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.