I'm looking to get either a book or series of books basically covering the major classical civilisations of the West/Middle East. Ideally I'm probably looking for something like an 'Illustrated Guide To' that deals with leaders, major events, battles etc. Ie, we're talking fairly high level in terms of detail, rather than an in depth analysis of a particular topic.
I'm sure there's plenty of stuff out there, which is kind of the problem, so I'd appreciate any recommendations you may have.
I would recommend Nigel Rodgers The Complete Illustrated History of Ancient Greece and Roman Empire as some of the best detailed surveys. I've especially appreciated their battle maps when working on a history paper on generals.
Honestly, I've picked up lots of great survey books from the bargain section of Barnes and Noble. Though a little short of r/askhistorians scholarly standards, they're detailed and have lots of pictures! Go treat yo self. :)