I'm finding it difficult to learn so many dates, what would you recommend?

I know in history you feel the amount of dates, names, battles, deaths and key events is overwhelming. I found gauging a strong interest in the time period helped me learn dates more effectively. Go over flashcards a little then watch some documentaries or historical films about your specific time period of interest then go over your flashcards again and you'll find you know them better. Learning the context behind the dates and facts is crucial.