Foreword; About the authors; Acknowledgements; How to use this textbook; Historical skills toolkit; Reading skills; Visual literacy skills; Writing skills; Speaking skills; 1. Overview, the ancient world; Out of Africa, migrations of the early humans; Establishment of ancient societies; Key features of ancient societies; Part I. Depth Study: 1. Investigating the Ancient Past: 2. The ancient past; How historians and archaeologists investigate history; Sources that can be used in an historical investigation; Methods and sources used to investigate a historical mystery, Myrtis; Nature of the sources for ancient Australia and what they reveal; Conserving the remains of the past; Part II. Depth Study: 2. The Mediterranean World: 3. Ancient Egypt; Physical features and their influence; Role of key groups; Significant beliefs, values and practices; Contacts and conflicts; Role of significant individuals; 4. Ancient Greece; Physical features and their influence; Role of key groups; Significant beliefs, values and practices; Contacts and conflicts; Role of significant individuals; 5. Ancient Rome; Physical features and their influence; Role of key groups; Significant beliefs, values and practices; Contacts and conflicts; Role of significant individuals; Part III. Depth Study: 3. The Asian World: 6. Ancient China; Physical features and their influence; Role of key groups; Significant beliefs, values and practices; Contacts and conflicts; Role of significant individuals; 7. Ancient India; Physical features and their influence; Role of key groups; Significant beliefs, values and practices; Contacts and conflicts; Role of significant individuals; Glossary; Index.