Collections

Most books in these collections can also be located and accessed by searching in the Library's book catalog.

  • ebrary

    • Collection contains many History-related books. Many e-books can be viewed from your computer or downloaded to your e-book reader. You need to create an account to download e-books to your device.

  • EBSCO e-book collection

    • Collection includes some books on History. NOTE: Books can be viewed by single page on a computer, or, can be downloaded to an e-book reader. You'll be prompted to create an EBSCO account. The loan period for e-books is four hours. Books can be renewed after the initial loan period expires.

  • Humanities (ACLS) E-book Collection

    • This resource includes over 1500 full-text, cross-searchable books in the humanities selected by scholars for their continuing importance for research and teaching. Pages from this collection can be printed and emailed.

Reference Works

Reference works, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias are useful for learning about background information on a topic topics in History.

Please note that print reference books may be used while in the library only. Online reference books may be accessed from any on or off-campus computer. You'll need a library card to access online books and articles from off-campus.
Click on the links below to access the online book/website or record/description of the print book.

Encyclopedias
General encyclopedias - online
  • Credo Reference
    A collection of hundreds of reference sources covering many subject areas
  • Encyclopedia Britannica
    The online version of the classic Encyclopedia Britannica that also includes web links, select articles and access to Webster's Dictionary.
  • Gale Virtual Reference Library
    A collection of hundreds of reference sources covering many subject areas
Subject specific encyclopedias
Biographies
Chronologies

Databases

The Library subscribes to many databases that provide access to thousands of popular and credible, scholarly journals. Many databases provide access to full-text articles, while some provide information about the article only (citation). Request (for free!) through Interlibrary Loan copies of articles to which the Library doesn't have full-text access.

What are databases?

Databases are organized collections of information that you can search on a variety of fields, like title and author's name. iTunes is a database and so is Amazon. Even your contacts list in your phone is a type of mini database. The Library has databases of articles from newspapers, magazines and journals. We also have databases of streaming videos, music and e-books. The difference between our databases and iTunes or Amazon is that our stuff is free for you to use. You can browse the library's databases here: http://www.codlrc.org/databases

 

Databases - Best Bets

  • Academic Search Complete

    • Multidisciplinary database covering a wide range of academic areas.

  • Academic OneFile

    • Multidisciplinary database covering a wide range of academic areas.

  • Artstor
    The Artstor Digital Library provides over 1.6 million digital images in the arts, architecture, humanities, and sciences with an accessible suite of software tools for teaching and research.

  • History Study Center
    Primary and secondary history collections providing access to rare British, American and world history sources, full text articles and reference materials. Includes multimedia sources.

  • JSTOR

    • Excellent source for credible scholarly, peer-reviewed articles. Articles in database were published between the early 1700s and between 1-5 years ago.

Individual Journal Title List

Click here to view a list of History-related journals

Primary Sources

There are several areas where you can find primary source documents. Click on a link below to view lists of resources in each of these areas.


General Collection
To locate sources in the General Collection:
  • Do an author search
    Anything written by a participant would be a primary source. For example, for a primary source about the war in Roman times, look up "Caesar, Julius" as an author and find his The Gallic War.

  • Do a title search
    Some primary sources have no known authors. For example, a known primary source for Egyptian religious rites is the Book of the Dead also known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Doing a title search shows the Library owns several copies.

  • Do a subject search
    Primary sources often contain one of these subheadings: sources, personal narratives, diaries, or correspondence. For example, look up Middle Ages and scan the results for those subheadings. Sometimes primary sources are found in broad collections with or without the subheadings above. Look up a broader heading and limit the search results to "source material" to find some useful collections.


Library Databases
  • Academic Search Complete To locate primary sources scroll down to "Publication Type" and select Primary Source Document.
  • History Study Center : Primary and secondary history collections providing access to British, American and world history sources, full text articles, maps, and reference materials among other types of resources.


Websites
Who can publish on the Internet? Anyone.

You may find a website by doing a web search or through a recommendation of another student. Before you use a website for your assignment, you should evaluate the webpage for credibility, reliability, authority and purpose. Check out the CRAP Test for more information on evaluating websites.

The following websites have been evaluated for their credibility.

Ancient Civilizations


Near East
  • Ancient Scripts
    This site provides an overview of writing systems around the world from prehistoric times through today.

  • Catalogue of Sumerian Literary Texts
    This site displays works that are included in the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature which is a full catalog of Sumerian literacy compositions. Hymns, cult songs, proverbs, poetry, and letters are among the works included. The site also provides the option to translate the works in English.

  • The Code of Hammurabi
    This site translates The Code of Hammurabi in English and provides definitions of terminology used throughout the code.

  • Ancient Near East Archives
    ETNA (Electronic Texts and Ancient Near Eastern Archives) is a collaborative project that provides digital copies of works deemed important for research and teaching about ancient Near Eastern studies.


    Egypt
  • Akhet - The Horizon to Ancient Egypt
    This site provides an abundance of information about the culture of ancient Egypt including Pharaohs, mythology, sculptures, tombs, and temples.

  • Duke University Papyrus Archive
    Sponsored by Duke University, this site provides access to images and information about papyri from ancient Egypt.

  • The Egyptian Book of the Dead
    Full-text, electronic access to The Book of the Dead, The Papyrus of Ani.

  • The Global Egyptian Museum
    This virtual collection contains images and descriptions of over 2 million objects from ancient Egypt that are physically housed in 69 countries all over the world. Objects can be searched for by period, material, site, or museum. The site also has a glossary that defines over 400 Egyptian terms and themes.

  • The Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology
    This site provides images and descriptions of ancient sites in Egypt. Sites can be searched by name of by clicking on a map.

  • Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt
    This site provides images and descriptions of the materials that were shown at the Quest of Immortality: Treasure of Ancient Egypt exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. The site also has a detailed description of the tomb of Thutmose III.

  • Reeder's Egypt Page
    This site provides basic information about religion, art, archaeology, and history of Egypt.

  • Secrets of the Pharaohs
    Sponsored by PBS, this site provides an array of information about the Pharaohs of Egypt including a timeline, maps of tombs, and a step-by-step guide to making a mummy.

  • Theban Mapping Project
    This site provides a database of all the archeological findings in Thebes. Items can be searched in a variety of ways including decoration, date, condition, or image. An interactive map also offers detailed information about the findings in each location.

  • Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
    This site provides information about the finding and excavation of Tutankhamun.


    Greece
  • The Ancient City of Athens
    The Ancient City of Athens
    This site provides brief descriptions and images of the remains of ancient Athens.

  • Diotima Women & Gender in the Ancient World
    This site provides resources about ancient Latin texts by and about women. The site has links to resources including some full-text articles as well as images.

  • PBS - The Greeks
    Sponsored by PBS, this site provides information about the civilization of ancient Greece including a timeline, descriptions of major events, and information about important political figures.

  • Metis
    Panoramic views of historical archaeological sites in ancient Greece.

  • Perseus Project
    This site is a collection of information and resources about literature, history, and culture in the Greco-Roman World

  • The Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean
    This site provides information and images about the prehistoric archaeology in Aegean. The site also has a useful glossary of terms.

  • University of Chicago Excavations at Isthmia
    This site provides information about the excavation of Isthmia and has links to other useful resources.


    Rome
  • Ancient Rome
    This site has an abundance of information about the history of Rome including art, daily life, jobs, clothing, and mythology. Some maps and pictures are also available.

  • Capitolium.org - Imperial Fora Official Website - Rome, Italy
    This site has information about the Imperial Fora in Rome including detailed descriptions of the history of Rome and the various archeological sites (Forum of Augustus, Forum of Caesar, Forma of Nerva, etc.). A detailed map and virtual tour are also included as well as a quiz to help test your knowledge.

  • The Christian Catacombs of Rome
    This site provides a brief overview of information about the catacombs of Saint Callixtus in Rome. It also has information about ancient roman symbols.

  • Corinth Computer Project - Greek and Roman Corinth
    This site provides in-depth information about the ancient city and landscape of Corinth. The site also provides information about how the excavation was conducted. A helpful reference list of Roman city planning and survey terms are also included.

  • Diotima Women & Gender in the Ancient World
    This site provides resources about ancient Latin texts by and about women. The site has links to resources including some full-text articles as well as images.

  • Hechingen-Stein. A Villa Rustica from Roman Time
    This site provides information about an ancient Roman villa in Heching-Stein Germany. Information about the settlement and retreat of the ancient villa is provided as well as information about the discovery and excavation of the site. A virtual tour and pictures of a 3-D model are also included.

  • LacusCurtius: Into the Roman World
    This site provides an array of information including annotated pictures of Roman monuments as well as information about ancient works and authors. A list of useful resources for further research is also included.

  • Ostia - Harbour of Ancient Rome
    This site has an abundance of information about the ancient harbour Ostia including pictures, video tours, information about ancient works and authors, and lists of recent publications for further research.

  • Perseus Project
    This site provides an abundance of information about the Greco-Roman world. Some full-text articles are available.

  • Pompeii Forum Project
    This website contains information about the history of Pompeii with a focus on the city’s architecture.

  • The Roman Empire in the First Century
    Sponsored by PBS, this site provides basic information about the Roman Empire including religion, daily life, and clothing.

  • VRoma
    This website focuses on ancient Rome and the Latin language. It has lists of resources as well as images, but the most useful feature is a virtual tour of ancient Rome.

    Europe
  • The Cave of Lascaux
    Although much of the text on this website is in French, it has amazing videos and images from inside the Cave of Lascaux.

  • The Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc
    This site provides information about the discovery, exploration, and research significance of the Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc.


    All Regions
  • Internet Ancient History Sourcebook
    This site compiles e-resources about a variety of subject areas in ancient history including African history, Eastern Asia history, Jewish history, and Women’s history.

  • Ancient Near East and the Mediterranean World
    Focusing on materials published from 1850 through 1950, this site provides online access to deteriorated resources at the University of Chicago about the art, archeology, and history of ancient near East Asia and the Mediterranean World.

  • Art History - Resources on the Web
    This website provides a wealth of information about art history. The site covers an abundance of areas including Ancient Greek Art, Byzantine Art, Early Christian Art, and 20th Century Art. A variety of information is available including pictures, brief background information on topics, maps, and timelines.

  • Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World
    The Barrington Atlas is a helpful print resource that contains maps from ancient Greek and Rome. This site compliments the atlas by discussing the project, providing access to some of the maps, and supplying a list of useful resources.

  • Electronic Resources for Classicists
    This site compiles resources for those studying the ancient classics. Links as well as a brief explanation about each resource are included. The site provides a variety of materials including electronic journals, databases, images, as well as professional organizations. The site is well organized and is easy to navigate.

  • The Internet Classics Archive
    This site provides access to classical works by authors such as Aristotle, Julius Caesar, and Homer. It focuses on works by Greco-Roman authors but a few additional authors from other ancient cultures are available. Lists of useful print resources for further research are also provided.

  • ETANA - Electronic Tools and Ancient Near East Archives
    This site compiles resources about Ancient Near Eastern Studies. A variety of subject areas are covered including the Bible, Judaism, maps, ancient history, and archeology.

  • Oriental Institute
    Sponsored by the University of Chicago, the Oriental Institute is a museum and research center that focuses on the Ancient Near East. The majority of resources can be accessed by visiting the institute, but information about exhibits and symposiums as well as some full-text articles, dissertations, and images are available online.

  • Voice of the Shuttle -Archaeology
    This site compiles resources about archaeology including links to websites, projects, museums, as well as journals.

  • Voice of the Shuttle - Classical Studies
    This site compiles resources about Classical studies including history and culture, language, literature, and philosophy.

    Medieval Civilization

  • The Aberdeen Bestiary Project
    This site hosts a digitized version of a 12th century English manuscript, which contained descriptions of both real and imaginary creatures, paired with illustrations. Each photographed page of the manuscript is accompanied by commentaries and a transcription and a translation of the original Latin text.

  • Anthology of Middle English Literature (1350-1485)
    This site offers a collection of biographies of, quotes from, essays on, and works of noted English authors from the year 1350 to 1485.

  • The Camelot Project
    Sponsored by the University of Rochester, the website compiles Arthurian texts and images and information on characters, symbols/motifs, places, and creatures from the legends of King Arthur.

  • Feminae, Medieval Women and Gender Index
    The site presents journal articles, essays, art, and book reviews of works on women, sexuality, and gender in medieval civilization.

  • Geoffrey Chaucer
    Part of the Luminarium anthology, this page offers a biography, articles, and essays on Chaucer, as well as digitized versions of his works accompanied by study guides.

  • Guide to Early Church Documents
    This site compiles historical documents pertaining to the early Christian church, including canons and writings of the Apostolic Fathers.

  • History of the Crusades
    This section of the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections offers a digitized version of a six volume work on events of the crusades, culture and society during the crusades, and the ultimate impact of the crusades in Europe and the Near East.

  • Internet Medieval Sourcebook
    Fordham University Center for Medieval Studies has created a comprehensive collection of primary and secondary sources pertaining to the Middle Ages, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the late 15th century.

  • The Labyrinth, Resources for Medieval Studies
    This site provides a comprehensive list of worldwide sources on all things medieval, including art and architecture, culture, religion, and society.

  • Mapping Margery Kempe
    This site provides a context for and research/teaching guide to the autobiography of Marjory Kempe, a self-named spiritual woman and mystic in 15th century England. The site includes a digitized version of her autobiography and images and texts pertaining to East Anglian churches and saints and life, politics, and commerce in her hometown of Bishop’s Lynn.

  • Medieval Architecture in France
    This site provides images of medieval architecture in France and maps of France from the 5th through 16th centuries.

  • Medieval Page
    This site is provides a comprehensive list of internet sources on the Middle Ages. Sources provided include professional association pages, blogs, and online journals.

  • The Middle Ages - Annenberg Learner
    The site presents information on the Middle Ages, including feudal and town life, religion, homes, clothing, medicine, and arts.

  • The Online Medieval and Classical Library
    This site provides a searchable collection of medieval and classical literature, from anonymous works to works by such well known authors as Geoffrey Chaucer.

  • ORB--Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies
    This site hosts a collection of primary and secondary sources in medieval studies, including electronic textbooks, teaching guides, essays, bibliographies, and images.

  • Penn Special Collections-Schoenberg Exhibit
    This exhibit of the University of Pennsylvania libraries offers digitized versions of illustrated religious, academic, and lay manuscripts from the 11th to the 18th centuries.

  • Teams Middle English Texts
    The site provides student editions of Middle English poetry and prose. Each text is accompanied by an introduction which offers a context for and assessment of the document.


    Renaissance

  • The Cely Papers
    This site presents correspondence and documents from the Cely family, English wool merchants in the late 15th century.

  • Columbus and the Age of Discovery
    This site offers an index of major works pertaining to Christopher Columbus and the Age of Discovery (mid-to-late 15th century).

  • DISC Archive - Catasto Study, 15th Century Italy
    The site compiles data and documentation from the Census and Property Survey for Florentine Domains and the City of Verona in Fifteenth Century Italy, otherwise known as the Catasto Study.

  • Renaissance - Annenberg Learner
    The site presents information on the Renaissance, including exploration and trade, printing and bookmaking, and architecture.

  • The Galileo Project
    The site provides a biography of Galileo and further texts and images pertaining to his life and work.

  • Latitude - The Art and Science of Fifteenth-Century Navigation
    The site offers information on ships, sailing, ocean currents and weather, and ocean navigation in the 15th and 16th centuries.

  • Medici Archive Project
    The site hosts a collection of letters, biographies, and other documents pertaining to the Medici family, Grand Dukes and Duchesses of Tuscany from 1537 to 1743.

  • Online Catasto of 1427
    The site is a searchable database of tax information for from Catasto Study, a census survey of Florence, Tuscany in 1427-1429.

  • Plague and Public Health in Renaissance Europe
    This site compiles images, narratives, government and medical documents, and religious writings on the plagues in Europe between 1348 and 1530.

  • Rome Reborn - The Vatican Library & Renaissance Culture
    This exhibition by the Library of Congress offers comprehensive information, images, and documents covering all aspects of the Renaissance in Europe, the Islamic world, and China. Major Renaissance topics covered include archaeology, humanism, mathematics, music, medicine, and nature.

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