Write down connections between the chronological notes you take. Studying history can often feel like you’re memorizing a bunch of disconnected dates, names, and places. Avoid this by making the connections explicit in the notes that you take. Then, when you’re preparing for a test or essay, you’ll be able to draw on these connections and contextualize historical events. For example, write down causal links between major 20th century events like the American Great Depression, World War II, and the rise of the Soviet Union.