Simple or the following books will do.
If you go from the Zhou Dynasty-the Book of Songs, the Spring and Autumn Period-these are all things of the Zhou Dynasty. When it comes to the later works with better history of the Zhou Dynasty, you can look at the Spring and Autumn Annals, which is easier to understand. However, this book was written a little late. There is also a "tube", which can also be seen. But it is said to be forged. Other auxiliary books, such as Six Towers by Jiang Taigong, are all good books, but they haven't been found yet. However, the influence and toughness of this book are hard to distinguish by later generations, but it has received rave reviews. Especially in Japan in Kamakura era, this is the biblical existence of Sun Tzu's Art of War. Other books describing the Zhou dynasty basically rely on the hundred classics at that time.
Among the books of the Han dynasty, historical records are very good. The whole article can be read as a mirror. It includes the History of the Three Kingdoms and the Book of the Later Han Dynasty in detail.
From the Three Kingdoms to the Jin Dynasty and then to the Southern and Northern Dynasties, only Tong Jian, the others are really nothing.
Sui and Tang dynasties attached a better book, but I didn't find it next time. If there is anything to see in Tang books, I really can't find anything wonderful. "The Story of the Western Regions of Datang" may not be about the Tang Dynasty of that era, but more about the world of that era, which is slightly interesting. The civilization and history of the Tang Dynasty were basically sorted out by Du Fu and Li Bai. There is nothing to say, just look at the rest from the mirror.
Other books in the Song Dynasty suggest reading Shuo Song. Gu is very interesting. Although there are many views in it, there is a feeling of overcorrection. But this idea is very interesting.
"The Bright Moon of the Ming Dynasty" wrote an extremely famous work to popularize the history of the Ming Dynasty. Merit is boundless, I recommend it here. As for you, if you love self-study, go and read the history of Ming Dynasty by yourself.
In Qing Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty, I'm sorry that I really can't find a true and objective reader. In fact, what do these two dynasties have to do with my Chinese descendants? I really don't want to listen to the dynasty ruled by barbarians anymore.
As the ancestor of historic sites, we might as well look at the Classic of Mountains and Seas and read it. It is recommended that pictures be attached. There are also websites about the study of Shan Hai Jing on the Internet. Now it is found that many words described in the book are true. If so, I don't think this book really belongs to the first category of absurdity. Therefore, it is highly recommended. In particular, the order of mountains and seas is unnecessary, so why bother? The arrangement and combination are also very logical.
Reading the ancient history of China, if you just look at the history, but don't understand the ancient prose, Yin and Yang and the five elements, you will often feel foggy. In particular, the theory of Yin and Yang, which has occupied nearly a thousand years in ancient times, will be completely inexplicable. I suggest you study Zhouyi. In fact, Zhouyi is also historical. This is just the early history of the Book of Changes, which is extensive and profound. You don't have to learn plum blossom yi Li or other abstruse methods, but if you can understand the rhetoric and feel the yin and yang, you will naturally find it very interesting. In addition, Shihuozhi can be used as an important supplementary reading for studying the ancient market economy and people's livelihood. The diet records in Song Dynasty are the most detailed. If you want to find it now, you can also find it online. In addition, regarding the history of China, it is actually suggested to take the Yangtze River as the boundary and look at it from north to south. If so, "Songs of the South" is a very important reading for the study of southern history, and we can't just look at poems and songs. There is actually a very detailed description of ancient myths and legends and religious system in China. Most of the ancient history of China is set in the north. The son of heaven will not come to the south unless it is a national disaster. In fact, the South was also discriminated against in ancient China. It's not just northerners who like to laugh at the smallness of southerners today. This custom has existed since ancient times.