world history essay topics for high school

75 Interesting History Essay Topics

Do you wonder how ancient civilizations functioned and evolved through the years of inventions and innovation? History indeed teaches us so much about the people and communities that created an impact back then. While literary essay topics help you explore the nuanced writing forms, history essay topics are meant to nurture your research skills. The thirst to discover stories of war, victories of freedom fighters, and the smuggling of arms can be quenched by engaging in essay writing. 

History is vast, ranging from states to nations, from forts to ports and so much more. In such a case, you simply cannot be studying it all or exploring topics all of a sudden. Hence, it is important to know that history can be categorized into different types wherein you can choose the one that interests you the most. Writing history essays empowers critical thinking skills and builds a problem-solving mindset in everyday life. This article will take you through different history essay topics motivating you to discover varied perspectives, ideas, and ideologies of the past.

Engaging History Essay Topics 

Various creative writing topics for high schoolers tap into building their imagination skills and enhancing their thinking abilities. However, along with history websites , interesting history essay Topics enable students to dive deeper into the ancient world and discover evolution. It is important to provide students with the right topic that interests them thereby inspiring them to research and find facts. The below-mentioned topics are a combination of various parts of history that help teachers offer a comprehensive learning environment. 

1. General History Essay Topics

• The reasons behind the fall of the Roman Empire and its effects.
• The effects of the printing press on the Renaissance’s dissemination of knowledge.
• Propaganda’s function in World War II and its impact on public opinion.
• The historical contributions of ancient African civilizations.
• The Silk Road’s importance in promoting trade and cultural exchange between East and West.
• The elements that led to the Byzantine Empire’s rise and demise.
• How the Scientific Revolution affected the growth of modern science.
• Analyzing the social and cultural backdrop of the frenzy during the Salem Witch Trials.
• The Louisiana Purchase’s importance in influencing American expansion.
• The effects of the Spanish Inquisition on freedom and toleration of religion.
• The impact of Enlightenment thought on the French and American Revolutions.
• How the Mongol invasions affected the economies and societies of Eurasian countries.
• The consequences of the Protestant Reformation on politics and society in Europe.
• The artistic and governmental achievements of the ancient Persian Empire.
• The reasons for and effects of the Chinese and British opium wars.

2. Essay Topics on Ancient History 

• The pharaohs’ achievements offer a glimpse into the growth and fall of Egyptian civilization.
• The legacy of ancient Mesopotamia is the contributions it made to early human cultures and culture.
• What can we infer about the Indus Valley Civilization, a prehistoric culture, and its significance?
• The causes behind the rise, expansion, and ultimate destruction of the Roman Empire.
• The construction of China’s Great Wall and its significance.
• Ancient Rome’s aqueducts, roadways, and structures are feats of engineering.
• The development and significance of early scripts like cuneiform and hieroglyphics.
• Symbolism and purpose in the art and architecture of ancient civilizations.
• The impact of mummification methods on ancient Egyptian ideas about the afterlife.
• Beginnings and religious practices of ancient civilizations: A comparison.
• The importance of the ancient Olympic Games in promoting peace and harmony between city-states.
• Legendary stories’ cultural value to ancient cultures.
• Influence of the Persian Empire on regional trade and cultural exchange.
• Investigating the Mayan civilization’s triumphs and demise.
• Early Indian mathematicians’ contributions to mathematics.

3. Essay Topics on World History 

• How Europe’s intellectual and cultural development was fueled by the Renaissance.
• The effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis on the Cold War and world politics.
• The effect of the Mongol invasions on how medieval Eurasia developed.
• The legacy of ancient civilizations: Contrasting and comparing the contributions of the civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley.
• Gender rights and the position of women during the French Revolution.
• The causes of the Roman Empire’s collapse during its ascent and fall.
• The reasons for and effects of the 1917 Russian Revolution.
• The importance of the Silk Road in fostering commercial exchange.
• The contribution of the Enlightenment to world upheavals and reformations.
• China’s connections with the West after the Opium Wars.
• The effect of the Spanish Conquistadors on the Americas’ indigenous cultures.
• The causes of the Byzantine Empire’s collapse and its historical repercussions throughout Europe.
• Political and religious changes in Europe as a result of the Protestant Reformation.
• The emergence of empires in prehistoric Mesopotamia and their historical consequences.
• The Declaration of Independence’s importance in molding American history.

4. Essay Topics on Black History 

• The influence of the Harlem Renaissance on African-American culture.
• The importance of the Underground Railroad in aiding slaves’ freedom-related escapes.
• African-American participation in the Civil War and their struggle for freedom.
• The racial equality campaigns carried out by the Black Panthers.
• African-American aviators in World War II as the Tuskegee Airmen.
• The integration process of the first African American pupils into previously all-white schools.
• The history of Black History Month and its importance.
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964’s legacy and ongoing effects.
• The battle for desegregation by the Little Rock Nine.
• Black Lives Matter: Its Background and Importance
• The fight for voting rights and electoral participation by African Americans.
• Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs’): Background and Influence.
• Importance of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
• The Black Arts Movement’s influence on culture during the 1960s and 1970s.
• The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People’s (NAACP): Background and Significance.

5. Argumentative Essay Topics on History

• Was the American Revolution a true revolution or was it merely a fight for independence?
• Social and economic effects of the Industrial Revolution on the working class.
• Women’s participation and contributions to the war effort during World War II.
• The Mongol Empire’s legacy: Did it make a positive or detrimental impact on world history?
• The Declaration of Independence’s importance in influencing American values and administration.
• The benefits and drawbacks of imperialism.
• The effects of the Treaty of Versailles on post-World War I stability in Europe.
• The Black Death’s consequences on medieval society and how they affected Europe in the long run.
• The reasons behind the French Revolution and its effects.
• The reasons behind and effects of the Cold War’s Cuban Missile Crisis.
• Analyzing the civil rights movement’s effects on society and determining its effectiveness.
• The importance of ancient Greek and Roman culture in forming contemporary Western culture.
• The discussion around the use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• The function of propaganda in World Wars I and II.
• Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the end of apartheid in South Africa.

Final Words

Drafting your thoughts about different history topics helps you explore a world of possibilities. Essay writing helps develop control grammar and language skills thereby strengthening communication.

With the above-mentioned history essay topics, you can choose the one that interests you the most. Ensure to pen down your thoughts and add new perspectives to the stories of the past. Students can also explore and play online history games to learn more about history and practice the same.

Sananda Bhattacharya, Chief Editor of TheHighSchooler, is dedicated to enhancing operations and growth. With degrees in Literature and Asian Studies from Presidency University, Kolkata, she leverages her educational and innovative background to shape TheHighSchooler into a pivotal resource hub. Providing valuable insights, practical activities, and guidance on school life, graduation, scholarships, and more, Sananda’s leadership enriches the journey of high school students.

Explore a plethora of invaluable resources and insights tailored for high schoolers at TheHighSchooler, under the guidance of Sananda Bhattacharya’s expertise. You can follow her on Linkedin

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Write my thesis
• Thesis writers
• Buy thesis papers
• Bachelor thesis
• Master's thesis
• Thesis editing services
• Thesis proofreading services
• Buy a thesis online
• Write my dissertation
• Dissertation proposal help
• Pay for dissertation
• Custom dissertation
• Dissertation help online
• Buy dissertation online
• Cheap dissertation
• Dissertation editing services
• Write my research paper
• Buy research paper online
• Pay for research paper
• Research paper help
• Order research paper
• Custom research paper
• Cheap research paper
• Research papers for sale
• Thesis subjects
• How It Works

200 Interesting World History Topics to Write About

If you are looking for a long list of original world history topics that you can use in 2022, you have arrived at just the right place. Our experienced writers have just finished updating the world history topics, so you can find unique ideas in no time. We have everything from world history term paper topics to ancient history research paper topics.

Choose Our World History Research Paper Topics

Are you prepared to read the 200 world history essay topics we have prepared for you? Simply scroll down through the different categories and find the best topics for you. Reword them as you see fit; you don’t need to give us any credit.

Interesting World History Topics

We will start our list with the most interesting topics we could find. Don’t hesitate to pick one of these interesting world history topics right now:

• The first use of weapons in Europe
• The colonization of South America
• Discuss relationships in Medieval Europe
• The abolition of slavery in the US
• The assassination of Abraham Lincoln
• The most powerful army of all times

World History Research Paper Topics

If you need to write a research paper about world history, you will be thrilled to learn that we have more than enough world history research paper topics right here:

• Major events in medieval Europe
• The age of discovery (the Middle Ages)
• Most important people of the 1600s
• Analyze the Gallipoli campaign
• The Holocaust during WW II
• Politics in 1700s Europe

AP World History Topics

Are you interested in writing AP world history essays? Our experts have put together a list of the best and most interesting AP world history topics:

• The development of a major culture
• The interaction between 2 major cultures
• The creation of an economic system
• The expansion of an economic system
• Humans and the surrounding environment
• The development of social structures

Art History Ideas

Talking about art history has the potential to impress your professor, so why not give it a try? We have some of the best art history ideas right here:

• The main motifs of medieval art
• Traditional Japanese wedding attires
• Analyze The Death of Sardanapalus
• The Rococo movement
• Light use in Sunrise by Monet
• Major elements of Gothic architecture
• Leonardo da Vinci’s religious motifs
• Traditional Chinese costumes

World History Project Topics

If you are tasked with doing a world history project, we can help you with some very nice ideas. Take a look at our world history project topics and pick the one you like:

• Uncovering the site of a major battle
• Make an archeological discovery
• Retracing the steps of the First Crusade
• Animating a WW II battle
• Describe tactics in a major ancient battle
• Putting ancient pottery fragments back together

World History Debate Topics

Are you preparing a debate? Then you need to find the best possible topic. To help you out, our ENL writers have compiled a list of the best world history debate topics:

• Comparing Roman and Greek civilizations
• The most influential leader of Rome
• The rise of fascism in Europe
• What caused WW I?
• Historicism vs. Presentism
• The crucifixion of Christ
• The negative influence of the Roman Empire
• Communist’s rise to power in China

World History Argumentative Essay Topics

If you need to write an argumentative essay, you are probably looking for the most interesting ideas. Take a look at these awesome world history argumentative essay topics:

• The travels of the Vikings
• Ancient Chinese philosophy
• Ancient Egypt’s effects on humanity
• The importance of Corinth in ancient times
• The greatest Roman leader: Octavian
• David Livingstone and his contribution to African culture
• What caused the Great Famine?
• China and gunpowder

World History Topic Ideas for High School

High school students should look for topics that are not overly complex. We’ve created a list of world history topic ideas for high school students. Take a look:

• The use of elephants in ancient wars
• Trebuchets and the mechanics behind them
• Were battering rams effective?
• The effects of The Inquisition on Europe
• Socialism: The Paris Commune
• Gods in Ancient Egypt
• Gods in Ancient Rome
• Gods in Ancient Greece

World History Before 1500 Paper Topics

Choose one of our awesome world history before 1500 paper topics and start writing your essay right away. Here are our best ideas:

• Discuss the Chaledean Empire
• Analyze the Neo-Babylonian Empire
• Discuss spoken language in 1000 AD
• Analyze the Neolithic Age
• Discuss irrigation in 1200 AD
• The invention of writing
• Discuss Zoroastrian cultures
• Discuss religions before 1000 AD. You can also check out our religion research paper topics .

20th Century World History Research Paper Topics

Wouldn’t it be great if you could find some unique 20th century world history research paper topics? Well, you will be thrilled to find out that we have some right here:

• Analyze one of the speeches of Martin Luther King
• The Vietnam War
• Nixon’s impeachment proceedings
• Nelson Mandela’s legacy
• The space exploration age
• Discuss Identity Politics
• Civil Rights in the US
• Major holocaust events

Good World History Research Paper Topics

Good good world history research paper topics are topics that are relatively easy to write about. You can find plenty of information online. Here are a few examples:

• Culinary delights during the Industrial revolution
• Aztec military tactics
• The great witch hunts of Europe
• Discuss Greece’s influence on Egypt
• Koryo Dynasty: Unifying Korea
• The failure of the Second Crusade
• The first Olympic Games

Ancient World History Research Paper Topics

Are you interested in writing a paper on ancient world history? We have plenty of interesting ancient world history research paper topics right here. Check them out:

• The rise of the Roman Empire
• The fall of the Roman Empire
• Greek city states
• The emergency of democracy in Greece
• Ancient African empires
• The Babylonian Empire
• The Persian Empire

European History Ideas

Why not write your paper about European history? We have some unique European history ideas below (and the list is updated periodically):

• The history of the Getae
• The expansion of the Dacians
• Analyze the League of Nations
• The legacy of WW I
• Totalitarian and imperialist movements in Europe
• The Golden age of piracy in Europe
• Nationalism in Europe in the 1700s

Modern World History Topics

Are you interested in writing about modern world history? Don’t hesitate to pick one of our modern world history topics and start writing your paper right away:

• Emergence of Daoism in China
• The Catholic Church in the 18th century
• The apparition of slavery in Africa
• The scientific revolution in Europe
• Major events of the Cold War
• The communist’s rise to power in Russia
• Communist leaders of China

World History Research Topics for College

If you enjoy doing research about world history, you might be interested in choosing one of our awesome world history research topics for college:

• The Battle of the Seas (Britain vs. Spain)
• The spread of Christianity
• An in-depth look at the French Revolution
• Fascism in the interwar period
• A critical look at the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
• Innovations in World War II
• Major events of the First Global Age

War History Ideas

Are you interested in writing about war history? After all, wars have been an integral part of our history for thousands of years. Check out our excellent war history ideas:

• The US Civil War
• What caused the Holocaust?
• Discuss the Red Scare
• The Cold War
• Analyze the Mexican-American War
• The Schlieffen Plan
• Analyze the invasion of Poland by Germany

Ancient History Topics

Interested in ancient history? We are sure your professor will greatly appreciate a paper on one of these ancient history topics (all are free to use and excellent for 2022):

• Discuss the kingdoms of Ancient Egypt
• Compare Ancient Greece and Rome cultures
• Technology in Ancient Egypt
• The Spartan warrior’s caste
• The Golden Age of Greek city states
• Trading in the Mesoamerican space
• Tartessos and the El Dorado legend

Controversial World History Topics

You are not prohibited from writing about controversial topics. On the contrary, you are advised to give it a try. Take a look at our controversial world history topics:

• Discuss Pope Alexander VI
• The Highland Clearances in the Scottish Highlands
• Margaret Thatcher: The good, the bad, the ugly
• Native American slaughters in America
• The controversial Tenure of Office Act
• The controversial Scopes Monkey Trial
• The Tennessee Butler Act

Chinese History Topics

If you are passionate about the Chinese culture and want to learn more about their history, we advise you to pick one of these awesome Chinese history topics and start writing:

• The end of the Chinese Empire
• The role of women in 1500 China
• Discuss ancient Chinese philosophers
• China: Becoming a behemoth economy
• The Warring States period and the Qin dynasty
• Rome and China trade routes
• Chinese governance in Tibet
• Analyze The People’s Republic of China

Difficult World History Paper Topics

Do you want to challenge yourself? We are certain you will appreciate our difficult world history paper topics. Choose the best one and start working on your academic paper today:

• The way the Salve Codes have influenced American society
• The effects of the American Revolution on American society
• The role of women in America prior to 1900
• An in-depth look at women’s suffrage movement
• What triggered the Russo-Japanese war?
• The end of the Qing Dynasty
• The great revolutions of Russia
• Discuss the apparition of Korea
• The role of Constantinople in the rise of the Byzantine Empire

United States History Topics

We have a list of the best United States history topics. All topics have been updated a few days ago, so you will surely be able to find an original one. Here is the list:

• Truth and myths about the Puritans in the US
• Discuss the Salem witch trials
• The emergence of the first American colonies
• Discuss the Boston Tea Party
• Analyze the apparition of the Declaration of Independence
• Discuss the Boston Massacre
• George Washington’s contribution to the US
• Analyze the trade of tobacco in early America

French Revolution Topics

There are plenty of things to say about the French revolution. Take a look at these French revolution topics and choose the one you like the most:

• Discuss Seigneurialism
• Analyze The Third Estate
• Discuss the fall of Robespierre
• Analyze the Thermidorian Reaction
• The September Massacres
• The Vendee uprising
• The fall of the Bastille
• The October march on Versailles

Easy World History Topics to Write About

We are certain you don’t want to spend too much time writing the paper, so we did our best to come up with some pretty easy world history topics to write about:

• Discuss marriage in the Roman Empire
• The colonization of the Americas (one of the most interesting world history research topics)
• The link between the crusades and religion
• The beginning of the Thirty Years War
• First occurrence of apartheid in Africa
• Renaissance Humanism in Europe
• A short history of architecture in China

History Topics From Columbus to the 1800s

If you want to write about a specific period of history (or if your professor has asked you to do so), here are some interesting history topics from Columbus to the 1800s:

• First contact with Native Americans
• Hernando de Soto in America
• Who is Pocahontas?
• The first Anglo-Powhatan War
• The French-Indian War
• Native Americans in the Seven Years War
• The Battle of Bloody Run (one of the most interesting topics in world history)
• The Treaty of Holston

Medieval History Paper Topics

Are you tasked with writing a paper on medieval history? You will be thrilled to learn that our experts have put together a nice list of medieval history paper topics:

• Discuss Anna Comnena
• Discuss a medieval city in Europe
• Define and describe Falconry
• The crusades and the role of women
• Analyze Medieval English clothing
• The castles of India in medieval times (the best medieval history topics)
• Apprenticeship in medieval Europe

19th Century World History Research Topics

There are plenty of things to talk about when it comes to 19th century world history. Take a look at our 19th century world history research topics and pick one today:

• Discuss the Latin American independence
• The Meiji Restoration in Japan
• The Taiping Rebellion in China
• The fall of the Ottoman Empire
• Analyze Napoleon’s major campaigns
• The great revolutions of 1848 (awesome topics for world history)
• Discuss the abolitionist movement

Napoleon Research Paper Topics

Discussing the Napoleon period of French history can be captivating, if you find a great topic. Here are some pretty interesting Napoleon research paper topics as an example:

• Napoleon’s stance on the Jews
• Major Napoleon campaigns
• Napoleon’s reforms
• Analyze the French Revolution
• Napoleon: the military genius
• Napoleon’s leadership skills
• The rise of Imperialism in Europe
• The Russian campaign

If you need more ideas, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask “ write my thesis for me .” Our experts are ready to help you pick a decent topic, find relevant sources and even write your thesis.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

writing a good essay

• Persuasive essay ideas
• Argumentative essay prompts
• Informative paper questions
• Evaluation essay writing prompts
• Classification & division
• World history questions
• Compare & contrast
• Descriptive writing ideas
• Communication technology
• Illustrative paper topics
• Ideas for middle school
• Essay on terrorism: pick a topic
• Picking illustration essay prompts
• Middle school argument essay ideas
• Problem solution essay topic questions
• Year 3 comparative essay topics
• College essay topic suggestions
• Ideas for an essay on 9/11
• 24 ideas for an essay on junk food
• Finding a paper sample on 9/11
• Ideas on paper about travelling to Paris
• Writing an essay on the Vietnam War
• 10 cause and effect topics on history
• Tips for essay on Egyptian art
• Ideas for essay about yourself
• Hints for project on family values
• Where to find samples on travelling
• Help with biology essay writing
• Organizing an analytical essay
• Essay outline examples
• Essay writing made simple
• Writing a paper on freedom
• Dealing with classification papers
• Argumentative paper samples
• Working on a definition paper
• Creating a reflective paper
• Prompt for descriptive essay
• Compare & contrast paper in nursing
• Thesis for a problem-solution paper
• Crafting a descriptive essay on a person
• Disneyland: creating a descriptive essay
• Year 6 narrative essay writing hints
• Writing a conclusion of a definition paper
• Critical analysis essay writing hints
• Getting sample essays effectively
• Ordering a custom essay
• Improving writing by reading essays
• Essay tips on underrated or overrated
• Creating a catchy essay title
• 10 reasons to hire a writing service
• 4 steps to find essays for sale
• Getting sample of cause and effect papers
• Expository vs explanatory essay
• Practices to improve your writing
• Where can I find essays for sale?
• Finding good writers for hire
• 5 things to know about an outline
• Compare and contrast essay in MLA
• custom writing

A List of Intriguing World History Essay Topics for High School

High school students should prepare for some bad news: history essays are an integral part of their future. Since history is generally taught through ideas and developments, teachers often assign history essays. While a world history may be a student's first experience of this type of essay, it will not be their last. To get started on the essay, students should consider some of the following topics.

• How did the Catholic Church lead European governance during the Middle Ages?
• How did the art patronage system work during the Renaissance?
• Were the Dark Ages actually a time of cultural regression outside of Europe?
• How did small pox influence the colonization of the Americas?
• How did the role of peasants in western Europe compare to the role of serfs in Russia?
• What impact did Buddhism have on the Chinese empire?
• How did geography shape Greek history?
• How did World War I directly influence the beginning of World War II?
• What factors led to the rise of William the Conqueror as the king of England?
• What caused the Panic of 1819 and the first economic downturn of the United States?
• What was the role of the Tokugawa shogunate in Japanese history?
• Why was the generation following World War I known as the “Lost Generation”?
• What role did the Golden Age play in developing Western Civilization?
• How did Medieval Canon Law influence the status of marriage?
• How did the Industrial Age influence Karl Marx's writing of the Communist Manifesto?
• What was the Christmas Truce in World War II and why did it occur?
• What was the role of slavery and slave rebellions in Jamaica's past?
• How did the Bubonic Plague influence drastic changes in European society?
• How did the United States play a role in the creation of Panama?
• What brought about the end of apartheid in South Africa?
• Were pirates viewed as 16th century Robin Hoods or barbarians while they were alive?
• How did the Spanish-American War begin the United States' rise as a colonial power?
• Why did the United States force Japan to adopt Article IX in their post-World War II constitution?
• What caused Britain to stop using the gold standard following World War I?
• How did concepts from the Enlightenment and writers like Rousseau influence the start of the French Revolution?
• What role did Pol Pot play in creating modern Cambodia? How did he have a negative impact on the country?
• How have Chinese and Japanese relations developed over the centuries?

Writing Ideas

• Ideas to argue on
• Free science papers
• Persuasive project
• Happiness: sample paper
• Medical paper sample
• Writing practice online
• Ordering a custom paper
• Ideas for creative writing
• Hiring a writing company
• Informative papers
• Custom writing services
• Sample opinion essays
• Writing fundamentals
• Five paragraph writing
• Fun essay topics
• Animal testing - sample
• Short paper samples
• Find an analysis essay
• Writing help online
• Debatable questions
• Ethnographic paper tips
• Getting essay examples
• Essay writing guides.
• UsEssayWriters

Copyright © SchoolOfInteriorDesign.org.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

FREE Poetry Worksheet Bundle! Perfect for National Poetry Month.

The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!)

Ideas to inspire every young writer!

High school students generally do a lot of writing, learning to use language clearly, concisely, and persuasively. When it’s time to choose an essay topic, though, it’s easy to come up blank. If that’s the case, check out this huge round-up of essay topics for high school. You’ll find choices for every subject and writing style.

• Argumentative Essay Topics
• Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics
• Compare-Contrast Essay Topics
• Descriptive Essay Topics
• Expository and Informative Essay Topics
• Humorous Essay Topics

Literary Essay Topics

• Narrative and Personal Essay Topics
• Personal Essay Topics
• Persuasive Essay Topics

Research Essay Topics

Argumentative essay topics for high school.

When writing an argumentative essay, remember to do the research and lay out the facts clearly. Your goal is not necessarily to persuade someone to agree with you, but to encourage your reader to accept your point of view as valid. Here are some possible argumentative topics to try. ( Here are 100 more compelling argumentative essay topics. )

• The most important challenge our country is currently facing is … (e.g., immigration, gun control, economy)
• The government should provide free internet access for every citizen.
• All drugs should be legalized, regulated, and taxed.
• Vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco.
• The best country in the world is …
• Parents should be punished for their minor children’s crimes.
• Should all students have the ability to attend college for free?
• Should physical education be part of the standard high school curriculum?

WeAreTeachers

• Schools should require recommended vaccines for all students, with very limited exceptions.
• Is it acceptable to use animals for experiments and research?
• Does social media do more harm than good?
• Capital punishment does/does not deter crime.
• What one class should all high schools students be required to take and pass in order to graduate?
• Do we really learn anything from history, or does it just repeat itself over and over?
• Are men and women treated equally?

Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics for High School

A cause-and-effect essay is a type of argumentative essay. Your goal is to show how one specific thing directly influences another specific thing. You’ll likely need to do some research to make your point. Here are some ideas for cause-and-effect essays. ( Get a big list of 100 cause-and-effect essay topics here. )

• Humans are causing accelerated climate change.
• Fast-food restaurants have made human health worse over the decades.
• What caused World War II? (Choose any conflict for this one.)
• Describe the effects social media has on young adults.

• How does playing sports affect people?
• What are the effects of loving to read?
• Being an only/oldest/youngest/middle child makes you …
• What effect does violence in movies or video games have on kids?
• Traveling to new places opens people’s minds to new ideas.
• Racism is caused by …

Compare-Contrast Essay Topics for High School

As the name indicates, in compare-and-contrast essays, writers show the similarities and differences between two things. They combine descriptive writing with analysis, making connections and showing dissimilarities. The following ideas work well for compare-contrast essays. ( Find 80+ compare-contrast essay topics for all ages here. )

• Public and private schools
• Capitalism vs. communism
• Monarchy or democracy
• Dogs vs. cats as pets

• Paper books or e-books
• Two political candidates in a current race
• Going to college vs. starting work full-time
• Working your way through college as you go or taking out student loans
• iPhone or Android
• Instagram vs. Twitter (or choose any other two social media platforms)

Descriptive Essay Topics for High School

Bring on the adjectives! Descriptive writing is all about creating a rich picture for the reader. Take readers on a journey to far-off places, help them understand an experience, or introduce them to a new person. Remember: Show, don’t tell. These topics make excellent descriptive essays.

• Who is the funniest person you know?
• What is your happiest memory?
• Tell about the most inspirational person in your life.
• Write about your favorite place.
• When you were little, what was your favorite thing to do?
• Choose a piece of art or music and explain how it makes you feel.
• What is your earliest memory?

• What’s the best/worst vacation you’ve ever taken?
• Describe your favorite pet.
• What is the most important item in the world to you?
• Give a tour of your bedroom (or another favorite room in your home).
• Describe yourself to someone who has never met you.
• Lay out your perfect day from start to finish.
• Explain what it’s like to move to a new town or start a new school.
• Tell what it would be like to live on the moon.

Expository and Informative Essay Topics for High School

Expository essays set out clear explanations of a particular topic. You might be defining a word or phrase or explaining how something works. Expository or informative essays are based on facts, and while you might explore different points of view, you won’t necessarily say which one is “better” or “right.” Remember: Expository essays educate the reader. Here are some expository and informative essay topics to explore. ( See 70+ expository and informative essay topics here. )

• What makes a good leader?
• Explain why a given school subject (math, history, science, etc.) is important for students to learn.
• What is the “glass ceiling” and how does it affect society?
• Describe how the internet changed the world.
• What does it mean to be a good teacher?

• Explain how we could colonize the moon or another planet.
• Discuss why mental health is just as important as physical health.
• Describe a healthy lifestyle for a teenager.
• Choose an American president and explain how their time in office affected the country.
• What does “financial responsibility” mean?

Humorous Essay Topics for High School

Humorous essays can take on any form, like narrative, persuasive, or expository. You might employ sarcasm or satire, or simply tell a story about a funny person or event. Even though these essay topics are lighthearted, they still take some skill to tackle well. Give these ideas a try.

• What would happen if cats (or any other animal) ruled the world?
• What do newborn babies wish their parents knew?
• Explain the best ways to be annoying on social media.
• Invent a wacky new sport, explain the rules, and describe a game or match.

• Imagine a discussion between two historic figures from very different times, like Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I.
• Retell a familiar story in tweets or other social media posts.
• Describe present-day Earth from an alien’s point of view.
• Choose a fictional character and explain why they should be the next president.
• Describe a day when kids are in charge of everything, at school and at home.

Literary essays analyze a piece of writing, like a book or a play. In high school, students usually write literary essays about the works they study in class. These literary essay topic ideas focus on books students often read in high school, but many of them can be tweaked to fit other works as well.

• Discuss the portrayal of women in Shakespeare’s Othello .
• Explore the symbolism used in The Scarlet Letter .
• Explain the importance of dreams in Of Mice and Men .
• Compare and contrast the romantic relationships in Pride and Prejudice .

• Dissect the allegory of Animal Farm and its relation to contemporary events.
• Interpret the author’s take on society and class structure in The Great Gatsby .
• Explore the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia.
• Discuss whether Shakespeare’s portrayal of young love in Romeo and Juliet is accurate.
• Explain the imagery used in Beowulf .

Narrative and Personal Essay Topics for High School

Think of a narrative essay like telling a story. Use some of the same techniques that you would for a descriptive essay, but be sure you have a beginning, middle, and end. A narrative essay doesn’t necessarily need to be personal, but they often are. Take inspiration from these narrative and personal essay topics.

• Describe a performance or sporting event you took part in.
• Explain the process of cooking and eating your favorite meal.
• Write about meeting your best friend for the first time and how your relationship developed.
• Tell about learning to ride a bike or drive a car.
• Describe a time in your life when you’ve been scared.

• Share the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you.
• Tell about a time when you overcame a big challenge.
• Tell the story of how you learned an important life lesson.
• Describe a time when you or someone you know experienced prejudice or oppression.
• Explain a family tradition, how it developed, and its importance today.
• What is your favorite holiday? How does your family celebrate it?
• Retell a familiar story from the point of view of a different character.
• Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
• Tell about your proudest moment.

Persuasive Essay Topics for High School

Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative , but they rely less on facts and more on emotion to sway the reader. It’s important to know your audience, so you can anticipate any counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them. Try these topics to persuade someone to come around to your point of view. ( Discover 60 more intriguing persuasive essay topics here. )

• Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?
• Everyone should be vegetarian or vegan.
• What animal makes the best pet?
• Visit an animal shelter, choose an animal that needs a home, and write an essay persuading someone to adopt that animal.
• Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
• Should little kids be allowed to play competitive sports?
• Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
• The best music genre is …

• Is democracy the best form of government?
• Is capitalism the best form of economy?
• Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
• Should schools have dress codes?
• If I could change one school rule, it would be …
• Is year-round school a good idea?

A research essay is a classic high school assignment. These papers require deep research into primary source documents, with lots of supporting facts and evidence that’s properly cited. Research essays can be in any of the styles shown above. Here are some possible topics, across a variety of subjects.

• Which country’s style of government is best for the people who live there?
• Choose a country and analyze its development from founding to present day.
• Describe the causes and effects of a specific war.
• Formulate an ideal economic plan for our country.
• What scientific discovery has had the biggest impact on life today?

• Analyze the way mental health is viewed and treated in this country.
• Explore the ways systemic racism impacts people in all walks of life.
• Defend the importance of teaching music and the arts in public schools.
• Choose one animal from the endangered species list, and propose a realistic plan to protect it.

What are some of your favorite essay topics for high school? Come share your prompts on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the ultimate guide to student writing contests .

We Are Teachers

You Might Also Like

100 Thought-Provoking Argumentative Writing Prompts for Kids and Teens

Practice making well-reasoned arguments using research and facts. Continue Reading

Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Search on OralHistory.ws Blog

Navigating Historical Debates: History Argumentative Essay Topics

Dipping your toes into the vast ocean of history is an adventure. Each dive deep into its depths brings a new perspective, a fresh understanding, or a challenging contradiction. As a student of history, you don’t just learn about the past; you argue, debate, and discuss it. That’s where “history argumentative essay topics” come in, giving you the perfect platform to exhibit your persuasive skills while furthering your historical understanding.

Table of content

The Importance of Studying History

History isn’t just a record of ancient days; it’s a vibrant tapestry woven with countless threads, each representing a story, an era, a civilization, or an individual. Understanding history empowers us to make sense of our present, forecast future patterns, and appreciate humanity’s collective journey. Delving into argumentative essays adds depth to this exploration, honing your critical thinking, research understanding, and writing prowess.

The Art of Writing an Argumentative History Essay

In a history argumentative essay, your task goes beyond presenting facts. It would help to form an opinion, defend it with strong evidence, and persuade your reader to view history through your lens. Such essays often explore controversial issues, diverse interpretations, or underrepresented perspectives, making them thrilling.

Remember, an effective argumentative essay balances rigor with creativity. Your arguments should be based on solid research, but your writing style should maintain the reader’s interest. Short sentences, active voice, and transitional words will help ensure your essay is clear, concise, and captivating.

History Argumentative Essay Topics: Your Guide to an Engaging Argument

Picking the right history argumentative essay topics is crucial. Your topic should spark your curiosity, offer ample sources for research, and pose a challenge that motivates you to explore, argue, and persuade. The past is brimming with potential argumentative essay topics, from historical events and famous figures to social movements and cultural trends.

Here are a collection of history argumentative essay topics spanning different eras, regions, and themes to get you started. Use them as they are, or let them inspire you to develop your own.

• The Crusades: Religious Devotion or Political Expediency?
• Was the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Justifiable?
• The Impact of Colonialism: Development or Exploitation?
• The Role of Women in World War II: Homefront or Battlefield?
• The American Civil War: Slavery or States’ Rights?
• The French Revolution: Fight for Liberty or Reign of Terror?
• The Renaissance: A Cultural Rebirth or a Period of Conflict?
• Martin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X: Who Had a Greater Impact on the Civil Rights Movement?
• The Age of Exploration: Discovery or Destruction?
• The Industrial Revolution: Progress or Plight?
• The Fall of the Roman Empire: Invaders or Internal Decay?
• Was the Cold War Inevitable Post-World War II?
• Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?
• The Impact of the Protestant Reformation: Unity or Division?
• The Age of Imperialism: Prosperity or Oppression?
• The Vietnam War: A Necessary Stand or a Futile Endeavor?
• The American Revolution: Liberty or Economic Motives?
• The Russian Revolution: People’s Uprising or Bolshevik Coup?
• The Enlightenment: Philosophical Breakthrough or Social Disruption?
• The Emancipation Proclamation: Sincere or Strategic?
• The Role of Propaganda in Nazi Germany
• Was Alexander the Great Really Great?
• The Partition of India: Religious Freedom or Colonial Divide-and-Rule?
• Did the Suffragette Movement Achieve Its Goals?
• The Cuban Missile Crisis: Near-Apocalypse or Diplomatic Triumph?
• The Influence of the Printing Press: Information Revolution or Religious Turmoil?
• The Crusades: A Pathway to Enlightenment or a Dark Age Misstep?
• The Atomic Age: A New Era or a Dangerous Precedent?
• The Impact of the Ming Dynasty on China’s Global Presence
• The American Westward Expansion: Manifest Destiny or Brutal Displacement?
• The British Raj in India: Beneficial or Destructive?
• The War of 1812: Forgotten War or Critical Conflict?
• The Cultural Revolution in China: Necessary Purge or Disastrous Policy?
• Slavery: The True Cause of the American Civil War?
• The Role of Espionage in the Cold War
• The Contributions of Nikola Tesla: Overlooked or Overrated?
• The Great Depression: Natural Economic Cycle or Result of Poor Policy?
• Was the League of Nations Doomed to Fail?
• The Impact of Napoleon’s Reign on Europe
• The Salem Witch Trials: Mass Hysteria or Religious Extremism?
• The Influence of the Ottoman Empire on Modern Middle East
• Did the Treaty of Versailles Cause World War II?
• The Role of the Catholic Church in Medieval Europe
• Manifest Destiny: Expansionism or Cultural Imperialism?
• The Impact of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire
• The Spanish Inquisition: Religious Persecution or Political Power Play?
• The Influence of the Harlem Renaissance on African American Culture
• The Ethics of Using Atomic Bombs in WWII
• The Role of Britain in the Creation of Israel
• The Egyptian Revolution of 2011: A Springboard for Democracy?
• The Effect of the Gold Rush on California’s Development
• The Role of Social Media in the Arab Spring
• The Implications of the Scramble for Africa
• The Battle of Stalingrad: Turning Point in World War II?
• The Meiji Restoration: Western Influence or Japanese Initiative?
• The Role of Women in the French Revolution
• The Impact of the Black Death on European Society
• The Effect of the Viking Raids on European History
• The Fall of the Berlin Wall: Inevitable or Surprising?
• The Contributions of the Ancient Greeks to Modern Society
• The Influence of the Catholic Church on the European Age of Discovery
• The Impact of Gunpowder on Medieval Warfare
• The Influence of the Spanish Civil War on WWII
• The Causes and Consequences of the Thirty Years’ War
• The Role of the Railroad in the Expansion of the United States
• The Significance of the Magna Carta in the Modern Legal System
• The Impact of the Silk Road on the Exchange of Cultures
• The Role of the Mafia in Prohibition
• The Effect of Charlemagne’s Reign on Europe
• The Implications of the Columbian Exchange
• The Influence of the Persian Empire on the Modern Middle East
• The Impact of Marco Polo’s Travels on Europe
• The Effect of the French Revolution on European Politics
• The Influence of the Great Schism on Christianity
• The Impact of the Space Race on the Cold War
• The Legacy of the Aztec Empire
• The Effect of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on Africa
• The Role of the Knights Templar in the Crusades
• The Influence of Gutenberg’s Printing Press on the Reformation
• The Impact of the Han Dynasty on China
• The Causes and Effects of the Boxer Rebellion
• The Significance of the Pax Romana
• The Influence of Confucianism on East Asian Cultures
• The Impact of the Opium Wars on China
• The Role of the French Foreign Legion in Colonial France
• The Effect of the Suez Crisis on the Middle East
• The Influence of the Renaissance on Modern Art
• The Impact of the Zulu Nation on South Africa
• The Causes and Consequences of the Irish Potato Famine
• The Role of the Samurai in Feudal Japan
• The Effect of the Hundred Years’ War on England and France
• The Influence of the Roman Republic on Modern Democracies
• The Impact of the US Constitution on the French Revolution
• The Role of the Huns in the Fall of the Roman Empire
• The Causes and Effects of the Haitian Revolution
• The Influence of the Enlightenment on the US Constitution
• The Impact of the Homestead Act on the American West
• The Effect of the Plague of Justinian on the Byzantine Empire
• The Role of the Medici Family in the Italian Renaissance

Remember, the goal is not just to recount history but to form an argument and defend it persuasively. Use reliable sources like scholarly articles, credible news outlets, and respected history websites for your research ( History.com , JSTOR , Fordham University’s Internet History Sourcebooks Project , etc.).

Conclusion: Your Historical Argument Awaits

Choosing from these argumentative history essay topics is just the beginning. You can turn your chosen topic into a compelling essay with thorough research, careful planning, and passionate writing. As you debate the past, you’re not just learning history but contributing to its discussion. Let these argumentative essay topics be your first step toward a thrilling historical discourse.

📎 Related Articles

1. Hot Topic History: A Journey Through Pivotal Moments 2. Engaging 8th Grade Research Paper Topics for Budding Historians 3. Dive Deep into Western Civilization Research Paper Topics 4. Navigating Through the Labyrinth of Ancient History Topics 5. Stirring the Pot: Controversial Topics in History for Research Paper

512 History Essay Topics & Good Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

History essay topics provide a wide range of subjects that cover different eras, cultures, and historical events. Some themes offer numerous opportunities for detailed exploration and robust discussions. These topics cover narratives from ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Romans, to modern-day conflicts and revolutions. Moreover, students can engage with topics, like the fall of the Roman Empire or the intricate dynamics of the French Revolution. Another area of focus can be the Industrial Revolution and its monumental impact on societal structures. More recent events, such as the World Wars, the Cold War, and the decolonization movement, also offer rich materials. Topics on non-Western history, including the dynastic periods in China, the Mughal era in India, and pre-colonial African societies, provide alternative viewpoints. Examining history through the lenses of gender, race, and culture can lead to a reevaluation of conventional narratives. In essence, history essay topics act as windows to the past, bridging it to the present, shedding light on patterns, errors, victories, and transformations that deepen the comprehension of the collective human experience.

Best History Essay Topics

• The Impact of the Printing Press on Renaissance Europe
• Unraveling the Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle
• Life and Legacy of Alexander the Great: An Exploration
• Hidden Meanings: The Symbolism in Egyptian Hieroglyphics
• Salem Witch Trials: Fear and Paranoia in 17th Century America
• Exploration and Impact of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
• Mysteries Surrounding the Construction of the Pyramids
• Understanding the Japanese Feudal System: A Comprehensive Study
• Viking Culture: Examining Myths and Reality
• Indian Independence: Non-Violence and the Role of Mahatma Gandhi
• Decoding the Dead Sea Scrolls: A Historical Investigation
• Origins and Influence of the Magna Carta in Modern Democracies
• Social Impacts of the Industrial Revolution on Victorian Britain
• Effects of Marco Polo’s Travels on Europe’s Perception of Asia
• Sparta vs. Athens: Differing Approaches to Greek City-States
• Human Sacrifices in Aztec Culture: Rituals and Beliefs
• The Formation of the Silk Road: Trade and Cultural Exchange
• World War I: The Aftermath and the Road to World War II
• The Enigma of the Roanoke Colony: America’s Lost Settlement
• Transformative Power of the American Civil Rights Movement
• Napoleon Bonaparte: Military Genius or the Tyrant of Europe?
• The Significance of the Ottoman Empire in World History

Easy History Essay Topics

• Mysteries of the Mayan Civilization: An Archaeological Perspective
• Hidden Treasures: Unearthing the Secrets of the Terracotta Army
• The Bubonic Plague: How Did It Shape Medieval Europe?
• The Mystery and History of Stonehenge: A Druidical Design?
• The Partition of India and Pakistan: A Human Tragedy
• The Influence of Roman Law on Modern Legal Systems
• Confucianism’s Impact on Chinese Society and Governance
• Russian Revolution: Causes and Consequences
• Joan of Arc: Heroine, Saint, or Heretic?
• The Birth of Democracy in Ancient Greece: A Critical Analysis
• Zulu Kingdom: The Rise and Fall
• The Role of Religion in the Crusades
• Uncovering the Origins of the Renaissance: A Thorough Analysis
• Transatlantic Slave Trade: A Dark Chapter in Human History
• The Mongol Empire: Influence and Expansion Under Genghis Khan
• Analyzing the Social Effects of Prohibition in the 1920s America
• Age of Discovery: Columbus and the New World
• Understanding the Holocaust: The Systematic Annihilation of Jews
• The Evolution of Samurai Culture in Feudal Japan
• The Cultural Revolution in China: Causes and Impact

Interesting History Essay Topics

• The Birth of Jazz in African American Communities
• The Berlin Wall: Symbol of Division and Its Fall
• Women’s Suffrage Movement: Struggle and Triumph
• Influence of the Byzantine Empire on Early Christianity
• The Legacy of Cleopatra: Egypt’s Last Pharaoh
• Fall of Constantinople: The End of the Byzantine Empire
• The Cultural Impact of the Harlem Renaissance
• Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia: A Military Disaster
• The Influence of Ancient Greek Philosophy on Western Thought
• The Spanish Inquisition: Its Impact on Religious Freedom
• Colonialism in Africa: Long-Term Effects and Consequences
• Humanism in the Renaissance: Its Influence and Importance
• The French Resistance in World War II: An Undercover War
• The Apollo Moon Landing: A Leap for Mankind
• The Role of Propaganda in Nazi Germany
• Migration and Settlement of the Vikings: A Historical Overview
• Rise of Fascism: Italy under Mussolini
• The Opium Wars: The Clash between the British Empire and China
• The Code of Hammurabi: An Examination of Ancient Babylonian Law

History Essay Topics for High School

• Significance of the Magna Carta in British History
• The Cultural Revolution: China’s Sociopolitical Shifts
• Spanish Armada: Triumphs, Tragedies, and Implications
• The Black Death: Disease, Destruction, and Aftermath in Medieval Europe
• Harriet Tubman: Freedom, Courage, and the Underground Railroad
• Trail of Tears: Native American Displacement and Resilience
• The Scientific Revolution: Unraveling Truths and Transforming Perspectives
• African Kingdoms: Wealth, Power, and Innovation
• Democracy’s Birth: Athenian Politics and Philosophy
• Samurai and Shoguns: Feudal Japan’s Hierarchy
• Roman Gladiators: Heroes, Horrors, and Historical Impacts
• Napoleon Bonaparte: Conquests, Reforms, and Downfall
• Slavery’s Legacy: The United States’ Struggle for Civil Rights
• Apartheid’s Shadows: South Africa’s Road to Reconciliation
• Women’s Suffrage Movement: Progress and Paradoxes
• Cuban Missile Crisis: Brinkmanship, Resolution, and Legacy
• Martin Luther’s Theses: Catalysts for the Protestant Reformation
• Aztec Civilization: Achievements, Fall, and Spanish Conquest
• Holocaust’s Horror: Unveiling the Shoah’s Realities
• Mughal Empire’s Magnificence: Culture, Conquests, and Contributions
• The Crusades: Religion, Conflict, and Historical Perspectives

History Essay Topics for Middle School

• The Renaissance: Catalyst for the Modern World
• Vikings’ Voyage: Discoveries, Culture, and Scandinavian Influence
• The Great Depression: Causes, Consequences, and Recovery
• The French Revolution: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity’s Fight
• Stalin’s Reign: Policies, Purges, and WWII.
• Revolutionary War’s Effect on the American Identity
• Byzantine Empire: Crossroads of Culture and Trade
• Decolonization of Africa: Struggles, Triumphs, and Aftermath
• Incas’ Ingenuity: Empire Building in the Andes
• World War I: Catalysts, Combat, and Consequences
• Cold War’s Effects on Global Politics
• Mayans’ Mysteries: Understanding the Mesoamerican Civilization
• The Atomic Age: Nuclear Power’s Promise and Peril
• Egyptian Pharaohs: Dynasties, Deities, and Discoveries
• Revolutionary France’s Impacts on the Modern State
• War of 1812: Interpretations and Implications
• Babylonian Empire: Hammurabi, His Code, and Ancient Justice
• Formation and Fall of the Soviet Union
• Ming Dynasty’s Contributions to Chinese Culture and Exploration
• Prohibition Era: The Roaring Twenties and American Society

History Essay Topics for College Students

• The Evolution of Democracy: Ancient Greece to Modern Times
• Colonialism and its Impact on Modern African Nations
• Revolutionary Implications of the Magna Carta
• Evolution of Roman Military Tactics
• Cultural Shifts: Harlem Renaissance and African American Identity
• Impacts of the Industrial Revolution on Victorian Society
• Decolonization and Its Effects on Southeast Asia
• Medieval Chivalry: Ideals and Reality
• Witch Trials: Superstition and Society in Early Modern Europe
• Napoleon Bonaparte’s Strategies and Their Effect on Europe
• Apartheid in South Africa: Causes and Consequences
• American Prohibition: Intentions and Unforeseen Repercussions
• Influences of Renaissance Art on European Culture
• Silk Road: Trade, Culture, and Consequences
• The Great Depression: Causes, Impacts, and Recovery
• Influences of the Ottoman Empire on the Modern Middle East
• Tracing Communism: Russian Revolution to Cold War
• Unveiling Ancient Egypt: Myth, Culture, and Civilization
• Viking Age: Exploration, Expansion, and Culture
• The Enlightenment: Philosophers and Their Influences on Western Thought

History Essay Topics for University

• Holocaust: Tragedy, Human Rights, and Aftermath
• Atomic Age: Nuclear Power and Its Global Impact
• Civil War: Divisions and Reunions in the United States
• Reformation: Martin Luther’s Theses and Their Impact on Christianity
• Expansion of the Mongol Empire: Tactics and Influence
• French Revolution: Causes, Course, and Consequences
• The Crusades: Motives, Methods, and Historical Impact
• Native American Tribes: Cultures and Contributions Pre-Columbus
• Slavery Abolition: Global Perspectives and Implications
• The Space Race: Politics, Technology, and Achievements
• Holocaust Survivors: Stories, Memories, and Historical Importance
• Byzantine Empire: Rise, Fall, and Legacy
• Manifest Destiny and the American Westward Expansion
• Cold War Espionage: Tactics, Technology, and Impact
• European Exploration: Columbus, Magellan, and the Age of Discovery
• Women’s Suffrage: Struggles, Successes, and Effects
• Samurai Culture in Feudal Japan: Honor, Warfare, and Legacy
• Berlin Wall: Symbol of Division and Its Fall
• Partition of India: Causes, Violence, and Post-Colonial Impact
• The Influence of Religion on Medieval Europe
• Nineteenth-Century Imperialism: Justification, Exploitation, and Resistance

African History Topics

• Kingdoms of Ancient Africa: Egypt, Carthage, and Aksum
• Ethiopia’s Roles in the Early Christian Movement
• Mansa Musa and the Prosperity of the Mali Empire
• African Influence on Greek and Roman Civilizations
• Nubian Dynasties: Power Shifts Along the Nile
• Trade Networks: Trans-Saharan Routes’ Impact
• Zulu Nation’s Military Innovation and Imperial Expansion
• Slavery’s Devastating Effects on West Africa
• Pan-Africanism: Ideology, Impact, and Influential Figures
• Resistance Movements Against Colonial Rule in the 20th Century
• African Diaspora: Cultural Retentions and Transformations
• Maafa’s Legacy: Understanding the Atlantic Slave Trade
• Independence Movements: Ghana Leads the Way
• Genocide in Rwanda: Causes and Aftermath
• Cultural Practices: Ancient African Art and Architecture
• Kingdom of Zimbabwe: Origins of the Shona Civilization
• Women’s Roles in Pre-Colonial African Societies
• Berber Kingdoms and Their Impact on the Maghreb
• European Colonialism: Its Effects on the African Continent
• Ashanti Empire: Military Prowess and Cultural Contributions

Ancient History Topics

• Origins of the Mesopotamian Civilization: Sumerians and Cuneiform
• Advanced Engineering in the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
• Roman Innovations in Law and Government
• Development of the Greek Polis: Athens and Sparta
• Mythologies’ Impacts on Ancient Greek Culture
• Influences of the Ancient Persians on Modern Culture
• Hebrews and the Formation of Early Monotheistic Religions
• Buddha’s Teachings and Their Transformation of Ancient India
• Inca Achievements in Agriculture and Infrastructure
• Aztec Rituals, Sacrifices, and Cultural Traditions
• Maya Scientific Discoveries: Astronomy and Mathematics
• Han Dynasty’s Contributions to Art and Literature
• Construction Techniques in the Ancient Roman Architecture
• Empires in the Fertile Crescent: The Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians
• Pharaohs Rule in the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms of Egypt
• Bronze Age Aegean Civilizations: Minoans and Mycenaeans
• Democracy Evolution in Ancient Athens
• Trade Routes in the Ancient Mediterranean: Silk Road and Amber Road
• Carthaginian Power and the Punic Wars
• Transformative Ideas of Confucius and Ancient Chinese Philosophy
• Nomadic Invasions and Their Impact on Ancient Civilizations

Asian History Topics

• Evolution of Confucianism in Imperial China
• Impacts of Colonialism on Southeast Asia’s Socioeconomic Structure
• Samurai Culture and Feudal Japan
• Ming Dynasty’s Maritime Expeditions
• Roles of Buddhism in the Khmer Empire
• Mongol Empire’s Influence on Eurasian Trade
• Korean Peninsula’s Struggle for Independence Post World War II
• Silk Road: Trade and Cultural Exchange
• Roles of Islam in Shaping Mughal India
• Sukarno Era’s Impacts on Indonesia’s Political Landscape
• Rise and Fall of the Maurya Empire in Ancient India
• Comparative Study: Chinese Tang and Song Dynasties
• Development of Writing Systems in Ancient China
• Indus Valley Civilization: Society, Economy, and Religion
• Meiji Restoration’s Contributions to Japan’s Modernization
• Siam Kingdom’s Resistance to Colonial Rule
• Roles of Women in Ancient and Medieval Asian Societies
• Ottoman Influence on Southeast European and Middle Eastern History
• Influence of Persian Culture on Ancient Indian Civilizations
• Terracotta Warriors: Art, Craftsmanship, and Legacy in Ancient China

Cultural History Essay Topics

• Influence of Shakespearean Drama on Elizabethan Society
• The Harlem Renaissance: Catalyst for African American Cultural Identity
• Evolution of Japanese Tea Ceremonies: Beyond Aesthetics
• Impressionism’s Impact on French Society During the 19th Century
• Cultural Shifts Encouraged by the American Beat Generation
• Byzantine Art: Reflection of Spiritual and Political Power
• Mayan Hieroglyphics: Decoding Cultural Narratives
• Industrial Revolution’s Effect on Victorian-Era Fashion
• Silent Cinema: A Catalyst for 1920s American Pop Culture
• Renaissance Humanism: Transformation of European Intellect
• Cultural Syncretism: Fusion in Afro-Caribbean Music
• Flamenco’s Role in Forming Andalusian Identity
• Expression of Greek Ideals in Classical Architecture
• Modernism’s Influence on Post-World War I Literature
• Indigenous Mythologies: Shaping of Pre-colonial Australian Culture
• The Enlightenment: Precursor to French Revolutionary Ideals
• Turkish Coffee: Symbol of National Identity and Hospitality
• The Ming Dynasty: Patronage of Chinese Porcelain Artistry
• Irish Folklore: Fabric of Societal Beliefs and Customs
• Migration Stories Depicted in Mexican Muralism
• The American Civil Rights Movement: Catalyst for Cultural Change

Economic History Essay Topics

• Industrial Revolution: Determinants and Impact on Modern Economics
• Adam Smith and the Influence of The Wealth of Nations on Modern Economic Thought
• Colonialism: Exploitation and Economic Growth in European Empires
• Japanese Economic Miracle: Post-World War II Recovery and Lessons Learned
• Keynesian Economics: Roots and Role in Shaping the Post-Depression Era
• Free Market Economy: Milton Friedman’s Contributions and Influences
• Bretton Woods System: Its Role in Shaping the International Monetary Order
• China’s Transition From a Centrally Planned Economy to a Market Economy: Steps and Challenges
• Mercantilism: Understanding its Principles and Effects on European Economic Growth
• Gold Standard: Its Rise, Fall, and Effects on Global Economies
• Silicon Valley: The Evolution and Economic Impact of the Tech Industry
• Slave Trade: Its Role in the Evolution of Global Economics
• Eurozone Crisis: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions
• OPEC and the Global Oil Economy: Formation, Influence, and Impact
• Global Financial Crisis of 2008: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention Strategies
• Russian Transition: Post-Soviet Economic Reforms and Outcomes
• The Marshall Plan: Significance and Impact on European Post-War Recovery
• American Great Depression: Causes, Impact, and Government Response
• Globalization: Its Historical Evolution and Economic Implications
• Subprime Mortgage Crisis: Lessons Learned and Policy Implications

European History Topics

• Rise of Feudalism in Medieval Europe
• Black Death’s Impact on the 14th-Century Society
• Enlightenment’s Influence on Political Thought
• French Revolution’s Effect on European Politics
• Italian Renaissance: A Cultural and Artistic Shift
• Reformation’s Roles in Shaping Modern Christianity
• Napoleon Bonaparte’s Conquest and the French Empire
• Industrial Revolution’s Transformation of European Economies
• Formation and Impact of the European Union
• Two World Wars: Causes and Consequences
• Emergence of Modern Democracy: The Magna Carta
• Cold War: Europe’s Role and Responses
• Ottoman Empire’s Interactions With European Powers
• Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
• Age of Exploration: Europe’s Global Influence
• Holocaust: A Dark Chapter in 20th-Century Europe
• Byzantine Empire: Constantinople’s Flourishing Culture
• Spanish Inquisition’s Impact on Religion and Society
• Viking Raids: Exploring Their Influence on Europe
• Hundred Years’ War: English and French Power Struggles
• Transition From Monarchies to Democracies in Europe

Historiographical Topics

• Influence of Marxism in Modern Historiography: An Exploration
• Decolonial Approaches: Reshaping Historical Interpretations
• Postmodernist Perspectives: Challenges to Traditional History
• Women’s Voices in History: The Evolution of Gender Studies
• Oral Traditions: Advancements in Indigenous Historiography
• Subjective Reality: The Role of Memory in Constructing History
• Imperial Power: European Colonial Histories Revisited
• Interdisciplinary Approaches: Melding History With Sociology
• Comparative History: The Synthesis of Regional Perspectives
• Counterfactual Thinking: Exploring Alternate Historical Pathways
• Textual Analysis: Unveiling Sociocultural Dimensions in Historical Studies
• Evolution of Diplomatic Historiography: Power, Politics, and Peace
• Material Culture: The Archaeological Method in Historiography
• Holocaust Studies: Examining Methodologies and Debates
• Military History: Strategy, Tactics, and Societal Impact
• Biographical Approach: Unpacking Individual Influence on History
• Microhistory: Magnifying Minute Historical Details
• Economic History: Capitalism and Its Historical Context
• Nationalist Narratives: Critiques and Reinterpretations
• Cultural History: Unraveling the Fabric of Societies
• Global History: Understanding Interconnected Histories and Cultures

History Essay Topics in Science & Medicine

• Revolutionary Impacts of the Discovery of Penicillin
• Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and Its Influences on Modern Science
• Vaccination Development: Polio Vaccine and Its Effect on Global Health
• Contributions of Marie Curie to Radioactivity
• Influence of the Manhattan Project on 20th-Century Scientific Developments
• Advancements in DNA Sequencing: A Historical Perspective
• Medical Ethics: Case Study of the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment
• Human Genome Project: Its Repercussions on Modern Medicine
• Apollo Moon Landing: Significance in Technological Advancements
• Era of AI: Turing’s Test and the Dawn of Machine Learning
• Technological Innovations During World War II: Radar and Cryptography
• Advances in Cardiac Surgery: The First Heart Transplant
• Public Health Initiatives: The Elimination of Smallpox
• Telecommunications Evolution: From Morse Code to 5G Networks
• Nikola Tesla’s Contributions to Electrical Engineering
• Nanotechnology Developments: Feynman’s Concept to Current Applications
• Progression of Neurosurgery: Harvey Cushing’s Legacy
• Probing Into Atomic Theory: Niels Bohr’s Quantum Model
• Impacts of Cybernetics on Modern Science and Medicine
• Exploration of Black Holes: Hawking’s Theoretical Contributions

History Topics in Technology

• Revolutionizing Medicine: The Impact of Biotechnology
• The Journey of Mobile Phones: From Luxuries to Necessities
• The Emergence of Cryptocurrencies: Understanding Blockchain Technology
• Computing Power: Decoding the Rise of Quantum Computers
• Reshaping Communication: A Study of Social Media Platforms
• Transportation Transformed: The Advent of Electric Vehicles
• Photographic Pioneers: A History of Digital Cameras
• Software Evolution: The Shift From Proprietary to Open Source
• Rise of Robotics: Unfolding the Age of Automation
• Space Exploration: Innovations in Satellite Technology
• Unraveling E-Commerce: A Chronicle of Digital Marketplaces
• Cybersecurity Developments: Safeguarding the Digital World
• Advancements in Renewable Energy: The Legacy of Solar Panels
• Augmented Reality: Tracing Its Developmental Path
• History of Video Games: From Arcades to Virtual Reality
• Human Genome Project: A Leap in Biomedical Tech
• From Typewriters to Word Processors: A Digital Revolution
• Computer Graphics: An Evolutionary Perspective
• Fiber Optics: Unveiling Its Journey of Innovation
• 3D Printing: Understanding Its Historical Developments
• Nanotechnology Advances: Revolutionizing Material Science

Medieval History Essay Topics

• Chivalry’s Impact on Medieval Social Structures
• The Black Death’s Effect on European Economic Systems
• Monastic Life’s Role in Preserving Knowledge During the Middle Ages
• Architectural Evolution: From Romanesque to Gothic Styles
• Feudalism’s Influence on Medieval Political Landscapes
• Women’s Status and Roles in Medieval Society
• Medieval Education: The Rise of Universities in Europe
• Crusades’ Effect on East-West Relations and Trade
• The Power of the Catholic Church in Medieval Europe
• Knights and Their Code of Honor: An In-Depth Analysis
• Medieval Literature: Exploring Themes and Moral Messages
• Advances in Medical Practice During the Middle Ages
• Castles as a Reflection of Medieval Defensive Techniques
• Daily Life of Peasants in the Medieval Period
• Analysis of the Magna Carta’s Influence on English Law
• Medieval Art: Illuminated Manuscripts and Their Cultural Significance
• Exploration of Courtly Love in Medieval Poetry
• Monarchs’ Authority: The Divine Right of Kings During the Middle Ages
• Impacts of the Hundred Years War on France and England
• Roles of the Inquisition in Maintaining Church Power

Middle Eastern History Topics

• Rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula
• Impacts of the Crusades on Muslim-Christian Relations
• Persian Empire’s Influence on Modern Iran
• Creation and Expansion of the Ottoman Empire
• Evolution of Arabic Literature and Poetry
• Cairo’s Transformation Into an Islamic Cultural Center
• Establishment and Development of the Silk Road
• Ottoman Empire’s Collapse and the Birth of Modern Turkey
• Influence of the Abbasid Caliphate on the Islamic Golden Age
• Evolution and Impact of the Zionist Movement
• Historical Analysis of the Israel-Palestine Conflict
• Sassanid Empire’s Contribution to Persian Art and Culture
• Impacts of the Petroleum Industry on Gulf Countries
• Investigation of Ancient Egyptian Religion and Mythology
• Byzantine Empire’s Legacy in the Middle East
• Scientific Advancements During the Islamic Golden Age
• Arabian Peninsula’s Roles in Spice Trade Routes
• Transition From Ottoman Rule to French Mandate in Syria
• Examination of the Iranian Islamic Revolution
• Life and Rule of Saladin During the Ayyubid Dynasty
• Migration Patterns of Ancient Semitic Peoples

Military History Essay Topics

• Analyzing Leadership Strategies in The Battle of Waterloo
• Causes and Consequences of the Napoleonic Wars
• Lessons From the Vietnam War: Guerilla Tactics and Counterinsurgency
• Transformation of Battlefield Medicine From the American Civil War to Today
• Intelligence Operations and Their Role in the Cold War
• The Siege of Leningrad: Civilians in the Crossfire
• Revolutionary Tactics: The Military Innovations of Alexander the Great
• Ethical Implications of Atomic Bombings in World War II
• Combat Psychology: Understanding PTSD in Veterans of the Iraq War
• The French Resistance: Unconventional Warfare in World War II
• Evolution of Military Strategy: Sun Tzu to Modern Warfare
• The Korean War: Impact of International Intervention
• Women in the Military: Roles and Challenges from World War II Onwards
• Spartan Warriors: The Role of Discipline and Training in Ancient Warfare
• Codebreakers: Cryptography’s Influence on World War II Outcomes
• Military Implications of Space Exploration During the Cold War
• Amphibious Warfare: An Analysis of D-Day Invasion
• Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: Lessons From the Afghan War
• Defense Policies and Their Role in the Cold War Détente
• The Art of Siege Warfare: A Study of the Crusades

Modern History Topics

• Evolution of Democratic Institutions in Europe Post WWII
• Rise of Feminism: The Second Wave Movement
• Emergence of Neo-Liberalism: A Global Perspective
• Nuclear Weapons Development: Ethical Considerations
• End of Apartheid: Mandela’s Legacy in South Africa
• Consequences of Decolonization in Africa
• Confluence of Technological Advancements and Warfare
• Indian Independence: The Non-Violence Path
• Impacts of the Internet Revolution on Global Communication
• Formation and Dissolution of Yugoslavia
• Legacy of Nelson Mandela: South African Democracy
• Deciphering the Arab-Israeli Conflict
• Unveiling the Causes of the Rwandan Genocide
• Collapse of Soviet Union: Global Consequences
• Chornobyl Disaster: Ecological and Societal Aftermath
• Examination of the Cuban Missile Crisis
• Effects of Globalization on National Identities
• Rise of China: Economic and Political Implications
• Birth of European Union: A Journey Toward Integration
• Changing Landscapes: Post-Industrial Revolution Transformations
• Decoding the Iran-Contra Affair: International Ramifications

History Essay Topics in Music

• Evolution of Jazz: A Century’s Journey
• Pivotal Roles of Beethoven in Classical Music’s Transformation
• Impacts of Social Issues on the Songs of the 1960s
• Bach’s Influence: Baroque Music and Beyond
• The Beatles: Revolutionizing the Pop Music Scene
• Music in Ancient Civilizations: A Comparative Study
• Indigenous Music: Richness and Diversity in Native Cultures
• Punk Rock: An Anthem for Discontented Youth
• Hip-Hop: A Medium for Sociopolitical Discourse
• Opera’s Development: Dramatic Shifts From 17th Century Onwards
• Country Music: An Echo of Rural America
• Reggae: Bob Marley’s Legacy and Influence
• Wagner’s Operas: Romanticism, Nationalism, and Beyond
• Electronic Music’s Rise: A Technological Marvel
• Development of the Symphony: Haydn to Mahler
• Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring: Shattering Musical Conventions
• Motown Records: Shaping the Sound of Soul
• Flamenco’s History: From Gypsy Songs to Global Phenomenon
• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Reshaping Qawwali Music
• Blues Transition: From Delta to Chicago

History Topics for Persuasive Essays

• Influence of Queen Elizabeth I on English Renaissance
• Substantial Impacts of the Black Death on European Society
• Roles of Harriet Tubman in the Underground Railroad
• Byzantine Empire’s Contributions to Modern Architecture
• Atomic Bombing Decisions: Justified or Inhumane?
• Cultural Exchange during Marco Polo’s Journey to the East
• Revolutionary Effects of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
• Necessity of Crusades: Religious Devotion or Power Struggle?
• Renaissance Humanism and Its Role in Modern Education
• Mongolian Empire’s Influence on Eurasian Trade
• Success of Non-Violent Movements: Mahatma Gandhi’s Approach
• French Revolution: Catalyst for Global Democracy?
• Feminism’s Evolution and Impact Throughout History
• Contributions of the Islamic Golden Age to Modern Science
• Impacts of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Rule on France
• African Civilizations: Misconceptions and Undervalued Contributions
• American Civil Rights Movement: Effect on Current Race Relations
• Discoveries and Controversies Surrounding Christopher Columbus
• Significant Cultural Developments During the Meiji Restoration
• Aztec Civilization: Mesoamerican Contributions to Modern Society

History Topics in Social Studies

• Rise of Industrialization in Europe
• Exploration of the New World: The Columbus Voyage
• Impacts of the Great Depression on the Global Economy
• Ancient Greece: Origin of Democracy
• Egyptian Civilization: Contributions to Society and Culture
• Influence of Roman Law on Modern Legal Systems
• American Civil Rights Movement: Changes and Consequences
• Evolution of the European Union: A Historical Perspective
• Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: Cultures and Conflicts
• Migration Patterns during the Dust Bowl
• Chinese Cultural Revolution: Causes and Effects
• French Revolution: Seeds of Change
• Ottoman Empire’s Expansion: Impact on Europe
• Enlightenment Era: Shift in Human Thought
• Indian Independence Movement: Struggle and Success
• African Empires: Wealth, Power, and Trade
• World War I: Unforeseen Consequences
• Samurai and Shogun: Power Dynamics in Feudal Japan
• The Crusades: Religion and Politics Intertwined
• Viking Raids: Influence on Europe

Women’s History Topics

• Transformation of Gender Roles during the Industrial Revolution
• Suffragette Movement’s Influence on Modern Feminism
• Women in Ancient Civilizations: Greece and Rome
• The Role of Queens in Medieval Europe
• Madame Curie’s Contributions to Science
• Advancement of Women’s Rights in the 21st Century
• Rosa Parks: An Icon of Civil Rights
• Hidden Figures: African American Women in NASA
• Contributions of Women to the Impressionist Art Movement
• The Second Wave: Feminism in the 1960s
• Pioneering Women in American Politics
• Eleanor Roosevelt’s Influence on Social Policy
• Changing Perceptions of Women in Advertising
• Emily Dickinson: Recluse Poet, Revolutionary Thinker
• Women’s Labor Movement in the Late 19th Century
• Challenges Faced by Women in STEM Fields
• Billie Jean King: Breaking Barriers in Tennis
• Coco Chanel: Revolutionizing Women’s Fashion
• Contributions of Women to the Harlem Renaissance
• Historical Milestones in Women’s Sports

World History Essay Topics

• Revolution’s Role: How Did the French Revolution Shape Modern Europe?
• Renaissance Ripples: Impact of the Italian Renaissance on European Art and Culture
• Eastern Influence: Spread and Impact of Buddhism Across Asia
• African Awakening: The Decolonization and Independence Movements in 20th-Century Africa
• Rome’s Reach: The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire
• Crusades’ Consequences: Long-Term Effects of the Medieval Crusades on the Middle East
• Genghis Khan’s Legacy: The Mongolian Empire’s Influence on Eurasia
• Globalization’s Genesis: The Age of Exploration’s Effect on World Trade
• American Ideals: The Influences Behind the US Constitution
• Hitler’s Reign: A Study of the Holocaust and World War II
• Colonization’s Toll: The Long-Lasting Effects of British Imperialism in India
• Technological Triumph: Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society
• Marxism’s Manifestation: The Russian Revolution and the Rise of Soviet Communism
• Atomic Anxiety: The Cold War and the Threat of Nuclear Annihilation
• Byzantium’s Brilliance: The Cultural and Political Impact of the Byzantine Empire
• Arab Advances: The Golden Age of Islamic Civilization and Its Contributions to Science
• Samurai Significance: The Influence of the Samurai Code on Feudal Japan
• Slavery’s Scars: The Transatlantic Slave Trade and Its Impacts on Africa and Americas
• Ottoman Order: The Establishment and Influence of the Ottoman Empire
• Spartan Strategy: Military Tactics and Society in Ancient Sparta
• Colonial Contest: French and English Rivalry in the New World

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

443 business essay topics & best ideas, 642 microeconomics research topics & ideas.

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

439 History Argumentative Essay Topics to Get an A [Writing Tips Included]

Who hasn’t been puzzled when it comes to choosing historical argument topics?

It is hard to memorize all the information given in a class. Undoubtedly, all historical issues can be developed into excellent history essay topics. The question to resolve is how to discover your case.

You can find 300+ unique world history argumentative essay topics in our article, as well as some essay writing tips. If our topics are not enough for you, use our instant and completely free research title generator .

• 🚧 History Essay Challenges
• 📜 Top 15 Topics
• ✊ Revolution Topics
• 🗺️ Regional Topics
• 🤴 Key Figures Topics
• 🏳️‍🌈 Key Movements
• 📿 Topics on Traditions
• 👁️‍ Topics on Mysteries
• 📝 Historical Topics – 2024

📢 History Persuasive Essay Topics

• 👉 Choosing a Topic
• ♟️ Writing Strategies

🚧 History Essay Topics Main Challenges

History shapes our present. To study the rules of our modern world and society, we need to research historical argument topics. They can show us which conflicts led to a better future and which destroyed our civilization.

History assignments for high school students contain many pitfalls. The five most critical of them are listed below.

• Avoid thinking that any event was inevitable. First, we rarely dispose of a complete picture of a historical period. Second, some events are Force-Majeure and unpredictable. However, human choices matter. Focus on what could have been changed and which lessons we could learn from the alternative result.
• Listing events is pointless. It can be read in any chronicle. Instead, your purpose is to analyze them. An untrivial perspective is what makes your essay a good one.
• People often change their opinions. Historical figures also did. Try not to perceive their beliefs as a consistent and invariable set of ideas. Explore how they reached their wisdom or why they made errors.
• Not all events are relevant to your history essay question . Make a list of the significant events and personalities that refer to your topic. Cross out all that can be omitted. Then add minor events related to those that left. It is what you should write about.
• Avoid vague words. Great, prominent, positive, or negative are obscure words that make your writing limited and unilateral. Most personalities and events were multifaceted. Work in this direction.

📜 Top 15 History Argumentative Essay Topics

History is full of mystery, riddles, and conflicting points. Writing a history paper will undoubtedly be fun if you choose an exciting history essay topic. Meet our list of the most provocative history questions.

• How could The 1896 Anglo-Zanzibar last only 38 minutes?
• Did Arab people invent the Arab numerals or Hindus?
• Hitler as the man of the year in 1938, according to Time magazine.
• The average life expectancy of peasants In the Middle Ages was about 25 years.
• Why were Roman soldiers using baths as rehabilitation centers?
• What was the importance of the Battle of Stalingrad?
• The wars with the most considerable losses took place in China.
• In 400 BC, Sparta had only 25,000 inhabitants but over 500,000 slaves.
• Out of the last 3500 years, how many years were peaceful?
• How important is tea time for British people?
• In the middle of the 20th century, the whole British royal court got sick because of improperly cooked potatoes.
• Compare the number of Soviet soldiers who died in World War II and the number of American ones.
• Has any part of the Roman Empire existed 1000 years after the Fall of Rome?
• Were the Egyptian pyramids actually constructed using slaves’ labor?
• Did Leonardo Da Vinci have dyslexia?

⚔️ History Essay Topics on War

“There never was a good war or a bad peace,” — wrote Benjamin Franklin in one of his letters. Did we learn what peace is, after all? Discussion and analysis of armed conflicts that humanity has faced throughout its existence are still massive jobs researchers do. Below, you can find excellent topics on war and peace.

Detailed categorization to help you write a good essay about war!

• How did the Second World War change family traditions? It lasted for six years, and families learned how to survive without a father. What were the psychological implications for mothers, children, and returning soldiers?
• Food packages for long-term storage quickly developed during both World Wars . Explore which products changed the most. How did their modified form affect the cuisine and rations?
• WWII spurred the creation of new professions . Find out which jobs appeared during this period. How were they linked to warfare? Did they change after the termination of the war?
• Many scientific advances came to our understanding through dubious ways. The research and experiments of Nazi Germany on humans led to a breakthrough in medicine, anthropology, genetics, psychology, etc. Is it moral to use their findings for peaceful purposes?
• Soldiers spread the Spanish Flu during WWI. It killed more people than died in military actions. Did it influence the outcome of the war? Analyze how the pandemic might have unfolded if it had happened in a time of peace.

• Explain how trench warfare slowed the military actions in WWI. What were the common diseases in trenches, and how did they affect the conflict? The Germans dug trenches not to lose any more ground.
• American Women in History of World War II .
• To which extent was Hitler not responsible for the Second World War? He was obviously the one to blame for the many atrocities of the Nazis. Still, which circumstances were out of his control and led to the war?
• Japanese American Life During and after the World War II.
• Compare the economic conditions in which Britain entered WWI and WWII.
• The Treaty of Versailles in World War II History .
• What was the military potential of Russia in WWI?
• World War II People in “Hitler’s Army.”
• Is it correct to say that the results of WWI caused WWII?
• Minority Civil Rights in the US after the WWII .
• Was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria so influential that his death caused the outbreak of WWI?
• What Was the Second World War Impact on the USSR?
• The Russian population scarcely supported the Bolsheviks. What helped them to seize power during the October Revolution? The provisional government was occupied by the war. The Red Army followed the same interests, and Vladimir Lenin led the entire group.
• Francisco Franco was the dictator of Spain from 1939 till 1975, when he died. How did the Spanish Civil War bring him to power? Why did Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy help him?
• The monarchy in Uganda was abolished in 1967. Several years later, from 1971 to 1986, the country was torn apart by the Civil War . What were the causes of this dark period, and how did it end? Is Uganda peaceful now?
• Describe the role of climate in the collision between the North and South in the US . Did long agricultural seasons make the South depend on fieldwork? Was the traditional use of slavery a way to get rich?
• The polarized opinions of the left and right political forces caused the Greek Civil War. Based on the history of this conflict and the thematic in-country clashes of other countries, analyze the eternal and unending struggle between the left and right ideologies.
• The American Civil War Outbreak and the Role of the Federal Government.
• The English Civil War (1642 – 1651) was about ruling England, Scotland, and Ireland. What were the variants, and which one do you support?
• Short- and Long-term Causes of the Civil War .
• Describe the differences between the free Northern States and the slave Southern states during the American Civil War.
• The Economics of the Civil War .
• How did the Second Civil War in Sudan entail the creation of South Sudan through the referendum of 2011 ?
• The Motives of Individual Soldiers Who Fought in the Civil War .
• Why was Pugachev’s Rebellion (1773 – 1775) in Russia defeated?
• Post-Civil War Political, Economic, Social Changes .
• Austrian Civil War: The shortest possible conflict (12-16 February 1934).
• Petersburg in the Civil War: History Issues .

Intercountry Wars

• Analyze the possible reasons for an international conflict and how they can be regulated through warfare. List the ideas that motivated people to get into a war. This essay will illustrate the debatable history of wars.
• Describe the relationship between the emergence of nuclear weapons and the Cold War. Why was America afraid of the Soviet Union and communism?
• Why was the Spanish-American War one of the cheapest conflicts in history? It lasted for only several months and did not take many lives, as other military actions did. What secured its swift completion?
• What Were the Major Diplomacy Steps of J.F. Kennedy in Cuba During the Cold War?
• Why did Canada play a peacekeeper role at the beginning of the Cold War?
• The Seven Years War and its Impact on the First British Empire .
• How did the history of the Palestinians impact the Arab-Israeli conflict ?
• Outline the reasons for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
• The Vietnam War’s Impact on the United States .
• Describe the collaboration between the American and Australian troops in the Vietnam War.
• United States Role in the Korean War: History Analysis .
• How did the Soviet Union and US intervention cause Afghanistan’s War on Terror ?

Religious Wars

• Why did the Huguenots fail in the French Religious Wars (1562 – 1598)? They could not rely on settlements that supported them. Thus, they were less autonomous than the Catholics.
• How did the Thirty Years’ War change the geopolitical image of Europe? Why was it transformed into a group of independent states with equal rights? The most important consequence of the war was the creation of the modern notion of national borders.
• Describe the relationship between the Second Great Awakening and the abolishment of slavery in the US. It also entailed several philanthropic reforms and women’s emancipation. Why did the movement inspire a new vision on slavery and encourage questioning the British monarchy control?
• Quackers: The religion of pacifism and non-violence . Did their peaceful worldview prevent their faith from popularization? Which controversy with other confessions did they face?
• How did the English Civil War (1642 – 1651) lay the modern parliamentary monarchy’s foundation in the UK?
• Islam and War: True Meaning of Jihad .
• How did the Second Great Awakening participants expect to bring America to a Golden Age through religion?
• Comparison of Jewish and Muslim Experiences .
• Which role did religion play in the American Revolutionary War (1775 – 1783)?
• Christian Europeans vs. Islamic Arabs: Why did the fight for Jerusalem affect the Jews who lived in Europe?
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam .
• Why did the Catholics fight with Protestants during the Thirty Years’ War?
• Religious Beliefs and Political Decisions .
• How did the Protestant Reformation lead to the European Wars of Religion?

✊ History Essay Topics on Revolution

Pick a revolution, any famous and well-documented one, and be sure to find a bunch of yet unresolved questions. Numerous mysteries held by revolutionary events give us a lot of topics to debate. Now, here are themes to study about the world and local revolutions.

Political Revolutions

• The European Revolutions (1848) affected almost 50 countries. Battles and executions took tens of thousands of lives. How did nationalism incentivize the political and economic struggle?
• How did the French invasion of Spain (1807) entail the Spanish-American Wars? The Spanish side aimed for political independence from America. What was their motivation?
• Fulgencio Batista, the Cuban President, was an elected president. He gradually seized power and became a dictator. Why did the US politically support him before Fidel Castro ousted and replaced him?
• The Shah’s regime brought economic shortages and inflation. Some people thought he was the puppet of the non-Muslim West (i.e., the US). How did Shah’s oil policy lead to the Iranian Revolution ?
• During the Storming of the Bastille , there were only seven political prisoners. Why did the revolutionaries attack this building and not the Versailles or some other royal building? Why was Bastille the symbol of monarchy and its abuse of power?
• Various Propaganda Tools Shaped People’s Vision of the State and Themselves during the Cultural Revolution in China .

• The Events That Led to the American Revolution .
• Describe and analyze the conflict between the Three Estates that led to the French Revolution .
• Who won in the Spanish American War of Independence and why?
• The Proclamation and the Stamp Act: Discriminatory laws that led to the American Revolution.
• Economic Factors Contributing to the Cause of the American Revolution.
• A political revolution does not change the property relations inside the country. Give examples of such events.
• Cold War Role in the Iranian Revolution .
• Haitian Revolution (1791–1804): The only successful revolt of self-liberated slaves.
• The Effects of Social Media on Egyptian Revolution of 2011 .

Social Revolutions

• Boston Tea Party (1773) was a protest of merchants against the British tax on tea. Why is it considered as the precursor of the American Revolution? How does it symbolize the birth of American patriotism?
• The French nobility was not concerned with the problems of ordinary people. They dedicated themselves to leisure and intrigues. Do you agree with this statement? How does it fit with the idea that France had authoritarianism ?
• What is the difference between a political and a socio-economic revolution? Which event takes more time and has more dramatic consequences? Give several examples of the experience in different countries.
• The Neolithic Revolution was the first social revolution in the history of humanity. Describe the shift from nomadic life to permanent settlements. How did the transformation change people’s lives and their sources of food?
• Could we consider the Enlightenment as a social revolution? Was this transformation a peaceful one? What were its causes, and what did people strive for?
• Syrian Arab Spring: Why Was it Late? Conflict Evolution and Solutions.
• How did the burning of Cinema Rex theatre trigger the Iranian Revolution?
• The American Revolution as a Social Revolution .
• How did hope and idealism fuel the French Revolution?
• The Revolution of Women in Society .
• What was achieved by the Civil War in the USA (1861-1865)?
• Child Labor During Industrial Revolution .
• Analyze the existing theories of what does and does not constitute a revolution.
• Karl Marx’s Ideas on Society Alienation and Conflict Theory.
• What were the precursors of the Age of Revolution in Europe and America?
• The Revolution of Transportation Systems .

🗺️ World History Argumentative Essay Topics

Time to examine history from a local perspective! Below you can find multiple excellent topics on regional history. The US history, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and more. Make sure to look at all of them precisely – this will require some effort.

US History Essay Topics

• American history before 1877: The New World before Christopher Columbus. Which sources of knowledge about the first settlements do historians draw from? Which civilizations existed there before the invasion of the Europeans?
• Explore the role of women in Colonial America . What rights did they have? What was their standard daily routine? Why was their work sometimes more complicated than that of their male relatives?
• How did slavery appear in British America? What were the circumstances that led to forced labor? Why was the trans-Atlantic slave trade so prosperous?
• How did the Founding Fathers treat Indian history and tribes? Were their actions legitimate? Did these deeds favor the establishment of the New World? Can such or any other “ethnic cleansing” ever be justified?

• Were Jim Craw Laws necessary for a smooth transition from slavery to democracy? Or were they a big mistake that provided freedom to African-Americans without giving them any rights?
• The Roles Played by Different Presidents on American Civil Rights Movement.
• Comment on the inflow of immigrants pursuing the American Dream after the Civil war.
• The Enslaved Blacks and Free Blacks During the American Civil War .
• How did Prohibition in the US cause the proliferation of the Italian-American Mafia?
• American Revolution: The “History” and “Memory”.
• Franklin Roosevelt led the US into the Second World War as the biggest debtor but exited it as the most significant creditor.
• In Search of the American Dream throughout the History.
• Describe the main problems the first British settlements faced in America.
• The Right to Vote in the USA Throughout the History .
• What were the psychological consequences of the Great Depression on ordinary American citizens?

Latin America History Essay Topics

• How did smallpox influence the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire ? How did the disease contribute to other advantages of the Spanish forces? Why did Cortez wish to defeat the Aztecs?
• The Panama Canal made Panama the second-fastest growing economy in Latin America after Chile. It brings about $2 billion in yearly revenue. However, more than five thousand people died during its construction. Was it possible to avoid the deaths by postponing the construction?
• How the history of Peru would be different if Francisco Pizarro did not initiate the homicide of the Aztecs. Would modern Peru benefit from its pre-colonial natives? Which historical monuments would have been preserved?
• Gold or silver was never found in Uruguay. How did this fact influence the present-day prosperity and stability in the country? Why did it present almost no interest for the colonial conquest?
• In 1848, General Santa Anna sold a big part of Mexico to the United States. Why did he do so? What would Latin America look like now had he not sold the land to feed the army?
• Nationalism and Development in the Countries of Latin America .
• Why did Latin America wish to declare independence from Spain (1810)?
• Haitian Migration History, and the Role of Jamaica in This Process .
• Explore the benefits of the Chilean victory in the War of the Pacific (1879 – 1883).
• Brazil and the European Union: The Relations .
• Why did America win the Mexican-American War?
• Criminal Justice Systems of the US and Colombia .
• Describe how the borders of modern Brazil were decided back in 1494 .
• Which consequences of Gen Alfredo Stroessner’s dictatorship in Paraguay can you name?
• Mexico’s Globalization and Democratization .

European History Essay Topics

• Why did ordinary people believe in Fascist propaganda ? Analyze the psychological factors and the cultural precursors that made people susceptible to Nazism. Did the fear of being killed influence their willingness to obey the ruling party?
• Find out the difference between the perception of gods in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Did both nations truly believe in gods? Was the Pantheon a cultural phenomenon? Why did they use the same gods with different names ?
• Would Roman Empire have become so influential if it had never used slavery? Why was slavery an essential part of the economy of many countries? What changed then? Was the abolishment of slavery dictated only by humanism?
• How did the relationships between lords and their vassals transform into modern government standards? Which positive and negative features were preserved throughout the ages? Compare the ancient tradition and the present-day government using historical and contemporary figures.
• What is the difference between the Renaissance and the Enlightenment ?
• Why Capitalism Started in Europe and Dominated the World ?
• Analyze the evolution of peace-maintaining methods inside the country and around its borders throughout European history.
• Building a Communist Society in East Germany .
• What does the classical and vulgar language distinction in Ancient Rome tell us about the structure of its society?
• Austria and France: Impacts and Causes of World War I and World War II .
• Compare and contrast the role of Russia in WWI and the Napoleonic Wars .
• Trace the development of European liberalism .
• Germany at the End of the World War I .
• List the six ancient civilizations and compare the causes that led to their fall .

Asian History Essay topics

• What made the Mongol Empire the second-largest kingdom in human history? How did the empire use technology and production to ensure its prosperity? What helped Genghis Khan unite the nomadic tribes?
• The Black Death is traditionally associated with Europe since it killed one-third of its population. Still, the bubonic plague started in Asia. Explore its outburst in 1330 – 1340 and its origins (presumably, in China).
• Explore the consequences of numerous conflicts between nomads and settled people in Asia. How did this rivalry shape the history of the continent? Analyze the contribution of trading between nomads and towns.
• A crossbow was invented in Asia. It revolutionized warfare. How did the weapon make archery a more democratic art? Which benefits did crossbow offer the army? Describe the history of the arm.

• The word Aryan comes from Iran and India. It meant “a noble person.” How did it turn into the most abused words of anti-Semitism?
• The Causes and Effects of Cultural Revolution in China (1966-1976).
• What are the social effects of female infanticide in China, India, South Korea, and Nepal?
• China’s New Silk Road for Trade and IGo to demoessays.commplications .
• Compare and contrast the Indian castes and Feudal Japanese classes.
• The Development of Tension Between South and North Korea.
• How did the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC) open Asia to be invaded by Alexander the Great?
• Japan’s Withdrawing From the International Whaling Commission .
• Describe the weapons of Ancient Asian civilizations as the mirror of their culture.
• How did some Asian countries (Japan, China, and Siam) escape European colonization ?
• Nationalism in East Asia, Japan and China .

Russian History Essay Topics

• Which tribes created modern Russia? Were they Slavic or Finno-Ugric? Why does this history argumentative essay topic cause debates among historians? What are the implications of either variant for the Russian national identity?
• How did the Tsardom of Moscow transform into the Russian Empire in 1721? What did Peter I do for this reformation? How did it change Russian society’s standard of living?
• Why did Boris Godunov come to power breaking the Rurik family dynasty? Before his ascension to the throne, he was a Tatar nobleman and served as an advisor to Tsar Fyodor I. Why did his rule start at the Time of Troubles (1598 – 1613)?
• Is it appropriate to call Moscow the “Third Rome” ? Sophia Palaiologina, the daughter of the last emperor of Constantinople, married Ivan III. Analyze the reasons for the statement that Moscow is the successor of the Roman Empire
• What were the causes and consequences of the existence of the four “False Dmitrys”? Explore the under-the-carpet battle that led to the killing of the dynasty’s successors. How did the four imposters entail the decay of the institution of Tsardom?
• Long-Term Strategies to Address Threats to the US’ Interest From Russia .
• Which personal traits helped Ivan the Terrible establish the Tsardom of Russia and make it a powerful state?
• Why Is There a Strong Russian Influence in Syrian Crisis?
• Debate the phenomenon of Peter the Great : Was he the result of the epoch or the random person who changed Russian history?
• Crisis on European Borders and Russia’s Threats .
• What were the merits and drawbacks of Catherine the Great ?
• Communist Nations Divisions During the Cold War .
• How did other countries react to the Russian version of communism?
• The Cold War Between the U.S. and the Soviet Union .
• Did the communist regime make Russia stronger, or did it throw it back in time?
• The Collapse of the Soviet Union .

African History Essay Topics

• Why did the imperial historiography propagate that Africa had no history? They wanted to create the image of Africa as the “dark continent.” How did the historians justify these statements and relate them to the absence of writing?
• The Kingdom of Kush : The most powerful African kingdom. Describe the period of its existence and outline the possible reasons for its decay. Which historical monuments have been found of that era?
• Do you support the idea that humanity originated in Africa? Why does this statement insult the Western World? Is there enough evidence that proves the idea?
• We know about African history from the perspective of Western scholars. Even the locally educated people who study history have adopted the Western way of looking at the past. What can be done about that?
• Before European colonization , there were about 10,000 states in Africa. Describe their ethnic similarities and shared customs that we know nowadays.
• What do we know about prehistoric Africa, i.e., the one that existed before the Ancient Egypt civilization?
• China in Africa: Aspects of Sino-African Relations.
• Why is slavery often mentioned as the initial reference point in African history?
• African Americans Fight for the Rights.
• Which problems arose in some African societies as a result of decolonization ?
• The History of African American Women’s Fights for Suffrage.
• Describe how decolonized Africa tried to decolonize its history.
• Colonialism, Ideology, Ethnicity, Religion, Social Class, and Legitimacy in Africa’s Politics .

Australian History Essay Topics

• James Cook was not the first one to discover Australia. Who were his predecessors? Why didn’t they gain as much fame as Cook did?

• King O’Malley : The founder of the Australian capital. How did he favor the creation of the Commonwealth Bank? How did Prime Minister Fisher ensure trust in the bank among the population?
• Why did the Ballarat Rebellion finish just in 30 minutes? What did the rebels struggle for? How did the event lead to the signing of the Electoral Act of 1856?
• The first colonizers of Australia were prisoners. How does this fact impact the contemporary image of the country? What were the historical implications of such a demographical situation?
• Why do Australians consider the battle of 25 April 1915 (during WWI) as “the birth of the nation?” Describe the reasons that made Australian Imperial Forces participate in the war and attack the Turkish coast?
• Why were Afghan cameleers important in Australia, and what caused their disappearance?
• Aboriginal and Chinese Australians: Cultural Diversity.
• What were the causes of the Rum rebellion of 1808, and which role did William Bligh play in it?
• How Have Australian Attitudes Towards ‘Asia’ Changed Since the 1890 ?
• Describe the role of Merino sheep in the Australian economy since they were first brought there by Captain John Macarthur in 1797.
• Is Australian Foreign Policy Now Independent?
• Ned Kelly : A ruthless killer or a symbol of resistance to the colonial power?
• Multiculturalism in Australian Society .
• Describe the Brisbane Line and its role in the Japanese invasion.
• China’s and Australia’s Management of International Disputes .

🤴 History Essay Topics on Key Figures

The significance of historical figures is something challenging to measure and compare. And there is indeed no need to do that; everyone has their place, time, and role. With these topics below, we offer you to dive into biographies of some fascinating people. Take a deep breath; we are almost there!

Central Figures of Ancient History

• Plato vs. Aristotle : The abstract vs. the empirical. Both of them are the most influential figures in Western philosophy. Aristotle was Plato’s disciple. What made their ideas so different?
• Why was Diogenes a controversial personality? How did he manage to criticize social conventions through his simple lifestyle? Is poverty a virtue, as Diogenes claimed?
• Aeschylus: The father of Tragedy . What were his contributions to the image of Ancient Greek theater? Explore his influence beyond his own time.
• Homer created the ancient Greek identity. Did he formulate the qualities already present in his compatriots ? Alternatively, did he idealize the past to make the Greeks aspire for more?
• Cleisthenes : The father of the Athenian democracy. Explore his contribution to the governance of Athens. How different was it from the modern idea of democracy?
• The Ancient City of Tikal: Mayan Cultural, Social, Astronomy and Political Influence .
• Why did Mark Antony and Cleopatra trust one another so much?
• Plutarch : Our window to the ancient times.
• Cleopatra’s Life and Political Impact .
• How did Alexander the Great and his conquest change the ancient world?
• Ethical Life Issues in Works by Cicero and C.S. Lewis .
• Why do we consider Hippocrates as the father of medicine ?
• Aristotle and Relationships at Work .
• Describe the difference between the historical and fictional accounts of the assassination of Julius Caesar.
• Alaric I the Visigoth: The person responsible for the Sack of Rome in 410.
• Jesus & Mohammed: Comparison and Contrast .
• Why was Leonidas I encircled by a hero cult?
• Moses in Christianity, Judaism and Islam .

Central Figures of Medieval Ages

• Tomás de Torquemada was the first Grand Inquisitor of Spain. Why did his name become the synonym of religious fanaticism and cruelty? What made him the most notorious Inquisitor?
• Charlemagne was the creator of modern Europe. He divided the Carolingian Empire between his sons. He also added more parts to Europe that had never been under Roman or Frankish control before. Explore his activity.
• Avicenna (980 – 1037) was the most important polymath of the Islamic Golden Age. Analyze his contributions to modern science.
• Constantine was the last Byzantine emperor . He was killed when protecting Constantinople from the Ottoman Turks. What makes him a legendary figure in Greek culture?
• Thomas Aquinas was the first theologian that linked religion and science. He connected Christian principles with Aristotelian ideas. How did he influence our perception of God and faith?
• Did Marco Polo travel to China, or was he a big liar?
• Joan of Arc as a Military Heroine .
• Why was Sir William Marshal called “the greatest knight” in human history?
• St. Thomas Aquinas’ Cosmological Argument Analysis .
• Describe the leadership qualities of Richard the Lionheart in his battle for Jerusalem with sultan Saladin.
• Was Genghis Khan a great ruler? Analyze his leadership style.
• British Culture – Tudors, Henry VIII and Anglican Church .
• William the Conqueror and his Domesday Book : The most critical statistical document in European history.
• Why was Peter the Hermit the critical figure in the First Crusade ?
• Elizabeth I’s Leadership. English History .
• What was the role of Joan of Arc in the Hundred Years’ War?
• Pope Innocent III: The person who invented the Crusades.

Central Figures of Modern Period

• How did Otto von Bismarck change the European map and reinforce Germany? He was the first chancellor of Germany for 20 years. This fact made him the mastermind of European affairs for two decades.
• Alexander II and Nicolas II: The grandfather and the grandson. Fifty years separated prosperity from decay. The first abolished slavery, and the latter caused the collapse of the Russian Empire.
• Stalin: From a collective leadership to dictatorship . He was the man that defined the epoch. Why was he the longest ruler of the USSR? How did his activity shape the international image of the Soviet Union?
• Mahatma Gandhi liberated India from Britain . Yet, he invariably insisted on non-violent methods. Could the liberation have happened in more favorable conditions for India if he had used more aggressive measures?

• Churchill: The ideologist of the anti-Hitler coalition and the creator of the Entente. Why do we consider him the inspirer of the British movement against Nazi Germany? What were the main postulates of his ideology?
• The Civil Rights Movement by Martin Luther King .
• From the modern point of view, did Lenin fulfill his intentions by introducing communism?
• Einstein and his Contribution to Science .
• If we abstract from the issues of morality, was Hitler a positive figure for his country?
• Hitler’s Interests: Nazi Germany and the Jews .
• What was the role of Margaret Thatcher’s activity in the process of entailing deep divisions in British society?
• Leadership Management: The Case of Mahatma Gandhi .
• Analyze the life story of Sigmund Freud that brought him to become the father of psychoanalysis.
• How did Anne Boleyn help to create the Church of England?
• US Foreign Policies from Eisenhower to Kennedy .
• How did Jane Austen’s stories about unremarkable situations turn into social satire?
• George Washington: Life, Presidency, Challenges as a Commander .
• How did El Greco transform icon painting by using ordinary people as models?

Central Figures of Contemporary History

• Mao Zedong drew inspiration from the Soviet Communistic ideology. How did his principles differ from the USSR scenario? Analyze the policy of Mao Zedong from the modern Chinese point of view.
• Albert Einstein changed our perception of reality through his theory of relativity . It explained how objects behave in space and time. The approach gave us a chance to predict the future.
• Analyze the personality of Usama bin Ladin as the founder of Al-Qaeda and the most famous terroristic leader. Explore his ideology and motivation for killing civil citizens. Can we change this ideology through education?
• Stanley N. Cohen was the first person who managed to cut DNA into pieces. But Paul Berg is considered the father of genetic engineering. Which personality did more for genetics?
• Harry Truman was a Vice President only for several weeks. Truman, the 33rd US President, ordered the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Why did he do so?
• Queen Elizabeth’s II contributions to the UK we know now.
• Truman Doctrine in the United States History .
• Anne Frank: The girl whose diary united millions of human tragedies.
• Barack Obama’s Political Doctrine and Its Elements .
• Describe the role of Douglas MacArthur in Japan’s restoration after WWII .
• Maria Curie : The woman who taught us to use X-rays.
• Merkel’s Germany and Trump’s Us Stances on Migration Policies .

• How did Grace Kelly contribute to the image of Monaco as a touristic paradise?
• Why did Gorbachev win the Nobel Peace Prize?

🏳️‍🌈 Argumentative History Topics on Significant Movements

Each epoch has had some movements that perform the leading ideas and soul of the corresponding time. Political, social, religious, and other movements have left multiple traces in different spheres of life. The necessity to explore these traces is pretty obvious, right? Let’s do it together.

Political Movements

• Why does extreme libertarianism reject the authority of the state?
• Anarchy and Sovereignty in International Relations .
• Is it correct to regard feminism as a political movement ?
• Analyze the incorrect interpretation of Nietzsche’s philosophy by the German Nazi.
• “Manifesto of the Communist Party” by Karl Marx .
• How do eugenic policies entail the loss of genetic diversity?
• Discussion of Capitalism and Socialism .
• Why are there two major parties in US politics?
• Explore the development of the Women’s Suffrage movement in your local area.
• Why does any political movement require access to state power to be successful?
• Islamism: Political Movement & Range of Ideologies .
• Does lobbying influence the development of various political movements in power?
• Democratic Regime and Liberation Movements .
• Describe communism as a secular religion.
• Is anti-capitalism a viable ideology?

Social Movements

• What are the achievements of the animal rights movement?
• White Society’s Reaction to Civil Rights Movement .
• Which women’s rights movements do you know, and what are their goals?
• Civil Rights and #BlackLivesMatter Social Movements .
• Do you believe that some psychological problems make people participate in social movements?

• What did the Black Power Movement (1960 – 1980s) achieve?
• Women’s Rights Movement Impact on Education.
• What are the psychological effects of volunteering in hospices?
• The Strategy of the National Popular Vote Movement .
• Analyze the success of the Black Lives Matter movement.
• Greta Thunberg : The inspirer of the international movement against climate change.
• Free Movement of Workers in the EU Single Market .
• Why does the majority of the population negatively look at all sorts of social movements?
• #MeToo movement and its results: The cancellation culture.

Art Movements

• How did the return of the African culture to the natives after WWII give birth to a new art movement?
• Why are modern art movements so numerous, and what does this fact characterize?
• Futurism. Artistic and Social Movement.
• Which art movement do you consider the most recognizable?
• Do you think Cubism is an art or a protest against artistic tradition?
• An artistic movement: Copying geniuses or drawing inspiration from them?
• Andy Warhol’s Paintings .
• How did the Hudson River School of Art shape American painting?
• Why did art in late Medieval Europe face decay?
• Art Movements in History: Baroque .
• What is the difference between the Baroque and Rococo styles?
• Which artistic movement initiated the use of perspective in painting, and why did it happen?

Religious and Spiritual Movements

• Explore the influence of fundamentalism on evangelicalism in America.
• Look for similar features between new religious movements and radical Islamic groups .
• Describe the distinctive traits of new religious movements that differentiate them from older religions.
• Which methods does the Religious Right movement use against the LGBT community?
• Do religious movements favor or impede globalization ?
• Which psychological reasons drive young people to Satanism?
• Why do people create new cults , and are they detrimental to society?
• Explore the difference between a spiritual and religious movement.
• Relation Between God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit .
• Is it correct to consider atheism as a religious movement?
• Modern spiritual movements: business or altruism?

📿 Interesting History Essay Topics on Traditions

No matter the military history of a state or region, cultural heritage and traditions are something every society has. Now, the most exciting part is to explore these traditions and rituals. It can be a long journey!

• Trace the difference between Vlad the Impaler as a historical and mythical figure.

• Which events and traditions shaped the way we imagine a witch?
• False and Folk Etymologies of Words .
• Analyze Baba Yaga as the symbol of mother nature in Russian folklore.
• How does German folklore reflect in the tales of the Brothers Grimm ?
• The Thousand & One Nights: Folk Collection Overview .
• Is there any scientific explanation for weather prediction by natural signs is present in many cultures’ folklore?
• Witch-Hunt in Europe During the Middle Ages .
• Half-human creatures of ancient times: Who were they, and which archetype did they represent?
• Explore the folklore origins of the Swastika , which became the Nazi symbol.
• The mythology of Achilles’ heel: What does it symbolize?
• The Epic of Gilgamesh – A Classic Tale .
• Describe the meaning of fireflies in Japanese culture.
• “The Tale of Kieu” by Nguyen Du .
• What is the link between zombies and voodoo?
• Discover the origins of putting a pickle ornament on Christmas trees in Germany.
• Why Saturnalia, Mithras, and Hanukkah were the precursors of modern-day Christmas?
• What is the link between the Festival of Lanterns and Chinese New Year?
• What are the origins of Imbolc in Celtic tradition?
• Chinese Spring Festival .
• Which African-American harvest celebrations were unified under the name of Kwanzaa?
• What does Jewish Hannukah commemorate, and why does it last eight days?
• Why does the US celebrate Veterans Day at the 11th hour on the 11th day and 11th month?
• Why did the US presidents start racing Easter Eggs?
• What is the relation between Daylight Savings time and WWI?
• Analyze the geography and calendar of Christmas in different parts of the world.
• Why are most rituals practiced in modern world religions?
• Buddhism: History, Origins, and Rituals .
• Describe human sacrifice rituals in Ancient Rome .
• Why do civilized countries use rituals in politics, for example, during the presidential inauguration?
• Crusades from a Christian Viewpoint .
• Compare male and female initiation rituals in African countries.
• How do funeral rituals help humans overcome the pain of loss?
• Marriage rituals in Japan: History that is preserved to nowadays.
• Explore pagan rituals that remained in the Christian culture.
• Is Baptism a ritual of initiation?
• What do the burial rituals of native Americans tell us about their culture?

👁️‍ Essay Topics on Historical Mysteries

Have you ever thought about how many things around us are still covered with layers of questions? Humanity has still not resolved some events, places, and people that took place throughout history. Let’s have a look at some breathtaking historical mysteries.

• Think of the reasons for the Great Leap Forward . Why did people start painting caves and making jewelry?
• During the Middle Ages, English speakers changed the way they pronounced vowels. What are the theories of the Great Vowel Shift ?
• The Green Children of Woolpit: A scary folk tale or a historical event?
• The Inca civilization: Highway and postal system, skull surgeries, and other signs of culture.
• The Sea Peoples caused the Bronze Age Collapse. Who were they? Where did they come from?
• What are the available explanations of the Phoenix Lights?
• The Salem Witch Trials and Their Impact on Massachusetts .
• Analyze the theories explaining the Baghdad batteries and select the most true-to-life version.
• What do we know about the “ Nazi Bell. ” Why is there so little information about the secret weapon?
• What do we know about the Philadelphia Experiment ? Discuss the major theories and opinions on that case.
• The Tunguska event: Military experiments or a meteoroid impact?
• The mystery of Yonaguni Island and its underwater structures: Who were their creators?
• The Bermuda Triangle: Human error camouflaged as a mystery.
• Was the uncanny nature of The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park created by Stephen King?
• Delano Roosevelt’s bomb shelter : Why did the President order to construct the chamber in 1941?
• What is known about the secret passageways and hiding rooms of the British Queen?
• The chief designer of the “hall of records” in Mount Rushmore died before completing his work. Was it a conspiracy?
• Why do the scientists believe that the secret of Stonehenge will be revealed in some decades?
• Find out the facts that point to the existence of Atlantis.
• The Lock Ness Lake and the monster: A non-extinct dinosaur?
• Money Pit on the Oak Island : A geologic formation or a place to hide treasures?
• What traits make Jack the Ripper so attractive to historians and fiction writers?
• Italian Americans Portrayed as Mafia Members in Films .
• Keth Arnold saw some “flying saucers” that traveled faster than jet airplanes. Was it a UFO or a flock of birds?
• David Blair: The person who was guilty in the Titanic catastrophe.
• Was Joan of Arc executed for heresy or for dressing in male clothes?
• The mystery of Amelia Earhart: Dead or alive?
• Was Grigori Rasputin really capable of predicting the future?
• Did the lost Grand Duchess Anastasia die when the rest of the Romanov family was killed?
• Explore the mystery of the Babushka Lady , who recorded the assassination of John F. Kennedy. What is known about her and the purposes of her filming?
• The Man in the Iron Mask and his sentence in the Bastille: Who could he be?
• Perseus in the Manhattan Project: How did he manage to hide from the US for so long?

📝 Historical Topics to Write About – 2024

• Geopolitical consequences of the USSR collapse for the world.
• The influence of Confucianism on modern society in China.
• How did the formation of NATO impact the Cold War?
• The significance of Napoleon Bonaparte in European history.
• The development of democracy in ancient Athens.
• Reagan’s tax reform and its impact on the modern economy.
• What were the key consequences of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings?
• The September 11th events and their impact on global security.
• The Manhattan Project and the development of nuclear weapons.
• The influence of slavery on African American families.
• Mahatma Gandhi and his influence on the ideology of modern India.
• What was the role of the first moon landing in astronomy?
• The ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its value.
• The true history of the Confederate flag.
• How much regulation is necessary for capitalism to function?
• The main causes of the Vietnam War.
• Historical events should be reexamined through a contemporary ethical lens.
• The debate over the role of the United States in the Middle East.
• The controversy behind the Israel-Palestine conflict.
• Operation “Barbarossa”: aggression or attack prevention?
• The reasons for Martin Luther King’s assassination.
• The efficiency of the United Nations.
• Christopher Columbus: heroic explorer or the harbinger of genocide?
• The disputes about the origins of Shakespeare.
• Was Donald Trump an effective president?
• The benefits of communism in Eastern Europe.
• Is the world doing enough to prevent the destruction of historical sites?
• The real motive behind the Watergate scandal.
• South Korean provocations of the Korean War.
• Should the United States have entered World War I?
• Princess Diana’s death as the subject of a conspiracy theory.
• The effect of the Cuban Missile Crisis on the Cold War.
• Is the international community doing enough to commemorate the Holocaust?
• The debate over the use of internment camps during WWII.
• The factors contributing to the Nazi Party’s rise in Germany
• Did the attack on Pearl Harbor push the USA into WWII?
• The leading causes of the Roman Empire’s fall.
• Mysteries of the disappearance of the Mayan civilization.
• Disputes about the role of women in medieval society.
• The corruption of the Catholic Church: myth or truth?
• Capitalism is the best economic system.
• The injustices experienced by Muslims after 9/11.
• What would have happened without Hitler?

👉 History Essay Topics: How to Choose

Selecting the proper essay topic can sometimes be rather tricky. Especially after reading all these fascinating questions above😏

Jokes aside, perfect topic choice is crucial if you want to write a good essay or a research paper and get a high grade. Here are some useful tips that will help you make the right choice and write a great history essay.

♟️ Strategies for Historical Argument Topics

When it comes right to writing a historical essay, you should consider several scenarios of how to build your text. Depending on your topic and the point of view, you might need different strategies.

Now, let’s see the differences between descriptive and research argumentative essays on historical topics.

• Historians debate my topic. I agree with some of them, and I’m going to prove that. I will use their arguments to show their correctness.
• Historians disagree on my topic. I think they shall start their debate all over again, as they have reached a dead end.
• Historians relatively agree on my topic. I have developed a better interpretation of the events in question.
• Historians disregarded my topic. I will explain its topicality and list what should be researched.
• Several historians have examined my topic, but their findings are inconsistent. I will present more constructive evidence to clarify things.
• Many historians have studied my topic. However, I will take a fresh look at the subject matter from the perspective of new research or methodologies.

And we are done here.

Now, have a break if you’ve read all 396 topics. Though, wait, did you find something fitting you? In that case, you are free for a break 👼

In case if you are still not sure what to write about, we recommend you to read these topic compilations:

• The Best Argumentative Essay Topics for 2024
• Hot Problem-Solution Essay Topics
• 250+ Interesting Topics to Research
• Cause & Effect Essay Topics for Students
• Top 138 Awesome Sociology Essay Topics & Questions for 2024

We are pretty sure there’s no hopeless situation. It’s just a matter of time and effort. And everyone needs a different amount of each. So, keep calm, and let’s rock this history essay!

Good luck, friends 🍀

Research Paper Analysis: How to Analyze a Research Article + Example

Film analysis: example, format, and outline + topics & prompts.

World Historian Student Essay Competition

Congratulations to Joshua Hangartner of La Jolla Country Day School, the winner of the 2023 World Historian Student Essay Competition for his essay, "World History: A Vehicle for Understanding Ourselves."

2023 World Historian Student Essay Competition Winner: Joshua Hangartner (La Jolla Country Day School)

• The WHA is pleased to announce that Joshua Hangartner of La Jolla Country Day School (La Jolla, CA) is the winner of the 2023 World Historian Essay Competition for his outstanding essay, "World History: A Vehicle for Understanding Ourselves." Focusing on its broad and deep complexities, Mr. Hangartner ably demonstrates how World History's vast and complex scope connects us personally to the sweeping historical themes that shaped the present day and serves as a "uniquely powerful tool" that allows us to discover ourselves in an incredibly complicated world. Congratulations, Joshua!

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international competition open to students enrolled in grades  K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs. Membership in the World History Association is not a requirement for submission. Past winners may not compete in the same category again.  Finalist essays will be checked against AI internet components and will be automatically disqualified should stock answers be detected.

The World History Association established this $500 prize to recognize young scholars. A one-year membership in the WHA will also be included with each prize.

Each competitor will submit an essay that addresses one of the following topics and discuss how it relates to you personally and to World History:  Your view of a family story related to a historical event or your personal family cultural background, or an issue of personal relevance or specific regional history/knowledge, such as "My ancestor walked with Abraham Lincoln from Illinois to fight in the Black Hawk War of 1832." 

The committee will judge papers according to the following criteria:

• clear thesis;
• elaboration on the thesis with specific, concrete, personal example(s);
• evidence of critical-thinking, such as synthesis and evaluation, when reflecting on the essay question;
• organization and fluency; and
• overall effectiveness of the student’s ability to communicate his or her personal connection with the study of world history—in other words, how well has the student described the experience of being changed by a better understanding of world history?

To view some of our past winning essays, please click on the links below.

2023 Paper Prize Winner

2019 Paper Prize Winner

2018 Paper Prize Winner

2017 Paper Prize Winner

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Length & format.

Length:  Submissions for the  K–12  World Historian Award should be approximately 1,000 words.

Formatting:  Number all pages except for the title page. All pages are to be double-spaced. Use 12-point Times New Roman Font. Margins are to be 1 inch left and right, and top and bottom.

Submissions must be composed in Microsoft Word.

The author’s identity is to appear nowhere on the paper.

A separate, unattached page should accompany the paper, identifying the author, title of paper, home address, telephone number, e-mail address, and name of school.

Papers that do not adhere to these guidelines will be disqualified.

Entries must be emailed or postmarked by the annual deadline of 1 May.

Winning papers will be announced during the summer.

The  WHA  reserves the right to publish in the  World History Bulletin  any essay (or portion thereof) submitted to the competition. It will do so solely at its discretion, but full acknowledgment of authorship will be given. If someone’s essay is published in whole or in part, the author will receive three (3) copies of the  Bulletin.

E-mail submission

Send the following materials as separate attachments (formatted in  MS  Word) in the same e-mail, with the subject line  World Historian Student Essay :

• the paper, and
• a page with identifying information (author, title of paper, home address, telephone number, e-mail address, and name of school).

E-mail to:  Susan Smith <[email protected]> .

Postal submission

Send five copies of the paper and five copies of the page with identifying information. In the lower left hand corner on the front of the envelope write:  World Historian Student Essay.

Susan Smith Maple Grove Senior High 9800 Fernbrook Lane  N. Maple Grove,  MN  55369-9747

WORLD HISTORIAN STUDENT ESSAY COMPETITION COMMITTEE:

• Susan Smith, chair
• Paul Richgruber

PAST WINNERS

• Joshua Hangartner, La Jolla Country Day School (La Jolla, CA) "World History: A Vehicle for Understanding Ourselves"
• Amanda Zhao, Pacific Ridge School (Carlsbad, CA) “History: An Ode to the Bricks of Progress”
• Akram Elkouraichi, Yonkers Middle High School (Yonkers, NY) “The Realization of Impermanence: Ephemerality in World History as a Conceptual Framework”
• Steven Chen, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School (Vancouver, BC, Canada) “A Human Story: World History as an Optimist”
• Juliana Boerema, Cary Christian School (Cary, North Carolina) “Brilliant Painting: How the Study of World History Changes Perspective”
• Ahmad Aamir, Lahore Grammar School (Lahore, Pakistan) “Learning from History: Cooperation, Belief, Scholarship, & Words”
• Vivian Liu, International School of Beijing (Beijing, China) “History: Bread of the World”
• Vanessa Yan, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School (Bradenton, Florida) “World History: The Great Macroscope”
• Rachel Hughes, Webber Academy (Calgary, Canada), “Fostering a Universal Understanding of World History is the Key to a Brighter Tomorrow”
• Campbell Munson, The Episcopal School of Dallas, “How History Has Affected My Worldview: Economies, Migration, Causality and Disease”
• Jacob Cooper, North Oconee High School (Bogart, Georgia), “World History: The Basis for Self-Determination, Democracy, and Religion“
• Luke J. Hamilton, Sword Academy (Bridgeport, Nebraska), “The Present: Living History”
• David Kim, Wydown Middle School ( St.  Louis), “History: The Shadow of the World”
• Elizabeth Mello, Dartmouth High School (Dartmouth, Massachusetts), “Out of Many Threads, One Cloth”

Awards Sample banner

Awards Sample banner EXCERPT

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the complete guide to the ap world history exam.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Before you start studying for the AP World History exam, you should get the inside scoop on its format and content. The types of questions you'll see might differ from your expectations. It's especially smart to practice writing essay outlines based on past questions before you're faced with fresh prompts on test day.

In this article, we'll go through the structure, content, and question types on the AP World History exam and provide some helpful tips for acing it !

How Is the AP World History Exam Structured?

The AP World History exam is three hours and 15 minutes and consists of two sections, each of which contains a Part A and a Part B. Here's a basic overview of these sections before we get into the nitty-gritty below:

• Section 1, Part A: Multiple Choice
• Section 1, Part B: Short Answer
• Section 2, Part A: Document-Based Question (DBQ)
• Section 2, Part B: Long Essay

It should be noted that the AP World History exam has undergone some big changes for the 2019-20 school year . Instead of covering thousands of years of human history and development, now it will cover only the years 1200 to the present ; as a result, the exam has been renamed AP World History: Modern (an AP World History: Ancient course and exam are in the works).

Section 1 Format

Section 1 on the AP World History exam lasts a total of 95 minutes and consists of two parts:

• Part A: Multiple Choice
• Part B: Short Answer

This chart shows what you can expect for each part of Section 1 on the World History exam:

Part A lasts 55 minutes and counts for 40% of your total AP World History score. Each question on this part comes with four possible answer choices (labeled A-D). Since there are no penalties for wrong answers, it's in your best interest to fill in an answer for every question.

Most multiple-choice questions come in sets of three to four questions and require you to analyze primary and secondary sources as well as data in the form of graphs, charts, maps, etc.

Part B lasts 40 minutes and counts for 20% of your final AP score. For this section, you must write three short answers (you'll get four prompts in total, but you choose one of two prompts to write on for your third essay). You'll have different sources, or stimuli, for each short-answer prompt:

• Short Answer 1: Includes one secondary source
• Short Answer 2: Includes one primary source
• Short Answer 3/4 (choose one prompt): No stimulus for either option; prompt 3 focuses on the years 1200-1750, while prompt 4 focuses on the years 1750-2001

Section 2 Format

Section 2 on the AP World History test lasts 100 minutes and, like Section 1, consists of two parts:

• Part A: Document-Based Question (DBQ)
• Part B: Long Essay

Here's a brief overview of the format of Section 2 of the World History exam:

Part A in Section 2 lasts one hour and counts for 25% of your total score. For the Document-Based Question, or DBQ, you'll get seven documents offering different viewpoints on a certain historical development. You must write an essay with an argument supported by this historical evidence.

Part B, which is the Long Essay, lasts for just 40 minutes and counts for 15% of your AP score. This part of the test requires you to write a full-fledged essay in response to one of three prompts (you choose which one you want to write on). Unlike the DBQ, you're not given any direct historical evidence to use in your essay; you must come up with it yourself to support your argument.

Here are the three types of prompts you can choose from for the Long Essay:

• Prompt 1: Focuses on the years 1200-1750
• Prompt 2: Focuses on the years 1450-1900
• Prompt 3: Focuses on the years 1750-2001

What Kind of Content Is Covered in AP World History?

Content on the AP World History exam is divided into six overarching themes and nine distinct units . Knowing these categorizations can help you get a better sense of what kinds of historical trends you will be asked to examine (this is especially helpful when writing free-response essays!). The units are roughly divided up into overlapping periods of time.

Below, we introduce the current themes and units, as described in the 2019-20 AP World History: Modern Course and Exam Description .

The 6 Themes in AP World History

Let's start by looking closely at the six major themes covered on the AP World History exam.

Theme 1: Humans and the Environment

The environment shapes human societies, and as populations grow and change, these populations in turn shape their environments.

Key points:

• Demography and disease
• Patterns of settlement

Theme 2: Cultural Developments and Interactions

The development of ideas, beliefs, and religions illustrates how groups in society view themselves, and the interactions of societies and their beliefs often have political, social, and cultural implications.

• Religions and cultures
• Belief systems, philosophies, and ideologies
• Science and technology
• The arts and architecture

Theme 3: Governance

A variety of internal and external factors contribute to state formation, expansion, and decline. Governments maintain order through a variety of administrative institutions, policies, and procedures, and governments obtain, retain, and exercise power in different ways and for different purposes.

• Political structures and forms of governance
• Nations and nationalism
• Revolts and revolutions
• Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations

Theme 4: Economic Systems

As societies develop, they affect and are affected by the ways that they produce, exchange, and consume goods and services.

• Agricultural and pastoral production
• Trade and commerce
• Labor systems
• Industrialization
• Capitalism and socialism

Theme 5: Social Interactions and Organization

The process by which societies group their members and the norms that govern the interactions between these groups and between individuals influence political, economic, and cultural institutions and organization.

• Gender roles and relations
• Family and kinship
• Racial and ethnic constructions
• Social and economic classes
• Slavery and abolition

Theme 6: Technology and Innovation

Human adaptation and innovation have resulted in increased efficiency, comfort, and security, and technological advances have shaped human development and interactions with both intended and unintended consequences.

• Intellectual innovation
• Transportation technologies and trade
• Modes of production and machinery
• Communication

The 9 Units in AP World History

Here, we'll go over the nine units of the AP World History course and exam. But before we describe each one in depth, here's a quick overview of how these units are tested:

Source: AP World History Course and Exam Description, 2019-20

Unit 1: The Global Tapestry (1200-1450)

• Developments in East Asia from c. 1200 to c. 1450
• Developments in Dar al-Islam from c. 1200 to c. 1450
• Developments in South and Southeast Asia from c. 1200 to c. 1450
• State Building in the Americas
• State Building in Africa
• Developments in Europe from c. 1200 to c. 1450
• Comparison in the period from c. 1200 to c. 1450

Unit 2: Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)

• The Silk Roads
• The Mongol Empire and the making of the modern world
• Exchange in the Indian Ocean
• Trans-Saharan trade routes
• Cultural consequences of connectivity
• Environmental consequences of connectivity
• Comparison of economic exchange

Unit 3: Land-Based Empires (1450-1750)

• Empires expand
• Empires: administration
• Empires: belief systems
• Comparison in land-based empires

Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections (1450-1750)

• Technological innovations from 1450 to 1750
• Exploration: causes and events from 1450 to 1750
• Columbian exchange
• Maritime empires established
• Maritime empires maintained and developed
• Internal and external challenges to state power from 1450 to 1750
• Changing social hierarchies from 1450 to 1750
• Continuity and change from 1450 to 1750

Unit 5: Revolutions (1750-1900)

• The Enlightenment
• Nationalism and revolutions in the period from 1750 to 1900
• Industrial Revolution begins
• Industrialization spreads in the period from 1750 to 1900
• Technology of the Industrial Age
• Industrialization: government's role from 1750 to 1900
• Economic developments and innovations in the Industrial Age
• Reactions to the industrial economy from 1750 to 1900
• Society and the Industrial Age
• Continuity and change in the Industrial Age

Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization (1750-1900)

• Rationales for imperialism from 1750 to 1900
• State expansion from 1750 to 1900
• Indigenous responses to state expansion from 1750 to 1900
• Global economic development from 1750 to 1900
• Economic imperialism from 1750 to 1900
• Causes of migration in an interconnected world
• Effects of migration
• Causation in the Imperial Age

Unit 7: Global Conflict (1900-Present)

• Shifting power after 1900
• Causes of World War I
• Conducting World War I
• The economy in the interwar period
• Unresolved tensions after World War I
• Causes of World War II
• Conducting World War II
• Mass atrocities after 1900
• Causation in global conflict

Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization (1900-Present)

• Setting the stage for the Cold War and decolonization
• The Cold War
• Effects of the Cold War
• Spread of communism after 1900
• Decolonization after 1900
• Newly independent states
• Global resistance to established order after 1900
• End of the Cold War
• Causation in the age of the Cold War and decolonization

Unit 9: Globalization (1900-Present)

• Advances in technology and exchange after 1900
• Technological advances and limitations after 1900: disease
• Technological advances: debates about the environment after 1900
• Economics in the Global Age
• Calls for reform and responses after 1900
• Globalized culture after 1900
• Resistance to globalization after 1900
• Institutions developing in a globalized world
• Continuity and change in a globalized world

Sample AP World History Test Questions

Let's go through examples of each of the four types of questions you'll see on the AP World History exam. All sample questions come from the 2019-20 World History Course and Exam Description .

Multiple-Choice Question Example

Most multiple-choice questions come in sets of three to four questions that ask you to respond to a particular source, or stimulus, such as a primary source, a secondary source, or data in the form of a map, chart, or table.

In this sample question, you're being asked to read and interpret two separate passages . You must have background knowledge of economic trends in the late 20th century to be able to select the correct answer here (which is answer choice C ).

Short-Answer Question Example

This short-answer question is accompanied by a secondary source. In each short-answer question on the test, each part (A-C) should only require a one- to two-sentence answer . You'll then get 1 point per correct response (so the max you can earn on one short-answer question is 3 points).

Here's how you could earn full credit for this question, per the official scoring guidelines .

(A) Sample Answers

• Hakuseki's argument was influenced by Confucianism.
• Hakuseki's argument that sovereign is Heaven to the subjects and the father is Heaven to the child was influenced by Confucian beliefs.
• Hakuseki's argument that only the emperor is supposed to serve the Lord of Heaven reflects the beliefs of Confucianism.

(B) Sample Answers

• One important difference is that most Christian missionaries and Muslim Sufis traveled across the world and spread their religion without being banned by other governments.
• One important difference between the circumstances of the religious encounter in eighteenth century Japan and other religious encounters in the period 1450–1750 is that religious interactions in this period more frequently led to the development of syncretic belief systems such as Vodou or Santería than the outright banning of the preaching of a religion.
• One important difference between the Tokugawa shogunate banning the preaching of Christianity and most other religious interactions in the period 1450–1750 is that some governments, such as the Mughal Empire under Akbar, encouraged religious tolerance and interaction.

(C) Sample Answers

• The Mughal emperors of India and the African kings of Kongo attempted to restrict European merchants to certain towns and trading posts.
• The Ming and Qing emperors of China confined the Portuguese merchants to Macao and placed legal restrictions on converting to Christianity.
• Although the Safavid Empire allowed European merchants to settle in some cities and even serve as advisors at court, preaching Christianity was strictly forbidden.

Document-Based Question Example

You'll get seven documents with your DBQ (not shown in the sample above), and you must use at least six of these as evidence in your response. The DBQ is worth up to 7 points .

Here's what you'd need to do to earn full credit for this sample DBQ, per the scoring guidelines .

Looking for help studying for your AP exam?

Our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your AP exams. Get matched with a top tutor who got a high score on the exam you're studying for!

Long Essay Question Example

For the Long Essay, you'll get three possible prompts to choose from. This question is an example of an Option 2 prompt with a focus on the years 1450-1900 —in this case, the 19th century. You can earn up to 6 points for your essay.

Here's what you'd need to do to earn full credit for this sample, per the official scoring guidelines :

How Is the AP World History Exam Scored?

Now that you've seen what questions look like on the AP World History test, let's quickly go over exactly how the exam is scored. Like all other AP tests, you will get a final scaled score for AP World History on a scale of 1-5 . This is a cumulative score that combines your raw scores from each of the four parts of the test (Multiple Choice, Short Answer, DBQ, and Long Essay).

Keep reading to see how each part of the AP World History test is scored.

Multiple Choice

Raw scoring for the multiple-choice section is simple: you earn 1 point for each multiple-choice question you answer correctly . Since there are 55 questions, the max number of points you can earn here is 55. Remember that this part counts for 40% of your total score .

No points are taken off for incorrect answers, so be sure to fill in every answer bubble!

Short Answer

Each short-answer question is worth 3 points—one for each task (labeled A-C) you must complete. Because there are three short-answer questions, this means you can earn a total of 9 raw points for all your responses. The short-answer portion counts for 20% of your final AP score .

Document-Based Question

The DBQ is worth 25% of your final score and is graded on a 7-point rubric , as shown below:

The Long Essay is worth just 15% of your overall score and is graded on a 6-point rubric :

The Best Way to Prep for the AP World History Exam: 3 Tips

Here are a few of the most important prep tips for AP World History. If you want more advice, take a look at our article on the best study strategies for this exam .

Tip 1: Make Connections to Themes (and Memorize Examples)

World History is a course that covers a ton of information, so much so that it can be hard to think of specific examples that relate to your arguments in essay questions. You should be able to elaborate on one or two concrete events from each period that relate to each theme of the course.

As long as you can preserve this bank of information in your mind, you'll be able to support your answers to any essay questions the test throws at you.

Tip 2: Use Outside Information Selectively

Providing specific historical examples in your essay lets you show your mastery of the material, but you need to be cautious. This test is less about how much you know and more about how well you understand the connections and underlying themes that connect historical facts.

Each fact you mention must have a specific purpose and should tie directly into what the question is asking and what you've stated in your argument.

Tip 3: Learn to Read Multiple-Choice Questions Carefully

You can get into some trouble if you don't understand exactly what the multiple-choice questions are asking on this exam. You'll only find the correct answer if you stick to the specifics of the question. Otherwise, you could get tripped up by choices that are accurate statements about history but inaccurate answers to the question being asked.

Practice your skills in selecting answers that directly pertain to the evidence presented in the question.

Summary: What to Know About the AP World History Exam

The AP World History exam is a three-hour and 15-minute test that consists of 55 multiple-choice questions, three short answers, one DBQ, and one essay.

Questions address six major historical themes and nine units, with periods stretching back to the year 1200 CE. While this is undoubtedly a lot of information to study, it's important to realize that long-term trends are more important than small details.

You can do extremely well on the World History test, as long as you master the major events of each period and understand their essential causes and effects .

What's Next?

Looking for some practice materials for the World History exam? Then check out this detailed guide to all the AP World History practice tests available online .

It's a smart idea to practice your writing skills on DBQs before any AP history test. Learn about the best places to find DBQ examples and how you can write an excellent response .

Which AP classes should you take in high school besides World History? Our expert guide will help you decide based on your goals, academic interests, and schedule.

Thinking ahead to college applications?

If you’re a freshman, sophomore, or junior worried about college admissions, our world-class admissions counselors can help. We know exactly what kinds of students colleges want to admit and can make sure your profile shines.

PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We've helped thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

Join our mentoring program today:

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to understand content and feature usage to drive site improvements over time. To learn more, review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

World History Project

Teach a standards-aligned world history course that connects the past to the present, with an eye to the future.

Four Unique Courses for Teaching World History

All three World History Project (WHP) courses are ideal for high-school world history in preparation for AP ® , college, and career. Our WHP AP course is designed to meet the needs of those teaching AP ® World History: Modern.

WHP Origins to the Present

A world history course that begins at the origins of human existence and continues through the rise and fall of empires, the first global age, and the birth of the modern world.

WHP 1200 to the Present

This course begins just before the Columbian Exchange and the first transoceanic connections and continues through industrialization and globalization to today.

WHP 1750 to the Present

Starting at the Industrial Revolution, this course explores the transformations that shaped our modern world—from liberal and national revolutions through imperialism, world wars, and globalization.

World History Project AP®

Designed for AP ® World History: Modern students.

Why World History Project Is Different

Our world history courses are infinitely adaptable, ideal for high school, free, open, and online.

Precisely aligned: Carefully aligned to the AP® World History: Modern Course and Exam Description (CED), including themes, periodization, topics, and historical developments.

Free for everyone: We designed this course to eliminate barriers for teachers and students alike. All content is online and can easily be downloaded for offline use.

Grounded in research and best practices: OER Project works with teachers, scholars, and learning scientists to incorporate and share the latest learning insights and approaches.

Not your average AP course: Every lesson incorporates more fun than your average AP course. There are ample opportunities to increase student engagement with the rigorous curriculum through different course materials.

Assessments that build confidence: DBQs, LEQs, and SAQs specifically created for the course. Opportunities for formative assessment throughout, particularly within practice progressions.

Built-in professional development and community: Learning options include self-paced and real-time opportunities to learn and connect with fellow educators.

278 Interesting History Essay Topics and Events to Write about

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!

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

But once in a while, your instructor may let you pick a history essay topic. Are you clueless about where to start? If you are, don’t worry. You’ve come to the right place! In this article, you’ll see 278 cool historical events to write about. You’ll also discover some sources for good research on our ideas.

Before you read further:

Review the professional writing services offered by our academic experts. They can surely help you with essay writing or any other assignments.

Top 10 History Essay 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.
• The economic impact of the Titanic ’s sinking.
• The economic effect of the Bracero Program.
• 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.

How to Pick the Best History Essay Topic

Most of this article is devoted to listing history topics that are ideal for essays, but first, it’s important to have a simple process for using a list of possible essay topics like this.

• Before you start writing, brainstorm. Read this list. Scan lists of history essay prompts. Maybe even skim a history essay example or 2 (or 10, or 25). When you find a topic you like even a bit, write it down in your personal list. Add any other topics that come to your mind.
• Pick a topic that will satisfy your instructor and you can write well about. After you have a long list, review the assignment instructions. Then, eliminate the most inappropriate topics from your list. Lastly, reread the remaining topics. At this point, decide the topics you know enough about to write about wisely.

This 2-step process will make sure you get started on the right foot, but don’t forget the basics of sound writing. Remember these two rules. First, always plan your essay by using an outline. Second, stick to a well-structured essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion (use a 5-paragraph essay if it’s suitable).

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

Here’s one further tip that is notably helpful for history essays. Use Wikipedia to explore historical events that you don’t understand well. (But of course use primary sources if you are writing a true research paper.) Alternatively, if you have some keywords in mind, you can find a random topic generator for writing and see what it can offer you.

Here’s the list of history essay prompts that you’ve been waiting for.

The Ultimate List of Historical Events to Write about

• An Industrial Revolution in England essay is an excellent Industrial Revolution essay. Use this essay to explain some Industrial Revolution effects. Or perhaps give a brief but analytical overview of the Industrial Revolution timeline.
• Alternatively, you could write an Industrial Revolution in Europe essay . England was the first nation to industrialize. But it wasn’t the last. In this Industrial Revolution essay, perhaps discuss differences among European nations in industrialization. (This kind of comparative approach yields an especially fine Industrial Revolution research paper as well.)
• Or use a markedly different topic by writing a Martin Luther King essay . This key historical figure still shapes how we think about race, social justice, and the power of nonviolent protest. His death was tragic.
• One way to avoid making your essay a Martin Luther King biography is to focus on a specific event or impact of this man’s life. For example, your Martin Luther King essay could be about a specific Martin Luther King speech or quote . (But if you’re going to write about King’s famous “ I Have a Dream ” speech, make sure you have something unique to say!)
• Instead, you could write a broader Civil Rights Movement essay . In this, you must go beyond a basic Civil Rights Movement summary and focus on the meaning of this period over time or some specific change caused by it. (Again, don’t let your Civil Rights Movement essay become a Civil Rights Movement research paper.)
• You could write about another period of dramatic change in a French Revolution essay . This violent revolution filled with imprisonments, trials, and beheadings was caused by immense suffering by the poorest people in France. As such, when writing this essay, provide only a brief French Revolution summary, and focus on the impact and triggers of specific events.

• Similarly, you could write an American Revolution essay . Both events involved overthrowing a monarch, but unlike a French Revolution essay, an American Revolution essay is effectively about a war, the build up to war, and the recovery from a war.
• Perhaps your historical essay could focus on a person who was instrumental to the American Revolution . For example, consider Ben Franklin , a famous early American statesman, diplomat, scientist, and inventor.
• The War of 1812 was the conflict between America and Britain directly following the American Revolutionary War . It’s a fine essay topic for those seeking to understand early American history.
• Wars make notable topics for historical essay, but the aftermath can be even more interesting. The Weimar Republic was the terribly failed German government created after World War I . A critique of this government could be a superb essay subject.
• In contrast, post-war Vietnam has been a relative success story. The nation reunified following the defeat of South Vietnam. The modern Vietnamese people possess a higher quality of life than citizens of many nearby nations.
• You could also write about the Post-World War II 1950s . During this time, America exhibited surprising growth and prosperity. However, the United States began to wage a deadly Cold War with the USSR.
• Another quite related topic is the messy late 21 st century American foreign policy . You could focus on the rise of terrorism after America’s invasion of Iraq , the worldwide US military bases, or any number of military dictators that the US has supported. These are all very provocative topics.
• Or you could focus on a more specific military event, such as the Battle of Hastings . This battle shaped the whole history of England, as kings from continental Europe invaded English.

• The time of the Battle of Hastings was also characterized by the heavy influence of knights and feudal law in daily life. Knights were more than heavily armed warriors. They were also lords that controlled the land and subjugated peasants. This was a major cause of uprisings such as the French Revolution.
• Many medieval knights were also involved in the Crusades . This invasion of the Holy Land by European kingdoms represented a violent period. During these conquests, European nobility pillaged sacred sites and artifacts; with the goal of controlling the birthplace of their Christian faith.
• Following this time, Europe entered a period of Renaissance Humanism . Humans began to think about their humanity a bit more deeply. In doing so, many works of fine art, such as the first realistic paintings and sculptures, were produced.
• Your essay could focus on slightly later events, such as the fall of great empires . At various times in the past, nations such as Rome, China, Portugal, England, and the Holy Roman Empire controlled huge areas of our globe. Your essay could survey the implosion of these once great powers.
• The abolition of slavery is a fascinating and important historical essay topic. You may focus on this process within a single country, or you can write a comparative essay in which you compare and contrast the process of abolition across the globe or between two societies.
• Another highly relevant topic is the impact of Karl Marx . Few historical figures have had as huge an impact on society as Marx. Accordingly, you can consider how his writings were used (or abused) in a variety of nominally communist parties, movements, uprisings, and nations.
• Of course, you should always consider writing an integrative history essay . You can’t pick just one topic? Why not pick two or more! This is a nice approach for selecting compare and contrast essay topics . In this type of essay, you compare or contrast, people, events, or countries. In choosing this path, you make it possible to write a totally unique essay. The sky is the limit!
• A more human-focused approach could be an interesting hook for the paper. A paper based on the writing of the soldiers in World War I could outline what war was like at the beginning of the 20th century.

• A personal look at World War II could be just as interesting and with more available documents.
• One of the possible hooks for such papers may be the plight of the African American soldiers who fought in World War I and II .
• Another topic may be dedicated to soldiers from India who fought for the British in World War I .
• The economics of Europe after World War I may show the causes and effects that led to further conflict.
• You may dedicate your project may to the changes in fashion in the 20th century .
• More obscure topics like the Canadian history of film can make for an interesting thesis.
• American art of the 20th century is a big topic that has many interesting examples.
• History of math can show the timeline of math’s evolution.
• The conclusion of the British rule in India caused many positive and negative effects on the country which can make for an interesting project.
• The history of Roman sport provides fascinating examples of contests through the ages.
• History of architecture during renaissance can show the differences between the eras.
• Life before the invention of photography could be a topic that outlines how people preserved images back in the day.
• You can compare and contrast the history of Roman and British empires .
• Examples of music created for political causes could be an interesting hook for a music history essay.
• T he history of medicine can provide some striking facts about the bizarre antique cures.
• “What are the events that led to the fall of Roman Empire ?” is one of the more common history essay questions.
• Summary of the achievements of the American civil rights movement can provide an impression of what a dream of one man could do.
• An argumentative essay topic about the value of public communication can be chosen and created by using examples from the world history.
• A paper on the music of ancient civilizations can shine a light on prehistoric cultures.
• Your project can be about the anti-fascist activists in the US before WW II .
• It is possible for high school students to write about the events of the year when they were born .
• A thematic paper answering the question “ what started the worst wars in world history? ” could compare and contrast different wars to find similar causes and effects.
• The hippie culture of the 1960s can be presented as a response to the events of the era.
• Also, the fashion of hippies can be explored in your project with examples of real clothing.
• The New Wave movement in cinema was revolutionary for its time and can be an interesting essay topic.
• The same could be said about the New Wave genre of music that became popular in the 1980s.

• Another music genre that captured the imagination of the public can be explored in an essay on the history of rock music .
• History of propaganda in films can help explore some pivotal moments in world history.
• Canadian history of sport is an interesting topic to explain why hockey is so popular in the Great White North.
• Economics of sport throughout history may also interest the reader due to the massive commercial expansion of sport in recent decades.
• Education during the renaissance was booming and could serve as a great topic for an essay.
• Education during the middle ages was rare and could contrast the previous topic.
• The justifications that the US used for the drop of the nuclear bombs during World War II is a controversial topic but an interesting one.
• American involvement in the Korean War is an often overlooked topic, but it deserves attention.
• To show how turbulent history of a single country may be, the causes and effects of the military coups in Nigeria could be fascinating.
• The war between Iran and Iraq could be seen as one of the most critical proxy wars of the modern history.
• The space race was an iconic element of the Cold War, and it is related to many history essay topics.
• Events that led to the rise of the Saudi Arabia can show how fast a country can develop when money is not an issue.
• The British music invasion into the US market has had a significant effect on American music and can be an interesting topic.
• History of American worker unions could serve as a topical essay in today’s political climate.
• The process of reparations for the Maori people in New Zealand in a rare success story of an ex-British colonial country making up for the discrimination its natives endured.
• Roman graffiti is a lighthearted topic that describes a less discussed aspect of Roman culture.
• The gender roles of Roman society can be compared and contrasted with the gender roles of the people of Gaul that often fought each other.
• The prominent figures of the American Revolution include a great variety of people who would later compose the most important documents of the US.
• A compare and contrast essay about the similarities of American and Bolshevik revolutions can show how the most prominent opponents of the Cold War had similar beginnings.
• The history of Japanese isolationism could be interesting to explore as a unique moment in world history.
• The Millerites believed that the world would end on a specific date, but it only led to the events known as “The Great Disappointment” which could make for a great history topic.
• The Carnation Revolution of 1974 was an almost bloodless coup and represents one of the few examples of peaceful transitions to democracy.
• The golden age of piracy is an interesting topic about an era that is often glamorized in fiction.
• The Copper Country Strike was one of the most tragic cases of death due to anti-strike action, and its events are still discussed today.
• The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre was a gruesome murder committed in broad daylight and emblematic of the gangster activity of the era.
• The Yalta Conference was one of the most important events of World War II with British, Soviet, and American leaders discussing post-war plans.
• British colonization of Africa was one of the most tragic; the causes and effects of it could be interesting to examine.

• A paper on the evolution of flight could provide a timeline of marvelous engineering throughout history.
• Operation Paperclip was a secret plan to integrate scientists of Nazi Germany after the end of World War II which events lead to the beginning of the space race.
• Historical events that were predicted in fiction can be one of the more exciting history essay topics.
• African-American music history can be explored to show how oppression influenced culture.
• Biography of Julius Caesar is filled with dramatic events and is one of the most exciting history essay topics.
• Aztec life before the arrival of the colonists was filled with horrible sacrifices and deserves examination.
• The causes and effects of Manifest Destiny are bizarre and tragic by modern standards but were considered righteous in their day.
• You could compare and contrast the life of the Roman leader Julius Caesar and Nicholas II of Russia because they were almost mirrored images of each other.
• The actions of Churchill led to some of the worst defeats for the British forces during World War I , but are overshadowed by his later leadership.
• The transition from the 50s to 60s fashion can be explored to show the drastic change in the culture of those years.
• The events that led to the emergence of teenage culture after World War II can be outlined.
• The economics of international trade during the Renaissance period can be described to show the complex relationships of Europe.
• American Revolution in film rarely receives accurate portrayals. A look at its depictions can be interesting.
• A paper on the causes and effects of Cold War paranoia could show how quickly people can be overwhelmed by fear.
• Ronald Reagan’ s policy of a winnable nuclear war launched a chain of events that could end the world.
• The diversity of the Roman Empire is a rarely explored topic and could lead to an interesting paper.
• Medieval medicine is a fascinating topic. It combines the ideas from Ancient Greece and Rome, pagan medicine, and many religious superstitions.
• Another interesting history topic is the history of dystopian art . In turbulent times, it may be especially fascinating to trace the development of dystopian art and see what shaped the ideas of dystopian worlds in different eras. Moreover, you may find it interesting to see the predictions about the modern era in dystopian literature and cinema.
• Medicine in the early XX century is an excellent topic for an essay. At the turn of the century, there was a major change in the way people treated medical technology , hygiene, and chemistry. Groundbreaking achievements, such as the discovery of X-rays and penicillin , shaped modern medicine as we know it.
• The history of video games is an exciting essay topic. See how video games developed from the most primitive forms into the glorious, hyper-realistic works of art that we enjoy now.
• The history of quantum mechanics is a history topic that can teach us a lot about the world around us. You can write about the groundbreaking experiments that changed the way we think about nature, and learn about great minds who were not afraid to question even the most fundamental laws of physics.
• Alternatively, you can write about the development of astronomy . Another fascinating scientific field that can show us how people in different eras were discovering the beauty and complexity of the Universe .
• Similarly, you can write about the history of evolutionary theory . All ancient cultures had their ideas about the origin of life. See how Darwin’s idea of natural selection revolutionized not just science, but human thought in general.
• Another outstanding example of a revolution of human thought is the history of psychology. From the ancient idea of spirits and possession to the groundbreaking ideas of Freud and the discovery of conditioning – see how the cultural perception of the human psyche changed over time.
• A topic closely related to the current issues, pandemics that changed history can be explored to see the effects of epidemics on nature, science, and society as a whole. It may also be interesting to write about how viral infections spread around the world.
• The history of transport is a fascinating topic. Starting from the earliest of times, humans are continually developing new ways of traveling as far and safe as possible. See how technology evolved from the discovery of a wheel to rocket science, and how it changed history and the world around us.
• The history of the punk subculture is an excellent topic for presentation. Show how punk philosophy, fashion, and music changed the culture in the U.K. and around the world.
• Another interesting research topic for high school students is the Great Depression . Learn what caused the severe economic crisis, and what socio-economic effects it had on countries all around the world.
• From the first settlements built by ex-convicts to the outbreaks of smallpox and aboriginal resistance – the history of Australia is full of dramatic events and stories that we can learn a lot from.
• Or you can choose the exploration of Africa as the subject of your history essay. The story of two extraordinary individuals in search of a path into the heart of the continent inspired the novel Heart of Darkness .
• Historical figures in Shakespeare’s plays is a great history research paper topic. You could compare the lives of real historical figures, such as Julius Caesar and Henry V , to those of their fictional counterparts.
• Voyages of Christopher Columbus is one of the most critical events in history before 1500. While the discovery of the New World had an enormous influence on the colonization era, Columbus’s legacy remains controversial.
• Or you can write an essay on Hernán Cortés , a pivotal figure in the colonization of South America. His actions against native civilizations are highly controversial, and his life story is full of myths and mysteries.
• The Civil War was the defining event in the U.S. history before 1877. It had an enormous impact on American society and led to major changes in the Constitution.
• One of the world history topics that everyone needs to know about is the culture and society of ancient Greece . Incredible art, philosophy, politics, and scientific ideas of the ancient Greeks continue to inspire us today.
• Similarly, an essay on the Greek Dark Ages can shine a light on the fall of the great civilization. It is also the period during which Homer’s famous poems Odyssey and Iliad were composed.
• Chivalry in the Middle Ages is an interesting history topic, and it is often romanticized. Learn about the chivalric code, tournaments, and epic legends about famous Medieval knights.
• Also, it may be interesting to write a world history essay on King Arthur . Explore the real events that inspired stories about the legendary British leader and the Knights of the Round Table.
• The history of Easter Island is a very intriguing history topic. You can talk about the mysteries surrounding the culture, language, and the eventual demise of the inhabitants of one of the world’s most isolated islands.
• The history of nuclear weapons is an excellent controversial topic for an essay and a discussion. The stories of research, development, and the use of atomic bombs can be used as cautionary tales for people today.
• From cave paintings and letters to telephone and the Internet – the history of communication is one of the best topics for a research paper. See how the means of communication evolved throughout human history.
• Also, the history of the Internet can be explored in your research paper. What was initially created for research and military use became one of the defining elements of modern life.
• The history of animation is an interesting topic for high school students. Learn about the evolution of animation – from the ancient Egyptian murals depicting motion to the first CGI cartoons and everything in-between.
• The history of museums has many exciting twists and turns. Discover how people of different eras were preserving art and other extraordinary objects. Also, it may be interesting to learn about the most significant art thefts in history.
• The history of cosmetics is an excellent topic for a research paper with a presentation. See how makeup was used in different eras, what it was made of, and how historical figures influenced makeup trends of the past epochs.
• Amelia Earhart is a wonderful role model whose life you can research in your history essay. She was an aviator pioneer and a best-selling author. Her disappearance in 1937 remains a mystery.
• History of Eurovision song contest is a lighthearted topic with serious political undertones. It was originally intended to unite all countries of post-war Europe in one song contest, broadcast live on television.
• The history of theater is a fascinating subject for a research paper. Theater first appeared in Ancient Greece, went through significant changes during the Renaissance, and it remains a popular art form that covers many genres.
• The history of the death penalty is an interesting topic for an essay that you can have a discussion about. The death penalty has a fascinating and gruesome history and remains a controversial subject even today.
• You can write an outstanding research paper on the history of whaling . People have been hunting whales since prehistoric times for various reasons, including perfume and candle manufacturing.
• Another exciting world history topic is Gold Rush . While the California Gold Rush is by far the most famous, there were many other cases throughout history, dating as far back as ancient Egypt.
• One of the more mysterious history topics that you can write about is Stonehenge . This majestic stone structure has been for a long time associated with druids. The latest discoveries suggest that it was used as an observatory.
• Maybe an even more mysterious history research paper topic is the Pyramids of Egypt . The only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, they are some of the largest structures ever built, and their history remains intriguing.
• Or you can choose to write about all the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World ! They are remarkable buildings and constructions, all but one of which are entirely destroyed, and some are speculated to have never existed.
• Similarly, you can write a paper on other beautiful buildings, such as the picturesque Machu Picchu. An iconic citadel of the Inca civilization, it is now considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
• A paper on Joan of Arc can show how one extraordinary individual is capable of changing the course of history. Her life is surrounded by many legends, and she remains a popular subject in art.
• Similarly, you can write about Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and what impact it had on the entire American nation. Delivered during the Civil War, it is considered to be the greatest speech ever.
• A history research paper on feminism could provide a timeline of the fight for equality. Closely connected to the current issues, this topic covers everything from the women’s suffrage movement to the modern Women’s Marches .
• One of the most exciting history topics that everyone needs to know about is the Minoan Civilization – the first highly advanced society in Europe. You can talk about its discovery in the late XIX, the incredible art of Knossos, and its numerous legends, including the famous Labyrinth.
• You can choose to write an essay on history of Indigenous Australians . The timeline of first humans populating Australia is full of mysteries, and their culture remains fascinating.
• An interesting essay can be written on the earliest universities . They were founded long before 1500 in Asia and Africa for educating government officials, and are a fascinating subject to explore.
• You can write an exciting research paper on Alexandria – a city in Egypt founded by Alexander the Great. In ancient times, it was a city like no other, and had an enormous influence on the Mediterranean culture.
• Middle Ages are full of interesting history topics – for example, you can choose to write about medieval magic. From alchemy and astrology to inquisition and witch trials, it’s an existing subject to explore.
• One of the best topics on the history of explorations is the North Pole expeditions . It is full of dramatic events, and it took numerous failed attempts until the North Pole was finally reached in the XX century.
• The first English settlements in America are among the essential parts of the U.S. history before 1877. It includes stories of hardships of the first settlers, bad weather, hunger, and conflicts with native inhabitants.
• Napoleon is an incredibly interesting historical figure. You can write a stunning paper on the rise and fall of his empire.

• You can focus on a specific era in your essay – for example, Victorian England. This period of history, both fascinating and terrifying, still inspires countless novels, movies, and T.V. series.
• Titanic is an excellent topic for an essay and a discussion. A cautionary tale about a luxurious ship that sank due to criminal negligence.
• Death of the Romanovs is an interesting history topic that is still being investigated. This gruesome story inspired many myths, including that of the survival of Anastasia.
• Similarly, you can choose an essay on the assassination of J.F. Kennedy . Learn about what caused it and what long-term effects it had on the American nation.
• Similarly, the assassination of Martin Luther King was an enormous tragedy for the whole country. The circumstances of this event are still not entirely clear, and there are several different theories as to what happened.
• Chernobyl disaster is a fascinating topic that is very popular today. See what led to the tragedy, and what long-term consequences it had on nature and society.
• The fall of the Berlin Wall is a crucial event in modern history. You can write about life in GDR and FRG prior to the fall of the Wall and compare it to what happened afterward.
• Another history topic that you can choose for your essay is the history of berserkers. These Old Norse warriors were fighting in what’s often described as a trans-like state, and their name became synonymous with uncontrolled rage.
• Education in the modern world. The new opportunities of the globalized world influence quality and expectations towards studying. A historical essay can analyze the significant inventions that impacted education. For example, you may focus on the Internet .
• South African Apartheid . The racial segregation regime threw South Africa into poverty and conflicts. Your essay might discuss the historical events that led it. Or you can trace the Apartheid’s timeline from setting to abolishment.
• The founding of the United Nations . The organization’s support of equal human rights is crucial for modern society. The history of the UN is a broad topic with many key events. You may also study the influence of countries such as the USSR on its establishment.
• Cultural trends during World War II. Music, fashion, and art reflected humanity’s hopes and fears of the world. They also supported people when life was tough. In a research paper, you can choose and describe specific examples. Discuss the impact of entertainment during that period, or compare it to World War I.
• The creation of the United States’ Constitution is an interesting US history essay topic. The road to the first national frame of government includes many events. You can analyze the contents of the original Constitution articles based on their drafts.
• Changes in European economies following the discovery of America . After Columbus’ return from his journey, the most powerful empires started to occupy new lands. Later, economic progress led the world to its current conditions. An essay that highlights these milestones can be fascinating!
• Fight against terrorism . After September 11, 2001, the world enforced its war on terrorism. Governments applied measures such as peacemaking interventions to unstable areas. A historical assignment might include the most significant attacks. You can also discuss the UN’s campaigns against terrorism under this topic.
• Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The attacks were crucial events that finished World War II . Your essay might address the events that led to the attacks. Discuss if there could have been other ways of stopping Japan’s aggression.
• Urbanization in the US is an interesting essay topic. The most significant change took place in the 19th century. The railroads connected the whole country, and trading opportunities grew. Discuss why people moved from rural areas to cities and the consequences of it.
• History of railroads in the United States. Broad territories were the major obstacles to American economic development. In 1827, the first railway journey took place in the US. The roads were rapidly built during the following century. A discussion these events is a fun historical assignment topic.
• Immigration and scientific progress in the 20th century. Back then, thousands of Europeans were forced to migrate to the US. Many of them were responsible for important discoveries and inventions. Discuss its effect of immigration on science and technology in a historical essay.
• The three most important inventions of the 19th century. The 1800s are full of creations that changed humanity’s history. Typewriters, bicycles, and telephones were first made in that period. For an essay, you can pick the inventions based on their historical value.
• The stock market crash in 1929 was the worst experience for the industrialized world at the time. Entertainment during the Great Depression played an essential role in supporting America. It is also an interesting historical topic to write about.
• The history behind today’s foreign affairs . Despite prolonged peace, governments still have political disagreements. Choose two conflicting countries and identify the events that led to the current situation.
• The history of the LGBTQ community in the United States. Modern American society praises equity and respects the rights of minority groups. However, it wasn’t always like this. LGBTQ is a broad discussion topic influenced by past events. It might also be interesting to compare the US community to the European one.
• The global financial crisis of 2008 is a great modern history essay topic . An economy can crash for multiple reasons. If it happens worldwide, the effects are severe. An argumentative essay can be a basis for analyzing the causes of the crisis. Compare it to other economic disasters such as the Great Depression .
• Cultural progress led humanity to important social developments. One of them is the legalization of same-sex marriages . Historical analysis can include a timeline of such marriages. Social activism related to the topic is an excellent basis for an essay.
• The Holocaust . One of the darkest events in the 20th century’s history is the European Jews’ genocide . Analyze the chain of events leading to it in a historical essay. How did it impact human rights enforcement during the post-war period?
• Space exploration in the 21st century is a historical topic that develops right now. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin was founded in 2000, and Elon Musk started SpaceX in 2002. An essay can highlight the milestones of space exploration after the Cold War.
• The history of Thanksgiving . Pilgrims established the holiday based on celebrating the harvest. Discuss the tradition’s roots and the impact of English colonists on American culture . An essay can also describe similar feasts around the world.
• Another good history essay topic is Antarctica. The impactful exploration of ice lands only began in the late 19th century. Today, scientists study Antarctica’s land, resources, and animals. Trace the past events and discoveries of the region in your historical essay.
• The history of infections. Our lives have changed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were similar events in the past, where plague and flu diseases killed millions of people. A comparison can help you learn about the development of today’s healthcare practices.
• Women’s suffrage . In August 1920, the US Congress ratified the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote. Many campaigns and protests preceded the event. The perception of women by society started transforming since then. An essay might describe the challenges leading to these changes.
• History of the Olympic Games is a fascinating topic for middle school . The legacy of ancient Greece was revived only in the 19th century. Study the events that took place throughout the Olympic Games’ history.
• If you need a world history essay topic, try writing about the International Red Cross . In 1863, Swiss businessman Henry Dunant established the Red Cross. He was influenced by the terrifying experience of seeing thousands of wounded men at war. A persuasive essay can highlight the organization’s historical importance.
• Weapon development during World War II . Military weapons contributed to technological progress in the 20th century. A research paper might focus on the weapons invented during the War. You can also discuss the impact of military innovations on post-war life.
• An essay on Korean history can analyze how one nation can change if divided into separate regimes. North and South Korea started making peace only in 2018. Try and determine the reasons for the 1948 separation and political instability.
• Ku Klux Klan as a resistance movement is an important topic. Four million citizens nationwide joined the group in the 1920s. Such popularity revealed the demand for change. Your historical essay might include crucial outcomes of Klan’s activities. A comparison to the medieval inquisition might lead to interesting conclusions.
• Globalization is another excellent history essay topic for high school students. The world has never had so many cultural and economic connections as it does today. Your essay can go through historical events that caused globalization . Or, you may analyze its benefits and downsides.
• History of climate change . In 2009, the UN Climate Change Conference stated that the world is in danger due to human impact on climate. A historical essay can focus on the environmental factors of the topic. Alternatively, you may trace the discoveries and studies about climate change.
• Labor Day is a national holiday first celebrated in the industrial era. It originated in the 19th century when workers spent 12 hours daily to earn the minimum wage. In your historical essay, describe the events that led to the holiday’s creation.
• The history of the American presidency is a broad topic to write about. More than 40 people ruled the country and impacted all facets of America. For example, you may choose to evaluate education under different presidents . You can also compare democrats and republicans as presidents.
• Gutenberg’s printing press invention changed the world. It was as significant in the 15th century as the Internet was for modern history. An essay can reconstruct the events before and after the invention of printing. Its impact on education and the economy are interesting points for discussion.
• The European Union has deep historical roots since the Empire period. An essay about it might cover the timeline of democracy established in Europe. You can highlight the changes that took place in the countries that joined the Union. Alternatively, compare the organization and its aims to other historical alliances.
• Modern religions are an intriguing subject for an essay. Historical events often shape peoples’ beliefs. Discuss why people started updating the main religions in recent decades.
• Population resettlement took place multiple times in human history. For example, thousands of Serbian Albanians were forced to flee Kosovo during the 1999 conflict. An essay that describes a migration can include the reasons for it. Compare it to similar occurrences, and discuss its outcomes.
• Ancient architecture is the most incredible legacy cherished by generations. Design patterns and colors of creations reflect the periods they were built in. For your essay, choose specific examples and mention the events associated with them. Research can include ancient European, Asian, or American architecture.
• Socialism as a political regime significantly impacted world history. Socialist movements took place in Europe and the United States. The Soviet Union was established under its conditions. Choose this interesting 20th-century essay topic and describe a country affected by socialism. For example, China is still ruled by that regime.
• History of democracy in Africa . African history includes centuries of foreign occupation. Yet, its countries have recently started getting deserved independence. Algeria, Morocco, Namibia, and Zimbabwe only got their democratic government in the last 60 years. Historical research can analyze the influence of ex-colonizers on Africa. Or, you may choose a country to describe its journey from a colony to a democracy.
• History of South American countries. Colonizers occupied the regions in South America after Columbus’ journey. You can discuss the conflicts between the land’s native inhabitants and migrants. A research paper may also reveal how the nations were formed by combing two different populations.
• The history behind the petroleum industry is an interesting basis for an essay. Oil defines the UAE and Russia’s economies and has significant influence in politics. Study the formation of the world’s oil industry, or choose one country to explore.
• History of Native American tribes . More than 500 groups of Indigenous Americans lived in the US territories. Each had its own culture and policies. For your essay, gather information about conflicts between the natives and migrants.
• History of vaccination . The development of this practice is an interesting essay topic. You can review the timeline, starting from the 1798 smallpox vaccine .
• History of China . Write an essay that explores the most significant events of the country’s history. An interesting idea is to compare it to other major countries. Moreover, you can discuss the Chinese presence in the World Wars by analyzing its strategies.
• Events that affected the environment. There are many examples of history playing against nature. Think of nuclear bomb explosions, rapid industrialization of the 19th century , and deforestation. Your essay might analyze several such events and provide lessons for the future.
• The history behind popular foods . Migration and global trading helped humanity discover chocolate , potatoes, and coffee . A historical essay can focus on one product and describe what made it famous.
• The Vikings played a significant role in European history. Scandinavians still cherish their traditions and unique culture. Your research might be about their settlements in Scotland, France, and Ireland. Also, you can describe the unique worldview of the Vikings.
• Ancient piracy covers many themes that you can mention in an essay. The first pirates were the Sea Peoples in the 14th century BC. Today, the pirates still exist in politically unstable regions such as Somalia . Your historical paper can include the most significant acts of piracy in ancient times.
• History of money . People have been exchanging goods throughout history. Yet in 770s BC, the Chinese invented the ultimate trading product— money . The historical timeline of the financial systems is an excellent topic for an essay.

Other History Essay Topics

• European motives for expansion & colonization in New World
• “Birth of Modernity” of Renaissance
• Racial tensions and immigration in California
• Gandhi’s innovative renovation of tradition explained
• Colonists’ actions in the pre-revolutionary era
• The French Revolution an outcome of Enlightenment ideas
• The autobiography of St. Ignatius
• Land disputes between native American groups and the United States
• The 1930s generation of Soviet spies and operatives
• The Tea Act and the Coercive Acts: Britain and the colonies
• The Middle Ages as the “Dark Ages”
• The making of the modern Middle East: term definition
• The uniqueness of World War One
• Social structure and lifestyles of the 1960s counterculture
• Depression period and new deal legislation
• United States’ policy of isolationism since the 19th century
• History: Abraham Lincoln’s address in Gettysburg
• The use of armed forces by the United States and its effect
• Radical republicans during the Reconstruction era
• Lincoln’s vs. Davis’ administrations during the war
• Civil War’s impact on Northern and Southern economies
• Consumerism critique in the 1950s-70s
• Lincoln’s plan for Reconstruction and opposition to it
• Women and blacks’ participation in the Civil War
• War of 1812: reasons and outcomes for native communities
• The causes of the Protestant reformation
• Palestinian Liberation Organization’s history
• Ethnographic sketch of Brazilians
• British colonization of America and its results
• What was the purpose of Lee’s plan on Gettysburg?
• The leaders of command for the modern war in 1864
• What did George Washington Thanksgiving proclamation state?
• Post-WWII events that caused loss of faith in American way
• European groups’ motives to migrate to America
• Industrial economics and its social impact on Britain
• Refugee definition development in the 20th century
• Positive things to learn from Medieval culture
• Scientific revolution in Western European civilization
• The Spanish-American war: definition and facts
• The role of violence in the America’s expansion
• Protestant Reformation leaders & Catholic Church’s response
• Asian studies: Takahashi Mutsuo’s “The Snow of Memory”
• Colonization of freedmen: arguments for and against
• Major milestones of the Kyoto treaty and Montreal Protocol
• Progressive Era & New Deal outsiders and corporate ownership
• American progressive movement and its participants
• Steel industry & American history changes in the 1890-1920s
• Anarchist & socialist movements and terrorism
• What is the Third Estate? What role did it play in Revolution?
• The Islamic revolution of 1979 and its main causes
• Conservatism in American life from 1968 to the present
• African American Civil Rights Movement in 1950-1980
• Second World War and the end of colonial rule in Africa
• The main reasons of the American Civil War
• Alexander Graham Bell’s most important day
• History of gangs in America and Utah
• Civil Rights vs. Black Lives Matter movement
• Latin America: national issues
• American ancient people and Skull Wars
• Historical events in history of white people of America
• Reasons of Confederacy’s defeat during Civil War
• Tombs Egypt during the period of 3200 BC to 1200 BC
• Republican Reconstruction and its achievements
• Christians-Rome relationship: persons and events
• Lincoln’s answer to the Emancipation question
• US women’s rights movements in 1850-1900
• The Eighteenth Amendment and Volstead Act
• Japan, China, and the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century
• Capital punishment and African Americans
• Industrial growth during the last 100 years in the US

These are a tiny handful of the wide array of topics that you can write about for history class. When in doubt, always solicit opinions from your professor. (The worst case scenario is that they say no.)

Most importantly:

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

Remember, the analysis of historical events is subjective. Two scholars may have vastly unique explanations for a series of historical events unfolding the way they did. Accordingly, try to write from the perspective that your instructors most likely hold. And if you’re unsure, ask them to review a first draft of your essay, or at least talk to them about your thesis statement!

You might also be interested in:

• A List of History Websites for a Perfect Research
• World War 2 Essay Example + Argumentative Topics
• Essay on India after Independence: How-to Guide and Prompts
• 497 Interesting History Topics to Research
• A List of 212 Brilliant Research Proposal Topics to Investigate
• 350 Powerful Feminism & Women’s Rights Topics [2024]
• 430 Philosophy Topics & Questions for Your Essay
• 229 Good Dissertation Topics and Thesis Ideas for Ph.D. & Masters

Historical Essay FAQ

Students are often asked to write on historical topics. Such an essay can be:

1. A description of a persona; 2. An analysis of historical events; 3. An overview of the context of the whole epoch, etc.

In any case, a historical essay deals with a retrospective and requires looking into history.

There are countless interesting topics for essays and research projects. You can look into any epoch from the ancient times up to the present days. Choose something that genuinely fascinates you. You might prefer a controversial issue as it is more exciting to study.

For any research paper, it is essential to create an outline first. Once you’ve identified some key aspects that you want to focus on, write them as bullet points. They will become the Body of your research paper. Don’t forget to add an introduction and a conclusion.

Whether you write about the World, the civil, the cold, the Vietnam, or any other war, be sure to stay as objective as possible. It is a very emotionally charged topic, but you need to refrain from opinionated judgments. Do not resort to direct accusations.

• Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started – Outlining: University of Maryland Global Campus
• Understanding the Subjective Nature of History
• Writing Cause and Effect Papers
• One Hundred Good Research Paper Topics for History Class
• History Topics
• Modern History Resources
• Research Paper Topics About United States History
• The Importance of History Essay
• The Foundation of History
• What is History Essay Examples
• Index: American History
• World History: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Historical Topics: Library of Congress
• American History: Smithsonian Institution
• Political History: Historians.org
• Primary Sources on History: Gale
• History of the UN: United Nations
• Ancient History Encyclopedia: Index
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

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...

In school and college, you will be required to write research papers. Yes — papers in the plural. And that’s the first reason you may want to turn to Custom Writing and seek help with research projects. When assigned a paper, the very first undertaking is to choose from a...

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...

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...

Persuasive speech is the art of convincing the audience to understand and trust your opinion. Are you ready to persuade someone in your view? Our list of sports persuasive speech topics will help you find a position to take and defend. If you need more options quick, apart from contents...

When you look for a good research paper topic, you can easily become the severest critic of any proposed idea. Some topics do not interest you at the very least, while others might shock your teachers. Where is the golden mean? Check out this list of top 100 research paper...

This was decent.

No words can express how I appreciate the work you do! Your posts are real salvation to when I don’t know how to write this or that paper. This post on Industrial Revolution essay writing gives many brilliant ideas!

Hi! I’m Ivan. I just wanted to thank you for your post on Industrial Revolution essay writing! I helped me greatly with my essay writing on this topic. THXZZZ!

History Essay Topics

Crafting a Winning Essay with These Outstanding History Essay Topics

18 min read

Published on: May 4, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Share this article

Many students struggle to come up with interesting and original history essay topics that will engage their readers.

It can be frustrating to spend hours brainstorming only to come up with a mediocre topic.

In this blog, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of history essay topics. These topics will not only engage your readers but also stimulate your critical thinking.

By the end of this blog, you will have a wealth of ideas to choose from. 

So buckle up, grab a pen and paper, and get ready to take your history essay to the next level. 

Let's dive in!

On This Page On This Page -->

History Essay Topics For Students

History is a fascinating subject with endless possibilities for exploration. Check out these history essay topics for students that are both interesting and engaging.

History Essay Topics For Middle School Students

Middle school is the perfect time to explore different periods of history and discover what interests you the most. 

These history essay topics for middle school students will help you do just that.

• How did the ancient Greeks contribute to modern civilization?
• What was life like for Native Americans before European colonization?
• How did the Industrial Revolution change society and the economy?
• What were the causes and effects of the American Revolution?
• What role did women play in the Civil War?
• How did the Renaissance influence art, science, and culture?
• What were the major accomplishments of the ancient Egyptians?
• How did the Silk Road impact trade and cultural exchange?
• What were the key events and outcomes of the French Revolution?
• What were the causes and consequences of World War I?

History Essay Topics For High School Students

Are you a high school student struggling to come up with a topic that's both interesting and challenging? 

Look no further than these top history essay topics - high school.

History Essay Topics Grade 10

Here are some grade 10 history essay topics:

• The impact of World War II on the world today
• The causes and effects of the French Revolution
• The role of women in the Civil Rights Movement
• The impact of imperialism on Africa
• The rise and fall of the Roman Empire
• The influence of ancient Greece on modern culture
• The causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution
• The impact of the Cold War on international relations
• The effects of the Great Depression on the world
• The role of nationalism in shaping modern Europe

Grade 11 History Essay Topics

These are some history essay topics - grade 11:

• The impact of World War I on the world order and the rise of fascism
• The role of nationalism in the breakup of colonial empires in Africa and Asia
• The causes and consequences of the Russian Revolution
• The impact of the Great Depression on global politics and society
• The origins and outcomes of the Cold War
• The impact of decolonization on postcolonial societies
• The rise of communism in China and its global impact
• The civil rights movement in the United States and its impact on society
• The impact of the Cuban Revolution on Latin America and the world
• The role of religion in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Grade 12 History Essay Topics

Check out these history essay topics - grade 12:

• The impact of World War II on global politics and society
• The causes and consequences of the Holocaust
• The role of the United Nations in international relations
• The rise of globalization and its impact on world events
• The impact of the Civil Rights movement on the United States and the world
• The Cold War as a global conflict
• The origins and consequences of the Korean War
• The impact of the Vietnam War on American society and foreign policy
• The role of women in social and political change throughout the 20th century
• The Arab-Israeli conflict and its global impact

History Research Paper Topic

• The role of religion in the development of medieval Europe
• The impact of the transatlantic slave trade on African societies
• The causes and consequences of the French Revolution
• The impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures in the Americas
• The historical and cultural significance of the Great Wall of China
• The development of modern democracy in the United States and Europe
• The impact of imperialism on Africa and Asia
• The rise and fall of the British Empire
• The impact of the Renaissance on European art and culture
• The history and evolution of the Olympic Games

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

History Essay Topics - American History

American history is filled with triumphs and tragedies, heroes and villains, and moments of great change and conflict. 

Here are a few topics that will help you explore American history:

• The American Revolution and its impact on global politics and society
• The causes and consequences of the Civil War
• The Reconstruction era and its impact on African American rights
• The rise of the Progressive movement and its impact on American society
• The role of the United States in World War I
• The impact of the Great Depression on American society and politics
• The United States' involvement in World War II and its aftermath
• The Civil Rights movement and its impact on American society
• The Vietnam War and its impact on American politics and society
• The rise of conservatism in the late 20th century

19th Century History Topics

Check out these history paper topics after 1877 for your next essay:

• The impact of the Second Industrial Revolution on American society and politics
• The Spanish-American War and its impact on American imperialism
• The Progressive Era and its impact on social reform and politics
• The United States' entry into World War I and its impact on the country
• The Roaring Twenties and its impact on American culture and society
• The Great Depression and its impact on American society and politics
• The New Deal and its impact on social and economic policies in the United States
• The United States' entry into World War II and its impact on American society and politics
• The Civil Rights Movement and its impact on American society and politics
• The Watergate scandal and its impact on American politics and journalism

20th Century History Topics

• The Cold War and its impact on international relations
• The Civil Rights Movement and its impact on American society
• The rise of fascism and totalitarianism in Europe
• The Space Race and the Cold War competition for technological supremacy
• The impact of the Great Depression on global economics and politics
• The rise of globalization and its impact on world economies and cultures
• The feminist movement and its impact on women's rights and gender equality
• The rise of terrorism in the late 20th century and its impact on international security
• The fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War

Ancient History Essay Topics

• The history and mythology of Ancient Egypt
• The impact of Alexander the Great on Greek and world history
• The role of women in Ancient Greek and Roman societies
• The legacy of the Persian Empire
• The historical and cultural significance of the pyramids of Mesoamerica
• The development of democracy in Ancient Athens
• The impact of Confucianism on Ancient Chinese society
• The history of the Indus Valley Civilization
• The impact of the Assyrian Empire on the ancient Near East

World History Argumentative Essay Topics

Here are some potential world history essay topics:

• Was the Age of Exploration ultimately beneficial or harmful to the world?
• Did colonialism have a positive or negative impact on colonized countries?
• Was the French Revolution ultimately a success or failure?
• Was the Industrial Revolution ultimately beneficial or harmful to society?
• Was World War I inevitable, or could it have been prevented?
• Did the Treaty of Versailles contribute to the outbreak of World War II?
• Was the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified?
• Was the Cold War an inevitable outcome of post-World War II politics?
• Did the fall of the Soviet Union represent a victory for democracy?
• Was the Arab Spring ultimately successful or a failure?

World War I & II History Topics

• Causes of World War I: Nationalism, Imperialism, and Alliances
• The Role of Technology in World War I: Trench Warfare and Chemical Warfare
• Treaty of Versailles: Effects on Germany and the Beginnings of World War II
• The Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party
• The Holocaust: Causes, Events, and Aftermath
• The Battle of Stalingrad: Turning Point of World War II
• The Manhattan Project: Development and Use of the Atomic Bomb
• Women's Roles in World War II: From the Homefront to the Front Lines
• The Allied Invasion of Normandy: D-Day and the Liberation of Europe
• The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Justified or Unjustified?

US History Essay Topics

• The impact of the American Revolution on the development of American democracy
• The significance of the Louisiana Purchase in the expansion of the United States
• The role of the United States in World War I and its impact on American society 
• The impact of the New Deal on American social and economic policies
• The impact of the Civil Rights Movement on American society and politics
• The role of the United States in the Vietnam War 
• The impact of the Watergate scandal on American politics and journalism
• The significance of the 9/11 attacks and their impact on American society and politics
• The impact of the digital age on American society and politics
• The role of social media in shaping American political discourse

Black History Essay Topics

• The impact of the Civil Rights Movement on Black Americans and American society 
• The role of slavery in the development of the United States economy and society
• The significance of the Harlem Renaissance in the development of Black culture 
• The impact of Jim Crow laws on Black Americans in the South and beyond
• The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his impact on the Civil Rights Movement
• The impact of the Black Panther Party on Black empowerment and political activism
• The significance of the election of Barack Obama as the first Black President 
• The role of Black women in the Civil Rights and feminist movements
• The impact of the Black Lives Matter movement on American society and politics
• The significance of Juneteenth in Black American history and its impact on society

African American History Essay Topics

• The role of African American soldiers in the Civil War
• The impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on African American lives
• The contributions of African American women to the Civil Rights Movement
• The life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
• The Harlem Renaissance and its significance in African American history
• The Tuskegee Airmen and their contributions to World War II
• The effects of redlining and segregation on African American communities
• The role of African American athletes in breaking down racial barriers in sports
• The impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on African American voting rights
• The legacy of slavery and its ongoing impact on African American communities

Canadian History Essay Topics

• The impact of European colonization on Indigenous peoples in Canada
• The significance of the War of 1812 on Canadian nationalism and identity
• The role of Sir John A. Macdonald in the formation of the Canadian Confederation
• The impact of the Great Depression on Canadian society and politics
• The significance of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec 
• The role of Canadian soldiers in World War I and World War II
• The significance of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canadian society and politics
• The impact of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act on Canadian society and identity
• The significance of the October Crisis of 1970 on Canadian politics and civil liberties
• The impact of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indigenous-settler relations 

French Revolution Topics

Here are some french revolution topics to spark your curiosity:

• The causes and social conditions leading to the French Revolution
• The role of Enlightenment ideas in the French Revolution
• The rise and fall of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution
• The impact of the French Revolution on the development of modern democracy
• The role of women in the French Revolution and the fight for equal rights
• The significance of the storming of the Bastille in the French Revolution
• The effects of the French Revolution on European politics and society
• The role of Napoleon Bonaparte in the French Revolution and its aftermath
• The cultural and artistic achievements of the French Revolution
• The long-term effects of the French Revolution on French society and culture

Julius Caesar Topics Ideas

• Julius Caesar's rise to power in Rome
• The political and social conditions of the Roman Republic before Julius Caesar
• The motives and consequences of the assassination of Julius Caesar
• Julius Caesar's military conquests and tactics
• Julius Caesar's consolidation of power as a dictator
• Julius Caesar's lasting influence on Roman history
• Julius Caesar's complex relationship with the Roman Senate
• The political reforms of Julius Caesar and their effectiveness
• Julius Caesar's family background and personal relationships
• Analyzing Julius Caesar's speeches and writings for insight into his leadership style

Argumentative History Essay Topics

• Should Confederate monuments be removed?
• Was the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki justified?
• Should reparations be paid to the descendants of enslaved people in the United States?
• Was the colonization of America by Europeans justified?
• Should Columbus Day be replaced with Indigenous Peoples Day?
• Was the American Revolution a justified war?
• Should the United States have entered World War II earlier?
• Was the Cold War a necessary conflict?
• Should the United States have dropped the atomic bomb on Japan in World War II?
• Was the Vietnam War justified?

History Persuasive Essay Topics

• Should the United States have dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
• Was Christopher Columbus a hero or a villain?
• Should Confederate statues and symbols be removed from public spaces?
• Should reparations be paid for the historic injustices suffered by African Americans?
• Should the United States have entered World War I?
• Should the use of torture in interrogations be justified in extreme situations?
• Should the United States have participated in the Vietnam War?
• Should the United States have interned Japanese Americans during World War II?
• Should the electoral college be abolished in favor of a popular vote in U.S. presidential elections?
• Should the United States have continued its policy of neutrality during World War II?

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Good History Essay Topics

• The impact of the Black Death on medieval Europe
• The significance of the French Revolution in shaping modern democracy
• The role of the printing press in the Protestant Reformation
• The impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on African societies 
• The significance of the Civil Rights Movement in shaping contemporary race relations
• The impact of the Scientific Revolution on modern medicine and technology
• The significance of the Meiji Restoration in modernizing Japan
• The role of propaganda in shaping public opinion during World War II
• The impact of the Green Revolution on global agriculture and food security
• The significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall in ending the Cold War 

Modern History Essay Topics

• The impact of the World Wars on modern society and global politics
• The significance of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States
• The role of globalization in shaping economic development and international relations
• The impact of colonialism on modern post-colonial societies
• The significance of the feminist movement in shaping gender roles and expectations
• The role of technology in shaping modern warfare and international security
• The impact of the digital age on privacy, identity, and democracy
• The significance of the Cold War in shaping global politics and international relations
• The role of environmentalism in shaping public policy and global sustainability efforts
• The impact of the internet and social media on communication, culture, and politics

Famous History Topics

• The fall of the Roman Empire
• The reign of Elizabeth I in Tudor England
• The American Revolution and the birth of the United States
• The French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon
• The Industrial Revolution and its impact on modern society
• The World Wars and their impact on global politics and society
• The Civil Rights Movement in the United States
• The Cold War and the arms race between the United States and Soviet Union
• The Space Race and the first moon landing
• The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War

Interesting History Essay Topics

• The impact of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire on world history
• The role of women in ancient civilizations such as Ancient Egypt and Greece
• The historical and cultural significance of the Silk Road
• The Salem witch trials and their impact on American colonial society
• The Viking Age and its impact on European history
• The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire
• The history of the Samurai in feudal Japan
• The impact of the Age of Exploration on world history
• The history of the Ottoman Empire and its legacy in modern-day Europe 

Middle Ages Research Topics

Here are some Middle Ages research topics for your essay:

• The Crusades and their impact on Europe and the Middle East
• The role of the Catholic Church in medieval society
• The development of feudalism and the manorial system
• The Black Death and its impact on medieval society
• The Hundred Years' War and its causes and consequences
• The emergence of chivalry and the knightly code
• The Magna Carta and its significance in medieval England
• The role of women in medieval society and their representation in literature
• The rise and fall of the Byzantine Empire
• The architecture and art of the Middle Ages

Salem Witch Trials  History Essay Topics

• The events leading up to the Salem Witch Trials and their causes
• The role of religion in the Salem Witch Trials and its impact on the community
• The legal proceedings and trials of the accused witches
• The social and political climate of Salem during the witch trials
• The impact of the Salem Witch Trials on American society and culture
• The different interpretations and portrayals of the Salem Witch Trials in literature 
• The significance of the Salem Witch Trials in the history of witchcraft and the occult
• The aftermath of the Salem Witch Trials and the long-term effects on the community
• The role of gender and power in the accusations and trials of the Salem witches
• The lessons gained from studying the Salem Witch Trials in modern times

How to Choose a Good History Essay Topics

Choosing a history essay topic can be a challenging task, especially with number of events and figures to choose from. 

However, selecting the right topic can make all the difference in the success of your essay. 

Here are some tips to help you choose a good history essay topic:

Brainstorm Ideas: Take some time to brainstorm potential topics. Write down any historical events or figures that interest you. 

Consider the themes and messages that you want to convey in your essay.

Research the Topic: Once you have a list of potential topics, conduct some research to ensure that there is enough information available to write a quality essay. 

Look for primary and secondary sources, and consider the perspectives of different historians.

Narrow your Topic: A broad topic can make it difficult to write a focused and well-supported essay. 

Consider narrowing your topic by focusing on a specific time period, geographical location, or theme.

Consider your Audience: Think about who will be reading your essay and tailor your topic accordingly.

If you are writing for a professor or academic audience, choose a topic that is more specialized and in-depth.

If you are writing for a general audience, choose a topic that is more accessible and engaging.

Choose Something that Interests you: You will be spending a lot of time researching and writing your essay. So choose a topic that you are genuinely interested in. 

This will make the writing process more enjoyable and will help you produce a better quality essay.

In conclusion, history is a fascinating subject with an abundance of topics to explore. 

If you're looking for a topic, this blog has provided you with a comprehensive list of ideas to choose from. 

By following the tips, you can select a topic that is not only interesting but also well-suited.

However, if you find yourself struggling with selecting a topic or crafting a well-written history essay, don't worry. 

Our history essay writing service is here to help you!

Contact us to learn more about the professional essay writing service and how we can help you succeed in your history studies.

We also have an AI writing tool to assist you with a wide range of historical subjects and can help you create a custom essay that meets your specific requirements. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i write about a controversial topic in my history essay.

Yes, as long as you present a balanced and well-supported argument. Controversial topics can make for interesting essays. But it's important to maintain objectivity and avoid presenting biased opinions.

How do I research for a history essay?

Start by gathering information from reliable sources such as academic journals, books, and primary sources. Take notes and organize your research to help you develop a clear thesis and supporting arguments.

How important is citing sources in a history essay?

Citing sources is crucial in any academic essay, including history essays. It helps to avoid plagiarism and gives credibility to your arguments. Make sure to use the citation style recommended by your instructor.

Caleb S. (Literature, Marketing)

Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Legal & Policies

• Privacy Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Terms of Use
• Refunds & Cancellations
• Our Writers
• Success Stories
• Our Guarantees
• Affiliate Program
• Referral Program
• AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

Easy Peasy All-in-One High School

An extension of the easy peasy all-in-one homeschool, world history, found a problem check  here ..

Credits : 1

Recommended : 9th

PRINTABLES: We have compiled all of the worksheets used in this course. You can print them yourself or purchase them bound in book form. These are NOT a full offline course, just the worksheets used in  this online course .

buy   –  print

Test Prep : AP World History  This is a broad survey course; you will need to do additional study to take these exams: Western Civilization I , Western Civilization II (each is the equivalent of one year in high school). Various tests, such as CLEP and AP tests, may ask questions based on a non-biblical stance on the age of the earth and evolutionary topics. Those wishing to test for CLEP or AP levels are strongly encouraged to visit those websites for further study.

Course Description : This course is based on the Georgia Virtual World History curriculum which was taken down. The notes and key terms are from that course. The crossword puzzles, and question and answer and matching activities, were recreated by our team from what was in that original course (sometimes edited). The student will learn about the time frame of civilization as we know it, beginning from the first civilizations of Mesopotamia through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Enlightenment, onward past the World Wars to modern times.  Students will learn through online video lectures, readings and maps, and be able to respond to questions with written work.  Students will learn to evaluate information and become independent thinkers.  This course is writing intensive, and tests are not utilized. Students will give oral presentations, which includes a final presentation of a student-created timeline.

• There is a lot of printing for this course.  Please plan accordingly. Scroll up to see Printable book and packet options. (If you really don’t want to print, students can make their own notes based off of the course notes.)
• There are no answer sheets because a lot of the assignments are answering questions straight off websites or are opinion-type questions. (e.g., “What do you think is the greatest invention of x time period? Justify your answer.”)
• This course requires a lot of writing. It’s great practice for you, especially to restate the question in the beginning of your answer. Follow the directions and form proper sentences, paragraphs and essays. If you lose points on your essays or paragraphs, edit and resubmit. 🙂 You can search for online resources if you don’t know what these things are: main idea, topic sentence, thesis sentence, introduction, body, conclusion. Use the grading guidelines below for the course.
• For grading sentence answers: 1 point for answering in a complete sentence that restates the question; 1 point for content.  Total is 2 points.
• For grading paragraphs: 2 points for form: intro-main idea, body, conclusion; 2 points for clarity/flow-not just a list of facts, but connected thoughts; 6 points for content/details included.  Total is 10 points.
• For grading essays: 5 points for the introduction paragraph (needs a thesis sentence) ; 5 points for the conclusion paragraph (needs to restate the thesis and tell us the “why?” and the “so what?”); 10 points for each middle paragraph (see above on paragraphs).  Total is 40 points.

Reading List : Campion, Chaucer, Rudyard Kipling, Wilfred Owen, Anne Frank, Ruth Carlson

Ancient River Valley Civilizations

Lesson 1** (Note that an asterisk * indicates that there is a worksheet on this lesson)

Welcome to your first day of school! I wanted to give you one important reminder before you begin. Many of your lessons below have an internet link for you to click on. When you go to the different internet pages for your lessons, please DO NOT click on anything else on that page except what the directions tell you to. DO NOT click on any advertisements or games. DO NOT click on anything that takes you to a different website. Just stay focused on your lesson and then close that window and you should be right back here for the next lesson. Okay?

• If you didn’t get here through My EP Assignments , I suggest you go there and create an account.
• *Print out the first quarter  grading sheet or use the Excel  version.
• *Look over the key terms  on ancient civilizations. You may want to write or print these, or make flashcards for terms you need to study more.
• The materials used in this course are secular. They aren’t basing their history “facts” on the Bible. I personally believe the earth is actually around 6000 years old. What we know of history does fit in that time span, but only if you look at it from a biblical perspective. I don’t believe it took people thousands of years to develop language, for example. Adam and Eve had a Father who spoke to them, who taught them. He made them clothing. He showed them. I’m sure many discoveries and advances were God-inspired. I will give you a basic timeline here, and if you ever get confused about things, one place to search online for answers is: Answers in Genesis . Another place is the Institute for Creation Research . They have articles and resources to help you understand how things fit together.
• 3966    Creation
• The Fall: Adam and Eve forced out of Eden
• Mesopotamia, Cradle of Civilization
• 2910   Noah
• 2310   The Flood, Tower of Babel, Sumerians, Egyptians
• 2018    Abraham born
• 1990    Pyramids first appear
• 1950    Sumerians attacked by the Elamites and Amorites (the beginning of the decline of the Sumerians)
• 1918    Isaac born
• 1750    Hammurabi, king of the Amorites, writes code of law
• As a basic, general foundation, you could say creation was around 4000 BC and Abraham was around 2000 BC.
• Let’s begin with the definition of civilization. It’s the structure of society. It’s how people organize themselves into groups.
• Read through the introduction about Sumer. 
• *Read over the Sumer notes .
• Read the Tigris-Euphrates  civilization guide.
• Take a look at this map of the ancient world showing Sumeria . Did you notice a city named Byblos? It means Bible. The name for the city in Hebrew is a combination of “origin” and “God.” Maybe that’s where the Garden of Eden was. 🙂 It’s in modern-day Lebanon.
• This is the end of your work for this course for your first day. You are allowed to move at your own pace (this is homeschooling), but it’s intended you complete one lesson a day.
• What makes a civilization? (e.g., “A civilization is made up of…”)
• Explain why the area was called the “Fertile Crescent?”
• What was it like to live in ancient Sumer?
• Why did the development of farming allow people to live in one place permanently? (e.g., “The development of farming allowed people to live in one place permanently by…”)
• How do inventions improve people’s lives?
• How did people trade with each other?
• Use the following website to assist you as needed: Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent .
• Score up to 2 points for each. They must be complete sentences and they must tell the question.
• Record your score out of 12 points.
• Begin a timeline. You will continue it all year. For your final exam, you will present your timeline. You will put in the general time periods as well as some specifics from each time period. Each civilization should be on your timeline. Decide if you are going to do yours on paper or on the computer. Begin it today and put in what you decide, from the beginning of the world up to Sumer.
• People have lived in the Fertile Crescent since there were people. At one point they were wiped out and their civilization began again. The article mentions how the Sumerians language is unusual since it didn’t originate from the same language family as other languages of the area, such as Hebrew. Of course we know it’s because at the Tower of Babel new language families were formed.
• Read about Hammurabi’s Code .
• Read some of Hammurabi’s Code of laws. Scroll down to the list and just read a handful, unless you want to read more.
• Your introduction might be: “The development of Hammurabi’s Code was very significant.” Then explain what it was, its significance and its impact.
• Score up to 2 points for form (intro, body, conclusion), up to 2 points for clarity/flow (not just a list of facts an idea and details to support it), up to 6 points for content/info.
• Record your score out of 10.
• Do the crossword puzzle . Multiple words have no spaces.
• *Print out the ancient Egypt notes .
• Read about Nile River civilizations .
• Take a look at this map . What does it show?
• Read more about the “ Gift of the Nile .” The video reads the page to you.
• Read about the Rosetta Stone .
• Multiple words have no spaces. Check your notes from Lesson 4 for correct spelling.
• Describe ancient Egypt’s climate and geography.
• What was the role of the Nile River in the lives of Egyptians?
• Describe some religious beliefs of Egyptians and the significance of the pyramids.
• What kind of government existed?
• Score up to 2 points for each question answered in complete sentences. Your answer must restate the question to get 2 points.
• Score up 10 points for each question answered in a paragraph (2 points for form, 2 points for clarity/flow, 6 points for content).
• Record your score out of 24 total points.
• Read about Egypt from 1500 BC to 1000 BC .
• Learn about mummification .
• Based on what you have learned, how important was the process of mummification and the afterlife to Egyptians?
• Answer in paragraph form and score up to 10 points. You can refer to the grading guideline at the top of the page.
• *Print out the notes on the Indus River Valley Civilization. Make sure to read any notes you print out.
• Read about the Indus River Valley civilization .
• Take a look at these maps: one , two . What do they show?
• Watch this short video comparing Hinduism and Buddhism, and be prepared to explain the differences between the two religions.
• Explain the major differences between Hinduism and Buddhism.
• *Print out the notes on Ancient China.
• Read about Yellow River civilization .
• Take a look at the “ Mandate of Heaven ” idea and “ Dynastic Cycle ” of China. Could you explain them?
• Complete the crossword puzzle . Don’t leave spaces between words.
• Write two paragraphs.
• Each is worth a possible 10 points.
• Record your total for the day out of 20.
• *Read the ancient Hebrew notes .
• Read today: Confucianism , Buddhism , Mauryan Empire , Gupta Dynasty .
• If you choose option #3, there is a link at the bottom of it that doesn’t show as a hyperlink. Here’s that link .
• Work on two  assignments . Must be complete on Lesson 13.
• You will also be working on your timeline on Lesson 13.
• Complete your chosen assignments .
• Record up to 30 points for completion.
• Add to your timeline. Add the dynasties, the Indus River civilization, etc. If you include information and pictures on your timeline, it will be easier for you to present it on Lesson 180. You are going to have to tell something about each thing on the timeline.
• What is a civilization? Write or tell your answer. You should be able to define it.

Ancient Greeks and Romans

• *Print the Greek and Roman key terms and read through them. It defines apostle as a follower of Jesus. Of course they did follow Jesus, but the term actually means “sent one.” They were sent out to share the gospel.
• Before the classical Greeks, there were the Bronze Age Greeks. The Bronze Age Greek period lasted from around 1700 BC to 1000 BC. The most famous of the Bronze Age Greeks were the Mycenaeans and Minoans. The Mycenaeans were located on mainland Greece, and the Minoans were located on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. The two groups traded with each other and often warred with each other. Both cultures would heavily influence the later classical Greeks. It is during this period that historians believe the great Trojan War was fought in Anatolia. Around 1000 BC, a series of natural disasters destroyed both civilizations. (edited from GVL )
• *Print the notes on the Minoans  and the Bronze Age. Make sure you always read the notes you print.
• Take a look at the map . Do you know where in the world that is? Use these maps: one  and two  (and additional research if necessary) to place it in the world.
• Read about the Minoans and the Bronze Age .
• Read about the Trojan War .  ( Alternate link )
• What were some major accomplishments of these civilizations? Answer in a paragraph.
• What was the significance of the Trojan War? Answer in a paragraph.
• Record up to 10 points.
• Read about Homer and the Mycenaeans . Click on the Trojan War link at the bottom of the reading, once you’ve read that far! Read that page as well. Use the other links on the left menu (about the Mycenaeans) to learn more.
• Describe the relationship between Homer and the Trojan War.

Lesson 16**

• Who told the stories of the Trojan War?
• What large sea does the Aegean Sea open into?
• *Print out the notes on the Golden Age of Greece . Go over the notes.
• Read about Athens and Sparta . ( Alternate link )
• *Complete this chart based on the information.
• Record up to 12 points for completion.
• Take a look at the map . What is it showing? ( alternate link )
• Persian Wars
• Greek city-states
• Golden Age of Greece
• Take a look at this map from the Peloponnesian war . What is it showing?
• Complete the matching exercise .
• Read about ancient Greece . Click on the different icons and take notes.
• *Print the Alexander the Great notes .
• Alexander the Great
• Greek Achievements
• Skim for important information from this page. Learn what the Peloponnesian War was.
• Read about the results of the war .
• Tell someone (or write) about what the war was and its impact.
• Complete the crossword .
• Write a five-paragraph essay (or prepare a PowerPoint presentation) on a famous person from ancient Greece. It is due on Lesson 21.
• Finish your essay or presentation.
• Show your presentation or read your essay to an audience.
• Score up to 10 points for form/visual, 25 points for content, 5 points for the presentation (how well you spoke, poise, clarity,…).
• Record your score out of 40.
• *Print notes on the Roman Republic .
• Read “ The Founding of Rome .”
• Read this page on the Roman Empire .
• Look at the maps on this page. What do they show?
• Read about Roman Society.
• Read about The Roman Army .
• *Print the notes on the rise of Christianity .
• Read Acts 2-5 . Here’s the real story of the rise of Christianity. Finish the book of Acts to read the rest! Paul is arrested by Roman soldiers. He testifies to kings. He’s sent to Rome. These aren’t just stories. These were real people creating history!
• Go through the terminology on the flashcards.
• Read about Roman Religion .
• In the last section it says, “With the death of Julian the Apostate matters quickly returned to normal for the Christian church as it resumed its role as the religion of the power. In AD 380 emperor Theodosius took the final step and made Christianity the official religion of state. Severe punishments were introduced for people who disagreed with the official version of Christianity.” This is the period of history when the Roman Catholic Church began and came to power. It is a religion of power. Jesus was homeless, but the Pope has his own city. Please remember that true Christianity is not a religion. There are many forms of the Christian religion, but they aren’t the true Church, the one body of Christ. The page says that there were “severe punishments” for disagreeing with the official church. We will come to see the “official” church killing true Christians for the offense of owning a Bible!
• On that page it also says that Constantine’s conversion should “change the fate of Christianity for good.” There are different versions of the story told, but it’s something like this: Constantine saw a vision of a flaming cross with the Latin words “in this name conquer.” So, he killed in the name of Jesus, whereas Jesus taught that it was murderous to even tell someone you hate them. Anyone who knows church history can tell you that in general, persecution is good for Christianity; it purifies the church and spreads it. It’s official religion that kills it, which is what it became under Constantine. Constantine and the Roman Catholic Church are responsible for the modern tradition of worshiping on Sundays. It was known as the “venerable day of the Sun.” It was the day the Romans went to the sun god’s temple. Sun day, get it? It was kept that way for the people. They would be more accepting of this new religion if they were allowed to keep many of their practices.
• Use the interactive map to explore the city of Rome. Click on the dots to read about the locations.
• *Print out the notes on the decline of the Roman Empire .
• Read about causes of Rome’s decline . Take notes.
• Write a paragraph stating what you think was the biggest cause of Rome’s decline and why.
• Read about Africans’ contributions to Rome .

Edited from ( source )

• Use the matching activity to learn the  key terms .
• Use this website or any other resource to choose a famous Roman to learn about. Read what it has to say and then find another source to learn more about your chosen person.
• Tell someone about what you learned.
• You have learned about the ancient Greeks and Romans.  To solidify what you have learned, compare and contrast the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.  Include achievements, famous leaders, and reasons for decline.
• You have two days.
• The intro should start with an interesting sentence and end with your thesis statement — the point you will make in your essay.
• Your three body paragraphs should each show ways the societies were similar and different (for instance in religion, in social structure, government, etc.).
• Your conclusion should restate your thesis (in different words) and sum up with a “so what” statement. Let us know why it matters.
• Finish your essay.
• Record up to 40 points. (5 points each for intro and conclusion paragraphs; 10 points each for each paragraph of the body; see Lesson 28 for details of what should be included)
• Add to your timeline what we’ve covered so far. You can decide what form it should take (long on the wall, online, in your binder…). Hold onto it! As I said before, you will be working on this all year. Your final will be a presentation of your timeline. Add info and pictures to help you be able to remember something about each civilization and time period, so you can share something about it on Lesson 180.
• Add the general headings such as Ancient Rome and Greek Civilization and some specific events. What do you think should be included?

Byzantines, Islam, and the Mongols

• How did the Byzantine Empire affect the development of Russia?
• What is the most important, lasting legacy of the Byzantine Empire?
• How did the rise of Islam affect the Byzantine Empire and eventually cause its downfall?
• What were the major effects, good and bad, of the spread of the Mongols over Asia and into India?
• *Print the notes on the Byzantine Empire .  (What should you do with them? Read them over!)
• The Byzantine Empire in the Time of Justinian
• The Expansion of Islam   (watch through 800)
• The Early Crusades
• The Great Schism
• What do these maps show? Write a list of things you can learn about the time period and about the Byzantine Empire from these maps. One point for each point you make.
• Record your score out of 5. If you can find more than five points to make, you can get extra credit.
• What do these maps show you? Keep clicking on next and reading the text with each map.  ( alternate link )
• Write a short paragraph to answer the question.
• Explore the Byzantine maps . You can look at these while you listen.
• Read about the Justinian Code .
• Read about the Great Schism . This is what map five on Lesson 31 was showing.
• Read about the Byzantine Empire ‘s rise and fall.  Just exit any media and read the article.
• What was Justinian’s role in the Byzantine Empire? Who was his wife and how influential was she?
• What were the major accomplishments of Justinian?
• How did the rise of Islam and the Crusades weaken the Byzantine Empire?
• How was the practice of Christianity in the Byzantine Empire different from that in the west?

( Source of questions )

• Record up to 10 points (up to 2 points for each question – must restate the question for 2 points).
• Do the  crossword  for review.
• *Answer the Byzantine Empire questions . Use course links or online resources as necessary to answer the questions.
• Record up to 12 points, 2 points per answer.
• Answer the following essay question:  What were the three most important contributions of the Byzantine Empire to world history?  Do not just list the contributions; justify your answers. This can be written as a paragraph.
• Don’t over complicate this. An intro can be just like restating the question when answering. (e.g., While the Byzantine Empire produced many contributions to the world, the three most important were their…)
• Then you just go through each thing you just listed and give a reason why it was so important.
• Wrap up by stating something about them being important!
• two ( alternate link )
• Watch the Mongol presentation .
• Read the article .
• *Answer the questions on the Mongols .  Answer in complete sentences. Write neatly for a nice addition to your portfolio.
• Record up to 12 points (2 points each — 1 point form, 1 point content).
• Complete the  crossword .
• Read on Islam . Read the first several sections. Stop when you get to the Doctrines of the Koran section (first first doctrine is God).
• As someone who has lived and ministered among Muslims for more than a decade, may I say a few words on this? Muslims believe that the angel Gabriel gave Muhammad the revelation of the Quran, the Islamic holy book (also sometimes spelled Koran). As Christians, we do not believe that the angel Gabriel, a messenger of the one true God, was the one who gave the revelation of the Quran. We do not believe it is from God. The Quran does indicate that some parts of the Bible are the word of God, but Muslims generally don’t read the Bible or believe what the Bible says unless it agrees with the Quran. They believe the Bible has been changed. (There is a lot of evidence to prove it has not been, by the way). The god of Islam is not the God of Christianity. The god of Islam says you must work for your salvation. You have to do more good than bad so that when your deeds are weighed, they will tip in the favor of the “good side” and you’ll get to heaven. The reading talks about praying in the mosque on Fridays. It’s the midday Friday prayers that are considered most important. Stores in many places close at midday on Friday so employees can go pray. Being physically clean is VERY important, more so than in Christianity; Christians would emphasize being clean on the inside. The God of Christianity is holy and cannot have sin in His perfect presence. He offers salvation free, as a gift, an extension of His grace and mercy. It’s impossible to earn salvation. One sin is enough to send you to hell. The only chance of entering heaven is to have our sin cleaned away by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and by His gift of His Spirit to free us from the power of sin. We long for heaven to live in God’s presence.
• Read about Ibn Sina , a famous Iranian philosopher.
• Watch the presentation on Islam’s Golden Age .
• Try the crossword puzzle .
• How, where, and when did Islam begin?
• Explain the differences in Sunni and Shiite beliefs.
• Give two major accomplishments of the Islamic community.
• What countries are majority Sunni? What countries are majority Shiite? What is the relationship between modern-day Sunnis and Shiites?
• Score up to 10 points for 2 paragraphs and 2 points for each answered in complete sentences.
• Record your score out of 24 (potential for 10 points extra credit).
• It makes you submit your answers by filling in name and email addresses. I put in the letter a for the name and section and [email protected] for the email addresses and it accepted that.
• Watch the Crusades overview .
• Read pages 3-5 about the effects of the Crusades .
• Watch the short video of the outcome of the Crusades .

Lesson 38(*)

• (*)Here is a  Crusade activity . Complete it. You can type your answers in the text fields. When you’re done you can print it or download it to save it.
• Write a paragraph or two describing some of the lasting effects of the Crusades on modern history.
• Hint: Think about current events in the Middle East and Northern Africa.  Visit various news websites with parental guidance.
• Byzantine Empire
• Crusades   (You can always learn from what you didn’t know.)
• Click on the triangles to check your answers.
• Get the Byzantine Empire, the Mongols and some dates for Islam on your timeline. Again, put them on generally, such as Byzantine Empire, and then maybe some specifics for what you think is important to include.
• Go through your timeline and recall something about each thing you’ve put on there.

Early African and Mesoamerican Societies

Lesson 40***

•  The Bantu migrated from Congo or the Niger Delta Basin. Their migration throughout Africa is one of the largest migrations in human history. This migration took place approximately 1000 BC –  AD 1800. There is continued speculation about why they moved in the first place. One reason may be that overpopulation encouraged some groups to move away in order to practice agriculture. Another could be that they were in search of fertile land. Or, the move may have been due to internal conflicts within their communities or external attacks by their neighbors.The Bantu introduced many things into the areas they migrated to. They were an agricultural people and introduced crops such as millet and sorghum. They may also have introduced iron smelting and iron tools.

Edited from ( Source )

• *Print the notes on the development of Africa . (What are you supposed to do with notes?)
• *Print and review the key terms for this unit.
• *Write out the Development of Africa questions . Read these over and answer them as you are able to as you learn about the development of Africa.
• Read about the Kingdoms of Africa . Make sure you click on next page.
• Bantu migration
• Ghana empire
• Mali empire
• Swahili city-state
• Watch the presentation .
• Read about the Songhai Empire .
• Read about Sundiata , also called the Lion King.
• Read about Mansa Musa .
• Are you taking notes? You don’t need to write down all the facts, but jotting down names, places and something significant about them can help you recall the information later.
• Answer the Development of Africa questions that you are able to.
• Complete the crossword puzzle . Don’t leave spaces between words!  This is reviewing the key terms for this unit.
• Essay question: What were some of the accomplishments and achievements of Sundiata and Mansa Musa? (Essay questions don’t require a full essay as an answer. It means to answer in paragraph form, instead of just jotting down the answer. Remember that your first sentence needs to restate the question in some way, such as: The African leaders Sundiata and Mansa Musa accomplished many achievements during their reigns. Your last sentence should sum up your point.)  (3 points for form-intro, body, conclusion; 2 points for clarity/flow; 15 points for content)
• Record your score out of 20.
• Olmecs   ( alternate )
• Mayans   ( alternate )
• Watch the presentation  on pre-Columbian people. (This has some fake images of human sacrifices if you want to be prepared to look away.)
• Don’t read this page right now. Just look at the map and then scroll through and look at the pictures .
• Olmec Civilization
• The ancient Olmec Civilization
• The Preclassic or Formative Period
• Mayan Civilization
• Answer the relevant questions from the printed questions from Lesson 40.
• *Print the notes on Aztecs . (You read them, right?)
• *Print the notes on Incas .
• Aztec   ( alternate )
• Inca   ( alternate )
• Be taking notes on the accomplishments and influences of these societies.
• Read about the Aztecs .
• Read the information on Inca Civilization .
• Answer the relevant questions from the printed questions from Lesson 40.  These questions should now be complete.
• Record up to 23 points. Take a point off for any left blank (or better yet, go find the answer!)
• *Print and complete the Mesoamerican Societies Chart .
• Aztec Community
• Inca Empire
• Score 2 points for each box.
• Record your score out of 40 (potential for extra credit).

STOP This is the end of the first quarter. Time to figure out your first quarter grade: total score / total possible. Your goal is to get an A. Where did you lose points? What can you do differently next quarter to score higher? Save all of your written materials for your records.

• *Print the second quarter  grading sheet or use the Excel  version.
• Choose a Mesoamerican culture and write an essay (five-paragraph essay) on its accomplishments and influence. Try to write it all today, but it will be scored on Lesson 47.  It should have an intro, three main-body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph should have at least three sentences. The introduction should end with the thesis statement (a statement of what you are going to show in your essay). Each main-body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence, and the body of the paragraph should support that point and provide details. The conclusion sentence of the paragraph can transition to the next topic.  The conclusion should begin with a restatement – in new words – of your thesis. It should end with telling us “so what?” or why it matters.
• Edit your essay. This is something to hold onto. Make it your best work.
• Score up to 40 points. See Lesson 46 for some guidelines.
• Try to answer the questions .
• Read about Queen Amina of Zaria Nigeria. This is not written by a native English speaker. Accept the English as it is and take it as a cultural experience to listen to someone who speaks differently than you.
• Here’s a review of the  tribes of Mesoamerica .
• Add African and Mesoamerican cultures onto your timeline. Add each empire and society from Lessons 40-47.
• Think about how development is happening on each continent. What’s similar? What’s different? What do you think contributed to the similarities and the differences?

The Middle Ages

Lesson 48****

• Look at the key terms for The Middle Ages .
• Look at this map . What does it show? ( alternate map link )
• * The Dark Ages
• * The Power of the Church   (Remember that the real church is the body of Christ, those united in Christ Jesus, not a political structure or organized religious institution.)
• * Feudal Society
• * Developments of the Middle Ages
• 324 – Constantine became Emperor of the Roman Empire. 455 – Vandals sacked Rome. ( 476 – Fall of the Roman Empire. We’ve already written on this. Skip this one. ) 481 – Clovis became King of the Franks. 570 – Birth of Muhammad. 732 – Battle of Tours. 800 – Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 896 – Alfred, King of England, defeats Danish invaders. 988 – Christianity reaches Russia. 1066 – William of Normandy conquers England. 1096 – First Crusade to the Holy Land. 1206 – Genghis Khan founds the Mongol Empire. 1337 – Start of Hundred Years’ War between France and England. 1347 – 1351 – Black Death (plague) in Europe.
• 324 – Constantine became Emperor of the Roman Empire. 455 – Vandals sacked Rome. ( 476 – Fall of the Roman Empire. We’ve already written on this. Skip this one. )
• Here’s one website to help you, but you can feel free to search the internet. Don’t just get it done. Learn! That’s the point: to learn.
• Score 2 points for structure, 2 points for clarity/cohesiveness, 6 points for content.
• 481 – Clovis became King of the Franks. 570 – Birth of Muhammad.
• Here’s one website to help you, but you can feel free to search the internet.
• 732 – Battle of Tours. 800 – Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor.
• 896 – Alfred, King of England, defeats Danish invaders. 988 – Christianity reaches Russia.
• 1066 – William of Normandy conquers England. 1096 – First Crusade to the Holy Land.
• 1206 – Genghis Khan founds the Mongol Empire. 1337 – Start of Hundred Years’ War between France and England.
• Watch the following video on the Black Plague .  Notice the period artwork and how societies used the plague in a grotesque manner to their advantage in battles.  (Note: This was a horrible disease and resulted in a lot of illness and death. Some sounds and images in this video may be upsetting to sensitive viewers.)
• Write a paragraph on the Black Plague and its significance to the era. Use external websites as needed.
• Magna Carta
• Church/state power struggle
• Write a paragraph on the Magna Carta. Use other websites as necessary.
• Write on feudalism.  Explain what it is and how it is structured.  Also include the tasks for which each class was responsible. Write at least 10 sentences. (2 points for form, 2 points for clarity/flow, 16 points for content)
• *Print and complete this chart on the Middle Ages .
• Record up to 12 points (need at least three points in each box). Score up to 1 point extra for any box with a fourth item listed, giving you the potential to earn four extra credit points.
• Answer the multiple-choice questions .
• Explore everything.
• Here’s a site where you can choose what you’d like to learn more about . Choose a couple of topics that are of more interest to you than the others.
• Add Middle Ages dates to your timeline. Add general dates for the Middle Ages and as usual whatever specifics you think are important.
• Before the next unit, watch the following documentary over the next two days.  It follows a historian and two archaeologists attempting to live as tenant farmers at a monastery.  Remember, monasteries were (and are) places where Catholic monks worshiped God, and since their lives were devoted to him, they required outside help to feed them and take care of the property.  Take note of the role of the church in everyday life. Search YouTube for episode 1 of “Tudor Monastery Farm” and spend the next two days watching it. It should be approximately an hour long total.
• If you can’t find it or would like to watch more, here’s episode 1 and a playlist of the Tudor Monastery Farm episodes .

The Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation

• You will begin the next unit – The Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation.
• Look at your key terms .
•  The Renaissance began around the year 1400 in the city-states of Northern Italy. This is because many of the trade routes of the returning crusaders and merchants from the 12th and 13th centuries were located there. The goods and knowledge brought back by the crusaders and merchants touched off a new wave of learning and cultural creativity in western Europe that became known as the “rebirth” or “Renaissance.” This new knowledge was based on the old rational texts of the Greeks and Romans. As the Renaissance progressed, it led to the questioning of the power of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. By the 1500’s, this questioning would lead to open rebellion and division within the Catholic Church. Led by men such as Martin Luther, John Calvin and a somewhat reluctant King Henry VIII of England, this era would become known as the Protestant Reformation and would forever change the religious landscape of Europe.
• *Print the Renaissance Notes . (It is 7 pages long. Yes, read them.)
• Look at this map . What does it show? ( alternate map of the 1494 states of Italy during the Renaissance )
• You can read more about it here .
• Watch the videos on the Renaissance  and Machiavelli .
• Read this on the Medici family .
• What is a day, what is a yeere?
• It should be easy to read, even with the spelling differences of the day.
• The poem talks about how time in this world goes quickly and if one wants to get to heaven, one must be virtuous.  Folly, vain pleasure, and worldly treasure disappears like a vapor.  Religious beliefs at the time focused on works and behavior to get to heaven.  Contrast this to the free gift of God’s grace that the New Testament talks about.
• Record up to 5 points for a complete answer.
• Read about Florence . Click on “Focus on Florence” in the left menu.
• Read about art and architecture in Florence. Click on “Focus on Florence” and then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Florentine art and architecture.”
• Do the crossword . No matter what it says, there are no spaces between the words.
• Read about Johann Gutenberg and the printing press. Click on “Printing and Thinking.”
• Here’s another biography .
• Did you catch that his major work was the Bible?
• Write a paragraph about Johann Gutenberg and the printing press and how his invention impacted and changed the world in the Renaissance period.
• Read the first stanza of the General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales.   Chaucer was another famous writer of the time.  Try to read the stanza in Middle English on the left.  Big difference!
• Read about Miguel de Cervantes . He is a Spanish writer of the period who makes fun of the feudal system.

edited from ( source )

• Read about art in the Renaissance .
• Read about each artist . ( alternative )
• Read about humanism . (If you are taking Foundations , on Lesson 86 you will start listening to a sermon which talks about humanism-If you aren’t taking that course and want to hear that part, you can jump to minute 16.)
• Do the self-assessment . There are NO spaces between words.
• Encyclopedia.com
• Answers.com
• Britannica.com
• Record up to 24 points for filling in all the squares – 2 points a square.
• *Print and read the Protestant Reformation notes .
• Read about the early persecution of those involved in printing the Bible and putting it into the hands of the people.
• Why were they persecuted? Why was it dangerous to those in authority to have people know what the Bible said? (Just for thinking over.)
• Read about the Protestant Reformation .
• Watch the video on Martin Luther .
• Protestant Reformation
• Protestantism in England
• Learn about the Counter Reformation .
• Do the self-assessment .
• Complete the crossword . There are NO spaces between words.
• On Lesson 70 you will be writing an essay. You might want to write your introduction today to get going on it.
• Write a five-paragraph essay on Martin Luther and the Reformation. How did he change the world he lived in?
• Record up to 40 points.
• Here is a list of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses . They were an attack on how the Roman Catholic Church ran things. It was a fight to uphold what the Bible taught as opposed to what the Roman Catholic Church taught that the Bible taught. This is why owning a Bible was so important. People had knowledge for themselves about what the Bible said. This is why the Roman Catholic Church political organization had people killed for just owning a Bible and for teaching the Bible to their children!
• Reading over this list, a few things stand out as particular points: the Catholic teachings of penance, indulgences and purgatory. Take one of those and write an essay answer on what it is, what the Bible says about, what you think about it. Write at least 12 sentences. Use the internet for some Bible research. Include verses in your response.
• Record up to 24 points (2 points a sentence).
• Read about Henry VIII .
• In your own words, explain how the attitude of King Henry VIII and his views of marriage and the need for a royal successor assisted in promoting the English Reformation.
• Write a paragraph.
• Visit the following website about Queen Elizabeth I , daughter of Henry VIII.
• Write a paragraph on her relationship with her sister, Mary, and how Elizabeth supported the Reformation during her reign.
• Take these quizzes and play the games. Use them as learning tools. If you get something wrong, then you get the chance to learn, so do it! Learn from your mistakes.
• Take the Renaissance quiz .
• Play Walk the Plank .
• Take the Reformation quiz .
• Visit this website to learn about Humanism and Science and the Renaissance .
• You can also use other links on this site about the Renaissance .
• Write a paragraph about what you think is the greatest invention/discovery/etc. of the period, apart from the printing press. Make sure you explain why!
• Learn about everyday Tudor life .
• Learn more about objects from the time. Do all of the objects and learn!
• Add the Renaissance and Reformation dates to your timeline.
• Before we begin the next unit, watch this video if it’s available.  It is episode one of a documentary following archaeologists and historians attempting to duplicate life on an English farm in this time period.  Note the labor intensive work daily by the men and women.  Also note how religion does not seem to take as primary role in life as in Tudor Monastery Farm from Lesson 54-55. If my link isn’t available, search YouTube for “Tales From the Green Valley Full Episode 1.”

Age of Exploration

Lesson 79**

• *Print the Reasons for Exploration  notes.
• *Print the Explorers Chart  and complete it as you go through this unit.
• Watch this video on some Portuguese explorers, “ Age of Exploration Begins .” Begin to fill in your chart.
• Watch this brief video on Bartholomew  Diaz .
• Watch this brief video on Vasco  da Gama .
• Give an important invention of Prince Henry and his school of navigation and why it was important. (2 points)
• Why was Bartholomew Diaz important to Portugal? (2 points)
• Why was Vasco da Gama important to Portuguese exploration? (2 points)
• What was da Gama’s reason for exploration? (2 points)
• Record up to 8 points.
• Read about Christopher Columbus here . Be sure to read all the pages.
• Watch this brief presentation on how Columbus was finally hired by Spain.
• Did Columbus believe he reached Asia? (2 points)
• What were some of his accomplishments? (6 points)
• View this map of Columbus’ voyages . What does it show?  ( alternate link )
• Fill in the Columbus boxes on your chart.
• Triangle Trade   ( alternate link )
• Columbian exchange   ( alternate link )
• Watch this brief video on Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
• How was Vespucci credited with naming the New World “America?” (2 points)
• Watch this video on Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazano.
• What was da Verrazano’s main accomplishment in exploration? (2 points)
• Record up to 4 points.
• Complete more of your explorer chart. Do this each day as you learn about explorers.
• Watch the brief biography of Ferdinand Magellan .
• Why did Magellan give the Pacific Ocean its name? (2 points)
• How did Magellan die? (2 points)
• Did the remaining ships make it back to Spain? (2 points)
• Give a rough estimate of how long the entire journey was. (2 points)
• What are the accomplishments of the journey? (8 points)
• Record your score out of 16.
• Watch the brief biography on Vasco Nunez de Balboa .
• What was his major accomplishment? (2 points)
• Watch this brief biography of Francisco Pizarro .
• How did he conquer the Incas? (2 points)
• Watch this biography of Francisco Vazquez de Coronado .
• What are his accomplishments? (8 points)
• Watch this brief biography of Hernan Cortes .
• How did he defeat the Aztecs? (2 points)
• What was Cortes’ lasting effect on the region? (2 points)
• Are you remembering your chart?
• France also sent explorers abroad.  Watch this biography on Jacques Cartier .
• Where did Cartier explore? (2 points)
• Watch this biography on Samuel de Champlain .
• Where did de Champlain explore? (2 points)
• Watch this biography on Robert de La Salle .
• What are his accomplishments? (2 points)
• Record your score out of 6.
• Watch this presentation on James Cook .
• Watch this biography on Sir Walter Raleigh done by a fourth grade homeschooler.
• Discuss his accomplishments. (2 points)
• Make sure your chart is complete. Score one point for every filled square (36 squares).
• Record your score out of 35.
• Do the self-assessment crossword puzzle.   There are no spaces between words.
• Read about the Gunpowder Empires . What are they?
• Take a look at this map . What does it show? (Don’t just say the Gunpowder Empires. What modern countries do they intersect, etc.) ( alternate )
• Safavid   ( alternate )
• Mughal   ( alternate )
• Read about science and technology and the  Safavid Empire.
• Ottomans   (Requires restricted mode to be taken off.)
• Mughal Empire   (I thought it would be nice to use a video from India.)
• Read about the Qing Dynasty .
• Read about the Kangxi emperor .
• Read about Zheng He .
• Watch the presentation on feudal Japan .
• Watch the Tokugawa presentation.
• Who was the the Chinese Muslim Admiral who through his seven voyages of discovery to the West, helped transform China into the superpower of his time?  (answer: Zheng He )
• What are Zheng He’s accomplishments? (2 points)
• Record up to 2 points.
• Describe the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
• Who was the first Shogun of this period?
• What city was the Shogunate based in?
• Did Ieyasu promote foreign trade?
• What was the effect of the lasting peace on the Samurai class?
• What was Shogun Iemitsu’s effect on foreign travel?
• What were the five classes (in order) of society during the “Neo-Confucian” era?
• What social values did the Neo-Confucians stress?
• What was the cause of the Tokugawa decline?
• Questions edited from a Georgia Virtual Learning Assignment .
• Record up to 20 points. (2 point per answer)
• For each of the empires (Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughals), tell who the key leaders were.
• Talk about the influence on religious practices in their empires.
• Discuss the structure of government under each empire.
• Islamic Empires quiz  — Remember to use these as learning tools. Grow your brain.
• Mughal quiz
• Exploration and discovery quiz
• Another exploration and discovery quiz
• Now go through the questions and answers . Answer to yourself before looking at the answer.
• Add the age of exploration to your timeline. What do you think is significant to add? What event or person do you think had the most impact on exploration? Tell someone who/what and why.
• This is the end of the unit and end of the quarter. Determine your grade for this quarter. Hold onto all of your written work for your high school records.

The Age of Enlightenment and The Age of Revolutions

Lesson 91*** 

• *Print off the third quarter  grading sheet  or use the Excel  version.
• Read through the intro to the new unit, The Age of Enlightenment and The Age of Revolutions .
• *Print a copy of the key terms .  Learn about these terms as you go through the unit.
• *Print the Enlightenment Thinkers Chart . You can work on this if you come across pertinent information. You’ll be completing this on Lessons 92 and 93.
• Scientific Revolution (stop when you get to the second section, Physics and Mathematics)
• Enlightenment
• Always remember that when reading about “the church,” there is a political, organized religion, and then there is the one body of Christ. They aren’t the same thing. They are often opposed to one another! Remember that it was organized religion that sought to kill Jesus and Paul and others. God wants us to be thinkers. Organized religion wants us to be followers of the status quo.
• Part of the scientific thought that developed from this time period put an end to a belief in magic and fairy tales. This led many to disbelief in the Bible since it was full of miracles. They thought those stories were passed down and changed over the years, like the tales of knights slaying flying, fire-breathing dragons. In the 20th century the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, which showed that the Bible hadn’t been changed over time. It is still the same as when it was recorded by eyewitnesses.
• Work on the Thinkers chart.
• Here’s a website on the Enlightenment to learn from. You can fill in the chart as you are able.
• Complete the Thinkers chart.
• Hobbes vs. Locke
• People of the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment
• Try to answer the questions .  Check your answers as you go.
• Complete the crossword puzzle . There are no spaces between words.
• Watch this video on the Enlightenment (eight minutes).
• How did the Enlightenment affect the development of the government of the United States?  (Essay answer – write a paragraph.)
• *Print the  Age of Absolute Monarchs notes.
• Read about the causes of the English Civil War .
• French & Indian War
• Royal Proclamation of 1763
• Townshend Act
• Boston Massacre
• Boston Tea Party
• First Continental Congress
• Second Continental Congress
• Thomas Payne and Common Sense
• You can look at the other links on that page, too.
• Write a paragraph on either the causes or the effects of the American Revolution.

Lesson 97**

• *Print and read these notes on the French Revolution .
• *Print and read these notes on Napoleon
• Watch the presentation on the French Revolution .
• Read about the Haitian Revolution .
• Read about the Latin American revolutions .
• Watch the video on Latin American revolutions . (This is a Crash Course video, which is for teen and adult viewers. It may broadly discuss issues of race, sexuality, or war violence in a historical context. Parents may want to preview the video for sensitive viewers, or you could use this video instead. Make it full screen and start with part 2 at 5 minutes.)
• Do the key terms crossword puzzle .
• English Civil War  (alternate link )
• American Revolution
• American Revolution   (may not work outside the US, use other links)
• Complete the questions you printed yesterday.
• Record up to 62 points – 2 points per question.

Lesson 101 *

• *Print notes on China and Japan .
• In the 1600’s, both China and Japan closed off trade to foreigners. Both countries were afraid of outside influence and becoming too “westernized”. However, goods from both China and Japan were highly valued, so Europeans would continue to search for goods that the Chinese and Japanese might find valuable. In the mid-19 th  century, Britain would finally open up Chinese markets to the opium trade. Opium was a powerful narcotic brought by British merchants from India. The opium trade began to have a very negative influence on the Chinese as opium dens sprang up all over China. By the time the Emperor attempted to ban the import of opium, it was too late. British gunships were far superior to the antiquated Chinese navy and the loss by the Chinese to the British in the Opium War would spell the slow end of the Chinese Qing dynasty. The Japanese reaction was much different. As the Japanese saw China being slowly carved up by the Europeans, the Japanese emperor pushed for acceptance of western technology and quickly modernized Japan to prevent its takeover by western powers.
• Imperialist China and China and the Opium War
• Imperialist Japan and the Decline of Tokugawa
• Answer the questions .
• Discuss the effect of Commodore Matthew Perry’s visit to Japan in July of 1853. (Include information on the Treaty of Kanagawa and the long term effect on Japanese society.)
• Discuss the causes and effects of the Opium War in China.  Then discuss the causes and results of the “Taiping Rebellion” in China.  Make sure to include major characters names and major events.
• Opening of Japan
• Causes of the Taiping Rebellion
• You should be writing at least 24 sentences.  (Questions from a Georgia Virtual Learning Assignment PDF )
• Record your score out of 24. (1 point for each great sentence that contributes to the whole in a meaningful way – up to 24 sentences. Add up to 2 extra credit points for proper form and great structure.)

Lesson 103*

• Who do you think was one of the most influential leaders of the period?
• Add to your timeline.
• On the Road to the US Revolution
• American Revolution Practice Quiz
• The US Colonial War
• Record 10 points for completion. Continue below…

The Industrial Revolution, Nationalism, and Imperialism in the 19 th Century

• You will begin a new unit today.
• *Print the key terms on the Industrial Revolution, Nationalism and Imperialism in the 19th Century.
• Search YouTube for any episode or several clips from “Victorian Farm.”  Note any technological advances. It again follows historians during a simulated 19 th century English farm.  There is a mark in the center of the screen, but please watch anyway.

Lesson 104*

• Watch additional clips from “Victorian Farm.” Again note technological advances.  Notice the technological advances in each episode.
• *Print out the notes on the Industrial Revolution .
• Look at the map . What does it show?
• Read about the Industrial Revolution and capitalists .
• Watch the presentation on the Industrial Revolution and the industrial economy . (This guy always has slightly questionable things in his presentation. He does talk about 15,000 years of history which, of course, I don’t agree with.)
• Define capitalism.
• Search YouTube for “Hidden Killers The Victorian Home season 1 episode 1.”  Watch the first 38 (or so) minutes today.
• Begin a brief chart with the invention and the risk (i.e., food preservation, illness).
• Watch the rest of “Hidden Killers: The Victorian Home.”  Complete your chart.
• Record up to 10 points for completion. (Did you record at least 5 pairs on your chart?)
• A picture of the invention
• A catchy phrase or slogan
• Three ways that the invention has improved life or made a specific task or tasks easier
• A history of the invention: who invented it, where, when, why, etc.

(From a Georgia Virtual Learning Assignment source )

• Record up to 15 points. (There are 5 parts to this; score up to 3 points each.)
• Read about growing urbanization during the Industrial Revolution.
• Read about Karl Marx and socialism .
• Read a summary of the Communist Manifesto .

Lesson 108*

• Complete the short quiz .
• Do the crossword puzzle .
• *Print the notes on nationalism in Europe and Russia .
• Look over this “ flow of history ” chart. Follow it as best you can.
• unification of Italy
• unification of Germany
• Read about nationalism and its impact in Europe .
• Read about the rise of nationalism in Europe .
• Discuss the people and major events that caused the unification of Germany in the late 19th century.

From a Georgia Virtual Learning source

• Watch the video on the unification of Germany .
• Watch the video on the unification of Italy .
• Record up to 20 points. (Score up to 10 points per paragraph.)
• You can decide if you learn better by reading or by watching the videos (below).
• An interesting missionary biography that talks about the Boxer Rebellion is on Jonathon Goforth.
• Read about the Meiji Restoration .
• Read about the Russo-Japanese War .
• Here are videos on the Boxer Rebellion , the Meji Restoration , and the Russo-Japanese War .
• Write an essay explaining how events such as the rise of the Young Turks, the Russo-Japanese War, and the Boxer Rebellion are tied to nationalism.
• Record up to 40 points.

Lesson 112*

• *Print the Imperialism notes.
• What do you think this political cartoon is saying about England? Familiarize yourself with some terms and concepts of the Imperialist Age.
• Read the poem by Rudyard Kipling, “ The White Man’s Burden .”  Be sure to read the interpretations, history, and explanations found on this  page .  The poem was pro-imperialism and attempted to paint those living in many foreign countries as lesser people, in need of help from more “civilized” societies.
• Describe the political cartoon based on the poem and what statement it is making.
• The poem was written just before the Boxer Rebellion and gives a glimpse of how some people viewed foreigners.  Write a paragraph about what peoples Kipling was disparaging and what he was saying about them.  You can use the website or additional research.
• Read about imperialism.
• Watch the video on imperialism in Africa .
• Imperialism in China
• African imperialism
• Africa in 1914
• Asia in 1914
• Why were African tribes, colonies, and countries easy to conquer? (2 points -Answer these in complete sentences.)
• What were the views of the Europeans to justify conquest? (2 points)
• What kinds of goods came from Africa? (2 points)
• Read some quotes from the book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.
• Write how these quotes make you feel about imperialism in Africa. (5 points)
• Record your score out of 10 points. (There’s a potential for one point extra credit.)
• Watch the presentation on Matthew Perry and Imperial Japan. (This is a National History Day competition video. You could compete too! I competed for all seven years I was eligible in the Individual Media category.)
• Answer the following questions (not just from the video). You’ve learned about imperialism in Japan and China previously. You can look things up as well.)
• Explain in a few sentences some of the effects of imperialism on Japan. (5 points)
• What is the “Open Door Policy” promoted by Commodore Matthew Perry? Explain. (5 points)
• Who was Sun Yat-sen and what did he accomplish? (5 points – Use a complete sentence.)
• What type of government was created in China after he stepped down? (2 points)
• Record your score out of 15 points. (There’s a potential for 2 points extra credit.)
• Who were the major colonizers from Europe?
• Explain three reasons why these countries were so interested in colonies.
• How did the colonizers benefit from imperialism?
• Which country does the octopus in the above political cartoon represent?
• What do you think the cartoonist’s opinion of imperialism is?  Why?  Explain your answer fully.
• Record up to 25 points. (Score up to 5 points for each thoughtful answer.)
• Industrial Revolution Quiz
• Industrial Revolution Quiz 2
• European Colonialism in Africa
• European Colonialism in Africa 2
• The British Raj
• Later Imperial China Quiz
• It also follows the historians during life at the beginning of the 1900s. Take note of the gas engines and other technological advances of the day.
• Search YouTube for “Hidden Killers The Edwardian Home” ( possible link ) and watch half of this video. Begin a chart of the invention and the problems (i.e., Electricity  –  electrocutions/fires).
• Watch the rest of “Hidden Killers: The Edwardian Home” and complete your chart.
• Write a brief paragraph on how the inventions of the videos, once mastered, would change the way people lived during the times.

World War I

Lesson 119*

• In this unit, you will learn about the events that led up to World War I, the war itself, and the aftermath.  Visit this BBC website and go through the timeline by clicking on four dots per day (or simply scroll down).  This site covers the events 37 days prior to war beginning . Do June 28, 29, 30, and July 5 today. There are links to click on for each day as well as audios to listen to. Make sure you do all of the parts. (Note: You do NOT have to read the “Diary of a British Naval Commander, Kiel, 1914” on June 30. It’s over 200 pages long. You are welcome to read it on your own time if you’d like. If you have trouble with the archive site, here’s an alternative timeline . Click on the dates to read more, but it doesn’t have as much as this timeline.) 
• *Print the key terms on WWI.  Become familiar with the terms as you work through the unit.
• Go through days July 7, 9, 19, 21 of 37 Days . Scroll down or click on the dots on the timeline at the top of the page to move through the page.
• Visit days July 23, 25, 26, 28 of  37 Days .
• Visit days July 29, 30, 31, Aug 1 of  37 Days .
• Visit days Aug 2, 3, and both 4 th days of  37 Days .
• View this map from before the war. What does it show?
• Read this page on the causes of war.
• Use this page to make sure you understand the alliances .
• Watch the two videos on the origins of WWI: what , why .
• Start writing an essay (due Lesson 126) describing how Balkan nationalism, entangling alliances, and militarism led to World War I.  Be sure to define and explain the terms.  Give examples.  Include the specific names of the two major alliances, which countries were involved, and why they allied with one another. Use your notes or other sources you have used. Your three middle, or body, paragraphs will include one on Balkan nationalism, one on entangling alliances and one on militarism. Your thesis statement, the last sentence of your introduction, will be something like: “There were many factors contributing to the onset of WWI, but three of the most inciting were Balkan nationalism, entangling alliances, and militarism.”
• Work on essay, edit, and finalize for grade.
• Record score out of 40.
• What does this map of Europe in 1914 show?
• Read about the Schlieffen Plan . Click through all of the slides.
• Take the quiz . Start with a score of 15. Take one off half a point for each time it starts you over. Learn from your mistakes.
• Record your score out of 15.
• Explain this plan. Write in complete sentences.
• Explain whether or not the Germans were able to fulfill this plan.  If not, what circumstances prevented them?
• Record up to 5 points for your explanations. (This is listed on the grading sheet for Lesson 128.)
• Watch the video on trench warfare  (images of war).
• Look at this map on the Western Front . What does it show?
• Read about  trench warfare .
• Visit the website Trench War . There are too many articles to read them all. Choose some that interest you.
• Wilfred Owen is a famous poet of World War I.  Read his “ Dulce Et Decorum Est ” and his “ Anthem for Doomed Youth .”
• Why does Owen say “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” is a lie? Look up the translation to answer this question. (2 points)
• What imagery does he use to convey the conditions of warfare? Provide a list for each poem. (20 points – list at least 20 total – you can list up to 5 more for extra credit)
• Record out of 20 points. Add up to five points extra credit for listing more than 20.
• Watch the video on the Battle of Verdun .

Lesson 131 *

• Watch the  America Enters the War video.
• *Complete this page, filling in the sections on the US becoming involved in the war . Write in complete sentences. Alternatively, you can write a paragraph with at least twelve sentences about the main reasons the US entered the war.
• Record up to 12 points. (Score up to three points for each section for including at least two facts – 2 points – and writing complete sentences – 1 point.)
•   US Marines at Belleau Wood
• US Army Battles in France
• Visit the Major Topics of WWI  and spend 20-30 minutes reading things from this site that interest you. Make sure to use at least one primary source document.

Lesson 133(*)

• Do the little quiz .
• Watch the presentation on the end of the war .
• Watch the videos on the Treaty of Versailles and its impact .
• How will the Treaty of Versailles in some way contribute to World War II? (2 points)
• President Wilson urged the creation of the League of Nations.  Did the United States join? Why or why not? (2 points)
• Europe in 1914
• Europe after the Treaty of Versailles   ( alternate and another map )
• (*)Complete the Treaty of Versailles Assignment .
• Record your score out of 14. (Score 2 points for each complete answer written in a complete sentence.)
• Choose two propaganda posters from WWI that interest you. Here’s the catch, though — the posters must have originated in different countries.
• pictures of your two posters
• country of origin for each poster
• Is it trying to scare people with a supposed threat?
• Is it calling up feelings of patriotism and duty? Etc.
• effectiveness of each poster
• Wake Up America – There are 25 WWI posters. Click “next” to view them all.
• Russia posters
• If you can’t save the image, use your keyboard’s print screen option.
• There were 5 things to include for each cartoon, including the cartoon. Score up to 2 points for each part completed according to the directions.
• Add WWI events and dates to your timeline. Go over your timeline. Do you know something about each thing on there?
• The Outbreak of WWI – Walk the Plank
• WWI Causes Quiz
• WWI Review – Walk the Plank
• This is the end of the unit and the third quarter. Calculate final grade for the quarter.
• Hold onto all of your written materials in your portfolio for your course record.

The Years Between the Wars

Lesson 136**

• *Print the grading sheet  for the fourth quarter or use the Excel  version.
• *Print the key terms for the new unit: The Years Between the Wars.
• Watch the documentary  on Mahatma Gandhi  OR read about him. Take notes on his life and philosophical views.
• Watch the first video and read about  Albert Einstein .
• Read about Pablo Picasso . (Parental warning: There is an abstract nude on this page at the bottom. It’s the best I could find, as he did many such paintings and they are shown on all his bios. He was involved with many women in his life and obviously didn’t have a sacred view of them.)
• Read about Ataturk and watch the first couple of minutes of this end to a movie about him. Stop when the credits roll.
• Read about Sun Yat-Sen and watch this news clip .
• Take notes on their accomplishments and views.
• Summarize for someone how each changed their country.
• Read about Sigmund Freud . You can watch the first video that plays as well.
• Answer the questions in the Nationalism in China, Turkey and India Assignment .
• Record your score out of 20. (Score up to 2 points each for a complete answer written in a complete sentence.)

Lesson 140**

• *Print the Russian Revolution Reading Notes . (Have you read them yet?)
• *Look over the Russian Revolution Chart  so that you can fill in answers as you are able.
•  Read about the Russian Revolution . Jot down notes. Remember not to copy sentences. Just write down important words/names/dates to help you remember them.
• Russia in WWI and in civil war and revolution
• Read about Joseph Stalin .
• Watch the biography .
• Try this  self-assessment review .
• Complete the Russian Revolution Chart .
• Record up to 23 points for 23 completed answers (out of 20 – potential for extra credit).

Lesson 142 

• Read about the Great Depression .
• Watch this video on the Spanish Civil War . Learn about Francisco Franco. Take brief notes.

Lesson 143 (As we head toward WWII, there are some graphic pictures and descriptions due to the Holocaust and other issues of wartime.)

• It is said that he “uncannily” knew how to speak to the most basic fears of the people. His rise and rule and death seem very influenced by Satan in that he came from nothing, with the only real goal of killing all Jews. Satan has been out to destroy God’s people from the beginning, from the Garden of Eden, but there will  always be a remnant, a group of God’s true people left. I believe there will always be a remnant of Jews and there will always be a remnant of believers.
• Learn about  Emperor Hirohito . You can X the video and scroll down to Hirohito as emperor.
• What was the rape of  Nanjing ?
• Read about the League of Nations.
• What was the League of Nations’ policy of appeasement and what was the consequence of this inaction? (Answer in a paragraph.)
• Search YouTube for The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler (or The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich ) documentary. It is just over an hour long.  You may watch part of it today and the rest tomorrow. (Note that the video may contain graphic pictures and racist speech due to the Jewish persecution, talk of suicide, degradation of women, etc.) Take notes only on how this man was able to take control of Germany (for example – intimidation, persuasion, and so on).
• Finish watching the Hitler documentary . If the link doesn’t work, search for “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.”

World War II

• During this new module, you are going to watch “Wartime Farm,” videos with our historian friends attempting to live as people lived during World War II. There are 8 videos, each an hour long.  They give insight into trying to survive, spy on the enemy, government pressure to increase their harvests for country and troops, and other issues.
• Watch episode 1 . (If this link disappears, you can search for it on YouTube, “Wartime Farm.”)

Lesson 147**

• *Print the Key Terms .
• *Print the WWII Reading Notes . This is a review and a look at WWII. (You can look back at the preview unit if you want to review any of those things.) I do want to point out that Hitler did not only target Jews. Gypsies, who are more correctly known as the Roma, were also targets, and millions were killed for their ethnicity. (The Roma are an ethnic group, originally from India. The word “Gypsy” isn’t just a descriptive term for people of a certain lifestyle.) The Roma are often overlooked in history, even in modern history. When Serbs were systematically targeting Albanians in Kosovo in 1999, the US stepped in with military force. Then the Albanians just turned around and did the same to the Roma, but no one came to their defense.
• Go through this British  WWII site . Click on each pamphlet about home front preparations and read the pages. Then click on the next topic in the list on the left, “evacuation,” and do the same. Continue through the list.
• Watch episode 2 of “Wartime Farm.”
• Read about Pearl Harbor .
• Watch episode 3 of “Wartime Farm.” Watch how the group sets fires to confuse Nazi bombers.
• Read the extended video description of episode 4 of “Wartime Farm” and the rest of the videos’ descriptions accessed at the right.  Only watch the rest of these episodes on your own time and if interested.
• Read through the timeline . Use any links you are interested in. What do you think is worthy of being added to your timeline?
• *Print the Holocaust notes .
• Visit the United States Holocaust Museum website.  Spend the rest of your history time perusing the site.  Be sure to read about the victims and survivor stories. (Warning: some stories have graphic or anti-Semitic language.)
• Learn about Anne Frank and read what’s included of her writings.
• Learn about Nazi ideology . ( alternate link )
• What was it about the Nazi ideology that led to their decision to eradicate Jews? (5 points – Answer in a complete sentence.)
• How have the writings of Anne Frank impacted history? (5 points – Answer in a complete sentence.)
• Why should we remember the Holocaust? Write an essay answer to the question. (20 points – That means write a long paragraph. You should write at least 10 sentences.)
• Record your score out of 30. (Remember that you can always fix up something you didn’t do perfectly to get a better score.)
• Discuss the main reason the United States entered the war.  How and why did this happen? (10 points – Write a paragraph of at least five sentences.)
• Discuss why El-Alamein, Stalingrad, Midway, and D-Day were considered turning points of the war. Include the result of each battle. (20 points – Score up to 5 points for each.)
• Record your score out of 30.
• Record up to 10 points for completion.
• Yalta   ( the actual agreement )
• Create a chart listing the three conferences and the decisions made at each. (15 points)
• Record up to 15 points for completion of the chart.
• Learn about the Marshall Plan  and MacArthur’s Plan for Japan.
• Watch  The United Nations: History and Functions   (Note: There is controversy on many aspects of the United Nations, from global warming issues to being able to enforce laws in other countries.  We will NOT get into any of these issues here.)
• What happened to Adolf Hitler?
• What finally convinced the Japanese to surrender?
• What two countries emerged as “superpowers” after WWII?
• What happened to the country of Germany immediately after WWII?
• What happened to the country of Japan immediately after WWII?
• What were three technological developments of WWII?
• Define the “Cold War.”
• What was the “Iron Curtain”?
• What was the “Holocaust”?

Questions from a Georgia Virtual assignment source

• BTW, the soldier in that picture didn’t know the woman he was kissing. He was kissing everyone as he came down the street. The photographer noticed and prepared for the shot. It’s become an iconic photograph.
• WWII Quiz 1
• WWII Quiz 2
• Add to your timeline. Add WWII in general and add specific events. For your final, you need to be able to speak about each event on your timeline. You can review your timeline today to begin preparing. For each time period it should show the general time period and some specifics that you deemed worthy of your timeline.

The Cold War

Lesson 160**

• *Print the Key Terms on the Cold War.
• *Print and read the Cold War Reading Notes .
• Look at the map of Cold War Europe . ( alternate link ) What does it show?
• Watch the first video on the early years of the Cold War .
• Read about the Cold War .
• Watch this newsreel on the Berlin Airlifts.
• Here’s a map of the Berlin Airlifts .
• Read about the nuclear arms race .
• Watch the Khan Academy video on the Cuban Missile Crisis .
• Watch this Khan Academy video on the Korean War .
• Watch the Khan Academy video on the Vietnam War .
• How did the interference by the Soviet Union and the United States affect Korea, Cuba, and Vietnam? Use what you have learned and the resources. Write a paragraph of at least 11 sentences.
• Score 1 point for introduction, 1 point for conclusion, and 2 points for clarity and flow. Score up to 16 points for content – completely answering the question with details.

Lesson 164*

• Watch the first 8 minutes of this video about the creation of Israel.
• Watch this brief video on Indian Independence.
• Watch this brief video on Ghana’s Independence .
• *Print or take notes from the Chinese Communist Revolution notes.
• Watch this brief video on the Communist takeover of China .
• Formation of Israel 1948
• India’s Independence 1940-1950
• Chinese Communist Revolution (1940s)
• Ghana’s Independence (1950s)
• (adapted from a Georgia Virtual Learning assignment )
• I want you to pause here and read about communism .
• Why do many people like the sound of communism? What other ideologies kill?
• Orally present your views on communism and why you hold those views.
• Watch the video on the end of the Cold War .
• Read about the Berlin Wall .  Be sure to read the poem by Ruth Carlson at the bottom of the page. ( alternate link )
• Visit the End of the Cold War site.
• Read the biographies on Nikita Khrushchev and Mikhail Gorbachev . (You don’t have to read everything. Choose some important parts.)
• Read a brief history of apartheid in South Africa.  Fortunately, it was defeated after many protests and involvement from other nations.  Read about the  anti-apartheid movement .
•  Read about Tiananmen Square .
• Begin writing an essay on what or who you feel contributed the most to the end of the Cold War.  Justify your answers.  Use all the information you have available.
• Complete your essay.
• Try the Cold War quiz . You can’t type “THE” correct answer. Just answer and then check your answer yourself to see if you were correct.
• Go through the Cold War “ smart sheet .”
• Add the Cold War to your timeline. Again, add the main time period and some specific events.

Global Issues

Lesson 171*

• *Print the Key Terms  on global issues. We could add ISIS to the list.
• Here’s a still map  of Soviet satellite states.
• Learn about the breakup of the Soviet Union .
• Watch the news from the fall of the Soviet Union .
• Read about genocide in Bosnia .
• Read about the genocide in Rwanda .
• You are going to learn about some famous women world leaders.
• Watch this brief video on Margaret Thatcher .
• Read about Indira Gandhi .
• Read about Golda Meir .
• Write a few sentences about each woman and their accomplishments. (Score up to 5 points each.)
• Record up to 15 points.
• Pick a current female leader in the world and write a paragraph about her accomplishments.
• Record up to 20 points. (2 points form, 2 points clarity/flow, 16 points content)
• Read about Al-Qaeda .
• Read about ISIS .
• Watch this presentation on terrorism .
• How does terrorism affect the world today? (2 points)
• Why do terrorists attack? (2 points)
• There is controversy on how countries have dealt with and should deal with terrorists and terrorism. What are your thoughts on how countries should prevent attacks? (2 points)
• Record up to 6 points.
• Read about the role of the United Nations .
• Read about globalization .
• Read about climate change .
• Write a brief essay on what you think is the most important current issue that we need to deal with on a global level. Why? How?
• Try the quiz .
• Think about this: What are reasons that conflict/wars between two nations or peoples occur?  Make a list of at least 6 different reasons. Think about wars and conflicts you have learned about. Use your past notes if you need ideas.
• Record up to 12 points (2 points each)
• Prepare for your final exam/presentation. You will present your entire timeline. You will show it to an audience and read and explain each segment. Give at least a sentence overview of the time period and each item included.
• Present your timeline.
• Score up to 100 points for including each time period and specific events from each period with an explanation of each. There were 14 time periods – 6 points each – for a total of 84 points. Up to 10 points can be award for the presentation – poise, volume, clarity. Add 6 points for being ready on time.
• Record your score out of 100.
• Congratulations!  You have completed this course.
• Calculate your grade for this quarter and the entire year.  Be sure to include it on your high school transcript.
• Take the polls for this course. Answer honestly to help other students choose their courses.
• AP World History review video

Donate/Say Thanks

• How It Works
• Essay Examples

History Essay Topics

Being granted the liberty of choosing your own history essay subject may seem like a splendid idea at first. However, as you begin your search, you might find this to be quite puzzling. It goes without saying that choosing a subject to write a history essay about is a fairly simple task in itself. Nevertheless, if you wish to receive a good grade, you’ll need to opt for a flawless history essay topic! This is where we come in. We've numbered some of the best history essay subjects you could ever hope to find, and we've classified them based on the time periods they refer to. In our opinion, each and every one of these topics is a splendid choice for your history essay!

Feel free to choose a topic and write a history essay from scratch all by yourself. However, in case you encounter difficulties and you feel like you require a sample paper, don’t hesitate to ask for our help! Just contact our support team, tell us how your essay needs to look like and / or submit an order. If you want to write the essay yourself, we believe it would be wise to choose a universal subject or issue. Afterwards, the ultimate thing to do is to narrow the topic down according to the guidelines provided by your professor. The subjects listed on this page are somewhat universal and may not work so great if you want to come up with a flawless history essay. As such, we think it would be a good idea to shape the subject in accordance to your necessities. If you're not sure what you should do here, you can always hire our writers to help you out by placing an order for a sample essay.

Now take a look at our list of history essay topics for each significant historical era.

Ancient egypt.

• Present the political structure of ancient Egypt
• Describe the social habits of ancient Egyptians
• Discuss the structure of labor in ancient Egypt
• Present the evolution of ancient Egypt
• How the Americans discovered ancient Egypt
• Deities and spirituality in ancient Egypt
• The buildings and architectural style of the Egyptians
• Geographical and agricultural aspects regarding ancient Egypt

Ancient Greece

• The cultural and artistic aspects of the ancient Greek society
• Ancient Athenian myths
• Famous ancient Greek scholars
• Ancient Greek housing and architecture
• Ancient Greek mythology and legends
• The Pantheon and the spiritual side of ancient Greece
• Agricultural aspects regarding ancient Greece
• The historical evolution of the Acropolis

Ancient Rome

• How Rome was established and how it evolved
• The expansion of the Roman Empire and the influence they exerted on other ancient civilizations
• Crucial historical events that led to the collapse of the Roman Empire
• The attributions of the Roman emperor Julius Caesar regarding life in the Empire
• The military forces of the Roman Empire
• The Governmental organization of Ancient Rome
• Spiritualities and deities of Ancient Rome

The Dark Ages

• The Dark Ages as a period of progress
• Existence and mortality in the Dark Ages
• Knighthood in the Dark Ages
• Comparison between the Dark Ages and the Age of Enlightenment
• The holy wars that took place in the Dark Ages: motivations and outcomes
• Creative writing in the Dark Ages
• Religion in the Dark Ages and the Inquisition
• Financial resources in the Dark Ages

The History of the United States of America

• The Atlantic territories before the arrival of the settlers
• The colonial times
• Discuss the way in which the European settlers and the Native Americans interacted with one another
• How Puritanism influenced American ethics
• The factors and outcomes of the American Revolutionary War
• George Washington’s role and actions in the War of Independence
• The British people throughout the era of colonialism
• The time of the Great Depression
• The US’ involvement in the Second World War
• The Vietnam War

The history of South America

• The times before the colonization
• The Aztec and Mayan civilizations
• South America throughout the colonial times (1521-1810)
• Notable South American Settlements
• How Guatemala was colonized
• The autonomy of South American countries: Mexico, Haiti, Brazil
• The war between the United States and Mexico
• How slavery was abolished
• The 1989 American occupation

We hope that the historical subjects we’ve listed out here will prove useful to you when you start writing your history essay. Of course, we cannot possibly offer you a complete list of subjects, seeing as there are too many historical events to choose from. We’ve tried to come up with some universal topics that can be approached in a history essay. We hope you like our ideas! In case you cannot find your subject here, feel free to have a talk with our staff and place an order for a customized history essay on your particular subject. Our essay writers will make sure to devise a flawless history essay that complies with each and every one of your requirements! Your trust in us will be an honor!

• Writing an Expository Essay that will get you an A+
• Writing A Perfect Movie Review
• How to Write an English Essay
• How to Write an Essay Introduction
• Satire Essay Topics

Upcoming Summer 2024 Application Deadline is April 14, 2024.  

Click here to apply.

Featured Posts

10 Tips to Help You Win the PicoCTF Competition in 2024

Georgia Tech's Pre-College Program - Is it Worth It?

25+ Best Science Research Ideas for High School Students

Broadcom MASTERS - 8 Reasons to Participate

9 Architecture Summer Camps for High School Students

10 Awesome Hackathons For Beginners

8 High School Pitch Competitions that You Should Check Out

10 Best College Search Tools for Independent Education Consultants (IECs)

How to Make Money in High School - 10 Amazing Ideas

10 Venture Capital Programs for High School Students

10 History Competitions for High School Students

Are you in high school and looking to participate in a history competition? Check out this curated list below of opportunities from across the country!

Competing and performing well in a history competition can offer valuable exposure by indicating your interest in the subject of history to potential colleges. Competitions also grant the opportunity to improve one’s skills in writing, public speaking, or debate , for example. Additionally, you can also choose to conduct independent research on various topics that come under the umbrella of history, and publish them in prestigious journals like the Concord Review !

Below are 10 history competitions to consider, some of which are offered in the summer and others during the school year. The programs range from live quiz competitions to essay competitions to oratory contests , so there is something for everyone!

We’ve also covered some great history programs in this blog, and research ideas in history here !

1. International History Olympiad

One of the most popular competitions at the high school level, the International History Olympiad is a competition attended by hundreds of students from all over the world. The multi-day series of events features numerous competitions (as well as non-competitive events) that offer many opportunities for students to win awards and connect with other individuals. The Olympiad takes place in a new location around the world each year (with past editions being held at Honolulu, Berlin, Rome), deeming it also a great opportunity to take advantage of in terms of international travel. Qualification is conducted through participation in regional, national, and international qualifying events.

Application Deadline: July 2024

Location: TBD, 2023’s competition took place in Rome

Prizes: Prizes vary by rank and competition

Eligibility: All high school students are eligible through participation in regional, national, and international qualifying events

2. The National History Bee

This popular competition takes place on an annual basis in the capital of the United States. In order to qualify for participation at the national level of the competition, students must advance beyond rounds at the local and state levels in their respective districts. The History Bee is a buzzer-based history quiz that occurs at the individual level, without the help of teammates. Students compete 1-1 over many rounds where they answer paragraph-long questions about various historical topics . Visit the National History Bee’s website to learn more about specific competition rules and formatting. This is a very esteemed competition where you can network with other students, learn more about historical facts, and impress colleges.

Application Deadline: TBA

Location: Washington, DC and Arlington, VA

Eligibility: All high school students younger than 19 years old: Varsity (11th and 12th grade), Junior Varsity (9th or 10th grade)

3. Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest

This contest is offered by The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and is an oration competition. Each participant must draft and present an original oration between five to six minutes in length . Then, students must deliver the oration from memory without notes or props. The topic must be an event, personality, or document related to the Revolutionary War. The oration must also show a relation between the chosen topic and America today. This is a great way to simultaneously develop public speaking and writing skills!

Students must get through preliminary local rounds, state levels, and then advance to the national level at which place scholarships and prizes are awarded. The orations are evaluated on composition, delivery, significance, historical accuracy, and other secondary criteria. Winners on the national level in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place receive cash prizes, as well as an Olympic-sized medal.

Application Deadline: TBA, varying by state and SAR chapter

Location: Virtual

Prizes: Varying cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners

Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12th

4. George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest

Offered by The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), this essay competition invites students to submit an 800-1,200 word essay. The essay needs to be based on an event, person, philosophy or ideal associated with the American Revolution , Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the U.S Constitution. Essays will be judged on historical accuracy, clarity, organization, grammar, spelling, and documentation.

Like other competitions offered by the SAR, the contest is conducted in stages on the local, state, and national level. Contact your local chapter to enter into the competition. All essays must additionally include a title page, bibliography page, and a biography page. The prizes vary for the top 5 essay writers. However, the first place winning essay will be submitted in the SAR magazine and will have an opportunity to visit Washington, D,C. This is a great opportunity to strengthen one’s ability to conduct research and synthesize historical information .

Location: Virtual, through each SAR chapter

Prizes: Varying cash prizes for winners at each tier

5. The National History Day National Contest

The National Contest of National History Day is a massive gathering of nearly 3,000 individuals offered annually by the organization to student scholars and their families. National History Day invites successful winners of local and affiliate contests to share their research and other history-related work widely. Beyond competing in a variety of competitions, partnerships with local museums and cultural institutions offer students dynamic programming and professional development opportunities .

The gathering takes place in Maryland for a week-long series of events inviting students from all across the U.S., and the world. Students can also take the competition as a chance to explore Washington, D.C and benefit from the plethora of historical sites at the nation’s capital. This is a fantastic opportunity! To compete on such a national level is an amazing opportunity and very impressive feat that is sure to demonstrate your passion for history and historical reasoning to colleges.

Application Deadline: June 9-13, 2024

Location: University of Maryland, College Park

Prizes: Varying prizes per category of the competition

Eligibility: All high school students, teachers and parents are also invited

6. The National History Bowl

In a similar fashion to The National History Bee, The National History Bowl is offered once a year in the nation’s capitol to students who have advanced past local, regional, and state History Bowl competitions. The format is a buzzer-based history quiz with teams of up to 6 students . Students seek to answer questions faster than their opponents about topics covering: the history of the arts, sciences, religion, philosophy, language, historical geography, recent history, and even a bit of the history of sports and entertainment. Questions can reference all eras of history in all geographic regions of the world . Check out their website for specific information about the tournament format and how to advance in each round.

Note : We’ve covered the competition in depth here !

Application Deadline: TBD

7. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Offered by the World History Association, this international contest asks students to address a historical topic and its relation to student’s personal lives and world history at large. An example of a past paper topic is: “My ancestor walked with Abraham Lincoln from Illinois to fight in the Black Hawk War of 1832." The essays are judged based on the thesis, evidence of critical-thinking, organization, and other criteria. Overall, this written competition is a pretty good opportunity to assess your writing ability from a renowned organization in the discipline of history.

Application Deadline: May 1, 2024

Prizes: $500 Prize and a one year membership to the World History Association

Eligibility: An international competition for students in grades K-12

8. The American History Essay Contest

Presented by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), this essay competition seeks to introduce younger students to employ creativity in thinking about the history of the United States . The DAR set out a unique topic for each competition cycle and the submissions are judged for historical accuracy, topic adherence, organization of materials, originality, and writing quality. The essays are evaluated on a local, state, divisional, and national level. The contest is carried out through participating chapters of the DAR organization.

Application Deadline: Varies, contact your local DAR chapter

Prizes: Certificate of participation for each student and varying medals and awards for winners at each division (local, state. national)

Eligibility: Students in 9th-12th grade

9. Write Your Own Historical Fiction Competition

The Write Your Own Historical Fiction Competition is offered by The Historical Association each year to students across the world. Although varying by year, the organization typically does not assign a firm theme for the entries to the competition. The essays, ranging from 400 to 3500 words, are evaluated for their historical accuracy, convincing storytelling, effective use of historical vocabulary, and creativity. Do note that entries must be submitted by a teacher on behalf of a school.

Although the competition’s premise is a bit unconventional for a history competition, this contest offers students a unique opportunity to channel their creativity through the lens of an important academic subject . This will prove very beneficial when writing applications to colleges, or other writing endeavors at large.

Application Deadline: TBA, likely June 2024

Prizes: Cash awards for winners as well as a specially-designed notebook

Eligibility: Students in Years 5-13. Internationally

10. The David McCullough Essay Prize

Named after the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, this essay competition offered by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History , recognizes outstanding high school student research essays each year. Essays for the competition (between 1,500-2,000 words) are required to center primary source analysis of a document in American history from 1493 to 2000. This is a solid opportunity to conduct historical research very similar to collegiate writing , with citations, a bibliography and secondary sources attached.

Prizes: Cash awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and a certificate of participation for all students

Eligibility: Students in 10th-12th grade part of the National Academy of American History and Civics

If you are interested in doing university-level research in history and politics, then you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for high school students. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Aisha is a student at Princeton University, studying Anthropology and Global Health. On campus, she is involved with student groups centered around health equity and cultural affinity. In her free time, she enjoys podcasting, learning languages, and trying new recipes.

Image Source: National History Bowl logo