But! It’s actually not as impossible as you might think. Scholars have already spliced our collective history into major historical eras, so instead of reinventing the wheel, we’ll break this insurmountable task down into manageable bite-sized chunks. If you’ve been wanting to reintroduce yourself to a specific era of history, or would like a starting point to get more familiar with global history in general, then this is the list for you. This is a great launch point for new or aspiring history buffs or just for anyone who wants to satisfy their own curiosity. For those with a passing interest in historical nonfiction, or for whom it’s something you’ve never really thought about and are intrigued by, let these recs give you a place to begin. Is this a fully comprehensive list? Absolutely not. We’d be here all day. Have mercy on me. This is, however, a list of highly rated, critically-acclaimed historical nonfiction from trusted sources that, at times, view their slices of history from a unique perspective or a different lens than what we’re normally taught. This list checks in on various parts of the world to see what they’ve been up to. We’ll highlight 2-4 books for each era. Let’s start from the beginning. Like, the beginning beginning.
Prehistoric era
Timeline: 2.5 million BCE to 600 BCE
Classical Era
Timeline: 600 BCE to 476 CE
The Early Middle Ages
Timeline: 476 to 1000
The Middle to Late Middle Ages
1000 to 1450
Early Modern Era
Timeline: 1450 to 1750
Modern Era
Timeline: 1750 to present That is a lot of history. If you’re not satiated, go down these rabbit holes for even more historical nonfiction recommendations!
Historical Nonfiction: 30 of the Best Books in the Genre 100 Must-Read Titles About Women’s History 100 Must-Read Titles About Ancient History 100 Must-Read Books About the Middle Ages
