Where should I start in World History?

Question

Where is the best place for someone interested in world history, to start learning? What time period should I begin with? Can you recommend any good books that might help me?

Answer 1

I would start with either The Iliad by Homer or The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides. The Iliad is a MUCH easier read and is a good intro to world history (followed up by The Odessey) but the Thucydides is definitive, while quite advanced. Either is a good start in ancient history and a good place to start and come forward.

Answer 2

I would start with Ancient Greece and then Ancient Rome since Western civilization starts with them.

Sorry I don't know of any generalized history books. If you can find a college text book on World History that should be a good place to start.

You might also try the History Channel or A&E. They also have a store http://store.aetv.com/html/home/index_branded.jhtml
which has DVDs of their history programs.

Edith Hamilton's Mythology is a good book to read about the Greek/Roman/Norse myths.

Answer 3

I would suggest starting with something personal. Study a place in your ethnic background. If someone came from China, Poland or Ghana, these would be good countries to start with. If you find your family game here in the Potato Famine, study the economics that caused the catastrophe.

If you do study ancient history or the middle ages, pick something a little different. The text books always jump from the death of Alexander to the Roman Empire, and completely gloss over the Hellenistic period.

Answer 4

I suggest you start with the Middle Ages, because this is when East and West meet, and this is when the ancient is transformed into modern history. However, start with the history, era and region, you are most interested in. There are a lot of good history books. Just start reading.

Answer 5

Try the beginning LOL.
It depends on your Nationality.
American - obvious answer Revolutionary War
French - Norman Invasion
German - OK we`ll skip this one LOL
English - The list is far too long but include The Civil War ,Agincourt ,WW1 and 2 ,The Peninsular War/Waterloo etc...
However don`t read up on Vietnam if you`re French or american ,WW1 & 2 if you`re German or any american book on the Revolutionary War if English LOL.

My personal favourite history subject is WW2 but I love reading about Ancient Civilisations

Answer 6

I agree with those who wrote you should start wherever you like. It's important to settle a point to start from, but's not necessary the beggining. You can go forward and backwards through chronology. Start with an era you know a lot or with an era you know nothing. Choose either to start with knowledge that's familiar to you or let your curiosity wander in unknown times.
Everybody has given you lots of good options.
Mine would be Contemporary History. I like Eric Hobsbawm's books. You may start with Age of Extremes, the short 20th century. Then go backwards in time. A very important historian, Marc Bloch liked this way of studying history, he called it Regressive Method. It's interesting to undestand past through the present, at the same time you understand present through the past.

Good luck!
Hope I was useful, excuse me for mistakes, English is not my mother language.

Answer 7

Start from the Bible but if ur not biblical start from the early civilization. Or should I say start to buy a world history book.

Answer 8

the beginning
Start with Bible .......
one of the oldest books known to
man.........and read .......everything after that,
or take a course in History
A book
the beginning of History Volume 1
there has to be one.....

Answer 9

Man, you people are so ignorant, you have to start with pre-history.

Answer 10

what is your main interest? I personally enjoy ancient civilizations