If you take it all as whole it makes no sense.

Marvel G1 and Regeneration 1 is one continuity.
Dreamwave was a separate continuity from that.
IDW the most recent. Autocracy, then Monstrosity. With the most recent stuff start from The Death of Optimus Prime and then RID and MTMTE spin out from that.
Wiki the rest and make decisions on purchases based on that.