[mickeyd]

Pick a historical time period and study up before you go. Its kind of pointless and overwhelming to try and absorb 1000 years of history, it will simply go over your head. You could focus on Roman history, Greek, Holy Roman Empire, Rennaissance, etc visit a series of sights related to the subject accordingly. And please for the love of God dont just jump around various capital cities while spending only 2 days in each one.