Especially for those who are visual learners, timelines help sort out the mass of dates, events and figures that dominate world history. Timelines can be broken up according to whichever categories are required of a specific theme. For instance, timelines can be broken up into reigns of kings and queens; tool usage, such as bronze and iron; or major periods, such as paleolithic and neolithic, the points before and after humans became sedentary. Color coding can help make important dates, events and personages stand out.
Part of understanding history is being able to answer who, what, where, when, why and the most important question of all: So what? Write down important dates, events and figures on cue cards and fill in the relevant information. Make sure you can identify basic information about the historical subject, but also spend time explaining why this person, event or date is important in the broader scheme of history. Over time, get rid of the cards and just give an oral summary aloud to yourself or a friend.
Using secondary sources is a great way to develop both breadth and depth in your knowledge of world history. Books, articles and encyclopedias are great sources of information, but students must make sure that they are reliable. Online user-edited encyclopedias or personal Web pages are often misleading, unclear or simply inaccurate. Use sources from academic presses or well-known publishing houses; when in doubt, library books from your school are almost certainly reliable. If you are still unsure about something, cross-reference it with another work.
History is part factual, part interpretive. Studying in groups is an excellent way to discuss historical concepts and issues with others. This way, you discuss your own interpretation while hearing the interpretations of others. Group study requires personal preparation, so don't rely on the group to just give you answers. Prepare your thoughts on historical dates, events, personages and phenomena, and then set an agenda for the study group. Have each member contribute thoughts, and then discuss as a group the strengths and weaknesses of each position.