Need a primary source for your World Civilizations I
assignment? Just follow these steps.
A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under
study. Examples include: original documents, creative works, and relics or artifacts (definition from
princeton.edu). Primary sources are original materials.
 From worwic.edu go to Quick Links > Library Services.
 Select Databases by Subject > History/Government (off campus you will be prompted for your
Wor-Wic login (username/password).
 Read the descriptions to see which library databases contain primary sources.
EXAMPLES IN LIBRARY’S RESEARCH DATABASES:
History Study Center
 Search for: Henry II
Select “Henry II of England” under “Study Units”
Select “Primary Sources” in the “Jump to” box
Note: can view the article as PDF or print view; most are more than one page; “Cite this” gives
an MLA citation
 Search for Ancient Greece
Select “Ancient Greece” under “Study Units”
Select “Primary Sources” in the “Jump to” box
 Search for Magna Carta
Select “King John and Magna Carta” under “Study Units”
Select “Primary Sources” in the “Jump to” box
Student Resources in Context
 Search for: Roman Empire
See two documents under “Primary Sources”
“Print” option and “Citation Tools” (MLA/APA) option are under “Tools”
 Search for: Henry II
See three documents under “Primary Sources”
 Search for: Magna Carta
See one document under “Primary Sources”
World History in Context
Special note: in some cases a link to a primary source document on a website is given; in other
cases articles are given under Primary Sources that are topic overviews. You can use this
database, but review the documents carefully to make sure they are actual primary sources.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Special note: many of the results given in the “Ebooks & Primary Sources” section are links to
ebooks on Project Gutenberg’s website; your MLA/APA citations should cite the website:
gutenberg.org
CREDIBLE WEBSITES for world civilization primary sources if your instructor allows website sources:
Internet Ancient History Sourcebook and Internet Medieval Sourcebook (Fordham University)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook3.asp
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/sbook.asp
Avalon Project (Yale University)
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/