Search for books by geographic place, history, time period. Depending on the topics covered by a book, subject headings can be very broad or very specific. Examples:
- China--foreign relations--history
- middle east--history
- middle east--history--to 622
- babylonia-history
- islamic empire--history
- turkey--history
- turkey--history--ottoman empire--1288-1918
- istanbul--history
You may find subjects for more specific topics:
- islam and science
- slavery-middle east--history
- babylonia--antiquities
- trade routes--history
- egypt--social life and customs
- arabs--spain
- muslim women
You might also like to browse the "Daily Life In.." series from Greenwood Press.