The Oxford History of the Classical World
This overview of ancient European history is divided into three roughly equal parts on Greece,  Greece and Rome, and Rome, an organizational scheme that underscores the historical progression by  which the Greek city-states forged empires that the Romans would later inherit. Within this broad outline,  authors Oswyn Murray, John Boardman, and Jasper Griffin, all distinguished Oxford University scholars,  outline patterns of trade and colonization, look at the rise of philosophical schools and religions, and  examine key works of literature.Oxford History of the Classical World, heavily illustrated with  photographs and maps, is a fine reference, complete with compact chronologies.