I am deeply passionate about history, and the most inspirational book I've ever read was "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared Diamond.
He takes an innovative approach by bringing in archaeology, climatology, and anthropology to break down the whole historical events. It's like seeing history in a whole new perspective.
Diving into history is basically delving into the core of what makes us human. That said, technology may change, but human nature won't change.