If you’re heading off on holiday to either Italy of Egypt this summer then you might want to download one of my first two iPhone apps. I didn’t write the coding, obviously, just the words.

They’re mini-courses, one about Ancient Rome and the other about Ancient Egypt. Each app has ten short chapters of content, scribed by me, made up of text, images and maps. There’s a glossary in case you aren’t familiar with some of the terminology used, and there also a quiz at the end so you can test yourself about what you’ve learned.

It’s the perfect way to swot up on some ancient history before you go on your travels. And, as it’s in your phone, you can take it with you on holiday to refer to when you’re there.

The clever behind-the-scenes work of designing and coding the content has been carried out by the educational software company Zuztertu, who make individual handheld learning materials, most of which are apps for iPhones. I met their Chief Exec – Gerlinde Gniewosz – after downloading one of their apps about museums in London. We got talking and came up with the idea for a series of mini-courses on ancient history. I’ve written another app about Ancient Greece, which is currently having the developer’s treatment right now and will be out in due course.

So if you’re a geek for ancient history and have £1.79 knocking around, why not download one and see what it’s all about for yourself.