I love studying ancient history and have done so pretty in depth. I want to go back to the beginning and try and read biographies of people from different times that would also help someone learn or reinforce what was going on during that time period. Here is what I have compiled so far (it is neither a complete, or perfect list). What are some good additions?

The Epic of Gilgamesh - Obviously this is at best historical fiction, but it is a great story and does a pretty good job of showing life and beliefs of people in ancient Mesopotamia. Also as far as a primary source goes, you can't get much older and better.

Ramsesses II: (T G H James) - There are so many Ancient Egyptian books to choose from, I admit I picked this one because I have never read it all but have always heard good things. I figure of all the Pharaoh's biographies Ramsesses II's probably does as good a job as any of explaining Egyptian life and culture in ancient times. I know he is pretty far a long as far as Ancient Egypt goes (1300-1200 BC). But I'm trying to make this more of an overview than a super in depth study, so some periods will be missed.

Herodotus's Histories - Yes I know this isn't a biography per say, but it is pretty essential to read if you are going to study ancient Mediterranean history, and he does talk about himself plenty. You won't get a better (yet biased) account of the Peloponnesian Wars

Socrates a Life Examined - Because every Ancient History study needs some philosophy

Alexander the Great: (Jacob Abbot) - So many Alexander books to choose from, this one is not super long and still a pretty in depth look at his life. I could sub about 50 books into here

Hannibal: (Jacob Abbot) - Again plenty of books on Hannibal, Jacob Abbot's are just to the point and pretty easy to read, can sub 50 books here if you want to get even more in depth

The Gallic Wars: (Julius Caesar) - No better way to learn about Caesar than to read a book that he actually wrote, every 5th grader knows the story of Caesar's life, so no need for a straight biography of the man in this list

I Claudius and Claudius the God: (Robert Graves) - Yea yea this isn't a real biography, I know, and plenty of the "facts" in this book are wrong or hugely exaggerated. I love Ancient History as much as anybody else but you gotta throw in some books written for entertainment or it's going to get stale, and I Claudius hits on many of the famous greek Emperors, that way you don't have to read a biography of them all

The Last Roman: Romulus Augustulus and the Decline of the West: (Adrian Murdoch) - Not the best book on this list by a long shot, but at least it portrays the fall of the Roman Empire

The Life and Times of Charlemagne: (Jim Whiting) - Many consider "Ancient History" to end with Charlemagne, so what better way to end this than a book about his life.

Again lots of holes in this list, only one egyptian book, skipped over a huge chunk of the Roman Empire, didn't get a first person account of the Persians ect... Again this isn't supposed to be a complete set of books on ancient history, but a set of biographies that help tell the story of ancient times. What do y'all think?

I made this as much for myself to refer to as anything, I know it's long but oh well, read it or don't