need islamic history books

im interested in islams history. not like the seerah or anything, more like what was the enviroment/attitudes/cultures/social structure, etc of people at the time of revealtion. can ayone reccommend me any books.

bump....

I heard The History of Islam (3 Volume Set) by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi is very good.

Volume 1: includes the history from pre-Islam Arabia to Hasan bin Ali's Caliphate.

Volume 2: includes history from Caliphate of Banu Umayyah to Umawi and Abbasi Caliphates.

Volume 3: includes history from Islamic rule in Spain to the Ottoman Empire.