Good morning everyone,

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This subreddit had got me interested in history for the first time in my life. I just finished the 9th of 12 episodes on byzantine rulers (https://12byzantinerulers.com/), which was a fantastic recommendation. I'm so excited to watch this video on ancient war elephants later today ( https://toldinstone.com/were-ancient-war-elephants-effective-in-battle/ ). I also have a burgeoning interest in writing and I have been just blown away with the talent here, history knowledge completely aside. Always looking to improve my vocabulary, I'm learning new words here each day (yesterday it was verisimilitude). Lastly, one of my main passions in life is travel. I'm absolutely ecstatic knowing how much more meaningful my travels will be now that I can appreciate historical significance.

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I do have one problem. My heretofore broad ignorance on even the most basic matters of history means I very quickly am in over my head. My high school education was so poor and my interest was so low, that I would estimate my education level at around grade 6. Topics A through Q here https://www.ixl.com/social-studies/grade-6 I know nothing about. So, I want to get up to speed! My first thought is to get a 6th grade history text book and begin a broad overview. My worry is that I'll quickly lose interest reading a book created for a 6th grade reading level. I would value any ideas or recommendations from each of you.

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Thank you in advance,

I really want to expand my knowledge about African history. Does anyone here got any recommendations for documentaries about important african events? Im thinking of wars, cultures, empires and other events that played a huge part of the history of Africa or the planet.

Note that im looking for Purely African events and not europeans in Africa type of events.

OK so maybe on second thought this works better as a comment here than as a separate question thread. It's too ramble-y and too broad to really work as the latter.

TL;DR: I've long been fascinated by thrive/survive, individualist vs. conformist values and the notion of "Western values". I'm trying to piece together some sort of understanding but I'm missing a large part of the puzzle: I'm ignorant of what other parts of the world were up to, values-wise, before the Industrial Revolution. Any recommendations for reading/places to look? Many thanks!

Have any of you ever used the 1985 documentary Las madres de la Plaza de Mayo as a primary source? What do you think of it?

The interviews seem valuable as a record and therapeutic for their subjects, but it is not a good movie as a movie. The disappearances and the mothers' campaign were not news to me upon first viewing. I guess many of the original mothers interviewed are dead now, but their grief is preserved. If you were not already interested in the topic, why would you watch it?

I was recently watching "The Moon Is Blue" by Otto Preminger from 1953. In it a character very casually mentions the half your age plus 7 rule for dating which I found rather interesting, it's something I've heard a lot and seen referenced but always in a modern context. Just thought it was interesting and a kind of strange bit of pop culture to have apparently been common place for at least 70 years. Quickly googling I can find that apparently Elijah Muhammad also mentioned this same idea in the 50's and that it comes from somewhere in French or English around the early 20th century. Apparently a dating book published in English around the turn of the 20th century is the first known use in English. Though this is all just stuff I've found googling and could be woefully incorrect. Thankfully this is the friday free-for-all and I just thought it was a kinda interesting thing to stumble across and how funny it can be which things stick around for so many years and which are forgotten. I'm not sure how much more there is to this topic but if anyone has anything to pitch in. I'd be happy to hear it.

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At what point do you consider yourself a "historian"?

I'm currently an undergrad in a history program, but prior to starting this degree I did quite a bit of independent study, attended the International Congress on Medieval Studies a few times, collaborated with other students (graduate and doctorate), and have written a number of (unpublished) research papers. I hate to call myself something that I'm not, but I don't know what the industry standard is for such a title. Being in the culinary industry, titles (chef, sous, chef d'partie) can be important to me.