Daniel was a prophet of the late Babylonian exile period. The book is of the apocalyptic genre in the same class as Ezekiel, Zechariah and Revelation. The period is during that of the successive world powers of Babylonia, the Medes and the Persians and Persia. The inspired author of the book is not known. However, it may well have been the prophet, Daniel, himself.
Half of the book, chapters 1-6, is about the Israelite and government official, Daniel, and his friends. It shows them faithfully serving the one true God-Yahweh, the God (Elohim) of Israel. They were faithful to God at the risk of their lives.
The second half of the book, chapters 7-12, gives us the dreams/visions of the Prophet Daniel. These dreams/visions range from easy to understand to very difficult, if not impossible, to understand. One thing is clear. God Almighty is in ultimate control of human history from the time of Daniel to the end times and the final establishment of the Kingdom of God.
Daniel's training in Babylon.
Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the Image of Gold.
Daniel's three friends and the fiery furnace.
Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the Great Tree, followed by the insanity and restoration of the king.
Daniel's interpretation of the Writing on the Wall for King Belshazzar.
Daniel thrown into the lion's den and his subsequent deliverance by King Darius.
Daniel's dream of the Four Beasts.
Daniel's vision of a Ram and a Goat.
Daniel's prayer of repentance during the reign of King Darius, concerning the end of the 70 year exile. This is followed by the prophecy of the mysterious Seventy Weeks.
Daniel's vision of a Man and subsequent interaction during the reign of King Cyrus.
The Kings of the South and of the North and the unspeakable blasphemy against the God of gods.
Waiting for the end times.