We cannot understand the prophets without knowing their context. They spoke into specific situations. If we do not know those situations, we cannot understand what they were talking about.
CAUTION: Some of the dates are uncertain. For example, some people date Obadiah and Joel as the earliest prophets but others would place them among the latest. You will simply have to compare the suggestions and see which you think is most likely (or recognise the various options). Sorry about that but nobody knows for sure.
Even the dates of the kings are best estimates based on the clues we have.
The dates given indicate the time of the king's reign or the prophet's ministry, not their life.
c930 B.C. - The Kingdom divides into Israel and Judah
Jeroboam I (931-910)
Nadab (910-909)
Baasha (909-886)
Elah (886-885)
Zimri (885)
Omri (885-874)
Ahab (874-853)
Ahaziah (853-852)
Jethoram / Joram (852-841)
Rehoboam (931-913)
Abijam / Abijah (913-911)
Asa (911-870)
Jehoshaphat (870-848)
Jehoram / Joram (848-841)
Jehu (841-814)
Jehoahaz (814-798)
Ahaziah / Azariah / Jehoahaz (841)
Athaliah (841-835)
Joash / Jehoash (835-796)
722 B.C. - Assyria conquered Israel and carried most of the people into captivity
586 B.C. - Babylon conquered Judah and carried most of the people into captivity
Babylon was conquered by Persia
c538 B.C. - Cyrus allowed the exiles to return to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel led 50,000 back.
529 - Cyrus The Great died.
522 B.C. - Darius became Persian emperor
515 B.C. - The Second Temple in Jerusalem was completed.
Malachi (c450-430)