Artifacts from Ancient Rome

James B. Tschen-Emmons

Sep 2014 · ABC-CLIO

About this ebook

When Roman objects and artifacts are properly analyzed, they serve as valuable primary sources for learning about ancient history. This book provides the guidance and relevant historical context students need to see relics as evidence of long-past events and society.

Artifacts from Ancient Rome is a unique social history that explores major aspects of daily life in a long-ago era via images of physical objects and historical information about these items. This book also affords "hands-on training" on how to approach primary sources.

The author—a historian also trained as an archaeologist—begins by explaining the concept of using artifacts to understand and "see" the past and providing a primer for effectively analyzing artifacts. Entries on the artifacts follow, with each containing an introduction, a description of the artifact, an explanation of its significance, and a list of further sources of information. Readers of the book will not only gain a composite impression of daily life in ancient Rome through the study of artifacts from domestic life, religion, war, transportation, entertainment, and more, but will also learn how to best understand and analyze primary sources for learning.

Presents images of artifacts, relevant primary sources, and detailed explanations of each item's historical context together in a single resource, making the information conveniently accessible to both students and general readers

Provides students with the opportunity to work with, analyze, and interpret both artifacts and primary sources, making the book an excellent complement to curricula that are increasing their focus on the use of primary sources of all types

Allows readers to piece together an overall impression of Roman life and society through artifacts that range from a legionary weapon and a medical scalpel to a wax tablet for writing, a bread oven, and a sundial

About the author

James B. Tschen Emmons, PhD, teaches history at North Idaho College and mythology at Northern Virginia Community College.