research questions about historical events

Best History Research Paper Topics

Dive into the world of historical scholarship with our comprehensive guide to the best history research paper topics . Primarily designed for students tasked with writing history research papers, this guide presents a curated list of 100 exceptional topics, divided into 10 distinct categories, each with a unique historical focus. The guide offers clear and practical advice on how to choose the most compelling history research paper topics, and provides 10 handy tips on crafting an outstanding research paper. In addition to academic guidance, the guide introduces the superior writing services of iResearchNet, a reliable option for students needing customized history research papers.

Comprehensive List of Best History Research Paper Topics

The following comprehensive list of the best history research paper topics is crafted to stimulate your curiosity and ignite your passion for historical study. These topics cover a range of historical periods and geographical locations to cater to the diverse interests of history students.

Academic Writing, Editing, Proofreading, And Problem Solving Services

Get 10% off with 24start discount code.

Ancient History Topics

• The Causes and Effects of the Fall of the Roman Empire
• Daily Life in Ancient Egypt
• The Influence of Alexander the Great’s Conquests on the Hellenistic World
• The Role of Women in Spartan Society
• The Construction and Significance of the Great Wall of China
• The Impact of Confucianism on Ancient Chinese Society
• Trade Routes and their Role in the Expansion of Ancient Civilizations
• The Cultural and Political Influence of the Phoenician Civilization
• Comparing Democracy in Ancient Greece to Modern Democracy
• The Religious Practices and Beliefs of the Mayans

Medieval History Topics

• The Role of the Catholic Church in Medieval Europe
• The Impact of the Black Death on Medieval Society
• The Cultural Significance of the Knights Templar
• Gender Roles and Family Structure in Medieval Japan
• The Causes and Consequences of the Hundred Years War
• The Political Structure of the Byzantine Empire
• The Influence of the Carolingian Renaissance on Europe
• The Role of Vikings in European Trade and Exploration
• The Crusades: Causes, Events, and Consequences
• The Architecture and Symbolism of Gothic Cathedrals

Early Modern History Topics

• The Causes and Effects of the Protestant Reformation
• The Role of the Enlightenment in the French Revolution
• The Impact of the Scientific Revolution on European Society
• The Socioeconomic Consequences of the Industrial Revolution
• The Influence of the Ottoman Empire on Southeast Europe
• The Role of Slavery in the Colonial Economies
• The Politics and Culture of the Renaissance in Italy
• European Imperialism in Africa and Asia
• The Cultural and Political Impacts of the Mughal Empire
• The American Revolution: Causes, Events, and Legacy

Modern History Topics

• The Causes and Global Consequences of World War I
• The Great Depression: Causes and Effects
• The Role of Propaganda in World War II
• The Impact of the Cold War on International Relations
• The Civil Rights Movement in the United States
• The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the End of the Cold War
• The Effects of Decolonization in the 20th Century
• The Role of Women in the World Wars
• The Formation and Impact of the European Union
• The Causes and Consequences of the Arab Spring

Asian History Topics

• The Cultural Impact of the Silk Road in Asia
• The Effects of Colonial Rule in India
• The Legacy of the Mongol Empire in Asia
• The Cultural and Political Changes in China’s Cultural Revolution
• The Korean War: Causes, Events, and Consequences
• The Role of Samurai in Feudal Japan
• The Impact of the Opium Wars on China
• The Influence of Buddhism on Asian Cultures
• The Cambodian Genocide under the Khmer Rouge
• The Role of Gandhi in India’s Independence

American History Topics

• The Impact of the New Deal on the American Economy
• The Vietnam War: Causes, Events, and Legacy
• The Influence of the Beat Generation on American Culture
• The Role of Manifest Destiny in Westward Expansion
• The Cuban Missile Crisis and Its Effects on the Cold War
• The Women’s Suffrage Movement in the United States
• The Native American Civil Rights Movement
• The Role of the Transcontinental Railroad in American Expansion
• The Civil War: Causes, Events, and Aftermath
• The Immigration Wave at Ellis Island: Causes and Effects

European History Topics

• The Impacts of the Russian Revolution
• The Influence of Martin Luther’s Theses on Europe
• The British Empire: Rise, Dominance, and Fall
• The Role of Art in the French Revolution
• The Impact of the Spanish Inquisition on Spain and its Colonies
• The Rise and Influence of Fascism in Europe
• The Role of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages
• The Consequences of the Treaty of Versailles
• The Formation and Impact of NATO
• The Role of the Media in the Fall of the Berlin Wall

African History Topics

• The Effects of Apartheid in South Africa
• The Influence of the Trans-Saharan Trade on West African Societies
• The Role of Nelson Mandela in Ending Apartheid
• The Scramble for Africa and its Effects on the Continent
• The Impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade on West Africa
• The Rwandan Genocide: Causes and Consequences
• The Role of the African Union in Continental Politics
• The Impact of Islam on North Africa
• The Decolonization of Africa in the 20th Century
• The Role of Women in Pre-Colonial African Societies

Military History Topics

• The Influence of Technological Innovations on Warfare
• The Role of the French Foreign Legion in Global Conflicts
• The Impact of the Manhattan Project on World War II and Beyond
• The Role of the Spartans in Ancient Greek Warfare
• The Impact of Drones on Modern Warfare
• The Influence of the English Longbow on Medieval Warfare
• The Role of the Maginot Line in World War II
• The Impact of Naval Power on the British Empire
• The Influence of Nuclear Weapons on International Politics
• The Role of Propaganda in World War I

This expansive list of best history research paper topics offers a comprehensive exploration of the past, crossing different eras, regions, and themes. They form a rich tapestry of human experience and a foundation for understanding our present and future. Choose a topic that piques your interest, ignites your curiosity, and promises a journey of intellectual discovery. Remember that the exploration of history is a journey into the roots of our shared humanity and an exploration of the forces that shape our world.

History and What Range of Best Research Paper Topics it Offers

As a subject of study, history is more than a chronological list of events, dates, and prominent figures. History is the exploration of human experiences, societal changes, political upheavals, cultural transformations, economic shifts, and technological advancements across different periods and regions. This exploration allows us to understand how the past has shaped our present and how it can potentially shape our future. It teaches us to appreciate the complexities and nuances of human nature and society, making history a rich field for research paper topics.

History is an interdisciplinary field, interweaving elements from various areas of study, including politics, sociology, economics, anthropology, geography, and literature. This interdisciplinary nature provides a wide array of best history research paper topics. Moreover, the global scope of history further broadens the pool of topics, as it encompasses every region of the world and every period from the dawn of human civilization to the present day.

Exploring Different Periods

Historical research often focuses on specific periods, each offering unique topics for exploration. For instance, Ancient History provides topics related to ancient civilizations like Rome, Greece, Egypt, China, and India, and key events such as Alexander the Great’s conquests or the fall of the Roman Empire.

The Medieval Period offers topics related to the socio-political structure of societies, the influence of religion, the impact of plagues, and the role of significant historical figures. Researching the Renaissance can focus on cultural, artistic, and scientific revolutions that have shaped the modern world.

The Modern History category contains topics related to significant events and transformations, such as world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War, decolonization, and various national and international movements.

Geographical Perspectives

Geographical focus is another common approach in historical research. Asian history encompasses topics ranging from the influence of Confucianism in China to the impact of colonial rule in India. European history explores events such as the Enlightenment, the French and Russian revolutions, and the formation of the European Union. American history topics can cover everything from Manifest Destiny to the Civil Rights Movement. African history can delve into the effects of the Atlantic Slave Trade, the apartheid era, and decolonization.

Thematic Approaches

In addition to period- and region-based topics, history offers an extensive range of thematic topics. These themes often intersect with other disciplines, leading to exciting interdisciplinary research opportunities.

Social and cultural history, for instance, covers diverse topics such as the influence of the Harlem Renaissance on African American culture, the counterculture movement of the 1960s, the role of film and television in shaping societies, or the impacts of the Internet on global culture.

Military history provides a wide range of topics related to warfare, strategy, technological developments, and the influence of military conflicts on societies and politics. From the use of the English longbow in medieval warfare to the impact of drones on modern warfare, this field offers a variety of fascinating topics.

Making the Right Choice

The choice of a research paper topic in history should ideally be guided by your interest, the available resources, and the requirements of your assignment. With such a wide range of topics, it can be challenging to make a choice. But remember, a good history research paper topic is not just about the past; it should also engage with the present and potentially shed light on the future. The best research paper topics are those that not only delve deep into the annals of history but also resonate with current issues and debates.

The study of history is a gateway into the vast narrative of human civilization. With an extensive range of periods, regions, and themes to choose from, history offers a rich reservoir of research paper topics. As we delve into the past, we discover the forces that have shaped our world, gain insights into the human experience, and glean lessons for our future. This journey of exploration makes history an incredibly exciting field for research papers.

How to Choose Best History Research Paper Topics

Choosing the best history research paper topic can be the first step towards a rewarding intellectual journey. It’s not just about meeting academic requirements; it’s about uncovering facets of the past that intrigue you and may potentially contribute to the broader understanding of history. Here are twenty in-depth tips that will guide you through the process and help you select the best topic for your history research paper.

• Understand the Assignment: Understanding your assignment’s requirements is the primary and most critical step in selecting a topic. Take time to carefully read the guidelines given by your instructor. Are there any specific historical periods, geographical regions, or themes you are required to focus on? Do the instructions indicate the scope or complexity level of the topic? Comprehending the parameters set by your instructor will significantly narrow down your options.
• Choose a Time Period: One way to approach the topic selection is by focusing on a particular time period that sparks your interest. It could be anything from the Bronze Age, to the Renaissance, to World War II. The more interested you are in the chosen time period, the more engaged you will be in the research process.
• Pick a Region: Similar to choosing a time period, selecting a particular region or country can also help narrow down potential topics. Are you fascinated by the history of East Asia, intrigued by ancient Egypt, or drawn to the socio-political history of Europe? Starting with a geographic focus can provide a strong foundation for your research.
• Identify a Theme: In addition to or instead of a time period or region, you might want to choose a theme that you wish to explore. Themes can range from political history, cultural history, history of science and technology, to gender history, among others. A thematic approach can offer a unique perspective and can even allow you to cross over different time periods or regions.
• Conduct Preliminary Research: Even before you have a firm topic in hand, engage in some preliminary research. This could involve reviewing textbooks, scholarly articles, or reputable online resources related to your chosen period, region, or theme. Preliminary research can give you a general sense of the historical context and inspire potential topics.
• Seek Inspiration from Existing Works: As part of your preliminary research, look at other research papers, theses, or dissertations in your area of interest. This can give you a good idea of what has been done, what gaps exist in the research, and where your research could potentially fit in.
• Scope Your Topic: The scope of your topic should be proportionate to the length and depth of your paper. If your paper is relatively short, a narrow, focused topic would be more suitable. For a longer and more complex paper, a broader topic that explores multiple facets or perspectives would be more appropriate.
• Consider the Relevance: Another aspect to consider when selecting a topic is its relevance. Does the topic have any relation to the course you are undertaking? Does it reflect on current historical or social debates? A topic that connects your historical research to broader academic or social issues can make your paper more impactful and engaging.
• Look for Unique Angles: While not every research paper can revolutionize the field, striving for some degree of originality in your work is always a good practice. Look for unique angles, underexplored areas, or new perspectives on a well-trodden topic. Presenting a fresh approach can make your paper more interesting for both you and your readers.
• Assess the Availability of Sources: Your research paper is only as good as your sources. Before finalizing your topic, make sure there are enough primary and secondary sources available to you. This could be in the form of books, academic articles, documentary films, archives, databases, or digital resources.
• Evaluate the Feasibility: Beyond the availability of sources, consider other practical aspects of your chosen topic. Is it feasible to conduct the research within the given time frame? Is the topic too complex or too simplistic for your current academic level? A realistic evaluation of these factors at an early stage can save you a lot of time and effort down the line.
• Reflect on Your Interests: Above all, select a topic that genuinely piques your curiosity. A research paper is a significant undertaking, and your interest in the topic will sustain you through potential challenges. If you are passionate about the topic, it will reflect in your writing and make your paper more compelling.
• Solicit Feedback: Seek advice from your instructor, classmates, or any other knowledgeable individuals. They may be able to provide valuable feedback, point out potential pitfalls, or suggest different perspectives that can enrich your research.
• Be Flexible: Be prepared to tweak, adjust, or even overhaul your topic as you delve deeper into the research process. New information or insights may emerge that shift your focus or challenge your initial assumptions.
• Bridge the Past and Present: Try to find topics that allow you to connect historical events or phenomena with contemporary issues. This can provide additional depth to your paper and may also appeal to a broader audience.
• Consult Specialized Encyclopedias and Guides: These can provide overviews of various topics and can often suggest areas for research. They also offer bibliographies which can serve as a starting point for your research.
• Draft a Preliminary Thesis Statement: Once you have a potential topic, try drafting a preliminary thesis statement. This can help you focus your ideas and give you a clear direction for your research.
• Ensure Your Topic Meets the Assignment Goals: Check back with your assignment guidelines to make sure your chosen topic meets all the requirements. It’s a good idea to do this before you start your in-depth research.
• Be Ready to Invest Time and Effort: Choose a topic that you are ready to spend time on. Remember, you will be working on this topic for an extended period, so choose something that you find interesting and engaging.
• Enjoy the Process: Finally, remember that the process of researching and writing a history paper can be a source of enjoyment and intellectual satisfaction. Choose a topic that not only meets academic requirements but also gives you a sense of accomplishment and discovery.

Choosing the best history research paper topic is not merely about fulfilling an academic requirement. It’s about setting the stage for a journey into the past, an exploration of humanity’s collective memory. The right topic will not only make this journey enjoyable but also deeply enlightening. By considering these tips, you can select a topic that resonates with you and holds the potential for a meaningful scholarly contribution.

How to Write a Best History Research Paper

Writing a history research paper can be a rewarding experience, providing an opportunity to delve into the past and explore the events, ideas, and personalities that have shaped our world. However, crafting a high-quality paper requires more than just an interest in the subject matter. It involves thorough research, analytical thinking, and clear, persuasive writing. Here are twenty comprehensive tips on how to write a best history research paper.

• Understand the Assignment: Begin by thoroughly understanding the assignment. Ensure you grasp the requirements, the scope of the paper, the format, and the deadline. Clear any doubts with your professor or peers before you start.
• Select a Suitable Topic: As discussed earlier, choosing an appropriate topic is crucial. It should be engaging, manageable, and meet the assignment’s requirements. Consider your interests, the available resources, and the paper’s scope when choosing the topic.
• Conduct In-Depth Research: Once the topic is decided, embark on thorough research. Use a variety of sources, such as books, academic journals, credible online sources, primary sources, and documentaries. Remember to take notes and record the sources for citation purposes.
• Formulate a Thesis Statement: The thesis statement is the central argument or point of your paper. It should be clear, concise, and debatable, providing a roadmap for your entire paper. The thesis statement should guide your research and each main point you make in your paper should support this central idea.
• Create an Outline: An outline helps organize your thoughts and arguments. Typically, it should include an introduction (with the thesis statement), body paragraphs (with topic sentences), and a conclusion. Each point in your outline should be a reflection of your thesis statement.
• Start with a Strong Introduction: The introduction should be engaging, provide some background on the topic, and include the thesis statement. It sets the tone for the rest of your paper, so make it compelling and informative.
• Develop Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph should focus on one main idea that supports your thesis. Begin with a topic sentence, provide evidence or arguments, and then conclude the paragraph by linking it back to your thesis. Be clear and concise in your arguments.
• Use Evidence Effectively: Support your arguments with evidence from your research. This could include quotations, statistics, or primary source materials. Remember to interpret the evidence and explain its relevance to your argument.
• Maintain a Logical Flow: The ideas in your paper should flow logically from one point to the next. Use transitional words and phrases to maintain continuity and help guide your reader through your paper.
• Write a Compelling Conclusion: Your conclusion should sum up your main points, restate the thesis in light of the evidence provided, and possibly offer areas for further research or a concluding insight. It should leave the reader with something to think about.
• Cite Your Sources: Always cite your sources properly. This not only gives credit where it’s due but also strengthens your argument by indicating the breadth of your research. Ensure you follow the required citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
• Revise for Clarity and Coherence: After finishing your initial draft, revise your work. Check for clarity, coherence, and consistency of argument. Ensure each paragraph has a clear focus, and that the paragraphs flow smoothly from one idea to the next.
• Proofread: Proofread your paper for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Such errors can distract from the content and undermine your credibility as a writer. Reading your paper aloud or having someone else read it can help catch errors you might have missed.
• Seek Feedback: Before finalizing your paper, consider seeking feedback from your professor, peers, or a writing center tutor. They can provide valuable perspectives and suggestions for improvement that you might not have considered.
• Write in a Formal Academic Style: Your paper should be written in a formal academic style. Avoid slang, colloquialisms, and overly complex language. Be clear, concise, and precise in your expression.
• Avoid Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. Ensure that all ideas and words that are not your own are properly cited. When in doubt, it’s better to over-cite than to under-cite.
• Stay Objective: A good history paper is objective and does not include personal opinions or biases. It relies on facts and evidence, and presents balanced arguments. Stick to the evidence and avoid emotional language.
• Be Original: Strive for originality in your argument and interpretation. While your topic might not be entirely new, your perspective on it can be. Don’t be afraid to challenge established interpretations if you have evidence to support your argument.
• Use Primary Sources Wisely: Primary sources are invaluable in historical research. However, remember that they should be used to support your argument, not to construct it. Your analysis and interpretation of the sources are what matters.
• Enjoy the Process: Finally, remember to enjoy the process. Writing a research paper is not just an academic exercise, but a journey into the past. It’s a chance to learn, explore, and contribute to our understanding of history.

In conclusion, writing a best history research paper requires careful planning, thorough research, clear writing, and detailed revision. However, the process can be highly rewarding, leading to new insights and a deeper understanding of history. These tips provide a comprehensive guide to help you craft a top-notch history research paper. Remember, history is a continually evolving dialogue, and your paper is your chance to join the conversation.

Custom Writing Services

When it comes to academic writing, particularly in the realm of history, the challenges are manifold. Selecting a suitable topic, conducting thorough research, forming persuasive arguments, and structuring your thoughts in a coherent and scholarly manner can often be a daunting task. This is where iResearchNet comes to your aid. As a premier academic writing service, iResearchNet provides students with the opportunity to order a custom history research paper on any topic. The goal is to alleviate your academic stress while ensuring that you meet your educational goals.

Key features of iResearchNet’s services include:

• Expert Degree-Holding Writers: Our team consists of professionals who are not just well-versed in various historical topics, but also have extensive experience in academic writing.
• Custom Written Works: Every paper we deliver is created from scratch, tailored to your specific requirements and instructions, ensuring originality and uniqueness.
• In-Depth Research: Our writers are committed to conducting meticulous and comprehensive research to gather relevant information and provide insightful perspectives for your paper.
• Custom Formatting: Whether your paper requires APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, or Harvard style, our team is proficient in all these citation formats.
• Top Quality: Quality is not negotiable for us. We strive to provide superior writing services that align with the highest academic standards.
• Customized Solutions: Every student is unique, and so are our solutions. We customize our approach based on your individual needs and the demands of your project.
• Flexible Pricing: We understand the financial constraints students may face, and therefore, we offer a variety of pricing plans to suit different budgets.
• Short Deadlines: We accept orders with deadlines as short as 3 hours, always delivering on time without compromising the quality of work.
• Timely Delivery: We understand the importance of meeting deadlines in academia and ensure timely delivery of all assignments.
• 24/7 Support: Our customer service team is available round the clock to assist you with any queries or issues you may have.
• Absolute Privacy: We maintain strict confidentiality and privacy policies to protect your personal information.
• Easy Order Tracking: With our seamless order tracking system, you can easily monitor the progress of your paper.
• Money Back Guarantee: We offer a money-back guarantee if our work does not meet the agreed-upon standards, giving you peace of mind when using our services.

In conclusion, iResearchNet offers a comprehensive suite of academic writing services designed to support students in their academic journey. From expert writers and custom written works to in-depth research and timely delivery, iResearchNet is equipped to handle any history research paper with excellence and dedication. We believe in delivering high-quality, original, and impactful research papers that can elevate your academic experience and success. So why wait? Avail of iResearchNet’s services today and experience the relief and satisfaction of handing in a top-quality history research paper.

You’re One Step Away From Your Perfect History Research Paper!

Students often find themselves at a crossroads when it comes to writing a history research paper. With so many topics to explore and limited time to do so, this can seem like an insurmountable challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. iResearchNet is here to transform this challenge into a remarkable academic journey.

Imagine handing in a meticulously researched and perfectly structured history research paper, crafted by an expert writer with a deep understanding of your topic. Picture the relief as you submit a top-quality assignment, knowing that you’ve fulfilled all the requirements to the highest standard. And visualize the sense of achievement when you receive the grade you’ve been striving for.

This is more than a possibility – it’s a reality with iResearchNet. Our expert writing services provide a path to academic success that’s both straightforward and stress-free. You can say goodbye to the anxiety of looming deadlines and the stress of achieving the perfect balance in your paper.

Why waste precious time and energy struggling with complex historical data, grappling with the perfect argument, or wrestling with formatting guidelines? Instead, invest in your future with iResearchNet, where we turn your academic challenges into milestones of success.

So, are you ready to excel in your history research paper and make a lasting impression on your professors? Click on the order button, provide your paper details, and let our expert writers do the rest. Success in your history class is just a click away with iResearchNet!

ORDER HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM PAPER

+1 (603) 932 7897

[email protected].

40 Interesting Historical Research Topics

• Last modified 2024-03-28
• Published on 2021-03-17

History is typically a required course in high school, under the umbrella of social science. History is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea; however, understanding American, European, and World History will give you an opportunity to escape your little bubble of life and gain broader perspectives about historical events and how they influence current and future events. History repeats itself, is often said. Learning about history will not only give you knowledge of the past but also predictions  for  the future.   

History may sound boring at first, but historical events were influenced by numerous factors, ranging from politics, technological advancement, and social circumstances. Especially, when you dive deeper into history with historical research, you will develop critical analysis and technical analysis skills by uncovering events and analyz ing  how they have impacted the future through convincing arguments.     

So now, you’re very interested in doing historical research, but you don’t know where to start. Every research paper starts with an interesting topic. So, ask yourself, what topic is of the most interest to you and most unique and interesting to readers? Maybe you are interested in learning more about European History during the Renaissance period, or the decolonization of Asia under the event of the Second World War .  Depending on the topic, you will be able to integrate and discuss multiple perspectives that contribute to the events or incidents. Examples include: the economy, education, politics, social life, etc. While brainstorming a topic, you should also look for reliable resources. Reliable resources can come from your school’s library, scholarly and peer-reviewed articles, etc. For more details about steps in the research process, we’ve written in detail  8 critical steps while doing research  you should check out.   

Before going into the list, we recommend that you should have a clear direction of what historical aspect you should focus on. There are 5 main aspects when it comes to historical events:   

• Religion/Philosophy: belief, creator, place of worship, ideas  
• Politics: government, laws, leaders, crimes, war, military, democracy  
• Economics: currency, jobs, bank, trade, stocks, gold, production  
• Society: communication, personality, age, nationality, gender, religion  
• Culture: traditions, clothing, appearance, festivals, food, language, sports, education, architecture  

You can write  any  one of those  preceding  aspects, or  a  combination of two or three aspects in relation to  each historical event. We’ve compiled and categorized topics to guide you in your historical research paper writing process. Using the topics, you can dive deeper into exploring which topics you’re most interested in writing about, and should be most relevant to your history career in high school and college.  Now, let’s get started!   

1. World History 

World History is a broad and diverse research topic that covers a wide period of time: from civilization to social movement. Therefore, there are multiple topics students can choose from. Remember, world history discusses the development in the world in response to interchanges among significant countries in the world.   

• World Wars I and II, the links between them, and how they could have been  prevented   
• American Revolution – Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783   
• Trade in the Roman World designed by The Romans created one of the most impressive road networks of the ancient world.  
• The rise and fall of empires, in relation to conflicts, protests, and riots against corporate globalization, and the threat of worldwide terrorism against the West.  
• Cradle of civilization: Ancient Discoveries of China, Egypt, Mesoamerica, or India, or any other civilization that le d  to a high level of craft specialization and artistic production from each civilization, creating opportunities for trade   
• Architecture through the ages: the changes in architecture through various traditions, regions, and dates, growing from human’s basic needs of shelter and protection.   
• Women’s rights movement around the world. To see the overall timeline of women’s rights movements, you can explore women’s activism from generations past and present on  the UN Women’s website .   
• Math and Science discoveries throughout ancient history that contribute to how we apply math and science today  
• Ancient conquests and their influence on the modern world map formation  
• Nuclear warfare, a military conflict or political strategy which deploys nuclear weaponry.   

2. United States History

For students studying in the US, United States History has always been fascinating, given its Declaration of Independence in 1776. American History ranges from prehistory, European colonization, the American Revolution, the Federal period, the Gilded Age, the Great Depression, and the Cold War. Below are some examples for U.S. historical Research paper:  

• Attack on Pearl Harbor, the military strike by Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii.  
• The Vietnam War: Social consequences and  treatment of  veterans   returning from the war  
• Immigration in the late 1800s: the “melting pot” and “salad bowl” metaphors  
• Gold Rush and its development of  the  California state  
• Civil War and the participation of women and African America ns  
• JFK Presidency, Policy and Assassination   
• My Lai Massacre, incident of American violence committed against unarmed civilians during the Vietnam War  
• Sept 11, 2001 attacks and  their  impact on American security policies, foreign policy, and views on Islam through media and movies  
• Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, its tactics, movements, and outcomes  
• Yellow journalism and its impact on the Spanish-American War  

3. European History

The history of Europe began with the first appearance of anatomically modern humans in Europe. European History is considered the best-documented history  compared to that of other regions  in the world of history. Through conducting European studies, you will be able to understand its people, culture, and the way they saw the world.   

• The Nude in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance: religious or erotic?   
• Italian unification   
• The relationship between Turkey and the European Union, and its impact on the position that Turkey has today  
• Black Death, cause, symptoms and impact   
• Religious crisis in the 16th century: the birth of Protestantism  
• The Agricultural Revolution and the development of market economies  
• The spread of Christianity: the political aspects  
• European imperialism, in relation to the economic and political power overseas  
• The Industrial Revolution and societal consequences  
• The influence of Locke and French philosophies on the rise of liberal political thought in Europe in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries  

4. Asian History

Asian History  remains unknown to many people in the Western world . However, in the discussion of world history, the civilizations of Asia display a preeminence prior to the age of Western civilization.  

• Western imperialism in Asia and Asia n  transformation in  the areas of  religion, economy, and society   
• The Story of Viet n am: From Prehistory to the Present  
• Open Door policy and its impact on  the economies in the  US and  China  
• Ancient Korean & Chinese Relations   
• The Forgotten History of South Korean Massacres in Vietnam  
• Invasions of the Korean Peninsula and its struggle for unification   
• Yasuke  and its defense on Japan’s Greatest Warlord  
• British Malaya: British involvement in Malay Politics  
• The Great Game: a political and diplomatic confrontation between the British Empire and the Russian Empire over Afghanistan and neighboring territories in Central and South Asia.  
• The Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world’s earliest civilizations  

History is a topic of great breadth and depth. Historians today are fascinated by the new findings of history through the examination of archaeology and anthropology. The above are the few examples we hope will inspire you to take the next step to conduct historical research. If you are passionate about history and would like to conduct a research project in preparation for history or other liberal arts majors in college or a history career in the future, we are here to help! We recently launched a new Historical Research project, along with the long-standing American, European, and World History courses.

Aralia’s History tutors are inspired teachers and professors who are committed to student success. They are recognized in their field or are currently teaching at top high schools and colleges/universities in the US.

5. Take History classes with Aralia

Through Historical Research and Writing, students will learn about choosing a topic, composing research questions, effective research methods, drafting, composing, and revising. These skills will be taught with an emphasis on historical research, allowing students to engage in analysis of primary and secondary sources, discover interesting insights in history, and partake in the active pursuit of understanding the importance of the historical study.

In AP United States History (APUSH), students will review key content concepts and course objectives found in the APUSH course description through writing long essay questions (LEQ), document-based question essays (DBQs), and short answer questions (SAQs). Furthermore, students will practice using historical thinking skills tested on the exam by answering stimuli-based multiple-choice questions and through their written responses.

In this course, we will cover a period from the height of Ancient Greece to the middle of the sixteenth century, as we study the emergence of the first civilizations around modern day Europe and the trajectory of their development into Western society. We will examine the contributions of Greece and Rome and how they expanded their empires; how ideas are conceived, put into practice, and have social consequences; how and why their empires collapsed; how people and societies existed during the Middle Ages; how numerous cultures developed values and coexisted/clashed with others; and how a broken Europe, after several starts, reinvigorated itself with the Renaissance, and split again in the Reformation.

This course will allow students to discover important moments in World History while developing academic, writing, and communication skills. By studying, reading, and writing about World History, students will gain a better understanding of how the modern world came to be and how past events dictate current ones.

Explore the rise and fall of empires, the clash, and encounter of cultures, plagues, religious fervor, and political intrigue and war. This course aims to discover the complex interactions between Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans in different regions of North America across more than 500 years of history​.

• Academic Tips

Interested in learning more?

Aralia Education is an innovative online education platform for ambitious middle and high school students worldwide. Aralia’s instructors propel students forward by helping them build a strong foundation in traditional academic courses. They also actively engage and guide students in exploring personal interests beyond their school curriculum. With this holistic approach, Aralia ensures its students are well-prepared for college and equipped for success in their future careers.

• College Accelerator Program
• Comprehensive Introduction to High School
• Academic Empowerment Program
• Test Preparation Bootcamp
• Private Lessons
• Student Awards
• Competitions

Give us a call: +1 (603) 932 7897

Email us: [email protected]

Add us on WhatsApp:

Explore your training options in 10 minutes Get Started

• Graduate Stories
• Partner Spotlights
• Bootcamp Prep
• Bootcamp Admissions
• University Bootcamps
• Coding Tools
• Software Engineering
• Web Development
• Data Science
• Tech Guides
• Tech Resources
• Career Advice
• Online Learning
• Internships
• Apprenticeships
• Tech Salaries
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• University Admissions
• Best Schools
• Certifications
• Bootcamp Financing
• Higher Ed Financing
• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Best Coding Bootcamps
• Best Online Bootcamps
• Best Web Design Bootcamps
• Best Data Science Bootcamps
• Best Technology Sales Bootcamps
• Best Data Analytics Bootcamps
• Best Cybersecurity Bootcamps
• Best Digital Marketing Bootcamps
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Browse All Locations
• Digital Marketing
• Machine Learning
• See All Subjects
• Bootcamps 101
• Full-Stack Development
• Career Changes
• View all Career Discussions
• Mobile App Development
• Cybersecurity
• Product Management
• UX/UI Design
• What is a Coding Bootcamp?
• Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It?
• How to Choose a Coding Bootcamp
• Best Online Coding Bootcamps and Courses
• Best Free Bootcamps and Coding Training
• Coding Bootcamp vs. Community College
• Coding Bootcamp vs. Self-Learning
• Bootcamps vs. Certifications: Compared
• What Is a Coding Bootcamp Job Guarantee?
• How to Pay for Coding Bootcamp
• Ultimate Guide to Coding Bootcamp Loans
• Best Coding Bootcamp Scholarships and Grants
• Education Stipends for Coding Bootcamps
• Get Your Coding Bootcamp Sponsored by Your Employer
• GI Bill and Coding Bootcamps
• Tech Intevriews
• Our Enterprise Solution
• Connect With Us
• Publication
• Reskill America
• Partner With Us

• Resource Center
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree

The Top 10 Most Interesting History Research Topics

Choosing history research topics is one of the hardest and most time-consuming things to do, especially if there is no guidance. You have to employ the right research skills to find authentic sources and ensure that your history research questions are precise and clear.

So to make your work easier, we have curated history research paper topics for college students and high schoolers, as well as examples of history research questions you can use for your assignment.

Find your bootcamp match

What makes a strong history research topic.

Clarity makes a strong history research topic. History is a broad subject, so your topic should be well-defined and your language should be simple enough for the reader to understand the basic outline of your history research project. In other words, there should be no ambiguity. An ambiguous topic will be much harder to write than a clear one.

Tips for Choosing a History Research Topic

• Understand the requirements. Pay attention to your academic level and make sure that you are clear on what is expected of you. Keep referring to your assignment as you go along to ensure that you do not deviate from it.
• Choose a topic that interests you. If your history topic is boring, doing the research and writing the paper will become tedious work. It is important that you select a topic that appeals to you and that you will enjoy writing about. Even if you choose a controversial topic, it’s worth pursuing as long as it will motivate you to keep writing.
• Be objective. Movies such as Pearl Harbor have romanticized history as their subject, so make sure you select a topic based on facts and not merely your opinion. This will help in removing bias from your research questions as well.
• Begin your search for research sources early. Ensure that there are adequate primary and secondary sources for your research assignment. You can also consult other alternative sources for your research. Remember to also make use of your high school or college librarian. They will guide you toward reliable sources.
• Consult others when necessary. Whenever your assignment requirements are unclear to you, consult your professor. You can also brainstorm with fellow students to get more ideas on what topic you should select, or visit your university’s writing center to get a refresher on how to write strong topic sentences.

What’s the Difference Between a Research Topic and a Research Question?

A research topic refers to a broad idea that you may have chosen for your history research paper. For example, “modern history” is a general topic from which you can get various, more specific topics, such as “the role of globalization in industrialization.”

A research question takes a broad topic and narrows it down to a more specific subject. Your question will help in selecting the right sources. A research question answers the what, why, and how of the research topic. For example, what role has industrialization played in globalization?

How to Create Strong History Research Questions

A strong history research question should be empirically sound. This means that it should be narrow enough to do an in-depth analysis. However, it should not be so narrow that it can be answered with a simple yes or no. A simple search on Google should not answer your research question.

According to Kristin Poling from the Department of History at Harvard, formulating a research question requires preliminary research. You need to see whether there are authentic sources available to answer your question, and you need to understand where the gaps in the literature are. Strong questions lead to strong thesis statements.

Top 10 History Research Paper Topics

1. religion in ancient greece.

Any list of history topics about ancient Greek religion is bound to contain some gems. By digging into cultural patterns, you can explore how religion affected the social, political, religious, military, and economic development of Greece. You could even venture outside the boundaries of Greece and investigate how Christian symbols were influenced by the ancient Greeks.

2. Causes of the American Revolution

The American Revolution, also known as the United States War of Independence, is an important American historical event that occurred between 1775 and 1783. Researching the American revolutionaries behind the Boston Tea Party is a great way to understand how monumental social conflicts bring about the rise and fall of nations.

3. American Neutrality in World War Ⅰ

Also known as the First War or the Great War, World War Ⅰ was the first major global war of the 20th Century, and it lasted between 1914 and 1918. If you choose this topic, you will be able to analyze why America first made the foreign policy decision to avoid taking part in the war, as well as why it changed its mind later on.

4. Effects of the Allies’ Occupation of Germany

The Allied occupation of Germany began in 1945 after Germany was defeated in the Second World War. It refers to the joint occupation of Germany by the US, Great Britain, Soviet Union, and France. If you select this history research topic for your assignment, you will be able to delve deeper into the effects of the occupation on both Germany and the rest of the world.

5. Ronald Reagan and the End of the Cold War

The Cold War was a 20th Century battle of supremacy between the United States and the Soviet Union involving nuclear weapons. By discussing the role Ronald Reagan played in ending the Cold War, you could gain insight into the diplomatic history between these two powers or interpret how Reagan’s actions affected the course of American society.

6. Political, Economic, and Social Causes of the French Revolution

The French Revolution, which occurred between 1789 and 1799, significantly shifted the social and political ideals of all 18th Century European countries. This riveting European history research topic provides a means to explore the dangers of classism and its effects on civilian life.

7. The Legacy of Alexander the Great

You cannot learn about historical figures in ancient times without coming across Alexander the Great, the king of ancient Macedonia. Selecting this ancient history topic for your assignment will be a fascinating dive into how this key figure in history influenced Greek and Asian culture as he expanded his empire.

8. Rise of the Catholic Church as a Political Institution in the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is a historical era between the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE and the beginning of the Renaissance period in the 14th century. Selecting this topic will help you understand the factors that influenced the rise of the Catholic Church as a powerful political institution in medieval Europe.

9. Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Working-Class Families

The Industrial Revolution was an era between the late 18th century and the middle of the 19th century when great strides were made in engineering, production, and manufacturing. It affected the economic and social lives of the working class and shifted gender roles. Studying industrialization effects would lend itself well to university students with access to rare books.

10. The Role of Martin Luther King Jr in the Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement is one of the best Black history research paper topics for college students. One of the most impactful social movements, this movement was a response to the social injustice toward African Americans that continued after the abolition of slavery. Martin Luther King Jr was a key figure whose importance to American history cannot be overstated.

Other Examples of History Research Topics & Questions

History research topics.

• American Folk Art History
• Religious Symbolism in the Renaissance Era
• Impact of the Westward Expansion on Native Americans
• Amelia Earhart’s Impact on Women in Aviation
• The Rise and Fall of the Dutch Republic

History Research Questions

• In what ways have Alois Riegl’s theories shaped modern art today?
• How did the Renaissance shift the worldview of European thinkers?
• How did the Berlin Conference influence British Colonialism in Africa?
• How have women in tech history shaped the role of American women in STEM in the 21st Century?
• In what ways did the 17th century’s political and military shifts in Spain affect British rule?

Choosing the Right History Research Topic

Whether you are a high school or a college student, there are many history topics from which you can select your research project. Selecting history topics for history is highly dependent on the type of paper you have chosen to write. Argumentative research paper topics will yield different results than a comparative study or a descriptive study.

Whether you choose to select a historical figure, the military clashes between the American settlers and Native Americans, or the role of women in industrialization, make sure that you narrow down your topic and choose something that answers a specific question about an interesting issue, period, or event.

History Research Topics FAQ

Historiography is the study of recorded historical events and their interpretations. In other words, historiographies help us understand how experienced writers have shaped what, how, and why a specific history subject was recorded and interpreted a certain way.

You start a research paper by beginning with a historical overview from which you can narrow down your topics and the history research questions that you want to address. From there, you will be able to carefully choose your primary and secondary sources. According to Purdue OWL, evaluating sources is an excellent place to begin a research assignment.

You can find many research sources from online university libraries as well as websites devoted to history. The Internet is full of curated libraries such as the American Historical Association, which has resources for historical researchers to help you join the ranks of the most expert writers in the field.

Yes, you can pursue an online degree in history. Many major universities offer online history degrees as an alternative to in-person degrees. You can look up the university of your choice and check the requirements for enrollment.

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

What's Next?

Get matched with top bootcamps

Ask a question to our community, take our careers quiz.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• SHSU Library
• Research Guides

The History Research Process

• Choosing a Topic & Framing a Research Question
• Brainstorming Search Terms
• Feasibility: Secondary Sources
• Feasibility: Primary Source Overview
• Example Assessment of Primary Sourcebase #1
• Example Assessment of Primary Sourcebase #2
• Where and How to Find Primary Sources
• Tutorial on Reading Primary Sources
• Searching: How-To Videos
• Writing History Book Reviews
• Find the Historiography of a Topic This link opens in a new window
• Evaluating Sources (new window) This link opens in a new window
• Reference Sources
• Surveying Scholarship
• Discussing Scholarship in Your Narrative
• Referencing Scholarship in Footnotes
• Chicago Citation Style (new window)

Research Topics Versus Research Questions

You will often begin by selecting a research topic, then defining a research question within this topic to investigate. What's the difference?

A simple topic is too broad. For example:

• African Americans and the Civil War may be a broad topic that interests you, but this is not yet a question you can attempt to answer.
• How did African American participation in the Union and Confederate armies change during the course of the war? is one example of a research question you might create from the previous topic.
• How were African Americans participating in the Civil War in eastern Kentucky in June of 1864? is one example of a question which relates to the previous topic, but which is too narrow in scope to be reasonable.

As you explore scholarly secondary sources and historical primary sources, you may need to periodically re-evaluate your research question to ensure that it is neither too broad nor too narrow.

  Robert C. Williams suggests that a research question might:

• "ask how or why an event happened (causation, explanation)"
• "ask what the consequences were of a particular event"
• "discuss the intellectual origins of a particular idea"
• "ask what the cultural context of an event was";
• "ask whether or not an individual was responsible for a certain act"
• "ask about the social history of a political event"
• "quantify broad trends in a society at a particular time" (52)

  Source: Williams, Robert C. The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History . Second ed. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 2007.

Additional Resources for Selecting Topics

The following books can suggest topic ideas.

Consulting a special encyclopedia in your area of history may also inspire you with ideas for topics and research questions.

Another approach is to start with the primary sources that are available and work backwards to a research question. Browse through sources from the "Primary Sources" tab (or similar). What questions do the documents raise for you? (Maybe regarding the people who created them, the culture in which they were created, etc.) Your research might seek to answer one of your questions.

Tips for Choosing Research Topics

• Start with something that interests you. Extreme boredom will make it harder to stay motivated.  
• Jenny Presnell recommends choosing a topic "that exemplifies a larger phenomenon. For instance, you may be following the current debates on the changing family in twenty-first century America and want to explore what families were like in a different place and time" (8).  

This list of tips owes credit to: Presnell, Jenny L. The Information-Literate Historian: A Guide to Research for History Students . New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

• << Previous: Home
• Next: Brainstorming Search Terms >>
• Last Updated: Dec 11, 2023 12:16 PM
• URL: https://shsulibraryguides.org/historyresearch

Newton Gresham Library | (936) 294-1614 | (866) NGL-INFO | Ask a Question | Share a Suggestion Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas 77341 | (936) 294-1111 | (866) BEARKAT © Copyright Sam Houston State University | All rights reserved. | A Member of The Texas State University System

• msstate.edu
• MSU Directory

Library update: Recent database changes

• Mississippi State University Libraries
• Research Guides
• Academic Subjects, Departments, and Programs

History Research Guide

• Research Questions

Topic to Research Question

Previous interpretations.

• Finding Secondary Sources
• Primary Sources
• Digitized Primary Texts
• Government & Statistical Information
• Managing Your Research
• Specialized Research Guides

First think about historical topics that interest you broadly. Then, gather background information by reading encyclopedias, major books on the topics, and then add focus with a research question.

Qualities of good historical questions.

• Open-ended, asks "how" and "why" questions about your general topic
• Considers causes or effects
• Is argumentative and uses interpretations based on the evidence)
• Appropriate specificity (think who, where, when)
• Consider the "so what?" of your topic. Why does this topic matter to you? Why should it matter to others?
• Reflect on the questions you have considered. Identify one or two questions you find engaging and which could be explored further through research.

Example: "How did white and African-American defense plant workers create and think about interracial relationships during World War II?"

• This question investigates broad issues - interracial romance, sexual identity - but within a specific context - World War II and the defense industry.

WARNING: Avoid selecting a topic that is too broad: "How has war affected sex in America?" is too broad. It would take several books to answer this question.

A good question is narrow enough so that you can find a persuasive answer to it in time to meet the due date for this class paper. A good historical question also demands an answer that is not just yes or no. Why and how questions are often good choices, and so are questions that ask you to compare and contrast a topic in different locations or time periods; so are questions that ask you to explain the relationship between one event or historical process and another.

Adapted from: George Mason University Writing Center, (2008) " How to write a research question ," and Brown, " Writing about History ."

Connecting your interpretation to previous work by other historians:

Once you have a topic in mind, you need to find out what other scholars have written about your topic. If they've used the same sources you were thinking of using and reached the same conclusions, there's no point in repeating their work, so you should look for another topic.

Most of the time, though, you'll find that other scholars have used different sources and/or asked different questions, and that reading their work will help you place your own paper in perspective. When you are writing your paper, you will cite these historians - both their arguments about the material, and also (sometimes) their research findings.

Example: "As Tera Hunter has argued concerning Atlanta's laundresses, black women workers preferred work outside the homes of their white employers"(and then you would cite Hunter in a footnote, including page numbers).

Adapted from: Brown, " Writing about History ."

• << Previous: Home
• Next: Finding Secondary Sources >>
• Last Updated: Apr 9, 2024 7:47 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.msstate.edu/history

A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing Historical Research [without getting hysterical!] In addition to being a scholarly investigation, research is a social activity intended to create new knowledge. Historical research is your informed response to the questions that you ask while examining the record of human experience. These questions may concern such elements as looking at an event or topic, examining events that lead to the event in question, social influences, key players, and other contextual information. This step-by-step guide progresses from an introduction to historical resources to information about how to identify a topic, craft a thesis and develop a research paper. Table of contents: The Range and Richness of Historical Sources Secondary Sources Primary Sources Historical Analysis What is it? Who, When, Where, What and Why: The Five "W"s Topic, Thesis, Sources Definition of Terms Choose a Topic Craft a Thesis Evaluate Thesis and Sources A Variety of Information Sources Take Efficient Notes Note Cards Thinking, Organizing, Researching Parenthetical Documentation Prepare a Works Cited Page Drafting, Revising, Rewriting, Rethinking For Further Reading: Works Cited Additional Links So you want to study history?! Tons of help and links Slatta Home Page Use the Writing and other links on the lefhand menu I. The Range and Richness of Historical Sources Back to Top Every period leaves traces, what historians call "sources" or evidence. Some are more credible or carry more weight than others; judging the differences is a vital skill developed by good historians. Sources vary in perspective, so knowing who created the information you are examining is vital. Anonymous doesn't make for a very compelling source. For example, an FBI report on the antiwar movement, prepared for U.S. President Richard Nixon, probably contained secrets that at the time were thought to have affected national security. It would not be usual, however, for a journalist's article about a campus riot, featured in a local newspaper, to leak top secret information. Which source would you read? It depends on your research topic. If you're studying how government officials portrayed student activists, you'll want to read the FBI report and many more documents from other government agencies such as the CIA and the National Security Council. If you're investigating contemporary opinion of pro-war and anti-war activists, local newspaper accounts provide a rich resource. You'd want to read a variety of newspapers to ensure you're covering a wide range of opinions (rural/urban, left/right, North/South, Soldier/Draft-dodger, etc). Historians classify sources into two major categories: primary and secondary sources. Secondary Sources Back to Top Definition: Secondary sources are created by someone who was either not present when the event occurred or removed from it in time. We use secondary sources for overview information, to familiarize ourselves with a topic, and compare that topic with other events in history. In refining a research topic, we often begin with secondary sources. This helps us identify gaps or conflicts in the existing scholarly literature that might prove promsing topics. Types: History books, encyclopedias, historical dictionaries, and academic (scholarly) articles are secondary sources. To help you determine the status of a given secondary source, see How to identify and nagivate scholarly literature . Examples: Historian Marilyn Young's (NYU) book about the Vietnam War is a secondary source. She did not participate in the war. Her study is not based on her personal experience but on the evidence she culled from a variety of sources she found in the United States and Vietnam. Primary Sources Back to Top Definition: Primary sources emanate from individuals or groups who participated in or witnessed an event and recorded that event during or immediately after the event. They include speeches, memoirs, diaries, letters, telegrams, emails, proclamations, government documents, and much more. Examples: A student activist during the war writing about protest activities has created a memoir. This would be a primary source because the information is based on her own involvement in the events she describes. Similarly, an antiwar speech is a primary source. So is the arrest record of student protesters. A newspaper editorial or article, reporting on a student demonstration is also a primary source. II. Historical Analysis What is it? Back to Top No matter what you read, whether it's a primary source or a secondary source, you want to know who authored the source (a trusted scholar? A controversial historian? A propagandist? A famous person? An ordinary individual?). "Author" refers to anyone who created information in any medium (film, sound, or text). You also need to know when it was written and the kind of audience the author intend to reach. You should also consider what you bring to the evidence that you examine. Are you inductively following a path of evidence, developing your interpretation based on the sources? Do you have an ax to grind? Did you begin your research deductively, with your mind made up before even seeing the evidence. Historians need to avoid the latter and emulate the former. To read more about the distinction, examine the difference between Intellectual Inquirers and Partisan Ideologues . In the study of history, perspective is everything. A letter written by a twenty- year old Vietnam War protestor will differ greatly from a letter written by a scholar of protest movements. Although the sentiment might be the same, the perspective and influences of these two authors will be worlds apart. Practicing the " 5 Ws " will avoid the confusion of the authority trap. Who, When, Where, What and Why: The Five "W"s Back to Top Historians accumulate evidence (information, including facts, stories, interpretations, opinions, statements, reports, etc.) from a variety of sources (primary and secondary). They must also verify that certain key pieces of information are corroborated by a number of people and sources ("the predonderance of evidence"). The historian poses the " 5 Ws " to every piece of information he examines: Who is the historical actor? When did the event take place? Where did it occur? What did it entail and why did it happen the way it did? The " 5 Ws " can also be used to evaluate a primary source. Who authored the work? When was it created? Where was it created, published, and disseminated? Why was it written (the intended audience), and what is the document about (what points is the author making)? If you know the answers to these five questions, you can analyze any document, and any primary source. The historian doesn't look for the truth, since this presumes there is only one true story. The historian tries to understand a number of competing viewpoints to form his or her own interpretation-- what constitutes the best explanation of what happened and why. By using as wide a range of primary source documents and secondary sources as possible, you will add depth and richness to your historical analysis. The more exposure you, the researcher, have to a number of different sources and differing view points, the more you have a balanced and complete view about a topic in history. This view will spark more questions and ultimately lead you into the quest to unravel more clues about your topic. You are ready to start assembling information for your research paper. III. Topic, Thesis, Sources Definition of Terms Back to Top Because your purpose is to create new knowledge while recognizing those scholars whose existing work has helped you in this pursuit, you are honor bound never to commit the following academic sins: Plagiarism: Literally "kidnapping," involving the use of someone else's words as if they were your own (Gibaldi 6). To avoid plagiarism you must document direct quotations, paraphrases, and original ideas not your own. Recycling: Rehashing material you already know thoroughly or, without your professor's permission, submitting a paper that you have completed for another course. Premature cognitive commitment: Academic jargon for deciding on a thesis too soon and then seeking information to serve that thesis rather than embarking on a genuine search for new knowledge. Choose a Topic Back to Top "Do not hunt for subjects, let them choose you, not you them." --Samuel Butler Choosing a topic is the first step in the pursuit of a thesis. Below is a logical progression from topic to thesis: Close reading of the primary text, aided by secondary sources Growing awareness of interesting qualities within the primary text Choosing a topic for research Asking productive questions that help explore and evaluate a topic Creating a research hypothesis Revising and refining a hypothesis to form a working thesis First, and most important, identify what qualities in the primary or secondary source pique your imagination and curiosity and send you on a search for answers. Bloom's taxonomy of cognitive levels provides a description of productive questions asked by critical thinkers. While the lower levels (knowledge, comprehension) are necessary to a good history essay, aspire to the upper three levels (analysis, synthesis, evaluation). Skimming reference works such as encyclopedias, books, critical essays and periodical articles can help you choose a topic that evolves into a hypothesis, which in turn may lead to a thesis. One approach to skimming involves reading the first paragraph of a secondary source to locate and evaluate the author's thesis. Then for a general idea of the work's organization and major ideas read the first and last sentence of each paragraph. Read the conclusion carefully, as it usually presents a summary (Barnet and Bedau 19). Craft a Thesis Back to Top Very often a chosen topic is too broad for focused research. You must revise it until you have a working hypothesis, that is, a statement of an idea or an approach with respect to the source that could form the basis for your thesis. Remember to not commit too soon to any one hypothesis. Use it as a divining rod or a first step that will take you to new information that may inspire you to revise your hypothesis. Be flexible. Give yourself time to explore possibilities. The hypothesis you create will mature and shift as you write and rewrite your paper. New questions will send you back to old and on to new material. Remember, this is the nature of research--it is more a spiraling or iterative activity than a linear one. Test your working hypothesis to be sure it is: broad enough to promise a variety of resources. narrow enough for you to research in depth. original enough to interest you and your readers. worthwhile enough to offer information and insights of substance "do-able"--sources are available to complete the research. Now it is time to craft your thesis, your revised and refined hypothesis. A thesis is a declarative sentence that: focuses on one well-defined idea makes an arguable assertion; it is capable of being supported prepares your readers for the body of your paper and foreshadows the conclusion. Evaluate Thesis and Sources Back to Top Like your hypothesis, your thesis is not carved in stone. You are in charge. If necessary, revise it during the research process. As you research, continue to evaluate both your thesis for practicality, originality, and promise as a search tool, and secondary sources for relevance and scholarliness. The following are questions to ask during the research process: Are there many journal articles and entire books devoted to the thesis, suggesting that the subject has been covered so thoroughly that there may be nothing new to say? Does the thesis lead to stimulating, new insights? Are appropriate sources available? Is there a variety of sources available so that the bibliography or works cited page will reflect different kinds of sources? Which sources are too broad for my thesis? Which resources are too narrow? Who is the author of the secondary source? Does the critic's background suggest that he/she is qualified? After crafting a thesis, consider one of the following two approaches to writing a research paper: Excited about your thesis and eager to begin? Return to the primary or secondary source to find support for your thesis. Organize ideas and begin writing your first draft. After writing the first draft, have it reviewed by your peers and your instructor. Ponder their suggestions and return to the sources to answer still-open questions. Document facts and opinions from secondary sources. Remember, secondary sources can never substitute for primary sources. Confused about where to start? Use your thesis to guide you to primary and secondary sources. Secondary sources can help you clarify your position and find a direction for your paper. Keep a working bibliography. You may not use all the sources you record, but you cannot be sure which ones you will eventually discard. Create a working outline as you research. This outline will, of course, change as you delve more deeply into your subject. A Variety of Information Sources Back to Top "A mind that is stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimension." --Oliver Wendell Holmes Your thesis and your working outline are the primary compasses that will help you navigate the variety of sources available. In "Introduction to the Library" (5-6) the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers suggests you become familiar with the library you will be using by: taking a tour or enrolling for a brief introductory lecture referring to the library's publications describing its resources introducing yourself and your project to the reference librarian The MLA Handbook also lists guides for the use of libraries (5), including: Jean Key Gates, Guide to the Use of Libraries and Information Sources (7th ed., New York: McGraw, 1994). Thomas Mann, A Guide to Library Research Methods (New York: Oxford UP, 1987). Online Central Catalog Most libraries have their holdings listed on a computer. The online catalog may offer Internet sites, Web pages and databases that relate to the university's curriculum. It may also include academic journals and online reference books. Below are three search techniques commonly used online: Index Search: Although online catalogs may differ slightly from library to library, the most common listings are by: Subject Search: Enter the author's name for books and article written about the author. Author Search: Enter an author's name for works written by the author, including collections of essays the author may have written about his/her own works. Title Search: Enter a title for the screen to list all the books the library carries with that title. Key Word Search/Full-text Search: A one-word search, e.g., 'Kennedy,' will produce an overwhelming number of sources, as it will call up any entry that includes the name 'Kennedy.' To focus more narrowly on your subject, add one or more key words, e.g., "John Kennedy, Peace Corps." Use precise key words. Boolean Search: Boolean Search techniques use words such as "and," "or," and "not," which clarify the relationship between key words, thus narrowing the search. Take Efficient Notes Back to Top Keeping complete and accurate bibliography and note cards during the research process is a time (and sanity) saving practice. If you have ever needed a book or pages within a book, only to discover that an earlier researcher has failed to return it or torn pages from your source, you understand the need to take good notes. Every researcher has a favorite method for taking notes. Here are some suggestions-- customize one of them for your own use. Bibliography cards There may be far more books and articles listed than you have time to read, so be selective when choosing a reference. Take information from works that clearly relate to your thesis, remembering that you may not use them all. Use a smaller or a different color card from the one used for taking notes. Write a bibliography card for every source. Number the bibliography cards. On the note cards, use the number rather than the author's name and the title. It's faster. Another method for recording a working bibliography, of course, is to create your own database. Adding, removing, and alphabetizing titles is a simple process. Be sure to save often and to create a back-up file. A bibliography card should include all the information a reader needs to locate that particular source for further study. Most of the information required for a book entry (Gibaldi 112): Author's name Title of a part of the book [preface, chapter titles, etc.] Title of the book Name of the editor, translator, or compiler Edition used Number(s) of the volume(s) used Name of the series Place of publication, name of the publisher, and date of publication Page numbers Supplementary bibliographic information and annotations Most of the information required for an article in a periodical (Gibaldi 141): Author's name Title of the article Name of the periodical Series number or name (if relevant) Volume number (for a scholarly journal) Issue number (if needed) Date of publication Page numbers Supplementary information For information on how to cite other sources refer to your So you want to study history page . Note Cards Back to Top Take notes in ink on either uniform note cards (3x5, 4x6, etc.) or uniform slips of paper. Devote each note card to a single topic identified at the top. Write only on one side. Later, you may want to use the back to add notes or personal observations. Include a topical heading for each card. Include the number of the page(s) where you found the information. You will want the page number(s) later for documentation, and you may also want page number(s)to verify your notes. Most novice researchers write down too much. Condense. Abbreviate. You are striving for substance, not quantity. Quote directly from primary sources--but the "meat," not everything. Suggestions for condensing information: Summary: A summary is intended to provide the gist of an essay. Do not weave in the author's choice phrases. Read the information first and then condense the main points in your own words. This practice will help you avoid the copying that leads to plagiarism. Summarizing also helps you both analyze the text you are reading and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses (Barnet and Bedau 13). Outline: Use to identify a series of points. Paraphrase, except for key primary source quotations. Never quote directly from a secondary source, unless the precise wording is essential to your argument. Simplify the language and list the ideas in the same order. A paraphrase is as long as the original. Paraphrasing is helpful when you are struggling with a particularly difficult passage. Be sure to jot down your own insights or flashes of brilliance. Ralph Waldo Emerson warns you to "Look sharply after your thoughts. They come unlooked for, like a new bird seen on your trees, and, if you turn to your usual task, disappear...." To differentiate these insights from those of the source you are reading, initial them as your own. (When the following examples of note cards include the researcher's insights, they will be followed by the initials N. R.) When you have finished researching your thesis and you are ready to write your paper, organize your cards according to topic. Notecards make it easy to shuffle and organize your source information on a table-- or across the floor. Maintain your working outline that includes the note card headings and explores a logical order for presenting them in your paper. IV. Begin Thinking, Researching, Organizing Back to Top Don't be too sequential. Researching, writing, revising is a complex interactive process. Start writing as soon as possible! "The best antidote to writer's block is--to write." (Klauser 15). However, you still feel overwhelmed and are staring at a blank page, you are not alone. Many students find writing the first sentence to be the most daunting part of the entire research process. Be creative. Cluster (Rico 28-49). Clustering is a form of brainstorming. Sometimes called a web, the cluster forms a design that may suggest a natural organization for a paper. Here's a graphical depiction of brainstorming . Like a sun, the generating idea or topic lies at the center of the web. From it radiate words, phrases, sentences and images that in turn attract other words, phrases, sentences and images. Put another way--stay focused. Start with your outline. If clustering is not a technique that works for you, turn to the working outline you created during the research process. Use the outline view of your word processor. If you have not already done so, group your note cards according to topic headings. Compare them to your outline's major points. If necessary, change the outline to correspond with the headings on the note cards. If any area seems weak because of a scarcity of facts or opinions, return to your primary and/or secondary sources for more information or consider deleting that heading. Use your outline to provide balance in your essay. Each major topic should have approximately the same amount of information. Once you have written a working outline, consider two different methods for organizing it. Deduction: A process of development that moves from the general to the specific. You may use this approach to present your findings. However, as noted above, your research and interpretive process should be inductive. Deduction is the most commonly used form of organization for a research paper. The thesis statement is the generalization that leads to the specific support provided by primary and secondary sources. The thesis is stated early in the paper. The body of the paper then proceeds to provide the facts, examples, and analogies that flow logically from that thesis. The thesis contains key words that are reflected in the outline. These key words become a unifying element throughout the paper, as they reappear in the detailed paragraphs that support and develop the thesis. The conclusion of the paper circles back to the thesis, which is now far more meaningful because of the deductive development that supports it. Chronological order A process that follows a traditional time line or sequence of events. A chronological organization is useful for a paper that explores cause and effect. Parenthetical Documentation Back to Top The Works Cited page, a list of primary and secondary sources, is not sufficient documentation to acknowledge the ideas, facts, and opinions you have included within your text. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers describes an efficient parenthetical style of documentation to be used within the body of your paper. Guidelines for parenthetical documentation: "References to the text must clearly point to specific sources in the list of works cited" (Gibaldi 184). Try to use parenthetical documentation as little as possible. For example, when you cite an entire work, it is preferable to include the author's name in the text. The author's last name followed by the page number is usually enough for an accurate identification of the source in the works cited list. These examples illustrate the most common kinds of documentation. Documenting a quotation: Ex. "The separation from the personal mother is a particularly intense process for a daughter because she has to separate from the one who is the same as herself" (Murdock 17). She may feel abandoned and angry. Note: The author of The Heroine's Journey is listed under Works Cited by the author's name, reversed--Murdock, Maureen. Quoted material is found on page 17 of that book. Parenthetical documentation is after the quotation mark and before the period. Documenting a paraphrase: Ex. In fairy tales a woman who holds the princess captive or who abandons her often needs to be killed (18). Note: The second paraphrase is also from Murdock's book The Heroine's Journey. It is not, however, necessary to repeat the author's name if no other documentation interrupts the two. If the works cited page lists more than one work by the same author, include within the parentheses an abbreviated form of the appropriate title. You may, of course, include the title in your sentence, making it unnecessary to add an abbreviated title in the citation. > Prepare a Works Cited Page Back to Top There are a variety of titles for the page that lists primary and secondary sources (Gibaldi 106-107). A Works Cited page lists those works you have cited within the body of your paper. The reader need only refer to it for the necessary information required for further independent research. Bibliography means literally a description of books. Because your research may involve the use of periodicals, films, art works, photographs, etc. "Works Cited" is a more precise descriptive term than bibliography. An Annotated Bibliography or Annotated Works Cited page offers brief critiques and descriptions of the works listed. A Works Consulted page lists those works you have used but not cited. Avoid using this format. As with other elements of a research paper there are specific guidelines for the placement and the appearance of the Works Cited page. The following guidelines comply with MLA style: The Work Cited page is placed at the end of your paper and numbered consecutively with the body of your paper. Center the title and place it one inch from the top of your page. Do not quote or underline the title. Double space the entire page, both within and between entries. The entries are arranged alphabetically by the author's last name or by the title of the article or book being cited. If the title begins with an article (a, an, the) alphabetize by the next word. If you cite two or more works by the same author, list the titles in alphabetical order. Begin every entry after the first with three hyphens followed by a period. All entries begin at the left margin but subsequent lines are indented five spaces. Be sure that each entry cited on the Works Cited page corresponds to a specific citation within your paper. Refer to the the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (104- 182) for detailed descriptions of Work Cited entries. Citing sources from online databases is a relatively new phenomenon. Make sure to ask your professor about citing these sources and which style to use. V. Draft, Revise, Rewrite, Rethink Back to Top "There are days when the result is so bad that no fewer than five revisions are required. In contrast, when I'm greatly inspired, only four revisions are needed." --John Kenneth Galbraith Try freewriting your first draft. Freewriting is a discovery process during which the writer freely explores a topic. Let your creative juices flow. In Writing without Teachers , Peter Elbow asserts that "[a]lmost everybody interposes a massive and complicated series of editings between the time words start to be born into consciousness and when they finally come off the end of the pencil or typewriter [or word processor] onto the page" (5). Do not let your internal judge interfere with this first draft. Creating and revising are two very different functions. Don't confuse them! If you stop to check spelling, punctuation, or grammar, you disrupt the flow of creative energy. Create; then fix it later. When material you have researched comes easily to mind, include it. Add a quick citation, one you can come back to later to check for form, and get on with your discovery. In subsequent drafts, focus on creating an essay that flows smoothly, supports fully, and speaks clearly and interestingly. Add style to substance. Create a smooth flow of words, ideas and paragraphs. Rearrange paragraphs for a logical progression of information. Transition is essential if you want your reader to follow you smoothly from introduction to conclusion. Transitional words and phrases stitch your ideas together; they provide coherence within the essay. External transition: Words and phrases that are added to a sentence as overt signs of transition are obvious and effective, but should not be overused, as they may draw attention to themselves and away from ideas. Examples of external transition are "however," "then," "next," "therefore." "first," "moreover," and "on the other hand." Internal transition is more subtle. Key words in the introduction become golden threads when they appear in the paper's body and conclusion. When the writer hears a key word repeated too often, however, she/he replaces it with a synonym or a pronoun. Below are examples of internal transition. Transitional sentences create a logical flow from paragraph to paragraph. Iclude individual words, phrases, or clauses that refer to previous ideas and that point ahead to new ones. They are usually placed at the end or at the beginning of a paragraph. A transitional paragraph conducts your reader from one part of the paper to another. It may be only a few sentences long. Each paragraph of the body of the paper should contain adequate support for its one governing idea. Speak/write clearly, in your own voice. Tone: The paper's tone, whether formal, ironic, or humorous, should be appropriate for the audience and the subject. Voice: Keep you language honest. Your paper should sound like you. Understand, paraphrase, absorb, and express in your own words the information you have researched. Avoid phony language. Sentence formation: When you polish your sentences, read them aloud for word choice and word placement. Be concise. Strunk and White in The Elements of Style advise the writer to "omit needless words" (23). First, however, you must recognize them. Keep yourself and your reader interested. In fact, Strunk's 1918 writing advice is still well worth pondering. First, deliver on your promises. Be sure the body of your paper fulfills the promise of the introduction. Avoid the obvious. Offer new insights. Reveal the unexpected. Have you crafted your conclusion as carefully as you have your introduction? Conclusions are not merely the repetition of your thesis. The conclusion of a research paper is a synthesis of the information presented in the body. Your research has led you to conclusions and opinions that have helped you understand your thesis more deeply and more clearly. Lift your reader to the full level of understanding that you have achieved. Revision means "to look again." Find a peer reader to read your paper with you present. Or, visit your college or university's writing lab. Guide your reader's responses by asking specific questions. Are you unsure of the logical order of your paragraphs? Do you want to know whether you have supported all opinions adequately? Are you concerned about punctuation or grammar? Ask that these issues be addressed. You are in charge. Here are some techniques that may prove helpful when you are revising alone or with a reader. When you edit for spelling errors read the sentences backwards. This procedure will help you look closely at individual words. Always read your paper aloud. Hearing your own words puts them in a new light. Listen to the flow of ideas and of language. Decide whether or not the voice sounds honest and the tone is appropriate to the purpose of the paper and to your audience. Listen for awkward or lumpy wording. Find the one right word, Eliminate needless words. Combine sentences. Kill the passive voice. Eliminate was/were/is/are constructions. They're lame and anti-historical. Be ruthless. If an idea doesn't serve your thesis, banish it, even if it's one of your favorite bits of prose. In the margins, write the major topic of each paragraph. By outlining after you have written the paper, you are once again evaluating your paper's organization. OK, you've got the process down. Now execute! And enjoy! It's not everyday that you get to make history. VI. For Further Reading: Works Cited Back to Top Barnet, Sylvan, and Hugo Bedau. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: A Brief Guide to Argument. Boston: Bedford, 1993. Brent, Doug. Reading as Rhetorical Invention: Knowledge,Persuasion and the Teaching of Research-Based Writing. Urbana: NCTE, 1992. Elbow, Peter. Writing without Teachers. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973. Gibladi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 4th ed. New York: Modern Language Association, 1995. Horvitz, Deborah. "Nameless Ghosts: Possession and Dispossession in Beloved." Studies in American Fiction , Vol. 17, No. 2, Autum, 1989, pp. 157-167. Republished in the Literature Research Center. Gale Group. (1 January 1999). Klauser, Henriette Anne. Writing on Both Sides of the Brain: Breakthrough Techniques for People Who Write. Philadelphia: Harper, 1986. Rico, Gabriele Lusser. Writing the Natural Way: Using Right Brain Techniques to Release Your Expressive Powers. Los Angeles: Houghton, 1983. Sorenson, Sharon. The Research Paper: A Contemporary Approach. New York: AMSCO, 1994. Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. 3rd ed. New York: MacMillan, 1979. Back to Top This guide adapted from materials published by Thomson Gale, publishers. For free resources, including a generic guide to writing term papers, see the Gale.com website , which also includes product information for schools.

Page revision date: 23-Mar-2009

• Privacy Policy

Buy Me a Coffee

Home » Historical Research – Types, Methods and Examples

Historical Research – Types, Methods and Examples

Table of Contents

Historical Research

Definition:

Historical research is the process of investigating and studying past events, people, and societies using a variety of sources and methods. This type of research aims to reconstruct and interpret the past based on the available evidence.

Types of Historical Research

There are several types of historical research, including:

Descriptive Research

This type of historical research focuses on describing events, people, or cultures in detail. It can involve examining artifacts, documents, or other sources of information to create a detailed account of what happened or existed.

Analytical Research

This type of historical research aims to explain why events, people, or cultures occurred in a certain way. It involves analyzing data to identify patterns, causes, and effects, and making interpretations based on this analysis.

Comparative Research

This type of historical research involves comparing two or more events, people, or cultures to identify similarities and differences. This can help researchers understand the unique characteristics of each and how they interacted with each other.

Interpretive Research

This type of historical research focuses on interpreting the meaning of past events, people, or cultures. It can involve analyzing cultural symbols, beliefs, and practices to understand their significance in a particular historical context.

Quantitative Research

This type of historical research involves using statistical methods to analyze historical data. It can involve examining demographic information, economic indicators, or other quantitative data to identify patterns and trends.

Qualitative Research

This type of historical research involves examining non-numerical data such as personal accounts, letters, or diaries. It can provide insights into the experiences and perspectives of individuals during a particular historical period.

Data Collection Methods

Data Collection Methods are as follows:

• Archival research : This involves analyzing documents and records that have been preserved over time, such as government records, diaries, letters, newspapers, and photographs. Archival research is often conducted in libraries, archives, and museums.
• Oral history : This involves conducting interviews with individuals who have lived through a particular historical period or event. Oral history can provide a unique perspective on past events and can help to fill gaps in the historical record.
• Artifact analysis: This involves examining physical objects from the past, such as tools, clothing, and artwork, to gain insights into past cultures and practices.
• Secondary sources: This involves analyzing published works, such as books, articles, and academic papers, that discuss past events and cultures. Secondary sources can provide context and insights into the historical period being studied.
• Statistical analysis : This involves analyzing numerical data from the past, such as census records or economic data, to identify patterns and trends.
• Fieldwork : This involves conducting on-site research in a particular location, such as visiting a historical site or conducting ethnographic research in a particular community. Fieldwork can provide a firsthand understanding of the culture and environment being studied.
• Content analysis: This involves analyzing the content of media from the past, such as films, television programs, and advertisements, to gain insights into cultural attitudes and beliefs.

Data Analysis Methods

• Content analysis : This involves analyzing the content of written or visual material, such as books, newspapers, or photographs, to identify patterns and themes. Content analysis can be used to identify changes in cultural values and beliefs over time.
• Textual analysis : This involves analyzing written texts, such as letters or diaries, to understand the experiences and perspectives of individuals during a particular historical period. Textual analysis can provide insights into how people lived and thought in the past.
• Discourse analysis : This involves analyzing how language is used to construct meaning and power relations in a particular historical period. Discourse analysis can help to identify how social and political ideologies were constructed and maintained over time.
• Statistical analysis: This involves using statistical methods to analyze numerical data, such as census records or economic data, to identify patterns and trends. Statistical analysis can help to identify changes in population demographics, economic conditions, and other factors over time.
• Comparative analysis : This involves comparing data from two or more historical periods or events to identify similarities and differences. Comparative analysis can help to identify patterns and trends that may not be apparent from analyzing data from a single historical period.
• Qualitative analysis: This involves analyzing non-numerical data, such as oral history interviews or ethnographic field notes, to identify themes and patterns. Qualitative analysis can provide a rich understanding of the experiences and perspectives of individuals in the past.

Historical Research Methodology

Here are the general steps involved in historical research methodology:

• Define the research question: Start by identifying a research question that you want to answer through your historical research. This question should be focused, specific, and relevant to your research goals.
• Review the literature: Conduct a review of the existing literature on the topic of your research question. This can involve reading books, articles, and academic papers to gain a thorough understanding of the existing research.
• Develop a research design : Develop a research design that outlines the methods you will use to collect and analyze data. This design should be based on the research question and should be feasible given the resources and time available.
• Collect data: Use the methods outlined in your research design to collect data on past events, people, and cultures. This can involve archival research, oral history interviews, artifact analysis, and other data collection methods.
• Analyze data : Analyze the data you have collected using the methods outlined in your research design. This can involve content analysis, textual analysis, statistical analysis, and other data analysis methods.
• Interpret findings : Use the results of your data analysis to draw meaningful insights and conclusions related to your research question. These insights should be grounded in the data and should be relevant to the research goals.
• Communicate results: Communicate your findings through a research report, academic paper, or other means. This should be done in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner, with appropriate citations and references to the literature.

Applications of Historical Research

Historical research has a wide range of applications in various fields, including:

• Education : Historical research can be used to develop curriculum materials that reflect a more accurate and inclusive representation of history. It can also be used to provide students with a deeper understanding of past events and cultures.
• Museums : Historical research is used to develop exhibits, programs, and other materials for museums. It can provide a more accurate and engaging presentation of historical events and artifacts.
• Public policy : Historical research is used to inform public policy decisions by providing insights into the historical context of current issues. It can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of past policies and programs.
• Business : Historical research can be used by businesses to understand the evolution of their industry and to identify trends that may affect their future success. It can also be used to develop marketing strategies that resonate with customers’ historical interests and values.
• Law : Historical research is used in legal proceedings to provide evidence and context for cases involving historical events or practices. It can also be used to inform the development of new laws and policies.
• Genealogy : Historical research can be used by individuals to trace their family history and to understand their ancestral roots.
• Cultural preservation : Historical research is used to preserve cultural heritage by documenting and interpreting past events, practices, and traditions. It can also be used to identify and preserve historical landmarks and artifacts.

Examples of Historical Research

Examples of Historical Research are as follows:

• Examining the history of race relations in the United States: Historical research could be used to explore the historical roots of racial inequality and injustice in the United States. This could help inform current efforts to address systemic racism and promote social justice.
• Tracing the evolution of political ideologies: Historical research could be used to study the development of political ideologies over time. This could help to contextualize current political debates and provide insights into the origins and evolution of political beliefs and values.
• Analyzing the impact of technology on society : Historical research could be used to explore the impact of technology on society over time. This could include examining the impact of previous technological revolutions (such as the industrial revolution) on society, as well as studying the current impact of emerging technologies on society and the environment.
• Documenting the history of marginalized communities : Historical research could be used to document the history of marginalized communities (such as LGBTQ+ communities or indigenous communities). This could help to preserve cultural heritage, promote social justice, and promote a more inclusive understanding of history.

Purpose of Historical Research

The purpose of historical research is to study the past in order to gain a better understanding of the present and to inform future decision-making. Some specific purposes of historical research include:

• To understand the origins of current events, practices, and institutions : Historical research can be used to explore the historical roots of current events, practices, and institutions. By understanding how things developed over time, we can gain a better understanding of the present.
• To develop a more accurate and inclusive understanding of history : Historical research can be used to correct inaccuracies and biases in historical narratives. By exploring different perspectives and sources of information, we can develop a more complete and nuanced understanding of history.
• To inform decision-making: Historical research can be used to inform decision-making in various fields, including education, public policy, business, and law. By understanding the historical context of current issues, we can make more informed decisions about how to address them.
• To preserve cultural heritage : Historical research can be used to document and preserve cultural heritage, including traditions, practices, and artifacts. By understanding the historical significance of these cultural elements, we can work to preserve them for future generations.
• To stimulate curiosity and critical thinking: Historical research can be used to stimulate curiosity and critical thinking about the past. By exploring different historical perspectives and interpretations, we can develop a more critical and reflective approach to understanding history and its relevance to the present.

When to use Historical Research

Historical research can be useful in a variety of contexts. Here are some examples of when historical research might be particularly appropriate:

• When examining the historical roots of current events: Historical research can be used to explore the historical roots of current events, practices, and institutions. By understanding how things developed over time, we can gain a better understanding of the present.
• When examining the historical context of a particular topic : Historical research can be used to explore the historical context of a particular topic, such as a social issue, political debate, or scientific development. By understanding the historical context, we can gain a more nuanced understanding of the topic and its significance.
• When exploring the evolution of a particular field or discipline : Historical research can be used to explore the evolution of a particular field or discipline, such as medicine, law, or art. By understanding the historical development of the field, we can gain a better understanding of its current state and future directions.
• When examining the impact of past events on current society : Historical research can be used to examine the impact of past events (such as wars, revolutions, or social movements) on current society. By understanding the historical context and impact of these events, we can gain insights into current social and political issues.
• When studying the cultural heritage of a particular community or group : Historical research can be used to document and preserve the cultural heritage of a particular community or group. By understanding the historical significance of cultural practices, traditions, and artifacts, we can work to preserve them for future generations.

Characteristics of Historical Research

The following are some characteristics of historical research:

• Focus on the past : Historical research focuses on events, people, and phenomena of the past. It seeks to understand how things developed over time and how they relate to current events.
• Reliance on primary sources: Historical research relies on primary sources such as letters, diaries, newspapers, government documents, and other artifacts from the period being studied. These sources provide firsthand accounts of events and can help researchers gain a more accurate understanding of the past.
• Interpretation of data : Historical research involves interpretation of data from primary sources. Researchers analyze and interpret data to draw conclusions about the past.
• Use of multiple sources: Historical research often involves using multiple sources of data to gain a more complete understanding of the past. By examining a range of sources, researchers can cross-reference information and validate their findings.
• Importance of context: Historical research emphasizes the importance of context. Researchers analyze the historical context in which events occurred and consider how that context influenced people’s actions and decisions.
• Subjectivity : Historical research is inherently subjective, as researchers interpret data and draw conclusions based on their own perspectives and biases. Researchers must be aware of their own biases and strive for objectivity in their analysis.
• Importance of historical significance: Historical research emphasizes the importance of historical significance. Researchers consider the historical significance of events, people, and phenomena and their impact on the present and future.
• Use of qualitative methods : Historical research often uses qualitative methods such as content analysis, discourse analysis, and narrative analysis to analyze data and draw conclusions about the past.

Advantages of Historical Research

There are several advantages to historical research:

• Provides a deeper understanding of the past : Historical research can provide a more comprehensive understanding of past events and how they have shaped current social, political, and economic conditions. This can help individuals and organizations make informed decisions about the future.
• Helps preserve cultural heritage: Historical research can be used to document and preserve cultural heritage. By studying the history of a particular culture, researchers can gain insights into the cultural practices and beliefs that have shaped that culture over time.
• Provides insights into long-term trends : Historical research can provide insights into long-term trends and patterns. By studying historical data over time, researchers can identify patterns and trends that may be difficult to discern from short-term data.
• Facilitates the development of hypotheses: Historical research can facilitate the development of hypotheses about how past events have influenced current conditions. These hypotheses can be tested using other research methods, such as experiments or surveys.
• Helps identify root causes of social problems : Historical research can help identify the root causes of social problems. By studying the historical context in which these problems developed, researchers can gain a better understanding of how they emerged and what factors may have contributed to their development.
• Provides a source of inspiration: Historical research can provide a source of inspiration for individuals and organizations seeking to address current social, political, and economic challenges. By studying the accomplishments and struggles of past generations, researchers can gain insights into how to address current challenges.

Limitations of Historical Research

Some Limitations of Historical Research are as follows:

• Reliance on incomplete or biased data: Historical research is often limited by the availability and quality of data. Many primary sources have been lost, destroyed, or are inaccessible, making it difficult to get a complete picture of historical events. Additionally, some primary sources may be biased or represent only one perspective on an event.
• Difficulty in generalizing findings: Historical research is often specific to a particular time and place and may not be easily generalized to other contexts. This makes it difficult to draw broad conclusions about human behavior or social phenomena.
• Lack of control over variables : Historical research often lacks control over variables. Researchers cannot manipulate or control historical events, making it difficult to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
• Subjectivity of interpretation : Historical research is often subjective because researchers must interpret data and draw conclusions based on their own biases and perspectives. Different researchers may interpret the same data differently, leading to different conclusions.
• Limited ability to test hypotheses: Historical research is often limited in its ability to test hypotheses. Because the events being studied have already occurred, researchers cannot manipulate variables or conduct experiments to test their hypotheses.
• Lack of objectivity: Historical research is often subjective, and researchers must be aware of their own biases and strive for objectivity in their analysis. However, it can be difficult to maintain objectivity when studying events that are emotionally charged or controversial.
• Limited generalizability: Historical research is often limited in its generalizability, as the events and conditions being studied may be specific to a particular time and place. This makes it difficult to draw broad conclusions that apply to other contexts or time periods.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

You may also like

Documentary Research – Types, Methods and...

Scientific Research – Types, Purpose and Guide

Original Research – Definition, Examples, Guide

Humanities Research – Types, Methods and Examples

Artistic Research – Methods, Types and Examples

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

6 Choosing and Narrowing a Topic

Choosing a topic to research.

Students often struggle to  choose their topics  of study or interest and therefore do not know where to start when it comes to the work of a history class. Here are some points to consider:

The most important element in choosing a topic for an undergraduate history class is to make sure that you can remain interested in the topic. Start by listing subjects, time periods, scenarios that interest you. Then consider whether or not you might want to focus on an individual, a singular event, a movement that crossed several eras, or some other aspect of the past. You might also consider what kinds of sources interest you—personal correspondence or diaries? Political speeches? Videos? Scientific treatises? Maps? Advertisements? Some of the best research papers focus on a narrow range of sources, but because they are examined within a new framework, or particularly in-depth, they yield fascinating new analyses.

Topic Finder and Term Clusters

For those with access to UTA’s databases, you can “map” terms that interest you on Gale Virtual Reference library and see related terms for entries in GVRL’s resources. For example, if you put in “pandemic” and “history” you get citations to a number of related individuals and events of previous pandemics in global history. See this link to Gale Virtural Resource Library and click on “Topic Finder” at top of page. https://login.ezproxy.uta.edu/login?url=https://go.gale.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=txshracd2597

The second most important element is to ascertain whether you can access the sources necessary to answer your research question. Are primary sources available? Do you know—or can you find—some of the secondary resources, that is, the historians who have preceded you and have written about the topic? [See Locating Sources ] You may be particularly interested in ancient or medieval history, or the history of an indigenous people far removed from the United States. Unfortunately, the older the primary source or the further removed from the US experience it is, the less likely it is to be accessible to a public university student. Sometimes you can find a unique digitized or published set of primary sources but counting on such a find is risky. You might, however, be able to find contemporary sources on the representation of your topic—say nineteenth-century “gentlemen archaeologists” who studied those distant peoples, or twentieth-century newspaper or magazine articles that discussed an ancient find—thus allowing you to at least see how others from a more modern era have portrayed those times or individuals that interest you. Remaining flexible and creative when honing your topic is key.

Occasionally, a professor will direct students toward specific topics or otherwise offer parameters. In this instance, make sure you understand the scope, or timeline/focus, of your topic. Is your instructor looking to see if you can analyze change over a broad swath of time—centuries—or (more likely) to explain the motivations of an individual or what happened at a specific point in time? What sort of allowances will your instructor make for your own take on the topic? Does your instructor have in mind a particular sort of primary source analysis, such as considering maps or the artifacts of popular culture? Even with assigned topics, you should be able to find a research question that will interest you and be accessible to you with a bit of creativity.

Narrowing down your Research Question

Once you have chosen your topic or subject, it is time to frame your project by asking the right  Historical Questions.  Questions form the backbone of historical analysis and direct the historian as they complete the research portion of the assignment. By developing a proper set of questions, historians can set effective and efficient parameters on their research as they begin to study their accumulated evidence. For example: What role did women play in the American Revolution? This question defines both the subject matter of the research (women) and the time period (American Revolution) while also directing our reading of the documents. We are now going to look for women who played active roles during the war, as well as the impact of those actions. But it would be wise to narrow your topic further still if you only have a semester in which to produce your paper. You might do so by place or time. What role did women in Massachusetts play during the opening years of the Revolution? Or what was the contribution of a particular woman—say for example how did Mercy Otis Warren affect the development of Revolutionary politics of Colonial Massachusetts?

You’ll notice by this last question that the historical question you ask should define the scope of your research in such a way that you will be able to isolate your subject quite a bit. Though you started with a broad interest—women in the American Revolution—your research question has allowed you to focus on a person who left sources, and a problem that needs answering—what did Warren do in the context of her own community in the years leading up to the American Revolution? For the most part, undergraduate students of history tend to attempt subjects that are too broad for fear that they will not be able to “fill up ten pages” (or twenty or five) unless they aim broadly. But this assumption sets them up for failure, in that trying to tackle a large question, well-trodden by other historians, they are unable to demonstrate the primary source analysis skills that their professors most want to see. Although you should consult closely with your instructor, the best rule of thumb is to narrow your topic into a question that has specificity by time, place, and primary source collections .

Don’t worry though. Most research topics lend themselves to multiple historical questions, any one of which would make a decent research paper for an undergraduate student. By answering these with proper analysis of evidence historians are capable of crafting well-supported arguments and conclusions.

Recapping: How to make sure you find a topic for your paper that works

1. Be curious about a topic for which there exists primary sources –either in a local archive, in published primary sources, or a digital collection. What would you like to know? Brainstorm with many questions. Perhaps you might start with:

• An event (a strike, an invention, a battle, a treaty, a new law): what was the cause? Who was responsible? Why him/her? Why did it happen when it did? Can I compare it to some similar event, and thereby evaluate what was unique about this cause/outcome?
• An on-going trend (protests, women smoking, anti-tobacco movement): what was it like for people involved in this trend? Why did they make the choices they did? Why not other ones? How did they choose to participate?
• Individual’s or groups’ motivations and responses – what motivated an individual? How did others understand an event or a remarkable individual? What led a group to organize?

2. Choose the best answerable problem from these questions . This involves narrowing the question, so that rather than asking about motivations generally, your research question might be “Why did x act as she did during the debate over the initial passage of this legislation?” OR “What were three major concerns for y when he was involved in that on-going trend?” Some suggestions for narrowing include:

• Considering a specific time period (the background or ten years after a new invention)
• Assessing the impact in a different location, such as a town you know something about, or have access to the newspapers for.
• Focusing on a single individual and tracing their own experience in the context of a an important event or emerging trend.
• Being pragmatic; narrow your question in light of available primary sources to answer your question.

3. Draft an argument or hypothesis based on that question , and make sure it’s grounded in an historical context (that is, not a trans-historical “people are like this” explanation). For example,

• X pursued this legislation because she was inspired and educated by her father, who was also a reformer.
• This enslaved man who corresponded with his master in the 1850s spoke in a sort of code, rarely revealing sincere anger or irritation.

For further help in narrowing down a topic check out Learning to do Historical Research which has additional helpful resources

How History is Made: A Student’s Guide to Reading, Writing, and Thinking in the Discipline Copyright © 2022 by Stephanie Cole; Kimberly Breuer; Scott W. Palmer; and Brandon Blakeslee is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

506 Interesting History Topics to Research

Did you know that time travel is possible? Researching historical topics allows us to do that. It not only reveals the origins of our existence. It also tells us who we are, and even enables us to glimpse into the future!

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

The process of investigating a topic in history is called a historical inquiry. Here are some recommendations on how to get started:

• Select an interesting history topic. It can be focused on an event, a person, or an idea.
• Define a research question within that topic. Make it narrow and manageable.
• Analyze historical data from different sources .
• Create a historical narrative using the data you’ve found. Use evidence to support your ideas.

Remember: working on a history project can be easy and fun if you find a research idea that excites you! Custom-writing.org experts are here to help in case you’re stuck when choosing a history topic. In our collection below, you can find cool historical events to write about. There are numerous topics on ancient and modern history of the US & the world. Go on reading to find the most inspiring idea! After you’re done but still not sure about a suitable variant, you can try a history topic generator with all the keyword options from our list.

• 🔝 Top 10 Topics
• 🇺🇸 US History
• 🌎 World History
• 🏰 European History
• 💂 British History
• 📜 History before 1500
• 🏭 Modern History
• 📡 20th Century History
• 🔝 20 Research Questions
• 🔍 References

🔝 Top 10 Interesting History Topics

• The US’s role in World War I
• Child labor during the Puritan era
• Religion during the Aztec times
• Causes of the Battle of Germantown
• Economic impact of the Titanic ’s sinking
• Bracero Program’s economic effect
• Cultural impact of the Spanish-American War
• Industrial Revolution’s impact on the environment
• The goal of Protestors at the 1968 Democratic Convention
• Women’s employment during the Great Depression

🇺🇸 Interesting US History Topics

The history of the United States starts before the European colonization . Then it follows a turbulent period of building an entirely new nation. In a short time, America became a global superpower. From the first colonies to Roaring Twenties and the Cold War – discover the highlights of American history!

• What were the relations between the first American colonies? That is a fascinating historical question for a research paper. See how the early settlements co-existed before the 1760s. Learn how their alliances were used for asserting defense and control. 
• Alternatively, you could study the Stamp Act crisis of 1765 . See how it helped to unite the colonies and set the basis for future partnerships. 
• The society of Puritans : truth and myths is a fascinating topic for those who are interested in people’s psychology and motivations. Puritans were a rigorous and highly religious society rooted in misogyny. See if they were really as prudent as today’s media portrays them. 
• Tobacco Trade in early American colonies is another great US history topic. Tobacco plantations in Virginia became a way for laborers to be granted freedom. This caused a rapid expansion of the New World colonies. 
• What are the reasons behind the Salem witch trials ? That is one of the best US history research topics. A group of girls caused mass hysteria in superstitious Puritan society. Learn about their possible motives and the gruesome consequences of their actions. 
• In the early colonies, there existed laws aimed at restricting slaves’ behaviors. Choose Slave Codes and their influence on society as your essay topic and learn about the ruinous consequences of this practice. 
• The Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party were the culmination of the growing tension between the colonists and the British authorities. You can write an excellent paper about the reasons behind these events. 
• One of the iconic documents in US history, the Declaration of Independence , can be the subject of your essay. See how different colonies contributed to the drafts of the Declaration. 
• The American Revolution was a conflict between America and Britain. You can write about the way the two countries perceived each other and how it influenced the outcome of the revolt. 
• You can choose to write about an important person in US history. What made George Washington a key figure in Revolutionary America? That is a fascinating paper topic. One of the greatest leaders in US history, he proved that he could be trusted with power. 
• How the Battle of Saratoga changed the course of the war? This one is another excellent history research essay topic. The victory in this battle provided Americans with much-needed confidence and gave them a new ally – France. 
• What factors helped Americans win the revolutionary war ? That is an exciting topic for high school students who want to understand early American history. You can mention the difficulties faced by the British, as well as the most prominent advantages of the American army. 
• You can write a fascinating argumentative essay on the American Revolution and its effects on society.  
• Another topic is life after the Revolution. Discover how life in America changed for women, African Americans , and Native Americans after the Revolution. 
• The creation of the American constitution is full of twists and turns. Americans had many different views on how their country should be governed. See how they managed to reach a compromise. 
• Southern society before the Revolution is a topic that includes the analysis of the most prominent features of the Old South, such as its conservatism and emphasis on honor. 
• Closely connected to it is the topic of the American South as a slave society before 1865.  
• See how the early Americans justified slavery from the Biblical, historical, and economic points of view. 
• The American North before the revolution had many intriguing features, such as Manifest Destiny , progressiveness, and a riotous optimism… you can discuss it in an essay! 
• Reconstruction of the South took place after the Revolution. See how it was planned and carried out over the course of 12 years. (You can focus on a particularly interesting aspect, such as the lives of African American people during the Reconstruction.) 
• How the US became the world’s largest industrial nation? That is an interesting history research paper idea. During the second half of the 19th century, the US developed very rapidly. See how the Industrialization led to the birth of Capitalism as we know it today! 
• Women in American society of the late 19th century were on the way of transforming the old values. They didn’t like the cult of domesticity and wanted to take an active part in society. Learn how the traditional female roles were changing during that epoch. 
• The cowboy era: truth and myths is an exciting topic about one of the quintessential American images. Discover how the cowboys really lived, and what led to the decline of the cattle industry. 
• The conflicts with Native Americans in the late 19th century is an important controversial topic. The closure of the final frontier was achieved through bloodshed and horrifying violence. Learn about the reasons behind these events. 
• An exciting essay can be written about urbanization and immigration of the early 20th century. The glamour of American big city life was alluring to many people from different countries. Unfortunately, the reality was not all that glamorous… 
• If you choose the Progressive Era of the USA as your essay topic, you can learn about the origins of modern activism groups. See how they were fighting with organized crime, inequality, and many other vital issues. 
• A closely connected topic is women’s suffrage movement . The long struggle for women’s right to vote resulted in the Nineteenth Amendment. It was an essential step towards equality. 
• The preservation movement of the early XX century is another topic concerning activism. President Roosevelt recognized that industrialization damages America’s wildlife. See how his policies gave rise to nature conservation and even Scouting! 
• You can write a great essay on what caused the financial panic of 1907. The financial panic rocked Wall Street and exposed many problems with the American economy at the time. 
• The Spanish-American war: causes and consequences is an intriguing essay topic. Learn how the United States managed to win the war while not being prepared for it at all. 
• Write an essay about American expansion after 1877 and see how America was stretching its boundaries overseas. There were many reasons for it, including nationalist, economic, and religious. 
• USA and Asia: the Boxer Rebellion is a topic closely connected to the expansion policies. In 1900, an attempt to occupy China resulted in disaster. Discuss the conflict and its consequences in an essay. 
• An essential part of American history is wars. When Germany sank the ship Lusitania, killing many Americans, the country stopped being neutral. Choose the USA in World War I as your essay topic and see where it led. 
• One of the most fascinating United States history research paper topics is Roaring Twenties : the culmination of the industrial era. During that epoch, the standard of living increased like never before. See how the country changed in just ten years. 
• Prohibition era: the rise of organized crime is a topic that includes many interesting aspects, such as highly romanticized gangsters. However, the reality was not all that romantic. You can write about the reasons why Prohibition era turned out to be a disaster. 
• The birth of mass media: radio, cinema, early television is one of fun and easy history topics for research paper for middle school students. Learn about the origins of the entertainment culture and mass media stars in times of great uncertainty. 
• Alternatively, you can focus on the question of what led to the birth of consumerism ? Back in the 1920s, there were many technological advances for the middle-class people. This gave rise to advertising as we know it today. 
• When America seemed to be at the peak of its triumph, everything fell apart. The beginning of the Great Depression is an intriguing subject. Learn about the chain of events that plunged the US into the longest and deepest crisis in its history. 
• Write about the role of the USA in World War II and see how unresolved tension left after World War I influenced the political decisions of the Allies. 
• The Vietnam War has left many scars on the American nation. Learn about the causes and consequences of the war that kept influencing US foreign policy for many decades. 
• Watergate scandal and its lasting legacy is one of the most interesting American history topics. Discuss how the scandal led to paranoia and disillusionment in the US government. 
• You may like to explore the question: who won the Cold War ? While no one actually won the Cold War, it did influence ex-Soviet countries and the US in many negative ways. Discuss them in your essay! 

Here are some other samples of American history research paper topics:

• Quakers: their views and legacy.
• Survival in the Jamestown colony.
• French intervention in the American revolution .
• The true story of Pocahontas.
• Eleanor Roosevelt and her role in American history .
• How did Valley Forge change the course of the Revolutionary war ?
• What is Manifest destiny as a concept?
• American political and economic history .
• Daniel Boone and the Wilderness Road.
• Donner party: the true story of survival.
• American revolutions in Early 19th century
• The historical significance of the Oregon Trail.
• Californian Gold Rush : outcomes and consequences.
• Why and how did the US get involved in the Korean war?
• The Lewis and Clark expedition.
• Railroads and their impact on the US economy.
• Social welfare history in the USA
• What were the relations between America and France during the revolutionary war?
• The Underground Railroad: history and impact.
• Colonial unrest in Virginia, New York and Massachusetts .
• African Americans in the Civil War.
• The Civil War. The letters from the soldiers .
• How did the Federalist Party create the basis for the national economy and foreign policy?
• In what ways was the Whiskey Rebellion important?
• Benjamin Franklin’s biography .
• The American identity during Revolution: Loyalists vs. Patriots.
• James Madison and his role im shaping the American Constitution .
• Founding Fathers and republicanism.
• In what ways does the Constitution reflect the principles of both republican and democratic forms of government ?
• Shay’s rebellion and its aftermath.
• What is the legacy of the Amistad Case?
• Malcolm X as civil rights activist .
• Women in the Civil War.
• Racism in America between 1783 and 1836 .
• Alexander Hamilton and the foundation of American government.
• The legacy of John Brown .
• The civil rights movement in USA .
• Roger Sherman and the Connecticut Compromise.
• How did the Missouri Compromise trigger the Civil War?
• Dunmore Proclamation and its impact.
• What was the controversy around the Tenure of Office Act?
• How did the Mexican-American war help to shape the geographical boundaries of the USA?
• How did Black Laws affect the lives of African Americans?
• Ulysses S. Grant as a military leader and as a president.
• The true story of the notorious Wyatt Earp.
• Frederick Douglass’ fight for freedom.
• What are the reasons behind the lasting legacy of the Monroe doctrine ?
• Indian reservations: truth and myths.
• Native Americans in the 19th century: assimilation and resistance.
• Outstanding Native American leaders: Sitting Bull, Tecumseh, Geronimo.
• What was the impact of the Great Chicago Fire?
• Muckrakers and the birth of investigative journalism.
• Rockefeller, Carnegie, Vanderbilt : the first tycoons.
• Why did the Homestead Strike fail?
• Child labor in the 19th century US.
• The 19th century nationalism in America.
• World War I and the Christmas Truce.
• The Battle of the Somme and its legacy.
• How did the building of the Panama Canal affect world trade?
• San Francisco earthquake: immediate and long-term effects.
• The history of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.
• The reaction of the American citizens to the US entry into World War I .
• What was the impact of the Spanish flu epidemic in the US?
• Outstanding women: Dorothea Dix, Ida B. Wells , Alice Paul.
• The controversy of the Scopes Monkey Trial .
• The beginning of the Hollywood industry.
• Woodrow Wilson’s first and second administrations.
• Presidency and post-presidency of Theodore Roosevelt .
• What factors fuelled the rise of the Ku Klux Klan ?
• Dust Bowl : causes and consequences.
• Harlem Renaissance and its impact on art and culture.
• What was the role of women in World War II ?
• The American Dream in the postwar US.
• Howard Hughes: magnate, aviator, eccentric.
• Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964: whites in the movement .
• How did the 1968 Democratic Convention change America’s political landscape?
• Orangeburg Massacre: reasons, backlash, and the aftermath.
• 1969 Moon landing and the Space Race.
• The legacy of the Woodstock Music Festival.
• What was the cultural impact of the Kennedy assassinations ?
• The Freedom of Information Act: pros and cons.
• Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society.
• Women in the Vietnam War.
• Manson family : truth and myths.
• The changing attitudes of the 60s.
• The history and legacy of Pop Art .
• Three Mile Island : the worst commercial nuclear accident in the history of the USA.
• The global nuclear arms race and the anti-nuclear movement.
• What were the lasting effects of the energy crisis ?
• McCarthyism and Red Scare.
• Richard Nixon: presidency and impeachment.
• Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy.
• How did the Exxon Valdez oil spill change the oil industry?
• Bill Clinton’s New Economy.
• The aftermath of 9/11: Ground Zero.

🌎 Interesting World History Topics

World history studies past, present, and future from a global perspective. It includes many cultures and nations, each with their unique qualities. You can focus on differences or common features between cultures. Choose a global history research paper topic that you find particularly interesting and write an excellent world history research paper!

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

• Genghis Khan is an outstanding Mongol leader who can be the subject of your essay. Learn how he managed to establish the largest land empire in history while bringing together the East and the West.
• Or you can choose to write about an extraordinary woman, such as the Empress Dowager Cixi. She has been called a ruthless despot for many years, but currently, her legacy is being re-evaluated.
• An exciting period in the history of China, the fall of the Qing Dynasty , marked the end of the Chinese Empire. A study of these events could be a great essay subject.
• Alternatively, you can write about the fall of the Aztec civilization. It’s one of the most interesting world history research paper topics. Discover what led to the end of the most intricate civilization in Mesoamerica.
• Persian Gulf War is one of the most significant military operations of the past 50 years. What started as a “limited” war turned into a decades-long conflict and had severe environmental consequences, which you can discuss in your essay.
• Alternatively, you can choose the Korean War . The conflict between Soviet-backed North Korean and pro-Western South Korean countries was the first military manifestation of the Cold War . The peninsula remains divided to this day.
• Or you can write about the Russo-Japanese war. It is sometimes called World War Zero because the consequences of this conflict influenced both subsequent World Wars.
• You can also choose a significant event from the Vietnam War , such as the fall of Saigon. It marked the end of the war and the unification of Vietnam into the Socialist Republic we know today.
• The Russian Revolution lasted for ten days in the 1900s. It shook the world and led to the rise of communism. You can write about the chain of events that triggered it or discuss its long-lasting consequences.
• Samurai culture is a fascinating world history topic for those interested in Japanese history. The influence of samurai and their philosophy – bushido still manifests itself in Japanese culture.
• The political activism of Dalits in India is a great and inspiring topic. See how the activism of a minority group formerly known as “untouchables” led to drastic changes in Indian politics and mentality.
• Another topic concerning human rights activism is Nelson Mandela . The first president of South Africa and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, he is considered to be an icon of democracy.
• Yet another outstanding person who influenced human rights activism, Mahatma Gandhi . See how his philosophy of nonviolent resistance shaped the ideas of Martin Luther King and others.
• The Great Wall of China is an excellent topic for an essay. See who and why built the longest wall in the world, and learn about its legends and myths.
• Taj Mahal is one of the world’s most beautiful and majestic buildings. You can discuss the history of Mughal architecture and the Taj Mahal in particular in your essay.

Here are some other ideas of interesting world history research paper topics:

• Korea in the Middle Ages. 
• History of Aztec music  
• Unification of China: the “warring states” period. 
• How did the Han dynasty develop its highly efficient civil service? 
• India’s first empire and the rise of Buddhism. 
• The revival of Persia: the period of Sassanid rule. 
• What were the key reforms during the Song dynasty? 
• Lost empires: Khmer, Pagan, Dai Viet. 
• The Persian war and Athenian progress . 
• The rise of the Ottoman Empire . 
• The age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent . 
• Why was the Tang dynasty considered China’s golden age? 
• The tribes of the steppes: Scythians and Kushans. 
• Prominent figures of Classical Antiquity. 
• What were the major trading centers south of Sahara? 
• Palestine and the Crusades . 
• Women empowerment: role of women in Chinese society . 
• Constantinople : the capital of the Byzantine Empire. 
• The rise and fall of Babylonia. 
• Baghdad as the Islamic world in 8th-11th centuries  
• The cities and civilization in the Indus Valley . 
• The cultures of South America and Mesoamerica: Maya , Zapotec, and Nazca. 
• What were the three kingdoms of ancient Egypt ? 
• How did the Islamic faith spread around the world? 
• How were the islands of the South Pacific colonized? 
• Bastet the Goddess and her role in Egyptian history . 
• Japan’s “great peace”: the Edo period. 
• Japan’s development of a unique cultural identity during the period of isolation. 
• The “prosperous age” of China and the tree emperors. 
• India: the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. 
• What were the high and low points of the Byzantine Empire under the Palaiologan dynasty? 
• The Seven Years War: the first global conflict. 
• How did Europeans colonize the African continent? 
• The Young Turks revolt. 
• How and why were Africans sent to work in colonial plantations? 
• The rise and fall of Assyrian civilization. 
• The Soviet rule: collectivization, industrialization, and oppression. 
• How did the former colonies in the Middle East and Southeast Asia assert their independent rule? 
• The State of Israel : its foundation and effects on the Middle East. 
• The foundation of the Islamic state of Iran. 
• The end of the system of Apartheid. 
• Tiger economy and the economic boom in Asia. 
• What are the reasons behind Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Over Jerusalem? 
• How did the Soviet satellite states become independent? 
• The Hanging Gardens of Babylon – truth or myth? 
• Delhi Sultanate: the great Islamic state in India. 
• Pre-Columbian Americas: Aztecs and Incas . 
• The struggle for freedom in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies. 
• Opium Wars and other conflicts between Britain and China. 
• Mikhail Gorbachev and the collapse of the USSR.  
• Protests Theatre role in Apartheid South Africa . 
• What factors led to the Yugoslav wars? 
• The colonization process of New France . 
• Oil crisis in the Middle East. 

🏰 European History Research Topics

Europe is the cradle of modern civilization. From the Roman Empire to the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution – the history of Europe is vibrant and colorful. The countries of Europe are very diverse, yet many leaders attempted to unify them. Discover how geography and definition of Europe changed over time!

• The philosophy of Niccolo Machiavelli is an excellent topic for history students. Discover the individual whose name inspired the term “Machiavellian.” You can also include the analysis of some “machiavellian” characters.
• Great artists of the Renaissance period is a fun history topic to research. It can be even better if you make a presentation to accompany your essay!
• Marie-Antoinette is a fascinating person. You can choose to study her public image or her role in the Revolution.
• Another topic related to the French Revolution is Maximillian Robespierre and the Terror. The Reign of Terror was a period of massacres and executions. It’s an example of what fear and paranoia can lead to.
• Or you can research the question why was Louis IV known as the Sun King? Learn how he transformed France into one of the most powerful countries in Europe. You could also discuss Versailles in your essay.
• Choose “ How did Bismarck unite Germany ?” as the topic of your essay and discuss the policies of the Iron Chancellor. See how his policies influenced both World Wars.
• Alternatively, you could write about Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt. Learn how it influenced Egyptian language studies and more!
• Bastille Day is an essential date in the history of France. Discuss how the Bastille fortress became a symbol of Liberty.
• What was the role of Joan of Arc in the Hundred Years War? is one of the best history research paper topics. Joan of Arc ‘s charisma helped her lead the French army to victory. Despite her tragic demise, she continues to be celebrated today.
• Voyages of Ferdinand Magellan can be an exciting topic for your essay. Discuss the impact of Magellan’s explorations, his background, and more!

Here are some other ideas of European history research topics:

• The policies of Cesare Borgia. 
• Mercantilism in Europe  
• Medici family and their impact on the Renaissance. 
• What philosophical movements triggered the Renaissance? 
• What were the characteristics of the Third French Republic? 
• The effects of French Revolution on European peasantry . 
• What was the influence of the Communist Manifesto ? 
• Scientific discoveries of the Renaissance period. 
• Why was Galileo Galilei accused of heresy? 
• What made Pope Alexander VI controversial? 
• The War of 1812 . 
• Torquemada: the great inquisitor. 
• What was the legacy of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile ? 
• The creation of Austria-Hungary. 
• Rise and fall of the Carolingian Empire. 
• Great Viking leaders: Leif Erickson and Eric the Red. 
• What are the characteristics of Gothic art and architecture? 
• Renaissance and Ancient Greece : a comparison. 
• What were the first universities in Europe? 
• Why is Charlemagne considered “the father of Europe”? 
• Feudalism and social hierarchy in medieval Europe. 
• What were the achievements of St. Thomas Aquinas ? 
• Enlightenment in philosophy, politics, and art. 
• What led to the emergence of Romanticism ? 
• Ludwig II of Bavaria: the Fairy Tale king. 
• Great composers of the 18th century: Mozart, Bach, Beethoven . 
• Peter the Great and Catherine II: cultural revolution of the Russian Empire. 
• Legacy of the Crusades. 
• How was printing invented? 
• Spain under the reign of the Bourbon kings. 
• How Prussia influenced the history of Germany? 
• Turkish war: background and consequences. 
• Why did Napoleon lose the battle of Waterloo? 

💂 British History Research Topics

The history of the United Kingdom begins in 1707. However, the nations have existed on the British Isles long before that. Many invasions, wars, and revolutions have shaped Britain as we know it today. There is plenty of interesting research topics in the history of the UK. Learn about major events or study the lives of extraordinary people – the choice is yours!

• Paston family letters is a fascinating topic for a history research paper. The first-hand account of a family surviving the Plague offers a unique glimpse into the past.
• Alternatively, you can study Henry V: myth and facts. See how literary works and propaganda shaped the public’s perception of the king.
• Perhaps you would like to learn about the origins of everyday things. The King’s Posts is an interesting topic concerning the beginning of the English Mail and postage system as we know it.
• Another great topic is the marriages of King Henry VIII. Learn the fate of all six wives: from Catherine of Aragon to Catherine Parr.
• Or you can write an essay about one of Henry VIII’s wives. For example, Anne Boleyn in popular culture is an interesting topic that lets you explore the real person behind the myths.
• Princess Diana’s influence on British culture is an intriguing topic. Explore the legacy of Diana and charitable acts that made her a legend.
• > What if the Gunpowder Plot didn’t fail? can be the theme of an exciting essay for college students. Study the available theories and formulate a what-if scenario.
• Highland Clearances is an important and controversial topic. See why many people were dispossessed of their land, and what is the cultural impact of the evictions.
• Another good history topic for a research paper about Scotland is Edinburg: the Athens of the North. See how Edinburg grew from a small town into one of the most important cities in Britain.
• Margaret Thatcher’s influence in 20th century Britain was immense. Still, her legacy remains controversial. Present your point of view on the Iron Lady in an essay!

Here are some other ideas of British history research paper topics:

Receive a plagiarism-free paper tailored to your instructions. Cut 20% off your first order!

• What is the difference between the English Law before and after Henry II? 
• Normans and their reforms. 
• Humanities and justice in Britain during 18th century  
• What tactics were used by William of Normandy during the Battle of Hastings ? 
• The creation of Magna Carta. 
• King John and Richard I : the “good” king and the “bad” king. 
• How did the Hundred Years War change England? 
• Political influence of William Shakespeare in XVI century in England . 
• What led the crisis of authority during the reign of Richard II? 
• Marriage of Margaret Tudor and James IV: what were the long-term consequences? 
• How and why did England become Protestant? 
• English colonization in the 18th century . 
• How did Mary I earn the nickname “Bloody Mary”? 
• What was Elizabeth I’s approach to religion? 
• Characteristics of the Elizabethan Era. 
• What makes Oliver Cromwell a pivotal figure in the history of England?  
• The public’s reaction to the execution of Charles I. 
• The Great London Fire and its aftermath. 
• What caused the Glorious Revolution? 
• What were the tactics used by the commanders of three armies at the battle of Waterloo? 
• Admiral Nelson and Battle of Trafalgar: consequences and legacy. 
• Britain’s reaction to the French Revolution. 
• British Empire in the East. 
• How did the industrial revolution cause social reforms in Britain? 
• Industrial revolution and its effects on British workers’ lives . 
• British Naval supremacy during the Victorian Era. 
• What caused the Potato Famine in Ireland? 
• How did the Crimean War influence World War I ? 
• The Home Rule movement in Ireland. 
• Urbanization and rural exodus in Victorian England. 
• How did women’s status in Britain change after World War I ? 
• Winston Churchill : a politician, a soldier, a hero. 
• The role of Britain in World War II. 
• Britain as a member of EU. 

📜 Topics in History of Ancient World (before 1500)

This section includes ideas for history research papers starting from ancient civilizations up to the pre-modern era. At that time, many cultures had their “golden age” epochs. Ancient Greece and Egypt, the Roman Empire, Mesoamerica, and the Byzantine Empire still fascinate us today. Discover for yourself some of the greatest civilizations of the past!

• Probably the most interesting subject in ancient history is Egypt. For example, you can write about the Old Kingdom of Egypt – an epoch known as the “Age of Pyramids.”
• Or you can write about the iconic personalities of ancient Egypt, such as Imhotep. He was not only an outstanding architect, but also a priest, a poet, a physician, and an astronomer!
• Science and technology of ancient Egypt is a great essay topic in itself. The inventions and scientific achievements of ancient Egyptians continue to fascinate us even today.
• Besides, their civilization was very progressive when it comes to gender roles. Write an essay about women in ancient Egypt and discover it for yourself!
• Another iconic civilization of that period is ancient Greece. You can choose to write about the beginning of Greek culture – the Mycenaean civilization and its mythology.
• Or you can discuss the Golden Age of Greece: science and philosophy in your essay. Democracy, drama, history, atomic universe theory – ancient Greece is the birthplace it all!
• Sparta and its fighters is a fascinating essay topic. Learn about the legendary Spartans, their society, and their military.
• Or perhaps you would like to learn about another great civilization, the Roman Empire. Choose several great leaders of ancient Rome (for example, Julius Caesar , Pompey the Great, and Marcus Antonius) and compare their policies.
• In an essay about Pompeii before the volcano eruption, you can discuss the daily life of ancient Romans . See what discoveries were made on the richest archaeological site in the world.
• There were also other civilizations with an exciting history in the ancient world. Hammurabi : the conqueror of Mesopotamia is an excellent topic for high school history essay. Learn about his Code that served as a blueprint for many civilizations.
• Or you can write about Phoenicians as traders. See what helped Phoenicia become one of the greatest trading powers of its time!
• You could even write an essay about the production and trading of chocolate in Mesoamerica! Chocolate was immensely popular across the Americas. It was often enjoyed as a drink and even used as a form of currency.
• Tartessos and its culture is a fascinating history essay topic. Discover the place that gave rise to the legend of El Dorado.
• You could also write about the Akkadian Empire during the reign of Sargon the Great. Sargon came from a humble background. Learn how he rose to power and created the first multinational empire in history.
• Women rulers of the ancient world can be the topic of an excellent essay. Hatshepsut , Cleopatra, Semiramis – these outstanding women changed history and became legendary.

Here are some other ideas of history research paper topics before 1500:

• Ancient Rome: economy and trade. 
• The murder of Caligula: what were the circumstances? 
• Who were the five “Good Emperors” of Rome?  
• What was the role of trade contacts in Greek colonization? 
• Women in ancient Greek society . 
• Ancient explorers: Hanno, Polybius , and others. 
• The fall of Jerusalem and its consequences. 
• Antiquity: the Golden Age . 
• Akhenaten and the Amarna Period. 
• How did Amenhotep IV reform Egyptian religion? 
• Wari civilization and their art. 
• The Lost City of Atlantis . 
• Vandals and the fall of Rome. 
• Battle of AlQadisiyyah  
• How and where did the Vikings travel? 
• What were the main attributes of ancient Chinese philosophy? 
• What was the importance of the Olympic Games ? 
• First Punic war: causes and consequences. 
• The foundation of the Caliphate . 
• The destruction and re-development of Carthage. 
• Achaemenid Empire under the reign of Cyrus II. 
• The Arab conquest of Egypt. 
• Cambodia: the Angkor period. 
• How did Harold I unify Norway? 
• Rurik and the founding of Russia. 
• How did Boleslav I turn Poland into one of the most powerful nations at the time? 
• What was the origin of Christianity? 
• Alexius I and the First Crusade. 
• Who was Leonidas I of Sparta? 
• The amazing life of Telemachus  
• The rise and fall of Gauda Kingdom. 
• What was the role of Corinth in the ancient world? 
• The Koryo Dynasty and the unification of Korea. 
• Why did the Second Crusade end in a disaster? 
• Valdemar II: the expansion of the Danish Empire. 
• What were the possible causes of the Bronze Age Collapse? 
• Korea: the Three Kingdoms period. 
• Confucius and his philosophy. 
• The Umayyad-Hashemite civil war and the birth of the Sunni-Shiite islamic schism . 
• What did Alexander the Great do for the popularization of Greek culture? 
• The architecture of Toltec civilization. 
• What is “ the great migration ”? 
• What was the usage of Circus Maximus? 
• Ptolemaic dynasty: Greek monarchs in Egypt. 
• Sumerian religion and mythology. 
• The early history of Franks. 
• The Hatti and their culture. 
• Why is Justinian I considered one of the greatest Byzantine emperors? 
• The Lombard kingdom under the reign of Alboin. 
• How did the Roman Republic become the Roman Empire? 
• Rome from 140 BCE to the reign of Octavian  
• Octavian : the first and greatest Roman emperor. 
• Etruscan society, religion, and art. 

🏭 Topics in History of Modern World

From the late medieval period up to the 19th century – modern history covers a period of intense development and industrialization. Old civilization fell, and new ones replaced them. Almost every major country faced a revolution, and the standard of living around the world started to grow rapidly. There are many good history topics to research – choose one for yourself!

• How the Aztec military compared to the Spanish army? is an interesting essay question that can help you in better understanding Mesoamerican culture. Aztecs had a complex military structure and tactics specific only to them.
• Witch hunts in England and America is an interesting essay topic. You can also include your opinions on why witches were usually women.
• Discussion of positive and negative outcomes of the Columbian Exchange can be a basis for an excellent essay.
• Re-evaluation or Greek and Roman texts by Humanist authors is a topic concerned with philosophy and art. You can include an analysis of authors such as Petrarch and Machiavelli and discuss the influence if classical texts in their works.
• Or you can focus on the daily lives of people from the past. Food and diet during the Industrial Revolution can be an interesting health topic. (This includes changes in people’s health.)
• You can choose to write about the Golden age of piracy and learn the truth about one of the most romanticized periods in the history of early modern Europe.
• Or choose life in the Wild West as the topic of your history essay and see if the popular perception of the era is accurate.
• Thomas More’s Utopia and its legacy is an interesting topic for history research paper. Learn about the origins of Utopia and how it influenced the Communism in the 20th century.
• The Great Famine was a turning point in Irish history. Study the aftermath of the Great Famine and see how it influenced rebel movements in Ireland.
• Alternatively, you can write about extraordinary people from the modern era. For example, the childhood of Elizabeth I includes the education and upbringing of the future Queen, as well as the development of her qualities as the nation’s leader.
• Lucrezia Borgia is a prominent historical figure whose legacy is now being reevaluated. You can explore popular myths about Lucrezia Borgia and see if they have any factual basis.
• You can focus your research on great explorers, such as David Livingstone : a missionary in Africa . He greatly influenced the popular perception of Africa in positive as well as negative ways.
• Another good topic for a history research paper is the social impact of the Little Ice Age . Learn how emerging cultures survived in a colder climate, and what psychological effects the Little Ice Age had on people.
• The Dutch East India Company is an interesting example of an early corporation. See how it pioneered business practices that we still use today. It’s a good topic for International Studies students.
• Russia in the 17th century was a multiconfessional and multiethnic country. You can write about the exploration of Siberia and other ways by which Russia was expanding its territory.

Here are some other ideas of modern world history research paper topics:

• The history of London Underground.
• What factors brought about the Age of Enlightenment ?
• Mona Lisa and Renaissance humanism
• Muhammad Ali of Egypt and his modernizing reforms.
• Nationalism in 18th century Europe
• The French in Vietnam : reasons and aftermath of the conquest.
• Key features of the Commercial Revolution.
• History: the decline of Rome in the 3rd century
• How did the spice trade shape the modern world?
• The impacts of war on social development in Europe between 1500 and 1815 .
• Technology that influenced the Age of Exploration.
• The impacts of peinted press on European society .
• Isolation policies of Ming Dynasty: causes and consequences.
• What’s the difference between shogunates and the “ Tokugawa period” in Japan?
• Culture and science in the Mughal Empire.
• Patriots: The rebellions in Lower Canada 1837-38
• The use of elephantry during the battle of Plassey.
• What caused the Protestant Reformation ?
• The role of gunpowder in wars during the modern period.
• Inquisition and censorship.
• The role of indulgences in religious life during the Middle Ages.
• Abolition of slavery in the US.
• Characteristics of serfdom in Russia.
• Ivan the Terrible : the first Tsar of Russia.
• What were the reasons behind Alexander II’s assassination?
• Frankfurt Parliament and the concept of Germania.
• What led to the decline of Spain in the 17th century?
• What caused the economic and social decline of Venice?
• What was the role of merchants in Europe’s development?
• The Paris Commune: the world’s first socialist government.
• The reforms of Maria Theresa.
• The assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
• What caused the Russian peasant uprising of 1773?
• How did Martin Luther influence the Great Peasant Revolt of 1525?
• How did Darwin’s theory of evolution affect society?
• How was the Spanish Armada defeated?
• The fall of the Habsburg dynasty.
• Cromwell and the Puritan Revolution.
• The consequences of the serfdom abolition in Russia.
• Russian anarchism and its legacy.
• Absolute monarchy in Germany and its decline.

📡 Historical Topics on the 20 th Century

The last century of the second millennium saw many drastic changes. They directly influenced our contemporary world. On the one hand, there were the World Wars, revolutions, pandemics, and nuclear disasters. On the other hand, we had new technology, human rights activism, and a high standard of living. Choose the best 20th century research topic for your essay!

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

• During the Gandhi-led revolt against British rule, the police attacked the unarmed crowd. See how Mahatma Gandhi and his followers managed to emerge victoriously.
• Stalin’s collectivization policy was aimed at increasing of the food supply. It turned out to be a disaster that severely damaged Soviet agriculture. Discuss why it happened in your essay.
• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the event that triggered World War I. You can write about the reasons and the consequences of the murder in your essay.
• Similarly, the assassination of King Carlos of Portugal was carried out in hopes of provoking a revolution. See why it didn’t work out as planned.
• World War I was a devastating conflict that forever changed Europe. Its course was strongly influenced by the first battle of Marne. Write an essay about how it stopped the advance of Germany.
• Or you can choose another battle, such as the Second battle of Ypres, during which poison gas was used for the first time.
• One of the best 20th century European history research paper topics is the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Learn about the reasons behind these conflicts. (You can include the definition of IRA and “low-level war.”)
• History department students can write a great essay on the aftermath of Pearl Harbor . Initially, Japan considered the attack a successful move. In reality, it doomed them to defeat.
• Juan Peron and Evita is a very interesting topic. See how Evita helped her husband become immensely popular, and discuss the influence of Peronism.
• Communism propaganda is another fascinating topic. The promotion of communist ideology was carried out in many forms. Discuss its influence on society. Use a presentation to illustrate your points.
• Instead, you could write about anti-communist propaganda. Discuss where it comes from and its effects on Western society.
• Another topic closely connected with the Cold War is the contacts between USSR and the USA after 1945. Study the events when the leaders of the two countries visited each other. Describe how the relations changed over time.
• The Cuban missile crisis was an event that almost triggered a nuclear war. Write an essay about it and learn how the conflict was resolved.
• The most notable atomic bomb explosion is an important topic connected with the current issues. Trinity test, Operation Crossroads, and Japan explosions changed the world forever. Discuss if it’s possible to justify these events.
• A closely connected topic is the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl . Learn about the factors that led to the tragedy, and discuss its long-term consequences.

Here are some other ideas of 20th century research topics:

• How did the union between Norway and Sweden end? 
• The Senkaku islands territorial disputes . 
• What were the consequences of Fidel Castro signing a friendship treaty with the USSR? 
• The policies of Nikita Khrushchev . 
• The art of the Weimar Republic . 
• The “watershed” history moments between 1960 and 1990 . 
• History of postmodernism . 
• What were the consequences of Germany’s invasion of Belgium? 
• The Velvet Revolution and the aftermath of Communism. 
• Why are the Nuremberg Trials considered to be the greatest trials in history? 
• Che Guevara’s biography and revolutionary path . 
• The legacy of Che Guevara. 
• History of post WWII . 
• India’s nuclear weapons program. 
• How did the US react to the launch of Sputnik? 
• Cuban missile crisis and its aftermath. 
• The Arab defeat reasons in the 1967 War  
• What were the ambitions of the Nazi party during World War II? 
• Zionism and anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany . 
• Nazi propaganda in cinematography . 
• How was the European Union formed? 
• Invasion of Poland: the beginning of World War II. 
• Social and economic Life in the Soviet Union during the 1930s . 
• How did the dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles impact Mussolini’s rise to power? 
• What’s the difference between the Red and White Russian Army? 
• Concentration camps and “Death Camps”: a comparison. 
• What caused the Beer Hall Putsch? 
• U.S atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki . 
• What factors helped spread Communist ideology across the world? 
• Night of the Long Knives and Hitler‘s rise to power. 
• Mao Zedong and Maoism. 
• What events led to the Kashmir Crisis? 
• Fall of the Berlin Wall : what was the immediate effect? 
• Kosovo war and propaganda. 
• South Pole expeditions: Roald Amundsen. 
• The invention of the PC and the Internet . 
• What was the role of Lawrence of Arabia in the Arab Revolt? 
• Francois Mitterrand: legacy and controversies. 
• What was the political atmosphere during the 1936 Olympic Games? 
• What factors led to the Communist victory in China? 
• The consequences of civil war in El Salvador . 
• 1968 student revolts. 
• Kristallnacht and the world’s response to it. 
• What is the difference between Fascism and National Socialism? 

🔝 20 History Research Questions

Research questions are derived from research topics. You answer the research question in an essay or paper.

Broad questions can be used for theses, Ph.D. dissertations, and proposals. Narrow questions fit better for essays. You can also use them to prepare for AP US essays. Research questions can be focused on different aspects:

• What caused a historical event,
• The consequences of an event,
• The origin of something,
• The role of a particular person in history,
• The cultural context of an event, etc.

Here is the list of top 20 history research questions for you to choose from:

• What was the role of Alexander the Great in the creation of the modern world? 
• What was the importance of Roman Peace? 
• What impact has Christianity had on Western culture? 
• How did the Plague influence European society? 
• How was Constantinople conquered? 
• In what ways did the Renaissance improve life in Europe? 
• Why is the Printing Press considered one of the greatest inventions? 
• What were the positive and negative sides of the Protestant Reformation? 
• Why did Europe eventually lose control over its colonies? 
• In what ways did the American Revolution inspire other countries ? 
• How did the French Revolution influence the Enlightenment? 
• What would have happened in the North lost the Civil War ? 
• What challenges did the Industrial Revolution provide for lower classes? 
• How did the Medical Revolution change the world? 
• What aspects of the industrial Revolution triggered World War I? 
• What factors led to the popularity of Communism in Russia? 
• How did the Great Depression influence World War II? 
• Why was Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party popular in 1930s Germany ? 
• What is the Iron Curtain , and why was it created? 
• In what ways did Space Race advance technology? 

🤔 Historical Topics FAQ

The importance of history can’t be underestimated. It plays a crucial in understanding other cultures as well as our own. It teaches us to think, compare, and draw conclusions. It provides us with role models and examples of how to manage societies. Besides, it covers every single facet of life, from art and television to sports and video games. That’s why history is not only important but also relatable and fun.

• Choose a topic that will be interesting for you to research.
• Decide on a solid historical argument.
• Formulate a thesis statement.
• Find reliable sources and study them from a critical standpoint.
• Make an outline for your paper.
• Write the first draft.
• When you quote, cite your sources correctly.
• Proofread and write the final draft.
• Find reliable resources and analyze them.
• Describe the imagery of the artwork
• Provide a brief analysis of imagery or symbolism.
• Describe the stylistic category to which the artwork belongs.
• Write about the time in which the artwork was created.
• Discuss how it relates to the author’s life.
• Discuss the place of the artwork in a broader historical context.
• Choose your subject.
• Formulate your thesis statement.
• Find credible sources, biographies, and articles.
• Write a draft plan.
• Describe the formative years of the historical person.
• Discuss their most important achievements that relate to your thesis statement.
• Include particularly interesting lesser-known facts about them.
• Describe their legacy and impact.
• Write a conclusion.
• Proofread your paper.

Primary sources relate directly to the subject of the study. This includes art, literature, and documents from that period. Primary sources are created at the time of the event, usually by people who participated in the event. The best examples of primary source documents would be diaries, interviews, and letters.

Secondary sources are the sources created after the time of the event. They are usually scientific, written from a historical point of view, and include evaluation of the information derived from the primary sources. The best examples of secondary source documents would include academic analyses, research papers, reviews, critiques, scientific journals, biographies, and encyclopedias.

You might also be interested in:

• 280 Good Nursing Research Topics & Questions
• 226 Research Topics on Criminal Justice & Criminology
• 204 Research Topics on Technology & Computer Science
• 178 Best Research Titles about Cookery & Food
• 180 Best Education Research Topics & Ideas
• 110+ Micro- & Macroeconomics Research Topics
• 417 Business Research Topics for ABM Students
• 190+ Research Topics on Psychology & Communication
• 512 Research Topics on HumSS
• 281 Best Health & Medical Research Topics
• 501 Research Questions & Titles about Science
• A List of Research Topics for Students. Unique and Interesting
• Good Research Topics, Titles and Ideas for Your Paper

🔎 References

• Databases for Research & Education: Gale
• Topics: History
• Historical Research Capabilities: UCLA History
• 25 Most Important Events In History: List 25
• How to Write a History Research Paper: Carleton
• Historic Places and the Inquiry Method: National Park Service
• Historical narrative: Britannica
• Historical Research: Oxford Academic
• Introduction to Historical Research: UW Libraries
• Tools and techniques for historical research: University of Cambridge
• Historical Research – Checklist: History Detectives
• Studies in History: SAGE Journals
• History Research: Science PG
• History: Academia
• Databases for History & Culture Research: Smithsonian Libraries
• Writing a Good History Paper: Hamilton
• Research: Cornell, the Department of History
• History Research Areas: McGill
• Research Areas: History Department, Vanderbilt University
• Areas od Study: Department of History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine, Indiana University Bloomington
• U.S. History and Historical Documents: US Government
• Colonial North America: Harvard Library
• United States of America: Topics (Colorado State University)
• European History: ThoughtCo.
• The history of the European Union: EU Official Website
• The history of British slave ownership has been buried: now its scale can be revealed (The Guardian)
• Women Creating Change (Before 1500): Albany
• The 20th century: Khan Academy
• Timeline of 20th and 21th century wars: Imperial War Museum
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

Do you have to write a research proposal and can’t choose one from the professor’s list? This article may be exactly what you need. We will provide you with the most up-to-date undergraduate and postgraduate topic ideas. Moreover, we will share the secrets of the winning research proposal writing. Here,...

A history class can become a jumble of years, dates, odd moments, and names of people who have been dead for centuries. Despite this, you’ll still need to find history topics to write about. You may have no choice! But once in a while, your instructor may let you pick...

Argumentative research paper topics are a lot easier to find than to come up with. We always try to make your life easier. That’s why you should feel free to check out this list of the hottest and most controversial argumentative essay topics for 2024. In the article prepared by...

One of the greatest problems of the scholarly world is the lack of funny topics. So why not jazz it up? How about creating one of those humorous speeches the public is always so delighted to listen to? Making a couple of funny informative speech topics or coming up with...

After the recent heartbreaking mass shootings, the gun control debate has reached its boiling point. Do we need stricter gun control laws? Should everyone get a weapon to oppose crime? Or should guns be banned overall? You have the opportunity to air your opinion in a gun control argumentative essay....

Many people believe that childhood is the happiest period in a person’s life. It’s not hard to see why. Kids have nothing to care or worry about, have almost no duties or problems, and can hang out with their friends all day long. An essay about childhood gives an opportunity...

Just when you think you’re way past the question “How to write an essay?” another one comes. That’s the thing students desperately Google: “What is an informative speech?” And our custom writing experts are here to help you sort this out. Informative speaking is a speech on a completely new issue....

Literature courses are about two things: reading and writing about what you’ve read. For most students, it’s hard enough to understand great pieces of literature, never mind analyzing them. And with so many books and stories out there, choosing one to write about can be a chore. But you’re in...

The success of any college essay depends on the topic choice. If you want to impress your instructors, your essay needs to be interesting and unique. Don’t know what to write about? We are here to help you! In this article by our Custom-Writing.org team, you will find 335 interesting...

Social studies is an integrated research field. It includes a range of topics on social science and humanities, such as history, culture, geography, sociology, education, etc. A social studies essay might be assigned to any middle school, high school, or college student. It might seem like a daunting task, but...

If you are about to go into the world of graduate school, then one of the first things you need to do is choose from all the possible dissertation topics available to you. This is no small task. You are likely to spend many years researching your Master’s or Ph.D....

Looking for a good argumentative essay topic? In need of a persuasive idea for a research paper? You’ve found the right page! Academic writing is never easy, whether it is for middle school or college. That’s why there are numerous educational materials on composing an argumentative and persuasive essay, for...

HIST H270 What is History?

• Finding Books
• Finding Articles
• Primary Source Databases
• Other Primary Sources at IU
• Develop a Research Question
• Primary Sources
• Cite Sources
• Scholarly vs Popular
• Thesis Statements

Developing a Research Question

From Laurier Library. 

Selecting and Narrowing a Topic

When starting out on your research, it is important to choose a research topic that is not only of interest to you, but can also be covered effectively in the space that you have available. You may not know right away what your research question is - that's okay! Start out with a broad topic, then conduct some background research to explore possibilities and narrow your topic to something more manageable.    

Choose an interesting general topic.  If you’re interested in your topic, others probably will be too! And your research will be a lot more fun. Once you have a general topic of interest, you can begin to explore more focused areas within that broad topic. 

Gather background information.  Do a few quick searches in OneSearch@IU  or in other relevant sources.  See what other researchers have already written to help narrow your focus.  

• What subtopics relate to the broader topic? 
• What questions do these sources raise?
• What piques your interest? What might you like to say about the topic? 

Consider your audience.  Who would be interested in this issue? For whom are you writing? 

Adapted from: George Mason University Writing Center. (2008). How to write a research question. Retrieved from  http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/wc-quick-guides  

From Topic to Research Question

Once you have done some background research and narrowed down your topic, you can begin to turn that topic into a research question that you will attempt to answer in the course of your research.  Keep in mind that your question may change as you gather more information and as you write. However, having some sense of your direction can help you evaluate sources and identify relevant information throughout your research process. 

Explore questions.

• Ask open-ended “how” and “why” questions about your general topic.  
• Consider the “so what?” of your topic. Why does this topic matter to you? Why should it matter to others?

Evaluate your research question. Use the following to determine if any of the questions you generated would be appropriate and workable for your assignment. 

• Is your question clear? Do you have a specific aspect of your general topic that you are going to explore further?   
• Is your question focused? Will you be able to cover the topic adequately in the space available?   
• Is your question sufficiently complex? (cannot be answered with a simple yes/no response, requires research and analysis)

Hypothesize.  Once you have developed your research question, consider how you will attempt to answer or address it. 

• If you are making an argument, what will you say?  
• Why does your argument matter?  
• What kinds of sources will you need in order to support your argument?  
• How might others challenge your argument?

Adapted from: George Mason University Writing Center. (2008). How to write a research question. Retrieved from http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/wc-quick-guides

Sample Research Questions

A good research question is clear, focused, and has an appropriate level of complexity. Developing a strong question is a process, so you will likely refine your question as you continue to research and to develop your ideas.  

Unclear : Why are social networking sites harmful?

Clear:  How are online users experiencing or addressing privacy issues on such social networking sites as MySpace and Facebook?

Unfocused:  What is the effect on the environment from global warming?

Focused:  How is glacial melting affecting penguins in Antarctica?

Simple vs Complex

Too simple:  How are doctors addressing diabetes in the U.S.?

Appropriately Complex:   What are common traits of those suffering from diabetes in America, and how can these commonalities be used to aid the medical community in prevention of the disease?

Adapted from: George Mason University Writing Center. (2008). How to write a research question. Retrieved from  http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/wc-quick-guides

General online reference sources.

Reference sources like dictionaries and encylopedias provide general information about various subjects. They also include definitions that may help you break down your topic and understand it better. Sources includes in these entries can be springboards for more in-depth research.

A note on citation: Reference sources are generally not cited since they usually consist of common knowledge (e.g. who was the first United States President).  But if you're unsure whether to cite something it's best to do so. Specific pieces of information and direct quotes should always be cited. 

Why Use References Sources

Reference sources are a great place to begin your research. They can help you:

• gain an overview of a topic
• explore potential research areas
• identify key issues, publications, or authors in your research area

From here, you can narrow your search topic and look at more specialized sources.

• << Previous: Academic Paper Writing
• Next: Primary Sources >>
• Last Updated: Feb 23, 2024 2:23 PM
• URL: https://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/what_is_history

Social media

• Instagram for Herman B Wells Library
• Facebook for IU Libraries

Additional resources

Featured databases.

• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) OneSearch@IU
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Academic Search (EBSCO)
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) ERIC (EBSCO)
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Nexis Uni
• Resource available without restriction HathiTrust Digital Library
• Databases A-Z
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Google Scholar
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) JSTOR
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Web of Science
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) Scopus
• Resource available to authorized IU Bloomington users (on or off campus) WorldCat

IU Libraries

• Diversity Resources
• About IU Libraries
• Alumni & Friends
• Departments & Staff
• Jobs & Libraries HR
• Intranet (Staff)
• IUL site admin

•   [email protected]

HIS 100 - Perspectives in History

• Ask a Librarian

More Helpful Guides

• Career Resources
• Citing Your Sources
• Getting Started with Research@Shapiro Library
• Google Like a Librarian
• Interlibrary Loan This link opens in a new window
• Troubleshoot Access to Library Resources
• Off-Campus Library and Interlibrary Loan Services
• Virtual Research Workshops
• Shapiro Library Badges
• Academic Integrity

Image by Joanna Kosinska, retrieved via Unsplash

Welcome to the research guide for HIS-100 - Perspectives in History! In this guide, you will find information on the historical events to select from for your work in the class, including primary and secondary sources for each event.  This guide also provides additional guidance on finding and identifying appropriate sources throughout the library including: books, ebooks, and scholarly articles.

Use the blue menu buttons on the left to navigate through the guide.  The historical events are listed under each of the related topic areas. If you need additional assistance, ask a librarian by chat or email at [email protected] !

If you've used other library research guides, this guide may be a little different than what you're used to. This guide is intended to specifically support your research for HIS-100: Perspectives in History. For each of the four topic areas for this course, you will find links to a variety of topics to help get you started in your search process. Remember, if you need help a librarian is only a click away!

Happy researching!

Get Acquainted With Your Library!

Check out the orientation video below to learn more about what the Shapiro Library can help you with. Don't forget that you can always ask a librarian if you need additional help email [email protected]  or chat!

More Helpful Resources

• Does the library send books to online students?
• Where can I get writing help?
• How do I evaluate a source to determine if it is scholarly or not?
• How do I renew a book or other library material?

Still can't find the answer to your question?  Browse all our FAQs !

• Next: Getting Started - Research Tips >>

126 Modern History Topics: Essential Essay Ideas & Questions

Modern history covers an impressive number of significant events. It is fascinating but, at the same time, quite complicated. Therefore, the understanding of the key concepts can be challenging.

The unpredicted turn of events and difficulties in setting the exact time frames often confuse people. As a result, they become lost and discouraged. Sometimes, history studying even becomes a real torture for students.

Are you struggling with the search for modern history topics for your essay? You are on the right page! The selection of the appropriate and useful ideas for your successful paper has never been this easy. Our team created a comprehensive modern history topics list. We encourage you to use it to write a well-developed and robust history essay.

🔝 Top-10 Interesting Modern History Topics

📋 historical investigation topics: modern history, 🐉 16th-17th centuries, 🚂18th-19th centuries, ☢️ 20th century, 🚢 16th-17th centuries, ⚔️ 18th-19th centuries, 🏭 20th century, 🏹 16th-17th centuries, 🏗️ 18th-19th centuries, 🚀 20th century, ❓ modern history essay questions.

• The Great Depression.
• Modern history of Asia.
• The Cold War.
• World War 2.
• The American Revolution.
• The Mexican-American war.
• Modern history of Africa.
• Black Lives Matter Movement.
• Modern Indian history.
• Famous art movements in history.

To find relevant history essay topics, you need to be confident in detecting the time frames. The modern history is divided into three periods:

• Early Modern Period (1500-1750)
• Late Modern Period (1750-1945)
• Contemporary Period (1945-present)

For your convenience, we divided modern history essay questions into several categories. We grouped our ideas according to location and time frames.

For a proper search, first, choose a country of your interest—it can be the USA, for instance. Then, decide on the period that your assignment requires. For example, you may need interesting 20th-century history topics. After that, go to the corresponding section and explore the topic list. Pick one that you find the most fascinating and start creating your successful essay!

🗺️ Modern World History Topics

Starting from the 16th century and moving to the present times, modern history is developing. Think about it: what we have now reflects on what happened in the past. Analyzing the impact of historical events and figures, we cannot deny their significance.

The civilization went through two world wars, the industrial revolution, demographic movements, etc. All these events contribute to world development to a great extent.

Below, you’ll see modern history essay questions and topics. To examine a picked title on a deeper level, you may need to quite a lot of research. Worth it, though.

• Religious symbolism in renaissance paintings .
• China’s Qing Dynasty .
• The growth of Daoism during the late Qing dynasty .
• How did Buddhism become a tool of the Chinese Empire’s transformation?

• The 17th-century Catholic church: the historical authenticity vs. horizon expansion.
• What was the history of the human rights’ evolution vs. violation in the modern world?
• Ottoman–Safavid war of 1623–1639: a great conflict between the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia.
• Slavery in Africa . What was the dimension of slavery in Africa? Comment on who and how acquired native population for slavery. What were the roles of salves? Discuss the effects of slavery in Africa.
• Qing dynasty : the last dynasty of China. How was the Qing dynasty developing? Comment on the origins of the Qing dynasty. Investigate political and economic development during the Qing Dynasty. How did the dynasty collapse?
• Renaissance as the Revival of the World. What are the time frames of the Renaissance period? Discuss the origins of the Renaissance. Introduce the leading representatives of the Renaissance period? Explain why humanism was the central concept of the renaissance period.
• The industrial revolution and beyond: culture, work, and social change .
• What was the role of trade unions in the 18th-19th centuries?
• Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878.
• Evolution of the scientific revolution : the development of science.
• History of Fukuzawa Yukichi: westernization of Japan.
• Industrial revolution history . Briefly introduce the background of the industrial revolution. Which effects did the revolution have on society? Examine the world economy improvement due to the industrial revolution.
• What were the cornerstones of scientific development? Examine the progress in biology studying. Who are the leading representatives of the biology progress of the given period? Comment on the impact of natural strides on the modern world. What are the most significant accomplishments of scientists?

• Durrani Empire – the great empire of the 18th-19th centuries. How was the empire established? Who were the rulers? The Afgan state foundation as a part of the Durrani Empire’s existence. What was the relationship of the Durani Empire with China? Describe the decline of the empire.
• Social studies advancement. What branches of social studies were the most developed in the 16th-17th centuries? Focus your attention on political science, geography, economics, sociology, psychology. Explain the reason for ongoing social studies’ progress.
• Taiping Rebellion in China: the bloodiest conflict of the 19th century. Examine the causes of the conflict. What were the outcomes of the Taiping Rebellion? Discuss why Hong Xiuquan (the leader of the Taiping Rebellion) proclaimed himself Jesus’s younger brother.

The 20th century is one of the most influential and landmark periods in recent history. It focuses mainly on two world wars. The events of this period directly affect current society formation. The list below presents 20th-century world history essay topics. So, take benefit of it! Choose the most appropriate topic for your essay!

• World War I origins (how and why the war started)
• World War II positive and negative repercussions
• Cold War major aspects and events
• Feminist Movement in Canada.
• What is the heritage of the Soviet Union ?

• The communist party in the Soviet Union and China.
• The major causes of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States.
• What is the King–Byng affair? Consider the constitutional crisis in Canada of 1926. Discuss the causes and effects of the King-Byng affair. Examine how did the King-Byng lead to constitutional reform.
• China’s democracy movement . Examine the beginning of the Chinese democratic movement. Consider the new democratic revolution and the cultural revolution. How do these events reflect on China’s democracy movement? Discover the issue of democracy wall movement. What was the reason for political persecution in China caused by the democratic movement?
• World War I vs. World War II . Examine the differences and similarities of the two world wars. Analyze the causes and the outcomes of both wars. Give your own opinion: which war do you think has more positive effects on social development? Which war has more negative consequences on social development?

🛠️ European Modern History Research Topics

Modern European history is quite versatile and broad. Therefore, it offers a wide variety of topics to explore. The period of the 16th-20th centuries is full of landmark events. They are the reformation, the age of discovery, various worldwide conflicts, etc.

Our writing team developed a list of modern European history essay topics. So, if you need to compose an outstanding essay, you are more than welcome to use the ideas presented below!

• European Christianity and its decline from the 16th century .
• The significance of Martin Luther and the protestant reformation in the history of western civilization .
• Age of discovery in Europe.
• How and in what ways did the use of print change the lives of early modern Europeans?
• The Spanish Armada: Britain and Spain in Battle of the Seas.
• The centers of Christianity placement: a European approach to Christianity spreading.
• The Enlightenment. How did the enlightenment philosophy affect Europe’s religions in the 16th and 17th centuries? Explain how the enlightenment philosophy impacted Europe’s political institutions. In what way did the enlightenment philosophy influence Europe’s social class in the 16th and 17th centuries?
• Studies of Western Europe: Columbus’ journey. Discuss an account of Columbus’ voyage. How did Columbus’ journey influence the development of geography in the 16th-17th centuries? Examine the theories leading to Columbus’s voyage.
• The Thirty Years War. Indicate the origins of the war. What were the outcomes of the war? Analyze the casualties and diseases caused by the Thirty Years War.
• Reformation and development of the arts. Discuss the spreading of the reformation in Europe. Who were the key players in the reformation era? What was the effect of reformation on the arts?
• The French Revolution and Napoleon’s governance.
• Napoleon’s French army, 1800-1808: motivation and military culture
• The most outstanding philosophers of Europe on the Enlightenment Age.

• The British Empire and international affairs.
• Napoleon Bonaparte: His successes and failures.
• Napoleon: A child and destroyer of the French Revolution.
• James Cook – the first European to land on the Hawaiian Islands . Conduct small research on James Cook’s biography. Examine his three voyages. How did his discovery of the Hawaiian Islands impact Europe? Did the perception of American geography change?
• Irish Rebellion of 1798 as the protest against British rule in Ireland . What was the background of the Irish Rebellion? Provide a detailed description of the timeline of the rebellion. What are the positive and negative outcomes of the Irish Rebellion?
• The scientific progress in the 18th-19th centuries. Discuss the three outstanding inventions listed below: a. The identification of X-Rays by Wilhelm Röntgen. b. How did Joseph Swan invent the first electric lightbulb? c. The Hansen Writing Ball (the first commercially sold typewriter) by Rasmus Malling-Hansen. How did these inventions push the scientific progress forward?
• The Kulturkampf (“Culture War”). Examine the timeline and laws established during the Culture War. What are the differences and similarities of the Culture War in the following countries: a. Germany b. Switzerland c. Austria d. Italy e. Belgium

The 20th Century is a watershed period in European history. The events, which occurred during that time, considerably contribute to European society formation. The list below includes 20th-century European history essay topics. Enjoy using it for your successful work!

• What were the critical technological advancements in Europe during World War I?

• World War II Innovations.
• How useful is the term ‘fascism’ when applied generically to describe the far-right in interwar Europe?
• Role of the Woman during the Spanish Civil War.
• Cold War Consequences for European Countries.
• Has security been the main driver behind European integration since World War Two?
• The Great Depression of 1929–1939 . What is the impact of depression in Eastern Europe and on Western Europe? Explain the role of the League of Nations in dealing with the Great Depression. What are the causes of the Great Depression in Europe?
• How did European poets and writers of the 20th century describe World War I and World War II in the books? The visualization of the conflicts occurred during the wars in the literature.
• Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. Briefly discuss reforms in the Eastern Europe geographical division. What was the compromise of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin? Analyze the consequences of Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact for different countries. Consider the effects on Finland, Poland, the Baltic States, and Romania. What was the outcome of the pact?
• The cultural development of Europe in the 20th century. There are two famous influencers of European art advancement: a. Consider Richard Georg Strauss as the key figure of the 20th-century European music. b. Was Pablo Ruiz Picasso a significant figure of 20th-century European art progress? Discuss how these individuals contributed to the cultural flourishing in 20th-century Europe.

📻 US History Topics to Write about

The USA is a relatively young nation. Nevertheless, American history impresses with a wide variety of significant events. During its lifespan, the country faced wars, revolutions, inner and outer conflicts, reformations, and more.

The list of essential episodes of USA history is unbelievably long. So if you are overwhelmed with the oversaturation, don’t be confused and upset. Take a look at our modern American history topics. You will find something useful here.

• The Native Americans’ history.
• Conquest and colonization of America by Europeans.
• How did religion affect the pattern of colonization in America and life in those colonies?
• The importance of the process of colonization and the formation of unique cultures in America to the formation of the United States.
• Royal African Company. Why did a trading company have the greatest impact on the slave trade establishment in the USA?
• What was the impact of European colonization on American culture?
• The colonization of America as one of the most famous early American history topics . What were the goals of the conquest? What countries took part in the colonization of the USA?
• French-Indian War of 1754–1763. Examine the background of the war. Then, describe the course of the war. What were the consequences of the conflict through economic and political perspectives?
• How did the 17th century become the beginning of the slavery era in the USA?

• American History: the Road to Civil War
• The political reforms in 18th-century America.
• How does American literature reflect on the events of the Civil War?
• The Ideas of Freedom and Slavery in Relation to the American Revolution
• Visual art of the USA. Comment on Europe as a significant influencer of American art flourishing.
• Causes of the Civil War in the USA.
• History of the African-Americans Religion During the Time of Slavery
• United States Declaration of Independence of 1776: causes and effects.
• The Opium Trade: the new way of exporting goods from China to Britain through the USA.
• Industrialization as the leading cause of economic growth in the 19th century.
• The War of 1812 in American history .
• Anti-slavery movements in the United States. The people’s desire to abolish slavery: a fiction or a reality? Who were the most outstanding leaders od the anti-slavery movement? Explain how movement pushed the slavery abolishment forward.

You may notice that the 20th century US history topics are diverse. An impressive number of landmark events occurred during the 1900s. They immensely contributed to modern USA development.

The following essay questions will help you investigate. Find the most significant events of 20th-century American history and start your research.

• The American strategic culture in the Vietnam War.
• How did Ellis Island become a hospital for the American army during World War I?

• Cold War Major Aspects and Events .
• What were the USA contributions to the space age?
• The problem of the USA exposed by the Great Depression.
• Latinos’ civil rights’ winning in the post-war U.S.
• America in World War II – experiences and impacts.
• Martin Luther King as the main leader of the civil rights movement.
• Immigration Act of 1924. Examine the provisions of the act. What was the reason for the Immigration Act implementation? What was the result of this event?
• Charles Cough as the key figure of the populism movement in the U. S. Introduce the central concepts of populism. How did it affect America? Analyze Cough’s activities as a populist figure. What role did the National Union for Social Justice play in the movement?
• When Does Modern History Begin?
• What Is Meant by Modern History?
• What Is an Example of Modern History?
• When Did Modern History Start?
• What Are the Features of Modern History?
• Why Is the Study of Modern History Critical?
• What Is the Difference Between Ancient History and Modern History?
• How Is Modern History Different From Contemporary History?
• What Is the Difference Between Medieval History and Modern History?
• When Did Modern History Start and End?
• What Are the Five Eras of Modern History?
• What Are the Four Essential Characteristics of Modern History?
• Who Is Known as the Father of Modern History?
• Is Modern History Helpful?
• What Is the Modern History Concept?
• Who Is the Father of Modern History?
• What Is Greek and Roman Influence on Modern History?
• How Did Human Subjectivity Affect Foundations of Modern History?
• What’s the Role of Liberalism Through Modern History?
• How Modern History Changes the Family?
• How Does the Printing Press Affect Modern History?
• How the Boxer Rebellion Was a Turning Point in China’s Modern History?
• Why Should Modern History Begin With 1815?
• What Are the Similarities Between the History of the Easter Islands and the Modern History of Our Society?
• Who Is Called the Mother of Modern History?

Thank you for visiting our page! We hope the article was helpful for your studies. Don’t forget to leave your comments and share this page with your friends.

🔗References

• Internet Modern History Sourcebook: Paul Halsall for the History Department of Fordham University, New York
• 100 Good Research Paper Topics for History Class: Jule Romans for Owlcation
• Writing Historical Essays: History Department, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• How To Write a Good History Essay: Robert Pearce for History Today
• The Journal of Modern History, Vol 92, No 1: The University of Chicago Press Journals
• Early Modern Europe: Department of History, Princeton University
• Writing a Thesis and Making an Argument: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, The University of Iowa
• Tips for Writing Essay Exams: LSJ Writing Center, the University of Washington
• Beginning the Academic Essay: Patricia Kain for the Writing Center at Harvard University
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 27). 126 Modern History Topics: Essential Essay Ideas & Questions. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/modern-history-essay-topics/

"126 Modern History Topics: Essential Essay Ideas & Questions." IvyPanda , 27 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/modern-history-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '126 Modern History Topics: Essential Essay Ideas & Questions'. 27 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "126 Modern History Topics: Essential Essay Ideas & Questions." October 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/modern-history-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "126 Modern History Topics: Essential Essay Ideas & Questions." October 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/modern-history-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "126 Modern History Topics: Essential Essay Ideas & Questions." October 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/modern-history-essay-topics/.

• History Topics
• US History Topics
• Canadian History Topics
• World History Topics
• European History Essay Titles
• African American History Essay Ideas
• California History Essay Titles
• Demographics Topics
• Modernization Theory Research Topics
• Crime Ideas
• Economic Topics
• Culture Topics
• Ethnographic Paper Topics
• Globalization Essay Topics
• Immigration Titles

• How it works

Historical Research – A Guide Based on its Uses & Steps

Published by Alvin Nicolas at August 16th, 2021 , Revised On August 29, 2023

History is a study of past incidents, and it’s different from natural science. In natural science, researchers prefer direct observations. Whereas in historical research, a researcher collects, analyses the information to understand, describe, and explain the events that occurred in the past.

They aim to test the truthfulness of the observations made by others. Historical researchers try to find out what happened exactly during a certain period of time as accurately and as closely as possible. It does not allow any manipulation or control of  variables .

When to Use the Historical Research Method?

You can use historical research method to:

• Uncover the unknown fact.
• Answer questions
• Identify the association between the past and present.
• Understand the culture based on past experiences..
• Record and evaluate the contributions of individuals, organisations, and institutes.

How to Conduct Historical Research?

Historical research involves the following steps:

• Select the Research Topic
• Collect the Data
• Analyse the Data
• Criticism of Data
• Present your Findings

Tips to Collect Data

Step 1 – select the research topic.

If you want to conduct historical research, it’s essential to select a research topic before beginning your research. You can follow these tips while choosing a topic and  developing a research question .

• Consider your previous study as your previous knowledge and data can make your research enjoyable and comfortable for you.
• List your interests and focus on the current events to find a promising question.
• Take notes of regular activities and consider your personal experiences on a specific topic.
• Develop a question using your research topic.
• Explore your research question by asking yourself when? Why? How

Step 2- Collect the Data

It is essential to collect data and facts about the research question to get reliable outcomes. You need to select an appropriate instrument for  data collection . Historical research includes two sources of data collection, such as primary and secondary sources.

Primary Sources

Primary sources  are the original first-hand resources such as documents, oral or written records, witnesses to a fact, etc. These are of two types, such as:

Conscious Information : It’s a type of information recorded and restored consciously in the form of written, oral documents, or the actual witnesses of the incident that occurred in the past.

It includes the following sources:

Unconscious information : It’s a type of information restored in the form of remains or relics.

It includes information in the following forms:

Secondary Sources

Sometimes it’s impossible to access primary sources, and researchers rely on secondary sources to obtain information for their research. 

It includes:

• Publications
• Periodicals
• Encyclopedia

Step 3 – Analyse the Data

After collecting the information, you need to analyse it. You can use data analysis methods  like 

• Thematic analysis
• Coding system
• Theoretical model ( Researchers use multiple theories to explain a specific phenomenon, situations, and behavior types.)
• Quantitative data to validate

Step 4 – Criticism of Data

Data criticism is a process used for identifying the validity and reliability of the collected data. It’s of two types such as:

External Criticism :

It aims at identifying the external features of the data such as signature, handwriting, language, nature, spelling, etc., of the documents. It also involves the physical and chemical tests of paper, paint, ink, metal cloth, or any collected object.

Internal Criticism :

It aims at identifying the meaning and reliability of the data. It focuses on the errors, printing, translation, omission, additions in the documents. The researchers should use both external and internal criticism to ensure the validity of the data.

Step 5 – Present your Findings

While presenting the  findings of your research , you need to ensure that you have met the objectives of your research or not. Historical material can be organised based on the theme and topic, and it’s known as thematic and topical arrangement. You can follow these tips while writing your research paper :

Build Arguments and Narrative

Your research aims not just to collect information as these are the raw materials of research. You need to build a strong argument and narrate the details of past events or incidents based on your findings. 

Organise your Argument

You can review the literature and other researchers’ contributions to the topic you’ve chosen to enhance your thinking and argument.

Proofread, Revise and Edit

After putting your findings on a paper, you need to proofread it to weed out the errors, rewrite it to improve, and edit it thoroughly before submitting it.

Are you looking for professional research writing services?

We hear you.

• Whether you want a full dissertation written or need help forming a dissertation proposal, we can help you with both.
• Get different dissertation services at ResearchProspect and score amazing grades!

In this world of technology, many people rely on Google to find out any information. All you have to do is enter a few keywords and sit back. You’ll find several relevant results onscreen.

It’s an effective and quick way of gathering information. Sometimes historical documents are not accessible to everyone online, and you need to visit traditional libraries to find out historical treasures. It will help you explore your knowledge along with data collection. 

You can visit historical places, conduct interviews, review literature, and access  primary and secondary  data sources such as books, newspapers, publications, documents, etc. You can take notes while collecting the information as it helps to organise the data accurately.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Historical Research

Frequently asked questions, what are the initial steps to perform historical research.

Initial steps for historical research:

• Define research scope and period.
• Gather background knowledge.
• Identify primary and secondary sources.
• Develop research questions.
• Plan research approach.
• Begin data collection and analysis.

You May Also Like

A hypothesis is a research question that has to be proved correct or incorrect through hypothesis testing – a scientific approach to test a hypothesis.

What are the different research strategies you can use in your dissertation? Here are some guidelines to help you choose a research strategy that would make your research more credible.

Thematic analysis is commonly used for qualitative data. Researchers give preference to thematic analysis when analysing audio or video transcripts.

USEFUL LINKS

LEARNING RESOURCES

COMPANY DETAILS

• How It Works

Featured Topics

Featured series.

A series of random questions answered by Harvard experts.

Explore the Gazette

Read the latest.

Younger votes still lean toward Biden — but it’s complicated

Posting your opinion on social media won’t save democracy, but this might

Environmental law expert voices warning over Supreme Court

Manisha Sinha

Photos by Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Historian sees a warning for today in post-Civil War U.S.

Past is present at Warren Center symposium featuring scholars from Harvard, Emory, UConn, and University of Cambridge

Christy DeSmith

Harvard Staff Writer

Americans need not look abroad for historical comparisons to authoritarian currents in the country today, according to University of Connecticut scholar Manisha Sinha . The post-Civil War U.S. offers plenty.

“We need to pay a lot of attention to the period after 1877 going right up until at least 1900,” Sinha said. “It is a compelling example of the overthrow of American democracy for a significant period in U.S. history, and one that is so pertinent for our own fraught times.”

Sinha’s take on the backlash to Reconstruction was part of a symposium that the Warren Center for Studies in American History hosted on April 4. “The Past, Present, and Future of American Democracy” featured four scholars who highlighted historical forerunners to recent political crises, including efforts to overturn the election of Joe Biden.

“It seemed the right time to host a conversation that brings together historically minded scholars to do what historians do best: use a historical angle of vision to help us understand our contemporary dilemmas,” said moderator Lisa McGirr , director of the Warren Center and the Charles Warren Professor of American History. The symposium was co-sponsored by the Center for American Political Studies , the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research , the History Department, and the American Studies program.

After the devastation of the Civil War, U.S. capitalism was successfully rebuilt even as the country’s newly interracial democracy collapsed, Sinha argued. The demise of Reconstruction’s reforms was followed by decades of what she called “reactionary authoritarianism.”

“Around 4 million enslaved won their freedom and citizenship rights only to be subject to a new regime of racist terror,” said Sinha, who was a 2007-08 faculty fellow at the Warren Center. “Despite the emergence of the suffrage movement, women remained disenfranchised; Asian American immigrants were systematically excluded; and strikes by workers of all ethnicities violently put down.”

The anti-democratic ethos was evident far beyond the Jim Crow South, said Sinha, whose new book, “The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic,” examines tensions between democracy and capitalism from 1860 to 1920.

“The rapid industrialization of the country and the dismal conditions of labor that followed Reconstruction made a mockery of the free labor ideology of the victorious North,” she said. “New wars and imperial dreams of empire — inspired by the regime of racist apartheid in the post-Reconstruction South and the conquest of western Indian nations — further hollowed American democracy at home and abroad. By the end of the 19th century, a formal U.S. empire would subject people from the Caribbean to the Philippines to colonial rule.”  

To be sure, Reconstruction itself represented “a truly emancipatory moment,” she said, emphasizing the power of the Equal Protection Clause embedded in the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868. But that vision was eclipsed by a new ideology combining racism with suspicions of big government, she said, and the rise of these malign forces would have global ramifications.

“By the early 20th century, the United States was not only the city upon a hill, an unprecedented experiment in democratic republicanism, but it could now serve as a barbaric model of racist oppression,” she said. “The Jim Crow South, the genocide and warfare against Indian nations would inspire the Nazis in Germany as well as the apartheid state in South Africa.”

Also speaking at the symposium was American historian Gary Gerstle of the University of Cambridge, who offered up the New Deal of the 1930s and the triumph of neoliberalism in the 1990s as examples of Democratic progress and regress. African American Studies Professor Carol Anderson of Emory University gave an overview of her newly established Imagining Democracy Lab , with lessons on engaging young people drawn from the Civil Rights Movement and more. Harvard’s Daniel Ziblatt , Eaton Professor of the Science of Government and director of the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, drew from 2023’s “Tyranny of the Minority” to argue for reforms to the Constitution. The book, co-authored with Professor  Steven Levitsky , includes a chapter on the democratic collapse that followed Reconstruction.

Share this article

You might like.

New IOP poll shows they still plan to show up to vote but are subject to ‘seismic mood swings’ over specific issues

Tanner Lectures explore models of engaged citizenry from ancient agoras to modern megachurches

Richard Lazarus sees conservative majority as threat to protections developed over past half century

Exercise cuts heart disease risk in part by lowering stress, study finds

Benefits nearly double for people with depression

So what exactly makes Taylor Swift so great?

Experts weigh in on pop superstar's cultural and financial impact as her tours and albums continue to break records.

Finding right mix on campus speech policies

Legal, political scholars discuss balancing personal safety, constitutional rights, academic freedom amid roiling protests, cultural shifts

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, April 20, 2024

• Share full article

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz

April 20, 2024, can you place 8 notable events in chronological order, from the upshot: what the data says, analysis that explains politics, policy and everyday life..

Employment Discrimination: Researchers sent 80,000 fake résumés to some of the largest companies in the United States. They found that some discriminated against Black applicants much more than others .

Pandemic School Closures: ​A variety of data about children’s academic outcomes and about the spread of Covid-19 has accumulated since the start of the pandemic. Here is what we learned from it .

Affirmative Action: The Supreme Court effectively ended race-based preferences in admissions. But will selective schools still be able to achieve diverse student bodies? Here is how they might try .

N.Y.C. Neighborhoods: We asked New Yorkers to map their neighborhoods and to tell us what they call them . The result, while imperfect, is an extremely detailed map of the city .

Dialect Quiz:  What does the way you speak say about where you’re from? Answer these questions to find out .

Advertisement

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

Full Topic List

Regions & Countries

• Publications
• Our Methods
• Short Reads
• Tools & Resources

Read Our Research On:

Changing Partisan Coalitions in a Politically Divided Nation

Party identification among registered voters, 1994-2023, table of contents.

• What this report tells us – and what it doesn’t
• Partisans and partisan leaners in the U.S. electorate
• Party identification and ideology
• Education and partisanship
• Education, race and partisanship
• Partisanship by race and gender
• Partisanship across educational and gender groups by race and ethnicity
• Gender and partisanship
• Parents are more Republican than voters without children
• Partisanship among men and women within age groups
• Race, age and partisanship
• The partisanship of generational cohorts
• Religion, race and ethnicity, and partisanship
• Party identification among atheists, agnostics and ‘nothing in particular’
• Partisanship and religious service attendance
• Partisanship by income groups
• The relationship between income and partisanship differs by education
• Union members remain more Democratic than Republican
• Homeowners are more Republican than renters
• Partisanship of military veterans
• Demographic differences in partisanship by community type
• Race and ethnicity
• Age and the U.S. electorate
• Education by race and ethnicity
• Religious affiliation
• Ideological composition of voters
• Acknowledgments
• Overview of survey methodologies
• The 2023 American Trends Panel profile survey methodology
• Measuring party identification across survey modes
• Adjusting telephone survey trends
• Appendix B: Religious category definitions
• Appendix C: Age cohort definitions

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to explore partisan identification among U.S. registered voters across major demographic groups and how voters’ partisan affiliation has shifted over time. It also explores the changing composition of voters overall and the partisan coalitions.

For this analysis, we used annual totals of data from Pew Research Center telephone surveys (1994-2018) and online surveys (2019-2023) among registered voters. All telephone survey data was adjusted to account for differences in how people respond to surveys on the telephone compared with online surveys (refer to Appendix A for details).

All online survey data is from the Center’s nationally representative American Trends Panel . The surveys were conducted in both English and Spanish. Each survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, age, education, race and ethnicity and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology , as well as how Pew Research Center measures many of the demographic categories used in this report .

The contours of the 2024 political landscape are the result of long-standing patterns of partisanship, combined with the profound demographic changes that have reshaped the United States over the past three decades.

Many of the factors long associated with voters’ partisanship remain firmly in place. For decades, gender, race and ethnicity, and religious affiliation have been important dividing lines in politics. This continues to be the case today.

Yet there also have been profound changes – in some cases as a result of demographic change, in others because of dramatic shifts in the partisan allegiances of key groups.

The combined effects of change and continuity have left the country’s two major parties at virtual parity: About half of registered voters (49%) identify as Democrats or lean toward the Democratic Party, while 48% identify as Republicans or lean Republican.

In recent decades, neither party has had a sizable advantage, but the Democratic Party has lost the edge it maintained from 2017 to 2021. (Explore this further in Chapter 1 . )

Pew Research Center’s comprehensive analysis of party identification among registered voters – based on hundreds of thousands of interviews conducted over the past three decades – tracks the changes in the country and the parties since 1994. Among the major findings:

The partisan coalitions are increasingly different. Both parties are more racially and ethnically diverse than in the past. However, this has had a far greater impact on the composition of the Democratic Party than the Republican Party.

The share of voters who are Hispanic has roughly tripled since the mid-1990s; the share who are Asian has increased sixfold over the same period. Today, 44% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters are Hispanic, Black, Asian, another race or multiracial, compared with 20% of Republicans and Republican leaners. However, the Democratic Party’s advantages among Black and Hispanic voters, in particular, have narrowed somewhat in recent years. (Explore this further in Chapter 8 .)

Education and partisanship: The share of voters with a four-year bachelor’s degree keeps increasing, reaching 40% in 2023. And the gap in partisanship between voters with and without a college degree continues to grow, especially among White voters. More than six-in-ten White voters who do not have a four-year degree (63%) associate with the Republican Party, which is up substantially over the past 15 years. White college graduates are closely divided; this was not the case in the 1990s and early 2000s, when they mostly aligned with the GOP. (Explore this further in Chapter 2 .)

Beyond the gender gap: By a modest margin, women voters continue to align with the Democratic Party (by 51% to 44%), while nearly the reverse is true among men (52% align with the Republican Party, 46% with the Democratic Party). The gender gap is about as wide among married men and women. The gap is wider among men and women who have never married; while both groups are majority Democratic, 37% of never-married men identify as Republicans or lean toward the GOP, compared with 24% of never-married women. (Explore this further in Chapter 3 .)

A divide between old and young: Today, each younger age cohort is somewhat more Democratic-oriented than the one before it. The youngest voters (those ages 18 to 24) align with the Democrats by nearly two-to-one (66% to 34% Republican or lean GOP); majorities of older voters (those in their mid-60s and older) identify as Republicans or lean Republican. While there have been wide age divides in American politics over the last two decades, this wasn’t always the case; in the 1990s there were only very modest age differences in partisanship. (Explore this further in Chapter 4 .)

Education and family income: Voters without a college degree differ substantially by income in their party affiliation. Those with middle, upper-middle and upper family incomes tend to align with the GOP. A majority with lower and lower-middle incomes identify as Democrats or lean Democratic. There are no meaningful differences in partisanship among voters with at least a four-year bachelor’s degree; across income categories, majorities of college graduate voters align with the Democratic Party. (Explore this further in Chapter 6 .)

Rural voters move toward the GOP, while the suburbs remain divided: In 2008, when Barack Obama sought his first term as president, voters in rural counties were evenly split in their partisan loyalties. Today, Republicans hold a 25 percentage point advantage among rural residents (60% to 35%). There has been less change among voters in urban counties, who are mostly Democratic by a nearly identical margin (60% to 37%). The suburbs – perennially a political battleground – remain about evenly divided. (Explore this further in Chapter 7 . )

Growing differences among religious groups: Mirroring movement in the population overall, the share of voters who are religiously unaffiliated has grown dramatically over the past 15 years. These voters, who have long aligned with the Democratic Party, have become even more Democratic over time: Today 70% identify as Democrats or lean Democratic. In contrast, Republicans have made gains among several groups of religiously affiliated voters, particularly White Catholics and White evangelical Protestants. White evangelical Protestants now align with the Republican Party by about a 70-point margin (85% to 14%). (Explore this further in Chapter 5 .)

In most cases, the partisan allegiances of voters do not change a great deal from year to year. Yet as this study shows, the long-term shifts in party identification are substantial and say a great deal about how the country – and its political parties – have changed since the 1990s.

The steadily growing alignment between demographics and partisanship reveals an important aspect of steadily growing partisan polarization. Republicans and Democrats do not just hold different beliefs and opinions about major issues , they are much more different racially, ethnically, geographically and in educational attainment than they used to be.

Yet over this period, there have been only modest shifts in overall partisan identification. Voters remain evenly divided, even as the two parties have grown further apart. The continuing close division in partisan identification among voters is consistent with the relatively narrow margins in the popular votes in most national elections over the past three decades.

Partisan identification provides a broad portrait of voters’ affinities and loyalties. But while it is indicative of voters’ preferences, it does not perfectly predict how people intend to vote in elections, or whether they will vote. In the coming months, Pew Research Center will release reports analyzing voters’ preferences in the presidential election, their engagement with the election and the factors behind candidate support.

Next year, we will release a detailed study of the 2024 election, based on validated voters from the Center’s American Trends Panel. It will examine the demographic composition and vote choices of the 2024 electorate and will provide comparisons to the 2020 and 2016 validated voter studies.

The partisan identification study is based on annual totals from surveys conducted on the Center’s American Trends Panel from 2019 to 2023 and telephone surveys conducted from 1994 to 2018. The survey data was adjusted to account for differences in how the surveys were conducted. For more information, refer to Appendix A .

Previous Pew Research Center analyses of voters’ party identification relied on telephone survey data. This report, for the first time, combines data collected in telephone surveys with data from online surveys conducted on the Center’s nationally representative American Trends Panel.

Directly comparing answers from online and telephone surveys is complex because there are differences in how questions are asked of respondents and in how respondents answer those questions. Together these differences are known as “mode effects.”

As a result of mode effects, it was necessary to adjust telephone trends for leaned party identification in order to allow for direct comparisons over time.

In this report, telephone survey data from 1994 to 2018 is adjusted to align it with online survey responses. In 2014, Pew Research Center randomly assigned respondents to answer a survey by telephone or online. The party identification data from this survey was used to calculate an adjustment for differences between survey mode, which is applied to all telephone survey data in this report.

Please refer to Appendix A for more details.

Sign up for The Briefing

Weekly updates on the world of news & information

• Education & Politics
• Election 2024
• Gender & Politics
• Political Parties
• Race, Ethnicity & Politics
• Religion & Politics
• Rural, Urban and Suburban Communities
• Voter Demographics

What’s It Like To Be a Teacher in America Today?

Republican gains in 2022 midterms driven mostly by turnout advantage, more americans disapprove than approve of colleges considering race, ethnicity in admissions decisions, partisan divides over k-12 education in 8 charts, school district mission statements highlight a partisan divide over diversity, equity and inclusion in k-12 education, most popular, report materials.

• Party Identification Detailed Tables, 1994-2023

1615 L St. NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 USA (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax (+1) 202-419-4372 |  Media Inquiries

Research Topics

• Age & Generations
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Economy & Work
• Family & Relationships
• Gender & LGBTQ
• Immigration & Migration
• International Affairs
• Internet & Technology
• Methodological Research
• News Habits & Media
• Non-U.S. Governments
• Other Topics
• Politics & Policy
• Race & Ethnicity
• Email Newsletters

ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of  The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Copyright 2024 Pew Research Center

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Settings

Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy

Despite High Potential, 75 Vulnerable Economies Face ‘Historic Reversal’

In Half of IDA Countries, Income Gap with Wealthiest Economies is Widening

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2024 — Despite their high potential to advance global prosperity, one-half of the world’s 75 most vulnerable countries are facing a widening income gap with the wealthiest economies for the first time in this century, a new World Bank report has found . Taking full advantage of their younger populations, their rich natural resources, and their abundant solar-energy potential can help them overcome the setback.

The report, The Great Reversal: Prospects, Risks, and Policies in International Development Association Countries , offers the first comprehensive look at the opportunities and risks confronting the 75 countries eligible for grants and zero to low-interest loans from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). These countries are home to a quarter of humanity—1.9 billion people. At a time when populations are aging nearly everywhere else, IDA countries will enjoy a growing share of young workers through 2070—a huge potential “demographic dividend.” These countries are also rich in natural resources, enjoy high potential for solar-energy generation, and boast a large reservoir of mineral deposits that could be crucial for the world’s transition to clean energy.

Yet a historic reversal is underway for them. Over 2020-24, average per capita incomes in half of IDA countries—the largest share since the start of this century—have been growing more slowly than those of wealthy economies. This is widening the income gap between these two groups of countries. One out of three IDA countries is poorer, on average, than it was on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic . The extreme-poverty rate is more than eight times the average in the rest of the world: one in four people in IDA countries struggles on less than $2.15 a day. These countries now account for 90% of all people facing hunger or malnutrition. Half of these countries are either in debt distress or at high risk of it. Still, except for the World Bank Group and other multilateral development donors, foreign lenders—private as well as government creditors—have been backing away from them.

“The world cannot afford to turn its back on IDA countries,” said Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President . “The welfare of these countries has always been crucial to the long-term outlook for global prosperity. Three of the world’s economic powerhouses today—China, India, and South Korea—were all once IDA borrowers. All three prospered in ways that whittled down extreme poverty and raised living standards. With help from abroad, today’s batch of IDA countries has the potential to do the same.”

More than half of all IDA countries—39 in all—are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Fourteen of them—mainly small island states—are in East Asia, and eight are in Latin America and the Caribbean. In South Asia, all countries except for India are IDA countries. Thirty-one IDA countries have per capita incomes of less than $1,315 a year. Thirty-three are fragile and conflict-affected states.

IDA countries share similar opportunities. The “demographic dividend”—a deep and growing reserve of young workers—is one of them. Abundant natural resources is another. These countries account for about 20% of global production of tin, copper, and gold. In addition, some IDA countries possess critical mineral deposits essential for the global energy transition. Because of their abundant sunshine, most IDA countries are well situated to take advantage of solar energy. On average, their long-term daily solar-electricity generation potential is among the highest in the world.

This potential, however, comes with risks that must be managed. To reap the demographic dividend, IDA governments will need to undertake policies to improve education and health outcomes and make sure that jobs are available for the rising number of young people who will enter the workforce in the coming decades. To seize the full potential of their natural-resource wealth, IDA countries will need to improve policy frameworks and build stronger institutions capable of better economic management. All of this will require ambitious domestic policy reforms—and significant financial support from the international community.

“IDA countries have incredible potential to deliver strong, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Realizing this potential will require them to implement an ambitious set of policies centered on boosting investment,” said Ayhan Kose, the World Bank’s Deputy Chief Economist and Director of the Prospects Group . “ This means improving fiscal, monetary, and financial policy frameworks and advancing an array of structural reforms to strengthen institutions and enhance human capital."

IDA countries today have large investment needs. In the poorest of them, closing existing development and infrastructure gaps and building resilience to climate change will require investment that amounts to nearly 10% of GDP. The costs of climate disasters have doubled in IDA countries over the past decade: Economic losses from natural disasters average 1.3% of GDP a year—four times the average of other emerging market and developing economies. Such needs will require IDA countries to generate sustained investment booms—the type that boosts productivity and incomes and reduces poverty. Historically, such investment booms have often been sparked by a comprehensive package of policy measures—to bolster fiscal and monetary frameworks, ramp up cross-border trade and financial flows, and improve the quality of institutions. Such reforms are never easy, the report notes. They need careful sequencing and implementation. But previous IDA countries have shown they are possible.

IDA countries will need significant international financial support to make progress and lower the risk of “protracted stagnation,” the report notes . Stronger cooperation on global policy issues—including fighting climate change, facilitating more timely and effective debt restructurings, and supporting cross-border trade and investment—will also be crucial to help IDA countries avert a lost decade in development .

Website: https://www.worldbank.org/en/research/publication/prospects-risks-and-policies-in-IDA-countries

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank

X (Twitter):  http://www.twitter.com/worldbank

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/worldbank

This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. To learn more about cookies, click here .

• lol Badge Feed
• win Badge Feed
• trending Badge Feed

Browse links

• © 2024 BuzzFeed, Inc
• Consent Preferences
• Accessibility Statement

Eight History Facts I Learned This Month That Were So Fun, Weird, And Interesting I Literally Had To Share

There's a reason Eleanor of Aquitaine is a legend.

BuzzFeed Staff

As you (my adoring fans) probably already know , I am a little fiend when it comes to history knowledge (and all the juicy gossip and feuds one learns about when one cracks open a history book). Lucky for all of us, I've found a constructive outlet for all my newfound knowledge: this glorious post series , where I get to share my messy, fun, and totally random collection of history facts with all of you. So, without further ado, here are eight history facts I've recently learned that I feel the need to share with you in this beautiful month of April:

1. the real-life rhaenyra targaryen: england's first female ruler, empress matilda, predates its first official queen (mary i) by some 400 years, but she never got the title of capital-q queen..

The only daughter of King Henry I of England, Matilda controversially gained the title of Empress after her marriage to Holy Roman Emperor Henry V; and though he died young, Matilda successfully kept using the title of Empress until her death, decades later. 

When her little brother William died unexpectedly in a shipwreck , Matilda was left as her father's sole heir. In 1125, after her husband died at age 38 from cancer,  a 23-year-old Matilda decided to return to her father in Normandy. A year later, King Henry had his court court swear an oath to defend Matilda as his heir  in the event of his death; and in 1127, she married Geoffrey of Anjou, a count 11 years her younger. Scandalous. 

Despite the above-mentioned oath of fealty ( and an alleged additional oath ), when King Henry died, Matilda's cousin Stephen of Blois abandoned his oath to her, traveled to London , and insisted that the archbishop of Canterbury anoint him King . Apparently, Matilda's succession story is what inspired the character of Rhaenyra Targaryen in George R.R. Martin's  Fire & Blood, which has become HBO's House of the Dragon . 

In 1139, Matilda " set out for England ," supported by her half-brother Robert Earl of Gloucester, to seize power through force. In 1141, Stephen was captured  and Matilda had him imprisoned while she set out to get herself crowned. 

Matilda struck a little deal with Stephen's own brother, Henry, who was the Bishop of Winchester, and got him to  give her the support of the church . (He also  excommunicated her enemies , which is amazing). 

But unfortunately for Matilda, she was never crowned Queen; she failed to gain the support of the people of London. Instead, the clergy gave her the title of Lady of the English , which still held some sway. Eventually, Stephen got his throne back; but in the end, it was Matilda's son Henry who succeeded him, marking the beginning of the Plantagenet dynasty. 

2. The American Civil War started and ended at the same man's house — kind of.

In 1861, the house of farmer Wilmer McLean served as the headquarters for Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard in the First Battle of Bull Run, AKA the first battle of the Civil War. After his house was damaged by gunfire, McLean decided to move his family over 100 miles away , thinking that that would get them away from the war. 

Well... through pure coincidence, four years after that first battle, General Lee surrendered to General Grant in McLean's new front parlor. 

3. Those Orcas attacking boats in the Strait of Gibraltar are hardly the first 'killer whales' of their ilk. In History of the Wars, the historian Procopius wrote about a whale called Porphyrios, who spent over 50 years harassing "Byzantium and the towns about it" and terrorizing seafarers.

According to Procopius, Porphyrios "sank many boats and terrified the passengers of many others," — "not continuously, however, but disappearing sometimes for a rather long interval." So basically, this whale would swim to Byzantium, terrorize the locals, sink some ships, and go about its business for a few years... then circle back for another round.

4. An accidental discovery uncovered our earliest-ever reference to a "red herring" from a book of Jester's jokes discovered in Scotland in 2023.

Dr. James Wade, a professor at Cambridge, was conducting research when he discovered this little line in a manuscript: "By me, Richard Heege, because I was at that feast and did not have a drink." He said the line produced a " moment of epiphany " for him, and pointed out the line's humor: "It’s rare for medieval scribes to share that much of their character."

Unfortunately, as Dr. Wade mentions , "most medieval poetry, song and storytelling has been lost;" surviving records tend to skew more high-brow. "This is something else," says Dr. Wade; "It’s mad and offensive, but just as valuable.”

The manuscript recounts a minstrel's notes-to-self for reference during a live performance; basically, notes for a medieval stand-up set. According to the University of Cambridge , the three texts included in the manuscript comprise a "burlesque romance entitled The Hunting of the Hare," a poem about peasants that is "reminiscent of Monty Python;" a mock sermon in prose that refers to the audience humorously as "cursed creatures" and encourages them to get wasted; and " The Battle of Brackonwet , an alliterative nonsense verse" that involves Robin Hood, jousting bears, and partying pigs.

The red herring moment is found in the mock sermon, in which the minstrel was making fun of the aristocracy. He tells a story of three kings, who eat so gluttonously that " 24 oxen burst out of their bellies sword fighting." In fighting, the oxen chop each other up to pieces until they're reduced to three "red herrings" — AKA, the kings.

To us, this is the earliest red herring reference; but to people at the time, the concept of a red herring was already old hat. According to Dr. Wade , "The minstrel must have known people would get this red herring reference. Kings are reduced to mere distractions. What are kings good for? Gluttony. And what is the result of gluttony? Absurd pageantry creating distractions, ‘red herrings’.” Pretty cool.

5. Abraham Lincoln may have had a dream predicting his own assassination three days before it happened.

According to Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln's long-time friend and bodyguard, Lincoln confided in his wife and a few friends about the dream . "I heard subdued sobs, as if a number of people were weeping," he reportedly said. He recounted walking through an empty White House, where he kept hearing mourners but couldn't see anybody. Finally, he entered the East Room; and reportedly said, "There I met with a sickening surprise."

"Before me was a catafalque, on which rested a corpse with funeral vestments," Lamon recalls Lincoln saying . "Around it were soldiers who were stationed acting as guards; and there was a throng of people, some gazing mournfully upon the corpse, whose face was covered, others weeping pitifully. 'Who is dead in the White House?' I demanded one of the soldiers. 'The President,' was his answer; 'he was killed by an assassin!'" 

Some doubt the veracity of Lamon's story, but it was true that Lincoln placed some amount of stock in the higher meaning of dreams . And apparently, members of his cabinet recalled that the night before his assassination, he reported having again a recurring dream  that he had had shortly before "nearly every great and important event of the War." Spooky stuff. 

6. In the Second Battle of Panipat, the last Hindu emperor of India , Hemu, was on the brink of defeating the Mughal Empire when a chance arrow pierced his eye . Thinking he was dead, his army "panicked, and dispersed."

Though it still seemed uncertain how the battle would end, Hemu seemed to be winning; evidently, the left and right wings of the Mughal army had been " thrown into disarray, " and Hemu was advancing his war elephants on its center. (Historian Satish Chandra derides his "excessive" reliance on elephants .) According to historian R.P. Tripathi, Hemu "was riding an elephant and was vociferously cheering up his spirited soldiers. The Mughal army seemed to be on their last legs." 

Unfortunately, this is when the fateful arrow hit Hemu's eye. He fainted  and was taken captive by the Mughal troops and beheaded by their military commander (and future regent ruler) Bairam Khan, on behalf of the 13-year-old who would become Akbar the Great. Ouch. 

The silver lining for Hemu was that his wife escaped , on "elephants laden with gold;" but the bonus prize for the Mughals was that "the gold she left behind was so great that it was given away on shields." 

7. With the knowledge that Winston Churchill had a distinct sweet tooth, the Nazi Party once attempted to assassinate him via exploding chocolate bar.

According to the Telegraph, Nazi bomb designers created a thin explosive that could fit within a layer of rich dark chocolate , which when broken would trigger "enough explosives to kill anyone within several meters." They packaged the bars in "expensive-looking black and gold paper" to be smuggled in and placed with other expensive treats for people in the War Cabinet. 

Fortunately for Mr. Churchill, the plot was discovered by British spies, who alerted MI5. MI5 operative Lord Victor Rothschild set to work foiling the plan , and no chocolate exploded in Britain. 

8. And finally: At age 14, a young Eleanor of Aquitaine became " the richest and most desirable heiress in Europe ," and " the greatest heiress in the known world. " By birth, she was the Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right; and she went on to marry not one but two kings (one of whom was Empress Matilda's son, Henry).

Shortly after her father's death, Eleanor married the French Prince Louis ; shortly after that,  Prince Louis' father died,  and Louis and Eleanor were crowned King and Queen of France. They had two daughters together, and Eleanor held considerable influence over Louis, even  accompanying him to Jerusalem on the Second Crusade ; but shortly thereafter, they became estranged, and their marriage annulled. 

Having returned to Aquitaine, Eleanor wrote to the aforementioned Henry  asking him to marry her , which he did. Henry and Eleanor had eight children together, five boys and three girls; but over the years, this couple became estranged too, and Eleanor eventually went back to preside over Aquitaine without him, accompanied by her daughter Marie. (Henry never could gain respect in Aquitaine; the people there only recognized allegiance to their duchess, and " informed her that they owed Henry no allegiance, save as her husband .")  Eleanor's court in Aquitaine garnered a reputation as one of the 'courts of love'  whence so many legends of courtly love originated. 

When three of Eleanor's sons rebelled against their father in the Revolt of 1173-1174, Eleanor allied herself with them and helped lead the revolt . When it failed, Henry made peace with his sons  but imprisoned Eleanor, keeping her in custody for 16 years. 

When Henry died, his son Richard — you know, King Richard , from Robin Hood? — became king. Immediately, Richard freed Eleanor,  and she apparently " received from her son the power to decree whatever she might wish in the kingdom. " That political influence lasted. 

Eleanor lived into her 80s and remained politically active to the last, outliving both her husbands and all of her children but two. 

If there are any dramatic, interesting, or just plain cool facts from history that you think I would love, please, please, please drop them in the comments! I always like learning more historical info, and I'm sure other people do, too.

Share this article.

• COMMUNITY & EVENTS

Triangle ALS walk aims to promote awareness and research for rare disease

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- This weekend, hundreds are expected in downtown Raleigh at the Halifax Mall for the annual Walk ALS event.

The event promotes research for the devastating neurological condition that still has no cure. ALS is a rare disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function as nerve cells break down. It's estimated that there are around 30,000 people in the United States living with the condition.

One of them is Pastor Troy Tatum, from Hillyer Memorial Church in Raleigh.

After months of leg weakness, and ruling out other causes, the pastor was diagnosed with ALS in 2022.

He kept working months after, when his church installed handrails and elevator to accommodate his mobility issues, but eventually, after wanting to spent more time with his family, he made the difficult choice to step down as pastor.

But he said the ordeal has made his faith stronger.

"When I was faced with this, it really made me face the question of if this really what you believe or is that just what you've been telling folks," Tatum said.

He said he's lucky the progression has been slow -- most of the impacts now are in his lower body only. He has to use a wheelchair to get around.

"It's tough in all things you look back on things and say you know I'm not going to be able to do that anymore," he said.

He shared his experience at local Triangle ALS events and even lobbied the North Carolina congressional delegation in Washington for more research funding.

"There's not a huge community of support to advocate for this, because when you're diagnosed with this, you're given 2 to 5 years to live on average," he said.

But things have come a long way. Dr. Richard Bedlack, the distinguished professor of ALS at Duke University said when he began studying the disease more than 20 years ago as a student, doctors had a much more bleak outlook.

"I was just horrified when my attendant came in and said, 'We don't know why this happens and there's really nothing we can do about it. Go home and get your affairs in order.' And I drove home that day and I said, 'You know, there's got to be a better way,'" Bedlack said.

Now he has 500 patients at his clinic in Durham, and he's inspired by new promising studies. Looking into genetic mutations found that some people with the disease shared environmental factors; they also uncovered new drug treatments that could provide a breakthrough.

"I think in the short term, we're learning ways that we can help people manage their lives and have a good quality to their lives. But in the long term, we're understanding what's causing the disease," Bedlack said.

Walk ALS will be taking place this Saturday morning at Halifax Mall in Raleigh. ABC11 will have a team there honoring the late anchor Larry Stogner, who lost his own battle with ALS in 2016.

Related Topics

• HEALTH & FITNESS
• ALS WALK FOR LIFE
• MEDICAL RESEARCH
• ABC11 TOGETHER

Top Stories

Local leaders speak out as aid package moves through Congress

• 2 hours ago

All-female Clayton robotics team sets example for women in STEM

Sunday rain continues, temps fall below historical average

1 dead after multi-vehicle crash on NC Highway 87

Sports betting thrives in North Carolina

North Carolina medical marijuana sales begin at Cherokee store

Duke's move to end scholarship for Black students gets mixed reactions

2 kids killed, 15 injured after vehicle crashes into birthday party

• Directories

Tony and Yohanni Johns Lecture 2024: The Question of Truth

Presented by ANU College of Asia & the Pacific

The Question of Truth 

In this lecture, Leila Salikha Chudori will reflect on the political nature of history writing in Indonesia under authoritarianism. She will explore how Indonesia’s youngest generations have found ‘truth’ through historical fiction. Please join us for a thought-provoking lecture from one of Indonesia's most prominent contemporary writers. 

Leila Salikha Chudori  is an Indonesian journalist and writer. In 2020 Chudori was awarded the Southeast Asian Writers Award, and in 2023, together with her daughter Rain Chudori, founded Peron House publishing company. Chudori worked as a journalist for Tempo magazine from 1989, as a screenwriter and a novelist, and published her first stories in children’s magazines at age 12. Her award-winning novel  Pulang (Home) , a multigenerational romance set against the backdrop of Indonesian political activism in the mid-1960s and 1998, was published in 2012 and translated into English, Dutch, German and Italian. In 2017 Chudori published  Laut Bercerita , which tells the fictionalised story of a student activist who was ‘disappeared’ in 1998, his bereaved family and grieving friends, and those who tortured and betrayed him. The novel was made into a short film.  Laut Bercerita  has been a best seller for seven years. Leila Chudori’s work is informed by sources as wide ranging as Kafka and the Hindu Epics, and she draws on the deep wounds and hopes of Indonesian history to create novels with astute political resonances. This lecture honours both  Tony and Yohanni Johns's  enduring legacies on Indonesian teaching in ANU and all across Australia, which started when Tony was made inaugural professor Indonesian languages and literature at ANU in 1963. It is made possible by the generosity of Emeritus Professor Anthony Reid, as well as Tony and Yohanni's friends and family.

Agenda  

• Reception 5.30-6pm
• Lecture 6-7pm 

Click here to join our mailing list.

Date and Times

• Thu 02 May 2024, 5:30 pm - Thu 02 May 2024, 7:00 pm
• Leila Salikha Chudori, Indonesian journalist and writer
•   Yanhong Ouyang   Send email

Other events you might be interested in

12 Feb 2024

05 Apr 2024

Register to be a Set4ANU Mentor

07 Apr 2024

Drill Hall Gallery Lecture Series: The 50 years that changed painting 1867-1917

23 Apr 2024

Classical Student Lunchtime Concert #2