INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES RESEARCH GUIDES   GLOSSARY   GEOGRAPHY DICTIONARY EXPLORE MORE HOME-SCHOOL CONNECTIONS   CLOSE  
Explore the Ancient World Student Reseach Guide Guidelines
Research Tips

Unit 1
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4

    • Unit 2
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7

    • Unit 3
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10

    • Unit 4
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13

    • Unit 5
  • Chapter 14
  • Chapter 15
  • Chapter 16
  • Chapter 16A

    • Unit 6
  • Chapter 17
  • Chapter 18
  • Chapter 19
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    Unit 5: The Foundation of Western Ideas - Chapter 15: The Ancient Greeks

    Key Words: ancient Greece, Crete, Minoan, Mycenaean, Greek Dark Age, Greek myths, Homer, Iliad, Odyssey, Aesop's Fables
    Fiction Books
    Aliki. The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus. New York: HarperTrophy, 1997. Aliki offers an illustrated, panoramic look at the stories and characters of Greek mythology. A good introduction to the Greek gods and goddesses. 48 pages. Fiction.

    Cooney, Caroline. Goddess of Yesterday. New York: Delacorte Press, 2002. Cooney tells the story of the sacking of Troy through the eyes of Anaxandra, a girl taken from her tiny Greek island home years before. 264 pages. Fiction.

    D'Aulaire, Ingri. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths. New York: Yearling Books, 1992. This is a beautiful picture book of classic Greek myths. A good read-aloud book; available on audio CD or cassette. 192 pages. Fiction.

    Galloway, Priscilla. Aleta and the Queen: A Tale of Ancient Greece. Toronto: Annick Press, 1995. Galloway tells of the return of Odysseus through the eyes of a servant girl of Queen Penelope. 160 pages. Fiction.

    McCaughrean, Geraldine. Greek Gods and Goddesses. New York: Margaret K. McElderry, 1998. This book is a retelling of classic Greek myths for children. Beautiful illustrations and vivid writing make the stories appealing even to reluctant readers. A good read-aloud book; available on audio cassette. 112 pages. Fiction.

    Scieszka, Jon. It's All Greek to Me. Time Warp Trio, 8. New York: Puffin Books, 2001. Fred, Sam, and Joe are transported to ancient Greece where they must battle gods and monsters in their search for a way home. The story is filled with humor and adventure. 73 pages. Fiction.

    Nonfiction Books
    Ross, Stewart. Greek Theatre. New York: Peter Bedrick Books, 1999. This is an attractive introduction to early Greek theater. 48 pages. Nonfiction.

    Tracy, Kathleen. The Life and Times of Homer. Biography of Ancient Civilizations. Hockessin, DE: Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2004. This short biography reconstructs the life of Homer. 48 pages. Nonfiction.

    Web Sites
    http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/aegean
    Ancient Greek Civilizations. Use this site to expand your knowledge of Greek civilizations. Study the Minoan culture, the Mycenaeans, and the invasion of the Dorians. Learn about the Dark Age of Greece and read translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey. A variety of information on many topics is available here.

    http://www.abc.net.au/arts/wingedsandals
    Winged Sandals. Everything that you wanted to know about Greek mythology is on this site! The dictionary covers the important gods, goddesses, monsters, and people that ancient Greeks believed were real. You can watch cartoons that tell some of the stories and even play games that deal with characters from the myths.

    http://www.mythweb.com
    Greek Mythology. Providing more about Greek myths, this site is a good place to find short descriptions of important events and characters. Especially helpful is the section on the Odyssey, where you can read either a simple summary of the plot or a more detailed version of it, both illustrated.

    http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks
    The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization. This site, sponsored by PBS, discusses important people of Athens and key events in the history of ancient Greece. One of the best parts of the page is the section where you can see what the Greek language might have sounded and looked like in past times. You can also see how the famous Parthenon was constructed.

    http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
    National Geographic. Discover maps of the world, historical photographs, and interactive adventures on the National Geographic site.