“What tools exist for getting a perspective on Bible history and confirming its accuracy?”
There is no better way to get a bird’s-eye perspective of Bible history than by repeatedly reading the Old Testament from beginning to end. If that sounds like a lot of work, well ... it is. But, for the serious Christian, it’s absolutely worth committing to and making a part of every day of your life.
While you are building that knowledge base, though, there are a few shortcuts you can use.