Hi everyone, and thanks in advance. Like the title suggests, I'm trying to refresh my knowledge on elementary history; I know this is a very broad topic, but please bear in mind that I haven't taken a history class in quite a while and most of it I've forgotten. I'm looking for a general, accessible overview that will serve as a reminder of the most important events within a specific period, without falling into pop-history or sensationalism.
I'm specifically interested in ancient history: the middle ages, the emergence and fall of the Roman empire, early India and China, ancient Greece, etc.; and any point in pre-industrial revolution European history.
Again thank you for taking the time to read my post.
World history encyclopedias are a great place to start, and it's where I started. I've got two, both of which were a reasonable price and contain a lot of information. First is 'the usborne encyclopedia if world history', and this is the one I recommend most, due to its concise information and brilliant illustrations. If you'd like more reading and less pictures, 'history of the world: the definitive visual guide'. After reading one or both of these you may discover a passion for a specific topic, such as the early middle ages or ancient Greece or Rome, as you mentioned. You can then go on to study these in detail. I read both of these encyclopedias and loved learning about the middle ages, so invested in a book about the wars of the roses, which I've loved reading. This is just an example of what a general knowledge of history can lead to. I hope this helps! I'm happy to answer any further questions you have.