Ancient India and Persia

BIBLIOGRAPHY ON
ANCIENT INDIA AND
PERSIA
October 2002
Compiled by Carole Geile
Learning Resources & Curriculum
Department

ANCIENT INDIA
AND PERSIA
BOOK RESOURCES
Alden, Carella. Royal Persia: tales and art of Iran. New York: Parents' Magazine
Press, 1972. (WB 955 ALD22R)
Summary: Traces the history of the Persian Empire with emphasis on the art and
other aspects of its culture.
Bennett, Jill. Folens ideas bank the Indus Valley: a past non-European society.
Dunstable, England: Folens, 1995. (WT 300 E/ZBEN IN2V)
Summary: The Indus Valley civilization was one of the world's first great
civilizations. It is thought to have come into existence over 4500 years
ago and was at its height between 2500 to 2000 years ago. This book
provides activity pages about the Indus Valley, supported with
background information, extra ideas and teaching strategies. Grades 3
and up.
Brockett, Eleanor. Persian fairy tales. Chicago, IL: Follett Publishing Company,
1968. (WB 398 BRO782P)
Summary: Presents twenty-five fairy tales of ancient Persia about minarets and
sultans, djinns and demons.
Chenevière, Alain. Ramachandra in India. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications,
1996. (WB 915.4 CHE42R)
Summary: The story of the young Indian prince who will one day be maharaja of
Dolapur. Includes information on India's culture, geography, and
economy. Grades 4-6.
Corwin, Judith Hoffman. Harvest festivals around the world. Parsippany, NJ:
Julian Messner, 1995. (WB 394.2 COR819H2)
Summary: Describes harvest festivals, or rituals to celebrate the gathering of crops,
of people from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America,
and the Caribbean. Grades 2-5.
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Das, Prodeepta. I is for India. Parsippany, NJ: Silver Press, 1997. (WB 915.4
DAS26I)
Summary: An alphabetical listing of historical and cultural information on India.
Forest, Heather. Wisdom tales from around the world: fifty gems of story and wisdom
from such diverse traditions as Sufi, Zen, Taoist, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist,
African, and Native American. Little Rock, AR: August House Publishers, 1996.
(OVR WB 398 FOR761W4)
Summary: A collection of traditional stories from around the world, reflecting the
cumulative wisdom of Sufi, Zen, Taoist, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian,
African, and Native American cultures.
Forest, Heather. Wonder tales from around the world. Little Rock, AR: August
Publishers, 1995. (OVR WB 398 FOR761W6)
Summary: Includes twenty-seven folktales from Europe, Asia, Africa, India, the
Arctic, and the Americas.
Foster, Genevieve. Augustus Caesar's world: a story of ideas and events from B.C. 44
to 14 A.D. New York: Scribner, 1947. (OVR WB 930 FOS81A)
Summary: Parallels comparative religious, social, and political forces which
characterized and influenced the Roman Empire during the period just
preceding and just following the birth of Christ. Examines
contemporary events in Greece, Israel, Egypt, China, India, and Persia
as well as Rome.
Ganeri, Anita. Exploration into India. New York: New Discovery, 1994. (OVR WB
954 GAN154E)
Summary: Describes India from its earliest times through the present. Includes
explorations by Aryans, Chinese, Muslims, and Europeans. Grades 5
and up.
Ganeri, Anita. India. New York: Franklin Watts, 1994. (OVR WB 915.4
GAN154I)
Summary: Describes the civilization of India and provides instructions for related
craft projects. Grades 5-7.
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Howard, Dale E. India. New York: Children's Press, 1996. (WB 796.0954
HOW832I)
Summary: Discusses recreation in India, including yoga, sports, games, folk
dances, and kite flying. Grades 4 and up.
Indian gods and myths. New York: Chartwell Books, 1999. (WB 294 KIN616I)
Summary: An introduction to the religions and myths of the Indian subcontinent.
Grades 8 and up.
Kalman, Bobbie. India: the culture. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 1990.
(OVR WB 915.4 KAL126I2)
Summary: Describes ancient and modern cultures of India, including religions,
arts and crafts, and festivals and celebrations. Grades 4 and up.
Kalman, Bobbie. India: the people. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 1990.
(OVR WB 915.4 KAL126I7)
Summary: Covers the people of India, including their families, homes,
occupations, and languages. Grades 4 and up.
Krensky, Stephen. Conqueror and hero: the search for Alexander.
Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company, 1981. (OVR WB 921 ALE26K)
Summary: Outlines the life of Alexander, a charismatic individual who was
simultaneously the king of Macedonia, pharaoh of Egypt, and emperor
of Persia. Grades 6-9.
Lengyel, Emil. Iran. New York: Franklin Watts, 1981. (WB 915.5 LEN547I)
Summary: Discusses the geography, history, cities, customs, and culture of this dry
Middle Eastern country formerly called Persia. Grades 4-6.
Macdonald, Fiona. Houses: habitats & home life. New York: Franklin Watts, 1994.
(OVR WB 728 MCD145H)
Summary: Describes the history of houses from the Stone Age to efficient
"machines for living" of the future. Grades 5-8.
Millard, Anne. The atlas of ancient worlds. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1994.
(OVR WB 911 MIL611A)
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Summary: Explores the history of the ancient world from the Sumerians in 3500
B.C. to the Incas in 1500 A.D. Grades 5 and up.
Mollet, David. Ancient civilizations. India. Torrance, CA: Waldorf Education
Resources, 1994. (WT 300 6ZMOL AN22C46)
Summary: Includes stories which provide an in-depth experience of a particular
time or place. These are designed to be read or “retold” to the class;
they may be duplicated for student use. Also included are dramas for
class or school performance, information sheets presented in an
interesting and stimulating format, maps which may be duplicated for
student use, teachers’ guidelines, and much more.
Music of ancient civilizations. Eureka, CA: Humboldt County Office of Education,
School/Staff Support Services Department, 1990. (WT 300 E/HUMB M973O)
Summary: Includes instruction and the study of songs and music on India, Egypt,
China, Greece, Rome, and Africa.
Nardo, Don. The Persian Empire. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 1998. (WB 935.05
NAR166P)
Summary: An account of the rise and fall of the Persian Empire, based in part on
archaeological findings of the twentieth century. Grades 5-9.
Rice, Christopher. How children lived. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995. (OVR
WB 908.3 RIC36H)
Summary: Describes the lives of 16 children living at different times in history,
e.g., Kuman in India 400 years ago and Ohe-tika-wi on the Great Plains
of North America 150 years ago. Grades 2 and up.
Sarin, Amita Vohra. India: an ancient land, a new nation. Minneapolis, MN: Dillon
Press, 1984. (WB 915.4 SAR73I)
Summary: Discusses the people, history, myths and legends, worship and
celebrations, family life and food, school life, and sports of one of the
world's most populous and diverse countries. Grades 6-8.
Schmidt, Jeremy. In the village of the elephants. New York: Walker and Company,
1994. (OVR WB 636.967 SCH54I)
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Summary: The story of Mudumalai, an Indian elephant, and his mahout-intraining,
Bomman. Grades 2-5.
Sharma, Rashmi. A brahmin's castles in the air. Berkeley, CA: Vidya Books, 1994.
(WB 398.05 SHA23B7)
Summary: Adapted from the ancient Panchatantra fables, this is the story of a
young brahmin who preferred to lie back and dream his big dreams,
and even though he is quite poor in material wealth, he is very rich in
his imagination. Grades K and up.
Stewart, Melissa. Science in ancient India. New York: Franklin Watts, 1999. (WB
509.34 STE49S)
Summary: An overview of the scientific contributions of ancient India including
Arabic numerals, ayurveda, basic chemistry and physics, and celestial
observations. Grades 4-7.
Sylvester, Diane. India and China. Torrance, CA: Frank Schaffer Publications,
1997. (OVR WB 930 SYL57I)
Summary: The ancient civilizations of India and China are two of the oldest on
Earth. Each has made great contributions to the rest of the world in arts
and literature, architecture, the sciences, and religion. This volume
introduces students to the history, culture, and geography of these
ancient civilizations through activities that require them to become
"time travelers" in their quest for knowledge. Grades 4-7.
Tames, Richard. Food: feasts, cooks & kitchens. New York: Franklin Watts, 1994.
(OVR WB 641.3 TAM151F)
Summary: Discusses the history of food from hunting and gathering to future
"designer plants". Grades 5-8.
Woods, Michael. Ancient construction: from tents to towers. Minneapolis, MN:
Runestone Press, 2000. (WB 624.093 WOO865A)
Summary: Describes buildings and structures and examines methods and tools of
construction in various civilizations around the world, from prehistoric
times up until the end of the Roman Empire. Grades 4 and up.
Woods, Michael. Ancient medicine: from sorcery to surgery. Minneapolis, MN:
Runestone Press, 2000. (WB 610.901 WOO865A)
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Summary: Describes medical techniques such as brain surgery, splints, taking a
pulse, forceps, and sanitation in ancient civilizations including the
Stone Age, Egypt, Greece, China, India, and Rome. Grades 4 and up.
World history and geography: ancient civilizations: course models for the historysocial
science framework, grade 6. Sacramento, CA: California Department of
Education, 1993. (WT 300 6/CALI W893H)
Summary: The study and teaching of ancient civilizations.
VIDEOS
Families of India. Wilmington, DE: Arden Media Resources, 1995. (Vid C 915.4
F21O)
Summary: Follows a day in the lives of a 9-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl in
Jamnagar, India. Grades 1-5.
From bronze to iron. Boston, MA: WGBH Boston, 1989. (Vid C 935 F925B)
Summary: Discusses the collapse of the ancient empires of Assyria Babylonia and
Persia and the growth of cities around the Mediterranean; this resulted
in the spread of civilization through war and the distribution of booty.
Grades 11 and up.
Importers: getting the rugs to market. Wilmington, DE: Teleduction Associates,
1990. (Vid C 382.5 IM73G)
Summary: The ancient and modern routes of transport for Oriental rugs are
explored in this episode. Often third or fourth generation rug traders,
the large Manhattan house operators trace their roots back to exporters
and agents in Persia and other weaving countries.
India: the empire of the spirit. New York: Ambrose Video Publications, 1992. (Vid
C 954 IN23T)
Summary: Looks at how ancient India is with us today in the living tradition of the
Hindu religion, the basis of Indian culture. Also describes how India has
kept true to its ancient tradition of non-violence and spiritual search,
even as it became part of the modern world.
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Origins of India's Hindu civilization. Huntsville, TX: Distributed by Educational
Video Network, 1991. (Vid C 294.5 OR164O)
Summary: Discusses the development of Hinduism, its religious beliefs, and its
effect upon the peoples of the Indian subcontinent. Shows examples of
ancient Hindu art.
PICTURES
Ancient civilizations. Madison, WI: Knowledge Unlimited, 1991. (Pic * 930 10755-
64)
Summary: Includes Ancient India, Ancient China, the Egyptians, and more.
WEB RESOURCES
“About Ancient India.” Facts about Ancient India. 2002.
http://www.spiritualjourneys.net/about_ancient_india.htm (8 October 2002)
Summary: Contains some facts and trivia about ancient Indian civilization.
“Ancient India.” 1999. http://emuseum.mnsu.edu/prehistory/india/index.shtml (8
October 2002)
Summary: Geography and origins of Ancient Indus Civilization, cultural elements
and timeline of the Harappan, arts technology and trade of the classical
Harappan. Grades 6 and up.
“Ancient India.” CyberSleuthKids Ancient Civilizations: India. 1999-2000.
http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/History/Ancient_Civilizations/India/ (8 October
2002)
Summary: Discusses the roots of Indian civilization, gives information on the
Indus civilization and Ancient India, news on Indian archeology,
Harappan images, a timeline, peoples and languages, and much more.
“Ancient India Contents.” Ancient India: contents. 1999.
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ANCINDIA/ANCINDIA.HTM (7 October 2002)
Summary: Discusses the history, the land and peoples, the Aryans, the conquests of
Alexander, the Age of the Guptas and after, and more.
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“Ancient Indian Links & Scavenger Hunt.” Bret Harte’s Ancient India links &
scavenger hunt. 2000.
http://www.sjusd.k12.ca.us/sites/mid/BretHarte/ancient/ancientindia.html (8 October
2002)
Summary: Discover dynasties using an Ancient India timeline; answer questions
about Ancient India's caste system; read tales from Sanskrit dramatists;
do Indian math puzzles, and more.
“Ancient India Resources.” Ms Hos-McGrane’s grade 6 social studies class. 2002.
http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/india/eg_india_intro.html (7 October
2002)
Summary: Provides student projects, Web resources, history, art and architecture,
culture, religion, literature, and Indian writing.
“Ancient India’s Contribution to Science and Technology.” Ancient India’s
contribution to our world’s material (temporal) culture. 2002.
http://india.coolatlanta.com/GreatPages/sudheer/physics.html (7 October 2002)
Summary: Learn about ancient Indians contributions to mathematics,
shipbuilding, navigation, and science.
“Articles on ancient Persia.” 1996-2002. http://www.livius.org/persia.html (7 October
2002)
Summary: Includes 118 articles on 99 subjects.
“Cyrus_kourosh.” Cyrus the Great. 1997-1999.
http://www.oznet.net/cyrus/cyframe.htm (8 October 2002)
Summary: Introduces the Persian king believed to be the first to become involved
in human rights.
Donn, Don. “Daily Life in Ancient India.” 2000.
http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Indialife.html (7 October 2002)
Summary: This site shares daily life in three major time periods of ancient India
history; the mysterious Indus Valley Civilization, the Vedic & Epics
Periods, and the Age of Empires.
“Harappa: The Indus Valley and the Raj of India and Pakistan.” 1995-2002.
http://www.harappa.com/welcome.html (8 October 2002)
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Summary: Learn all about life in the Indus Valley. Grades 6 and up.
“India for Kids.” 2002 Welcome to India.
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/india.htm (8 October 2002)
Summary: This section is for children aged 7-9, to give them an insight into the
diverse culture and landscape of India. For each part there is a 'slide
show', a bedtime story, somewhere to keep 'notes' and suggestions for
other web sites to explore.
“India – Home.” Ancient India.
http://www.penncharter.com/Student/india/index.html (8 October 2002)
Summary: Discusses culture, daily life, geography, government, industry, social
levels, and more. A grade 6 project.
“India: Languages and Scripts.” Languages and scripts of India. 2002.
http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/scripts.html (8 October 2002)
Summary: Samples of ancient Indian inscriptions and scripts of many Indian
languages. Grades 6 and up.
“India’s Contribution to Physics and Chemistry.” Ancient India’s contribution to
physics and chemistry. 2002.
http://india.coolatlanta.com/GreatPages/sudheer/physics.html (7 October 2002)
Summary: Account of the history of these subjects in the subcontinent. Includes
links to other history pages. In Ancient India, chemistry was called
Rasayan Shastra, Rasa-Vidya, Rasatantra, and Rasakriya all of which
roughly mean 'science of liquids'.
“Iransaga – Persia or Iran, a brief history.” Persia or Iran. 1998. http://www.artarena.com/history.html
(7 October 2002)
Summary: “Most people today, know Persia or Iran through its carpets, its caviar,
its costly war with its neighbour Iraq, or through its importance as one
of the world's major oil-producing nations. Yet, Persia has one of the
richest and oldest cultures in the world”—Web Site.
“Kid Korner-Stories.” INDOlink: Kidz Korner. 2002.
http://www.indolink.com/Kidz/stories.html (8 October 2002)
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Summary: Stories from ancient India like jataka tales, panchatantra. Grades
elementary and up.
“Lesson Plan (World History) for teachers about the Indus Valley Civilization.”
Lesson plan – Indus Valley civilization: a social studies/language arts lesson. 1999.
http://members.aol.com/WERedu/PlanIndia.html (7 October 2002)
Summary: The lessons in this unit include geographic background, historic
background, information on seals and a craft activity on making seals,
and a lesson on deforestation using the Indus Valley for illustration.
“Life in Ancient India (Lesson Plan).” 2000-2002.
http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-5222.html (8 October 2002)
Summary: Objectives are for students use vocabulary related to life in Ancient
India, to learn about everyday life in the ancient Indus Valley, to be
able to speculate about what Ancient Indian language might reveal
about its people, and to appreciate the contributions of Ancient India to
our modern world. Grades 6-8.
Mahajan, Nupam. “India: A Webpage for the Ancient Coins and Medieval Coins of
India.” Nupam’s Webpage for the Indian coins. 1999.
http://www.med.unc.edu/~nupam/welcome.html (8 October 2002)
Summary: A study of ancient and medieval coins used in ancient India.
“Mrs. Wahl’s Ancient India Links.” Mrs. Wahl’s Web page: Ancient India. 1999.
http://central.k12.ca.us/akers/cwahl/india.html (7 October 2002)
Summary: Gives an illustrated story of the life of Buddha, Hinduism is simplified
for youths growing up in a western environment, and includes a
segment on India's contribution to the world.
“OUSD > Core Values > Unit 3 > Ancient India > Educational Projects.” Core values
Internet resource library: Ancient India. 2001-2002.
http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/library/india/india_student.html (7 October 2002)
Summary: This page contains links to websites produced by teachers and students.
These include: class projects on ancient India, individual student web
projects, and curriculum-based activities and resources developed by
other teachers. Grade 6.”
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“Persian Empire.” 1999-2000. http://cybersleuthkids.com/sleuth/History/Ancient_Civilizations/Ancient_Middle_East/Persian_Empire
/ (8 October 2002)
Summary: Contents include Ancient Civilizations clipart, Ancient Persia, and the
Persian Empire.
“Portland State’s Greek Civ for Kids.” Exploring ancient Persia. 1997.
http://www.historyforkids.org/greekciv/others/persia/persia2/page.htm (7 October
2002)
Summary: Contents include an introduction, kings, army, law, religion, art, and a
conclusion. Middle schoolers.
“The Vedas.” Languages with more than 30,000,000 speakers as of 1993. 1997-2001.
http://www.friesian.com/upan.htm (8 October 2002)
Summary: A summary of languages used in ancient India. Includes the numbers of
language speakers and migrations as well as information on the Vedas
and Upanishads. Grades 6 and up.
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