history dissertation question ideas

150 Strong History Dissertation Topics to Write about

Writing a dissertation is one of the most challenging and exciting moments of an academic career. Such work usually takes a great deal of time, courage, and intellectual effort to complete. That’s why every step in your work process is essential.

It all starts with finding a good topic, which can be a challenge of its own. It especially matters when it comes to liberal arts subjects. In social studies, literature, or world history options are practically endless.

Coming up with history dissertation ideas, you need to think of historical events that interest you. We get it, choosing one is tough. There can be too much to wrap your head around. That’s why IvyPanda experts prepare some dissertation topics in history ready for you.

• How to Choose a Topic?
• Ancient History
• Medieval History
• Modern History
• Cold War Topics
• American History
• European History
• Indian History
• African History
• Performing Arts
• Visual Arts
• How to Structure

🧐 How to Choose a History Dissertation Topic?

Before examining our ideas for dissertation topics in history, you should get ready for this. You have to understand how to pick a history dissertation topic, which will ensure your academic success. Keep in mind that this is a vital step in your career.

So, check some tips on picking what to write about:

• Make sure that the topic fits in your field of study. You have to understand what you’re writing about. Basing your paper on existing knowledge and experience is a part of any dissertation. Working on an overly complicated idea can sound impressive but lead to failure. It will become a nightmare already on the stage of writing a dissertation proposal. How can you write the entire thing without comprehending it?
• Estimate whether you’re interested in the topic you intend to write on. Although this might seem obvious, yes. However, being actually invested makes a massive difference for your further work. There are plenty of students who settle for “easy but boring” topics and end up struggling twice as much.
• Ensure that your topic is specific enough. Your idea should have the potential for fruitful research. Narrowing down your area of study is essential for writing a good dissertation. It helps you to find the direction of your examination and enough sources to work with. Moreover, this way, you’ll be able to explore your topic in its entirety.
• Do some prior research. It will give you an understanding of how much literature on your topic is out there. Take notes of the materials for the reference list and your analysis. Checking history essay samples is a good idea, too.
• Don’t be shy to ask your dissertation advisor for some assistance. After all, they are here to help and guide you through the process. Besides, you have to see what ideas they consider relevant and appropriate.

👍 Good Dissertation Topics in History: Time Period

History is a subject as ancient and vast as the humankind itself. It’s only rational to study it according to a particular timeline. Here are some good history dissertation topics for different periods.

🏺 Ancient History Dissertation Topics

• Ancient Civilizations: The Maya Empire . The Maya was an incredibly powerful Empire with its prime around six century A.D., excelling in mathematics, calendar-making, astrology, and writing. It faced the decline of its city-states in nine century A.D., leaving a rich cultural heritage to the studies of subsequent generations.
• Women’s Roles and Gender relations in the Ancient World
• Greek City-States . Ancient Greece is the place where the first city-states were formed. How did the first governments in the ancient history timeline develop? How did people’s attitudes towards leadership change in that context?

• Ancient Near-Eastern Thought and the Old Testament
• The Inca Empire as a Great Civilization of Pre-Columbian America
• The Impact of Mongol Invasion in Ancient Arab
• The personality of Julius Caesar and His Effect on Rome
• The Role of Poets and the place of Poetry in Ancient Greece
• Mesopotamian Civilization . This was a fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It has been home to some of the world’s wealthiest and most advanced ancient cities. It can also make an excellent archaeology dissertation topic. There are plenty of fascinating sites that could be studied.
• History: Ancient Greek Olympics . Started in 776 BC, the Olympic Games were the most important cultural event in Ancient Greece. They were held in honor of Zeus every four years. Besides, the Olympics were representative of the triumph of physical and spiritual power.
• Warfare and Violence in Ancient Times. Try to do a comparative analysis of warfare techniques used by different ancient civilizations. It could be a great dissertation topic.
• Burial Rituals in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece: a comparison
• Plutarch’s Vision on Alexander the Great
• Dissolution of the Roman Empire . The Empire sprawled from the coast of North Africa to the territories of the modern UK and Armenia. Once, it was the most powerful political entity in the entire Mediterranean. The empire, however, collapsed in 476 CE. What were the reasons for its eventual decline?

• How Geography Has Impacted the Development of Ancient Cultures
• Cause and Effect of Art on Classical Societies
• The Invention of Papyrus and its impact on the World
• Chichen Itza Archaeological Site . Chichen Itza is a great pre-Columbian archaeological site, home to the Maya civilization. It is a fascinating study case in many aspects. Consider the origins and Maya history. Analyze the cultural preservation issues that it faces nowadays.
• Egyptian Pyramid’s Importance in Egypt’s society
• The Stone Age Period and its Evolution

🛡 Medieval History Dissertation Ideas

• Cultural Exchanges in the Medieval Period . In the aftermath of the Roman Empire’s fall, new geopolitical conditions formed. The early Middle Ages period already marked the appearance of new trade routes. It fostered cultural exchange between nations.
• Rome in the Middle Ages and its cultural transformation
• The Development of Feudalism and Manorialism in the Middle Ages
• The Catholic Church and the Black Death in the 14th Century . During the high Middle Ages, the plague epidemic terrorized Europe. It was a dreadful challenge to medicine, religious institutions, and the social apparatus of the time. How did the Catholic Church deal with such a complex and disastrous medical phenomenon?
• Jews and Muslims in Medieval Spain . Christian, Islamic, and Jewish communities shared the Iberian peninsula in the early Middle Ages. It formed a vibrant cultural environment.
• London during the Roman Age: A Critical Overview
• Causes of the First Crusade of 1095-1099
• Twelfth-Century Renaissance, how Franciscans reacted to it and benefited from its development
• Business and Empire, the British ideal of an Orderly World
• The Black Death, Late Medieval Demographic crisis, and the Standard of Living controversies
• The Role of the Church in the life of the Middle Ages

• Medieval Siege Warfare . Exploring methods of defense used during the Middle Ages might be an interesting research project.
• The Conditions of Hindu and Islamic women in Medieval India
• Why the Crusades Failed
• The Mechanical Water clock of Ibn Al-Haytham, his philosophy of the rise and fall of empires
• The Renaissance and its Cultural, Political and Economic Influence
• The Dark Ages as the Golden Ages of European History . Plenty of facts demonstrate civilization’s decline during the Middle Ages. It was, nevertheless, the time of significant scientific, literary, and technological progress. For some interested in writing a medieval literature dissertation: think of Dante’s Divine Comedy . Da Vinci made his groundbreaking study projects during the Middle Ages. It was the time when first universities, such as Cambridge and Oxford, were founded. Overall, this period has a lot to offer!
• Japan’s Development Under Edo/Tokugawa Shogunate
• Historical and Theological Context of Byzantine Iconoclasm
• Medieval Convivencia: Document Analysis

🕰 Modern History Dissertation Topics

• World History: Enlightenment in Society and its Impact on Global Culture
• Nationalism and its 19th Century History
• Why Mussolini and the Fascists Were Able to Seize Power in Italy
• Religious Symbolism in Renaissance paintings . Renaissance is well-known as a period when fine arts were thriving. It was an early modern birthplace of many technological and cultural advancements. Religion, however, was still a central topic in visual art.
• Industrial Revolution and its Impact on Western Civilizations
• Principles of Liberalism and Its Connection to Enlightenment and Conservatism
• “History and Topography of Ireland” by Gerald of Wales . Looking for an incredible Irish history dissertation topic? Then this document might be an interesting prompt. Its somewhat controversial tone of describing contemporary Irish culture, history, and traditions can be subject to a comprehensive analysis.
• Moral treatment of Mental Illness . Over the 19th and 20th centuries, psychology has changed. Moving from a scientific periphery, it became one of the central subjects of scholarly discussions. Mental illnesses were highly disregarded in earlier centuries. People even considered them to be manifestations of demonic possession. How did this attitude change? Why did people rethink psychology as a scholarly discipline?
• A History of the Cuban Revolution

• Abraham Lincoln’s Historical Influence
• Role of Women During the Spanish Civil War
• Conquest and Colonization of America by European Countries . Colonization of America is one of the grandest enterprises in the world’s political history. What were its driving forces?
• Origins and Trajectory of the French Revolution
• Major Impacts of Consumerism in contemporary world history
• Coco Chanel Fashion: History of Costume . Probably not the first topic for a history dissertation that comes to mind. Chanel is truly an iconic figure in modern history, though. She revolutionized the fashion industry concerning gender as well.
• Causes of the Breakup of the Former Yugoslavia
• The Russian Working Class Movement . Before 1861, the agriculture and peasant-owning system were the foundation of the Russian Empire’s economy. Serfs made up a significant part of the population, accounting for over 60% in some regions. Then the serfdom abolition happened. A lot has changed in the economic and social life of the country.
• Segregation During the 1960s
• Historical Development of Feminism and Patriarchy
• Monetary and Fiscal Policy during the Great Depression

🔔 History Dissertation Topics on Cold War

• The Role of Cold War in Shaping Transatlantic Relations in the Period from 1945 to 1970
• The showdown between the United States and the USSR . Cold Was was essentially the power struggle between the US and the Soviet Union. It unleashed in the aftermath of World War II. This political precedent came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, the answer to the “Who won the Cold War?” question may be unclear.
• The Cuban Missile Crisis , its causes, and effects
• US Foreign Policy during the Cold War. Cold War, as a phenomenon, has many layers to it. Yet the one crucial is the contest of two ideologies: democracy and communism. How did the US shape its foreign policy and pursue its interests abroad? And how did the cultural and political setup within the country adjust to it?
• To what extent did the Cold War shape the US relations with Latin America?
• What was the importance of Berlin in the Cold War?
• Japan’s role since the end of the Cold War
• Cold War Politics, Culture, and War . Exploring the Cold War causes and effects can be quite a challenge. It is such a multifaceted phenomenon. It was a war led on many fronts. Both USSR and the US pursued their interests using a variety of methods.

• How did Cold War propaganda influence the film industry?
• What were the challenges in the post-cold war world?

🗺 History Dissertation Topics: Geographical Regions

Every country has its historical course, and so does every continent. Geography has always been an important factor when talking about history. It shapes historical trajectory in varied, unique ways.

Look at a dissertation topics history list based on geographical regions:

🦅 American History Dissertation Topics

• History of Hollywood, California . Oh, Hollywood. A place where American movie history was born. What about Hollywood’s history? Although a less traditional American history dissertation topic, it is still a fascinating one. Explore the way technological advancements in filmmaking were introduced over the decades. How did they influence the film’s general style?
• History: Migration into the United States . How did migration influence the economy of the time?
• The Relationships between the Settlers and Native Americans
• Literary works’ Views on Slavery in the United States
• Causes of the Civil War in America
• What is the real meaning of a cowboy?
• The United States military experience through the eyes of films
• Attack on Pearl Harbor: Effects of Foreign policy
• Causes of Depression in the 1890s
• Has President Obama’s Presidency changed the US?
• The role of Founding Fathers in American Society and Religion
• Post-Civil War reconstruction . Consider the way America’s economy, trade, and finance transformed in the aftermath of the Civil War.
• Principal causes and consequences of the Spanish-American War
• Why was the Declaration of Independence written?
• The Significance of the Frontier in American History
• How is a “new racial narrative” in the U.S.A created?
• American Revolution and the Crisis of the Constitution of the U.S.A. Rethink the origins of the American constitution, as well as the following events. It could be an exciting thesis idea for an American history dissertation.

• Growth and Development of San Francisco and Los Angeles after the Gold Rush
• The Role of Racism in American Art
• Drug Use and Abuse in America: Historical Analysis

🏰 European History Dissertation Topics

• Age of Discovery in Europe. The Age of Exploration in Europe lasted from the 15th to the 17th century. Over this period, Europe actively engaged with other territories and continents. Discoverers formed new international relations and expanded geographical knowledge. This topic could also make an excellent cultural history dissertation.
• Analyzing the Impact of British Colonization
• Nationalism in World War II
• Effects of the Industrial Revolution concerning World War I
• The Rise and Fall of Napoleon and the Cause of Revolution . Napoleon is one of the most prominent figures in French history. What has shaped his career as a political leader?
• History of Hitler’s Nazi Propaganda . Consider a brief history of Germany. Undoubtedly, the rule of Hitler and the Third Reich was its most devastating chapter. The “art” of propaganda flourished during the nazi regime. It penetrated the cultural, political, and social life of the country.
• Evolution of the IRA
• Napoleon’s Strategy and Tactics in his Invasion of Russia . For someone interested in writing a military history dissertation.
• Industrial Revolution Impact on Gender Roles
• Witchcraft in Europe (1450-1750) . Witch hunts took place as early as the Middle Ages in Europe. Held by the Church in most cases, witch hunts targeted those who were suspected of practicing black magic. Examine this both astonishing and problematic phenomenon.

• French Revolution: Liberal and Radical Portions
• West European Studies: Columbus’s Journey
• History of Feudalism . Feudalism dominated the European way of life during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. What were its distinctive features as a system? Why did it eventually fade away?
• Europe’s perception of Islam in the Early and Middle centuries
• Cold War Consequences for European Countries
• Mutated Medical Professionals in the Third Reich: Third Reich Doctors
• Was the Holocaust the Failure or the Product of Modernity?
• How did the use of print change the lives of early modern Europeans ?
• Early Modern England: a Social History
• Jewish Insight of Holocaust

⛰ Indian History Dissertation Topics

• History of the Indian Castes. The Indian Caste system is a complex and unique example of social stratification.
• Mahatma Gandhi’s Leadership . Gandhi is, for sure, among the greatest human rights advocates in the world’s history. His one of a kind leadership style is subject to many studies. While practicing a peaceful form of civil protest, he fought for equality, independence, and compassion.
• Political conflicts in India in the XVII century
• Impacts of the First World War on British Policies in India
• Movement Against the British rule in India. Led by Mahatma Gandhi, with the support of the National Congress, the movement took place in 1920-22. It sought to fight for the freedom of Indians.
• The Origin and Course of the Indian revolt of 1857
• The Issues of the Partitioning of India in 1947
• India Since 1900 . India is a region rich with unique traditions. Its spiritual and cultural heritage goes back to antiquity. The country’s authentic art and architecture, music, and cuisine have served as an inspiration worldwide. A considerable part of its history is, however, affected by British rule.

• Women in Hinduism and Buddhism
• The British East India Company

🌍 African History Dissertation Topics

• Ancient Societies in Mesopotamia and Ancient Societies in Africa: a comparison . Egypt is one of the most ancient African civilizations. Its origins go back to the third millennium B.C. Back then, the cultural exchange between Egypt and Mesopotamia was flourishing. What were the significant differences between the two civilizations? What did they have to offer to one another?
• Political Violence in South Africa between 1985 and 1989
• Did History of Modern South Africa begin with the Discovery of Diamonds and Gold?
• Nelson Mandela: “Freedom in Africa.” Nelson Mandela is, without a doubt, one of the central figures in African history. His devotion and tireless effort in fighting against apartheid were remarkable. Thanks to him, many sub-Saharan countries enjoy the freedoms and advances of a democratic society.
• The Cult of the Dead in West Africa: The Kongo People . African tribal rituals and traditions are unique and specific to their region. Cult of the Dead is prevalent in Western African culture. It can be notoriously known as the origin place of voodoo and other black magic practices. There is yet much more to this culture. Dismantling some prejudices could make an excellent African history thesis.
• Christianity, Slavery, and Colonialism: the paradox
• The Colonial War in Southwest Africa
• African-Europe Relations between 1800 and 2000
• Impacts of Slavery and Slave Trade in Africa
• African Communities in America

🎨 Art History Dissertation Topics

Art comes in all shapes and forms. To grasp it better, we can explore each kind separately. Here’s a list of art history dissertation ideas:

🎶 Topics on Performing Arts

• History and Development of Ballet . Ballet is an art form with a long history. Initially, a specific dance originated in Medieval Italy. It was later brought to France and Great Britain. Ballet thrived in the 20th century Russia, where Russian choreographers brought it to the highest level of mastery.
• The Life and Work of William Shakespeare: His Contribution to The Contemporary Theater
• Jazz Music in American Culture . Jazz is one of the most complex and exciting music genres of all time. It was born in the 20’s century black communities of New Orleans and quickly spread across America and then the world. The genre, however, will always be an integral part of African-American identity.
• The Instrumental Music of Baroque: Forms and Evolution
• Rock Music of the 1970s
• Michael Jackson’s Life as a Musician and Choreographer
• Development of the Symphony Orchestra in the 19th and 20th Century
• Woodstock Music Festival . This massive music festival that first took place in 1969 was the epitome of hippie culture. It has a rich history that once again underscores the importance of performing arts in Western culture.
• The History of Modern Chinese Music
• The Renaissance Theater Development. The era in which both visual and performing arts were thriving. It has a lot to offer for proper dissertation research.

🖼Topics on Visual Arts

• Art Period Comparison: Classicism and Middle Age
• Vincent Van Gogh: Changes in the Technique
• The Ambiguity of Mona Lisa Painting

• Orientalism in Western Art . It’s commonly associated with romanticism and some 20th-century artworks. Orientalism is a Western term that speculates the aesthetics of the Orient. Consider this concept as a prism through which Westerners viewed the Eastern world.
• Classical Art and Cubism: History and Comparison
• Postmodern and Modern Art . The 20th and 21st centuries have been a breeding ground for many forms of fine art to emerge and flourish. Some art movements presented their philosophy in the form of manifestos. These texts can be nothing but a pure treasure for someone writing an art history dissertation.
• Female Figures in Ancient Greek Sculpture
• Andy Warhol’s Career . Pioneer of pop-art, creator of Studio 54, and a style icon.
• Filippo Brunelleschi and Religious Architecture
• The Photographic Approaches Towards American Culture of Robert Frank and Garry Winogrand

📋 How to Structure Your Dissertation?

An adequately structured history dissertation can immensely help students. It ensures that they present their ideas and thoughts logically. Sticking to a particular dissertation structure is an essential element of such work.

The general plan of any dissertation type is the following:

• Title Page. A title page should only contain essential information about your work. It usually shows your name, type of the document (thesis, research paper, dissertation), and the title itself. A good history dissertation title is crucial! It’s the first thing a reader will see.
• Acknowledgments. Do you wish to give credit to someone for supporting you during the tiresome months of your work? This is the right part to do so, be it your family, friends, or professors. It is an excellent form to express gratitude to those who proofread your drafts. Or those who brought you another cup of coffee when you needed it.
• Declaration. This section is your written confirmation. You declare that all the research and writing is entirely original and was conducted by you. If someone intellectually contributed to your project, state it in the acknowledgments.
• Table of Contents. Essentially, it’s a brief structure of your dissertation. List every section that you’ve included in your academic paper here.
• Abstract. This is the section where you write a brief summary of your dissertation. It should describe the issue, summarize your core message and essential points. List your research methods and what you’ve done. Remember to make it short, as the abstract shouldn’t exceed 300 words or so. Finish the part with a few essential keywords so that others can find your work.
• Introduction. A dissertation introduction presents the subject to the reader. You can talk about the format of your work. Explain what you plan to contribute to the field with your research.
• Literature Review. The chapter reviews and analyzes pieces of scholarly work (literature) that have been made on the subject of your research. The sources should present relevant theories and support your thesis. Be sure to discuss the weaknesses and strengths of the selected area of study and highlight possible gaps in this research.
• a code of conduct;
• research limitations;
• research philosophy;
• research design;
• ethical consideration;
• data collection methods;
• data analysis strategy.
• Findings and Results. Restate everything you have found in your research. However, do not interpret the data or make any conclusions yet.
• Discussion and Conclusion. In this chapter, you should personally interpret all of the data and make conclusions based on your research. It is essential to establish a logical link between the results and evidence. Finally, conclude the overall study. You can add final judgments, opinions, and comments.
• References. This section contains a list of references to all the sources that you used. Write down every material, which you quoted, mentioned, or paraphrased in your work. Check your educational institution’s guidelines to see how to do so correctly.
• Bibliography. Similar to the reference section, a bibliography is a list of sources you used in your dissertation. The only difference is that it should contain even the sources you don’t directly mention in your writing. Whatever helped you with the research, you state here.
• Appendices. The section may include any supplementary information that explains and complement the arguments. Add pictures, diagrams, and graphs that serve as examples for your research subject.

Writing a dissertation is the right challenge for those with ambitions and lots of determination. It is a lot like a marathon, and it starts with choosing the right topic. We hope that you will find one for yourself on this list. Good luck! Share the article to help those who may need a piece of advice or some history dissertation topics.

🔗 References

• How To Write A Dissertation: Department of Computer Science, West Lafayette, Purdue University
• Ph.D. Thesis Research, Where Do I Start: Don Davis, Columbia University
• Writing with Power: Elbow P., Oxford University
• Writing a Thesis or Dissertation – A Guide to Resources: Gricel Dominguez
• The Elements of Style: Strunk, W. Jr., White, E.B., Angell, R.
• A Collection Of Dissertation Topics In American History: asqauditconference.org
• Yale History Dissertations: Department of History, Yale University
• Dissertation Outline: School of Education, Duquesne University
• Developing a Thesis Statement: The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Writing an Abstract: The Writing Center, George Mason University
• Formatting Additional Pages: University of Missouri Graduate School
• Reference List vs. Bibliography: OWLL, Massey University
• How to Write Your Dissertation: Goldsmiths University for The Guardian
• Tips on Grammar, Punctuation and Style: Kim Cooper, for the Writing Center at Harvard University
• Acknowledgments, Thesis and Dissertation: Research Guides at Sam Houston State University
• Thesis Formatting, Writing up your Research: Subject Guides at University of Canterbury
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History Dissertation Topics

Published by Grace Graffin at January 9th, 2023 , Revised On April 16, 2024

Introduction

Choosing the most appropriate topic for a history dissertation can be tricky. Before selecting a topic, it is imperative to have an in-depth knowledge of the historical events or phenomena you wish to evaluate. Complete comprehension of a topic area is necessary before you can go about the task of completing your dissertation.

To help you get started with brainstorming for history topic ideas, we have developed a list of the latest topics that can be used for writing your history dissertation.

PhD qualified writers of our team have developed these topics, so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting  a brief research proposal  from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an  introduction  to the topic,  research question ,  aim and objectives ,  literature review  along with the proposed  methodology  of research to be conducted.  Let us know  if you need any help in getting started.

Check our  dissertation examples  to get an idea of  how to structure your dissertation .

Review the full list of  dissertation topics here.

2024 History Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: who was responsible for european civil wars an exploratory study identifying the determinants of the 1870 franco-prussian war.

Research Aim: This research aims to determine various political, social, and economic factors which caused European civil wars. It will use the 1870 Franco-Prussian War as a case study to analyse which political, social, or economic forces played their part in exaggerating this war. Moreover, it will use various historical lenses to evaluate the available evidence in this area to determine the factors objectively. Lastly, it will recommend ways through a historical viewpoint that could’ve saved lives in these wars.

Topic 2: What were the Socio-Economic Discontents of the Second Industrial Revolution? A Marx-Engels Perspective

Research Aim: This study identifies various socio-economic discontents of the second industrial revolution through the Marx-Engels communist lens. It will analyse how the second industrial revolution brought undesirable socio-economic changes in Europe and the rest of the world. It will develop a socio-economic framework by using Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’s critique of capitalism and social class theory to show the second industrial revolution divided the entire world into two classes. Moreover, it will show how imperialist powers used the second industrial revolution to change the world order.

Topic 3: Did Mongols Bring Social Change in Ancient Arab? Impact of Mongols Invasion on Ancient Arab Culture and Traditions

Research Aim: This research intends to analyse the social change brought by Mongols in ancient Arab. It will find the impact of the Mongols’ invasion on ancient Arab culture and traditions by identifying channels such as slavery, forced marriages, etc., through which Mongols brought a cultural change. Moreover, it will find whether Arabs could come back to their original state or modern Arabs have their traits? And through which ways did ancient Arabs resist those changes?

Topic 4: What is Common among the United States’ Iraq, Japan, Afghanistan, and Cuba Invasions? A Comparative Study Finding the United States Common Political and Economic Motives

Research Aim: This study compares the United States’ Iraq, Japan, Korea, Afghanistan, and Cuba invasions. It will identify the United States’ common political and economic motives among these invasions, which gave it an incentive to pursue. It will be a multidisciplinary study exploring geopolitical, geo-economic, geo-strategic, and historical aspects of the invasions. Moreover, it will also compare the post-invasion situation of these countries to show how these countries dealt with it and how can which didn’t recover from invasion can improve.

Topic 5: The Life and Work of William Shakespeare: His Influence on The Modern Theater- A Critique of Dr. Johnson

Research Aim: This study sheds light on the life and work of William Shakespeare by analysing his role in modern theater. It will try to highlight his contribution in the field of literature and theater but through the approach of Dr. Johnson. Johnson’s works will be evaluated to see whether William Shakespeare has done something significant for modern theater or it is just a one-sided view of William Shakespeare’s followers. It will analyse various works of William Shakespeare from Johnson’s critical lens to provide an objective assessment.

Covid-19 History Research Topics

Topic 1: the history of coronavirus..

Research Aim: This study will explore the historical facts and theories related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Topic 3: History of Spanish flu

Research Aim: In 1918, a deadly pandemic called Spanish flu hit the world, and many people lost their lives. This study will highlight the history of the disease, symptoms, and similarities with the present crisis of COVID-19.

Topic 3: The history of various types of pandemics and their consequences

Research Aim: This study will investigate the history of various types of pandemics and their consequences on people’s health, economy, and the world’s transformation after it.

History Research Topics 2023

Topic 1: types of communications in history.

Research Aim: This research aims to identify the types of communications in history

Topic 2: Terrorism and its impact on people's life

Research Aim: This research aims to address terrorism’s impact on people’s life

Topic 3: Treaty of Lausanne and the world's predictions about Turkey in 2023

Research Aim: This research aims to conduct a study on the Treaty of Lausanne and the world’s predictions about Turkey in 2023

Topic 4: Mythological stories and their impact on the youth

Research Aim: This research aims to study the impact of mythological stories on the youth.

Dissertation Topics from the Nineteenth Century

Topic 1: analysis of church wealth expropriation and political conflict in 19th century colombia..

Research Aim: The research will explore the events of political violence after independence in Colombia regarding the redefinition of the Catholic Church’s property rights. The study primarily focuses on the country after 1850 to measure the influence of that expropriation of the Church’s assets on political violence.

Topic 2: Exploring the impact of 19th-century development of refrigeration on The American meatpacking industry.

Research Aim: The city of Chicago in the United States is known to be the center of modern refrigeration development due to it being the hub of the meatpacking industry. The proposed research will analyse Chicago’s meatpacking sector’s development and its significant role in developing critical technologies such as refrigeration. The study will examine the development of refrigerated transport and cold storage units to comprehend the city’s meatpacking industry’s local and later global success throughout the 19th century.

Topic 3: Examining the impact of the telegraph in the United States of America

Research Aim: The research uses document analysis to examine the influence of the invention of the telegraph in the United States of America. Specifically, the study will analyse how the telegraph revolutionized communication and news broadcasting to newspapers over national and international networks.

Topic 4: The impact of industrial conflict and technology on the development of technical education in 19th-century England.

Research Aim: The research will analyze the role that 19th-century employers played in training and educating the young industrial workers in England. The purpose of the study is to comprehend the various factors that influenced the development of technical education while discovering the reason for antagonistic relations with skilled workers, which may have caused the Great Strike and Lockout of 1897.

Topic 5: The impact of changing gender relations on childbearing populations in the 19th-century Netherlands.

Research Aim: The research will look to comprehend the changes in childbearing patterns using a sequence analysis approach. The study will also try to understand the association between gender relations, historical fertility records, and women’s reproductive patterns in the 19th century Netherlands.

Topic 6: Examining the shift of hierarchical and ethnocentric foreign relations to the western model of international relations in 19th-century Japan.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the 19th century, a period of transition in Japanese foreign policy. The study will mainly focus on the Russo-Japanese relations using document analysis to assess the four stages of shift that led Japan from an ethnocentric foreign policymaker to the Western-type without colonization and defeat in war.

History and Religious Dissertations

Topic 1: the impact of popular culture on evangelical christians in america..

Research Aim: The research uses document analysis to examine the impact that popular culture has had in shaping Evangelical Christian thought in the United States from the 1960s to the 2000s. The study focuses on analysing the variables that have allowed Evangelicalism to becoming a middle-class populist movement.

Topic 2: Fertility, feminism, and the American revolution

Research Aim: The research using document analysis, analyses the impact of the American Revolution on declining birth rates in the colonies and the increase of family limitation among white free women. The research will investigate the intentions of founding American women on their rejection of abundant fertility and a patriarchal family and the existent or non-existent role that colonial Christians played.

Topic 3: The decline of irrational and magical ideologies in England 1500-1600.

Research Aim: The research analyses how the introduction of religion, specifically early Christianity, had an impact on declining the conventional thought processes that used irrationality or magic as their basis. The research will use document analysis as its research method.

Topic 4: The impact of religion on innovation, 1604.

Research Aim: The research examines how Sir Frances Bacon’s epistle “Of Innovations” argues for the positive potential of innovation from the understanding of the Biblical scriptures. The study will also explore the relationship between Bacon and the English Protestant Church.

Topic 5: The role of churches and religion in World War II.

Research Aim: The research looks to examine the role of churches in Europe during WWII. The study will also analyse their religious ideologies and their deeds as institutions to impact the perceptions of World War II. The research will be conducted using document analysis.

History and Sociology Dissertations

Topic 1: race, poverty, and food deserts in cardiff, 1980-2016..

Research Aim: The research examines the demographic and spatial patterns that have shaped access to supermarkets in low-income neighbourhoods in Cardiff from 1980 to 2016. The research methods used will be quantitative.

Topic 2: Impact of World War II rationing on British cuisine

Research Aim: The research analyses the impact of rationing items by the British Ministry of Food on the specific culture from the 1940s to the 1980s. The research uses variables of socio-economic classes and geographic locations of the country to examine the cultural impacts it had on the British palate during the time. The research methods will include quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Topic 3: Impact of religious doctrines and ideologies on racism and racist factions in the USA.

Research Aim: The research analyses the relationship between different Christian sects and racial prejudice among groups of Christians based on geographic location (North or South) in the United States after the 2016 presidential elections. The research will be quantitative in nature but will incorporate qualitative techniques of historical document analysis to examine how racism in the country has changed since the Civil Rights Era of the United States.

Topic 4: The historical development and impact of public transportation in Shanghai, China, 1843-1937.

Research Aim: The research will analyze the impact of public transportation on the development of Shanghai’s urban landscape using the variables of tradition vs modernity, state and social relationships, and technology and society relations. The research will provide a historical analysis of the city from the British and the Opium Wars’ colonization to the 20th century. The study will use qualitative document analysis and quantitative techniques as research methods.

Topic 5: The impact of water resource management, technological solutions, and urban growth after World War II on Atlanta, Georgia.

Research Aim: The purpose of the dissertation is to examine the origins of water-related issues in Atlanta by discovering the challenges that public officials, activists, and engineers faced in the area in terms of planning and enacting an effective environmental policy after World War II in the metropolitan area of Atlanta. The research will use historical document analysis as its methodology.

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Historical People and Events Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: examining the events and people giving rise to winston churchill.

Research Aim: The research examines the network of friends and colleagues of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill on how they influenced the primer’s reputation after his retirement and death. The study will analyze the history of the Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge, and the influence that Sir John Colville had on shaping Churchill’s image.

Topic 2: The rise of the right-wing woman in 20th-century Britain- Analysing Margaret Thatcher and Mary Whitehouse

Research Aim: The relationship between conservative powerhouses Margaret Thatcher and Mary Whitehouse was well known to the public for its traditional undertones. The research will examine the relationship between the two women using document analysis, particularly the public presentation relationship, to better understand the importance of conservative women in Britain. The research will analyze the twentieth-century political and cultural contexts that gave rise to these two women.

Topic 3: Examining the cooperative transformational leadership of Nelson Mandela and F. W. de Klerk.

Research Aim: The research will study the transfer of power in South Africa by focusing on the cooperative leadership strategies, policies, and personal characteristics of leaders such as Nelson Mandela and F. W. de Klerk. The research will examine how these two leaders could bring systematic revolution through democratic and peaceful means.

Topic 4: Pablo Picasso- The making of “Guernica” and its historical context.

Research Aim: The research will analyze the history of paintings of people suffering from convulsion of war, explicitly focusing on Goya. The paper will examine the factors and influences on Pablo Picasso that lead to the development of “Guernica.” The research will analyze how Picasso depicted real history snatches with symbolism that resonated with people.

Topic 5: Analysing the role of women in the Crusade Movement.

Research Aim: The research examines women’s contribution to the Crusades and its impact on propaganda, recruitment, organization of the crusades, and financing of the campaigns. The study will also survey their roles in looking after families and properties while also giving liturgical support at home for those on the crusade campaigns.

Topic 6: The impact of the Harlem Renaissance on urban landscaping, Jazz music, and literature.

Research Aim: The research will examine the Great Migration of the 1910s in the United States, where a concentration of African American population moved North causing demographic shifts. The study will analyse Toni Morrison’s Jazz, Persia Walker’s Black Orchid Blues, and other works regarding music and urbanization.

Topic 23: John F. Kennedy- Rise of American foreign power and South Vietnam.

Research Aim: The research will analyze John F. Kennedy’s foreign policy strategies’ central themes. The paper examines the themes of counterinsurgency, credibility, and commitment in South Asia, particularly South Vietnam, to improve his credibility after the Bay of Pigs incident. The paper will observe the president’s fascination regarding psychological warfare, military forces, and countering ‘communism’ aggression in Southeast Asia.

Italian Unification History Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: the preservation of italy- analysing the fragility of italian unity 1866-68..

Research Aim: The research analyses the impact of the Austro-Prussian War at its conclusion in July 1866. The paper analyses factors such as the fall of the Liberal government in Britain that impacted the fragility of the Italian Unification. The paper examines the historical event through the bilateral relationship between a newly rising Italy and Britain.

Topic 2: Analysing the Italian post-unification period- Racial and colonial factors influencing modern Italians.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the rise of Italian fascism with the premise that it rose from the failures of previous liberal governments. The study particularly examines the first Liberal period after unification which led to the explosion of civil war in the South of Italy. The study will analyse the racial and colonial factors that influenced the competition with Western European nations for imperialistic endeavours.

Topic 3: Prison system management in 19th-century Italian prisons after unification.

Research Aim: The research analyses accounting practices in prisons using documentation analysis of the prison management system of major Italian States in the early 19th century. The study aims to use various accounting methods to uncover the potentially socially damaging tools of accounting in prison reforms to discipline individuals of lesser status.

Topic 4: The impact of the mafia on Italian education after unification.

Research Aim: The research will use historical point data to analyse the impact the Mafia had on the level of education between 1874 to 1913. The particular geographic constraint of the study will be restricted to Sicily, Italy, after the unification of the Italian Kingdom in 1861.

German Unification History Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: examining the parties and problems of governance in the german empire..

Research Aim: The research will examine using document analysis the various processes for political restructuring that caused the founding of many political parties, interest groups, and civic associations. The research analyses how the Federal Republic strategized to transfer German Democratic Republic citizens’ sovereign rights to international institutions and the Federal Republic institutions.

Topic 2: Analysing the collapse of the GDR and the re-unification of Germany.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the factors and influences surrounding the collapse of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1898 to 1990 and the reunifications of East and West Germany. The research will also analyse the role of businesses with regards to the collapse, particularly the German business elites and their relationship with the Soviet Union.

Topic 3: Analysing the impact of Bismarck on the capitulation of German liberalism.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the impact the German National Liberal party of 1866 to 1867 had to support Otto von Bismarck’s policy of German unification. The study will examine the political stakes involved and the philosophy of Realpolitik on the Unification of the German Empire.

Topic 4: The impact of radical nationalism and political change after Bismarck.

Research Aim: The research will examine the factors that gave rise to the radicalization of the German right under the politics of Otto von Bismarck. The study looks to find evidence of German fascism prior to World War II. To conduct the research, a thorough document analysis will be done with an extensive literature review.

World War I Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: the response of german immigrants to discrimination in the usa during world war i.

Research Aim: The research will examine the impact of caste-based discrimination on assimilation patterns of immigrant minorities, specifically German immigrants in the United States during WWI. The study will understand if discriminated minority groups increase their assimilation efforts to avoid discrimination and public harassment. The research will use naming patterns of children and records of petitions of naturalisations to conduct the study empirically.

Topic 2: Analysing the impact of affective experience and popular emotion on WWI International Relations.

Research Aim: The research will examine the factors of communal emotion and mass emotion during the outbreak of WWI to demonstrate the political significance of widespread sentiment. The research looks to study the factors with regard to contemporary populism.

Topic 3: The impact of military service in WWI on the economic status of American Veterans?

Research Aim: The research will analyse the different registration regimes during the WWI draft to find their impact on economic outcomes. The research will use empirical from 1900 to 1930 United States to study short term impact of military service while the United States census of 1960 is used to determine the long term impacts. The data collected will be of household income and draft population of the time in WW1.

Topic 4: Examining the Impact of Quarrying Companies Royal Engineers in WWI to support British armies on the Western Front.

Research Aim: The research will examine the history of the Quarrying Companies unit within the Royal Engineers in WWI. The study will analyse the impact that the group had on British armies on the Western Front, particularly for the aid of the British Expeditionary Forces until its disbandment in 1919.

The Great Depression (Britain 1918-1939) Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: the impact of the great depression on labour productivity..

Research Aim: The research will examine the labour productivity of the UK manufacturing industry during the Great Depression. The research will be of empirical methodology and collect data of actual hours of work, real output, and employment statistics. The study will prove that during the Great Depression, output per work-hour was counter-cyclical between 1929 and 1932.

Topic 2: Analysing the discourse of British newspapers during the Great Depression.

Research Aim: The research will use document analysis and text analysis to examine the rhetoric of British newspapers when unemployment rises. The study will accurately analyse the Great Depression in Britain by determining how the stigmatisation of poverty changes in the rhetoric of newspapers when discussing unemployment.

Topic 3: The Impact of the Great Depression on British Women Migration 1925-1935.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the impact that the Great Depression had on the migration of women out of Britain to the rest of its empire. The study will use empirical data to analyze the Society for Oversea Settlement of British Women (SOSBW). The research will assess if the society’s training programme influenced the employment and migration of women.

Topic 4: The Great Depression and British industrial growth- Analysing economic factors contributing to the Great Depression in Britain.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the British deceleration of industrial growth and the percentage rate of growth as the cause of the Great Depression in Britain. The research will examine the contribution of the Industrial Revolution and its initial rapid percentage of rate of growth causing ‘retardation.’ The study will be empirical and analyse historical patterns of Britain’s national economy.

Second World War Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: analysing brazilian aviation in world war ii.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the extent to which Brazilians were actively engaged in combat on the Brazilian coast and in the European theatre. The study will primarily focus on the global conflict through the Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB, or the Brazilian Air Force development before participation in the Second World War.

Topic 2: The impact of invention secrecy in World War II.

Research Aim: The research will examine the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent secrecy orders which put over 11,000 US patent applications given secrecy orders. The study will analyse how this policy impacted keeping technology from the public during the war effort, specifically radar, electronics, and synthetic materials.

Topic 3: Analysing aerial photographic intelligence in WWII by British geologists.

Research Aim: The research will examine the period of WWII from 1939 to 1945, when intelligence was collected from aerial photographs by the Allied Central Interpretation Unit. The study will assess the history of aerial photographic information based on geology contributing to the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944.

Topic 4: Analysing British propaganda in the United States during WWII.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the strategies that British propagandists used to understand the American opinion of WWII during the war and for post-war relationships. The study will investigate the policies and factors that contributed to keeping the wartime alliance and creating an acceptable political climate in the United States for post-war cooperation.

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History of Nazi Germany Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: the impact of discrimination against jewish managers on firm performance in nazi germany..

Research Aim: The research will examine the large-scale increase in discrimination in Nazi Germany to cause the dismissal of qualified Jewish managers in large firms. The study will analyse the persistent stock prices of firms, dividend payments, and return on assets after the discriminatory removal of Jewish managers.

Topic 2: Examining children’s literature in Nazi Germany

Research Aim: The research will analyse children’s literature which was propagandised between 1933 and 1945 under the National Socialists party. The paper will examine the various themes, specifically the Nordic German worldview, and how German values were distorted to produce a homogenous folk community.

Topic 3: Shifting from liberal education of the Weimar Republic to Nazi educational reforms- Analysing educational reforms under the Nazi government.

Research Aim: The research will examine education reform that the National Socialist government implemented in elementary education. The research will look to accumulate personal accounts of families and students who experienced the era to better comprehend the educational reforms. The study seems to under how these educational reforms moulded student ideologies.

Topic 4: The effects of antisemitism in film comedy in Nazi Germany,

Research Aim: The research will explore the themes of antisemitism in film comedy produced during the reign of the Nazi party in Germany. The research will study how themes impacted the perceptions of people living in Germany post-war. The research will use document analysis and empirical analysis to document and examine the themes and attitudes.

History of Cinema Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: analysing the history and politics of bollywood..

Research Aim: The research will explore the various events in Indian film history that have allowed it to become a global sensation. The paper will analyse its market-driven triumph against Hollywood imports starting from the 1930s. The paper will also examine the nationalist social views of films produced in Bollywood during the 1950s.

Topic 2: The role of cinematic depictions influencing popular understanding of the Spanish Civil War.

Research Aim: The research will examine the role that cinema played in shaping the understanding of the Spanish Civil War. The study will focus on fictional films that were produced in Spain and Hollywood between the 1940s and the early years of the 21st century.

Topic 3: Analysing distinctive characteristics of Korean films.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the characteristics of Korean films and examine their historical development. The research will focus on the eras of the Japanese colonial period to 1945 when the American army occupied South Korea. The study will analyse the role of censorship throughout this time period in producing Korean films.

Topic 4: Examining the history of cinema in Britain since 1896.

Research Aim: The research will explore the development of cinema exhibitions and cinema-going in Britain in 1896. They will analyse various factors that led to the rapid growth of cinema in Britain just before WWI. The study will examine factors such as the position of cinema, development of modern spaces, artistic respectability, the invention of sound, and cinema as individual entertainment.

History of Racism Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: analysing the factors influencing institutional racism in america..

Research Aim: The research will explore the complicated history of racism in the United States. It will analyse how racism has become embedded throughout American society from land ownership, education, healthcare, employment, and the criminal justice system. The research will use a mixed-methods research approach to gather data.

Topic 2: Examining the relationship between racism and environmental deregulation in the Trump Era.

Research Aim: The research will analyse the possible relationship between environmental deregulation and racism between 2016 and 2017 under the Trump Administration. The study will primarily collect data from executive actions, ecological events, and tweets from the President during this time period. The study will document racist events that were targeted at people of colour, Asians, Arabs, South Asians, Muslims, and indigenous persons.

Topic 3: Analysing the experience of racism in English schools towards Eastern European Migrants.

Research Aim: The research will use qualitative design to analyse the experience of racism faced by students of Eastern European descent. The research will use the framework proposed by the Critical Race Theory and Critical Conceptions of Whiteness to conduct the study. The research will focus on the racism experienced by these students as marginal whiteness for their various linguistic accents.

Topic 4: The impact of racism on Afro-Italian entrepreneurship.

Research Aim: The research will use qualitative data to analyse the participation of Afro-Italian women entrepreneurs in start-ups relating to beauty, style, and hair care lines. The study explores the obstacles that young black women entrepreneurs face in Italian due to racism and how their inclusion in small economies changes the perception of Blackness and Black womanhood related to Italian material culture.

Also Read: Religion, Theology and Philosophy Dissertation Topics

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History of Spanish Civil War Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: examining the role of international nurses during the spanish civil war..

Research Aim: The research will use document analysis, primarily memoirs, to explore the life and work of international nursed participation during the Spanish Civil War. The study will examine their role with regard to contributions made to Spanish nursing during the war.

Topic 2: Examining republican propaganda during the Spanish Civil War.

Research Aim: The research will explore the propaganda used by the Republicans of the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939 to support their ideology of the war. The paper will focus on three primary forms of media – newspapers, cinema, and music. The study will conduct the analysis using historical context to examine its effectiveness in propagating the Republican messages.

Topic 3: The history of British Battalions in the International Brigades of the Spanish Civil War.

Research Aim: The research will examine the role, experiences, and contributions of British volunteers to the Spanish Republic through the British Battalion of the 15th International Brigade. The study will accurately analyse the motivations of the volunteers to join the International Brigades and participate in the Spanish Civil War.

Topic 4: British cultural perspectives on the Spanish Civil War.

Research Aim: The research will explore the cultural perspectives of the political understanding of the British responses to the Spanish Civil War. The study will examine the mass culture and personal experiences of British visitors to Spain in the 1930s.

History of the United States Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: the impact of ‘the frontier’ on american expansion and imperialism..

Research Aim: The research explores the idea of ‘manifest destiny, its connection to the American frontier, and its impact on imperialism. The study focuses on how the American perception of savagery and civilisation is related to expanding the American frontier.

Topic 2: Analysing the American public opinion on the War in Vietnam.

Research Aim: The research uses empirical data to analyse the American public attitude with regard to the Vietnam Wat. The data will be analysed using demographic groups and perception studies. The study will investigate how these perceptions eventually shaped government policy preferences during the Vietnam War.

Topic 3: Analysing the inaugural speeches of re-elected US presidents since WWII.

Research Aim: The research identifies, analyses, and assesses the use of individual style in inaugural speeches of re-elected US presidents since WWII. The research will be conducted using document analysis of lexical and semantic levels. The study will assess how the inaugural addresses are shaped to reflect the public policy of re-elected presidents.

Topic 4: Analysing the rise of white power and paramilitary groups in the United States.

Research Aim: The research analyses the rise and expansion of white nationalists, racist far-right groups using government publications, journalistic accounts, and archival records. The research focuses on the failure in Vietnam, giving rise to white power movements. The study will examine various events to assess the factors and significance that caused an increase in paramilitary groups in the United States.

Topic 5: Examining the rise of new white nationalism in America.

Research Aim: The research will use data acquired from speeches, books, and internet sources written by white nationalists to assess the shift of white nationalist ideas of oppression of other races to a view of victimhood of white nationalists. The research will use an extensive literature review to document the development of white nationalism in American history while also considering the development of social media.

Historic Events of Early Twentieth Century Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: the creation of uniquely american musical sounds; changes in classical music from the 19th to 20th century..

Research Aim: The research explores the changes in American classical music, shifting from its traditional European origins to a more defined American sound. The study will contend that historical events such as the upheaval and shifts of society during the American Civil War were the main factors of the creation of new American classical music.

Topic 2: The influence of political parties on democracy and party-state relations in the 20th-century.

Research Aim: The research will analyse institutional reforms of party-state relations, including constitutions, electoral laws, and party laws in France and Italy during the 20th century. The study will examine the impact of party entanglement on contributing to democratisation in Europe.

Topic 3: The impact of suspicion and distrust on conflict coverage- A case study of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Research Aim: The research will use inductive-qualitative analysis to examine the journalistic narratives of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To do so, the factors of suspicion of information sources, awareness of being under suspicion, and distrust of peer journalists are used to examine the trust of journalists and the dilemma they face in hostile environments.

Also Read: Project Management Dissertation Topics

Important Notes:

As a student of history looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment with existing history theories – i.e., to add value and interest to your research topic.

The field of history is vast and interrelated to so many other academic disciplines like literature , linguistics , politics , international relations , and more. That is why it is imperative to create a history dissertation topic that is particular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic; it is the basis of your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, and there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in writing your dissertation as you may end up in the cycle of rejection at the very initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best history dissertation topics that fulfill your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and can also be practically implemented. Take a look at some of our sample history dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure your History Dissertation

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

• A Title Page
• Acknowledgments
• Declaration
• Abstract: A summary of the research completed
• Table of Contents
• Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems to be addressed. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
• Literature Review : This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature available on the chosen research topic, in light of research questions to be addressed. The purpose is to highlight and discuss the relative weaknesses and strengths of the selected research area while identifying any research gaps. Break down of the topic, and key terms can have a positive impact on your dissertation and your tutor.
• Methodology : The data collection and analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter which usually includes research design , research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and data analysis strategy .
• Findings and Analysis : Findings of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include graphs, charts, and tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
• Discussion and Conclusion : The researcher presents his interpretation of the results in this chapter, and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section is to establish the link between the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regards to implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
• References : Make sure to complete this in accordance with your University’s requirements
• Bibliography
• Appendices : Any additional information, diagrams, or graphs that were used to complete the dissertation but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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100 History Dissertation Topics

A dissertation is the main project in the academic component of your college experience. It's an opportunity to explore a more in-depth subject that is of particular interest to you as well as an opportunity to showcase your capability to pursue independent research in the academic context. The dissertation may help you to develop a deeper understanding of the scholarship already available or analyze existing scholarship using an entirely new lens of analysis or, if you're lucky, shed an entirely new light on a topic. While your dissertation is evolving in both its scope and objective It is essential that you select a topic that is able to sustain your interest and assist you keep the enthusiasm needed for writing a top-quality work of research. The variety of the historical period covered in your degree program means the narrowing of your focus to one particular subject can be an overwhelming task. To help you choose an area to write your thesis, the article provides various topic ideas that span the entire range of historical times. The suggestions are based on the following historical periods including the Crimean War, Napoleon, Italian Unification, German Unification and the First World War, the Great Depression, Mussolini, Nazi Germany Stalin's Russia and the Second World War.

Structuring Dissertations: Rules & Tips

When you are preparing your dissertation, you need to know what sections should comprise and what they ought to be discussing. The structure of your history dissertation does not really differ from dissertations composed on other subjects, which means you don't need to waste hours finding all the guidelines. Let's look at the main sections that need to be included.

• Introduction. In this section you must present the background of your subject and the reasons you decided to study the topic specifically. Avoid using first person pronouns except in a reflection section or a reflection section, make use of more general phrases. Introduction to your History dissertation should include thesis or hypothesis along with research questions that revolve around the subject you have chosen to study.
• Literature Review. This is where you will present a brief overview and the synthesis of all primary and secondary sources you've gathered in your investigation. This is among the most important ones, and the quality of it is contingent on the subject you chose Be extra cautious and careful when you are evaluating subjects for your history dissertation. This shouldn't be just an overview, however. You must demonstrate your comprehension of the concepts that you have discussed and then synthesize information from a variety of sources. Connect them by comparing similarities or differences, and analyze them and compare them and then answer the "so what" question.
• Methodology. It is a basic but complicated part, as it requires you to write down the method by which you conducted your research. Some students opt to buy their dissertation methodology through EduBirdie since the process of explaining every step and format could be quite time-consuming. It is essential to be objective, rational and honest here.
• Results. Explain everything you've learned during your research, clearly explaining which hypotheses were supported and which ones were questioned.
• Discussion. Discuss your findings. Explain the implications on the field of history as well as how they can be used in the future research and what more is needed to enhance the results.
• Conclusion. Highlight the key points your history dissertation contains. Highlight the importance your research and weaknesses once more.
• Bibliography. Mention every source you've utilized in your work.

History Dissertation Topics Sample

When students at the undergraduate level are looking for topics for their dissertations on history they are often overwhelmed because the subject is huge, finding the topic that is likely to spark interest in the individual is a challenge. To help you with this endeavor, we've picked seven of the most relevant categories for historical dissertations. We've also provided a brief outline along with some topics which could be explored within these categories. Explore them for yourself and then feel free utilize any one you find interesting!

The Crimean War Dissertation Topics

The Crimean War is considered to be the first modern conflict that has affected the course of all subsequent wars. If you're looking to write your research on Crimean War, the topics listed below will give you an indication of where to begin.

• What was the primary motive behind this war? Crimean war?
• What is the reason why this Crimean War be considered to as a "modern" war?
• Was it the single most significant incident of the Crimean War?
• Review and discuss French strategy during Crimean War.
• What were the ramifications from what was the result of Crimean War?
• What was the role of religion the Crimean War?
• Which was the biggest important event that helped settle this conflict? Crimean War?
• What was the reason so many attempts to make peace work? What happened to Crimean War?
• What was the reason why that the Crimean War end when it did?
• What is it that makes the participation by women during the Crimean War considered to be so important?
• What were the goals that the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean War?
• What was the motivation behind those in the French as well as the British empires to fight Russia and join forces with the Ottomans during the Crimean War?
• Did the Crimean War inevitable given the goals of the principal actors?

Historical People & Events History Dissertation Topics

This is a universal category and thrilling because it can be a part of any time period you're interested in. Consider historical figures who made an influence on the world or select a specific incident. The following subjects fall into this category:

• Hitler was born and educated as factors in his wartime views , as well as his results
• Reformation objectives stated or implied
• Why did the Berlin Wall fall after all this time?
• The reasons that resulted in the various American Revolution stages
• Queen Victoria's political policies and how they are affecting Great Britain
• Stalin: a multi-layered path to the pinnacle of power
• Sebastien Michaelis: the emergence and part in French inquisition
• Battle of Waterloo: background and implications
• The most influential politician of the history of modern times
• Slave Trade Act and its historical ramifications for all people of Great Britain
• The personality of Boris Johnson: transformation or stagnation?

The First World War History Dissertation Topics

The events that occurred during the First World War remain relevant in the present, as barely 100 years have been since the war, while the destruction that they caused was a massive one. There are numerous aspects that could be examined under this broad subject.

• The causes that the First World War had: an overview of each side's arguments
• USSR's involvement in WW I
• Effects that the First World War had for everyone involved in it
• Three crucial decisions that influenced the end of the First World War
• soldiers of WW I conditions such as motivations, conditions, and the battles
• Repercussions of fairness for Germany following the First World War
• Assessment of the most powerful unions was completed during WW I
• Hitler's Bavarian Army during the First World War
• The premise for additional aggression was Germany's loss in World War One.
• Methods by which WW1 could be prevented
• What moral values have the people in Great Britain changed after WW I?
• Contemporary biases in portrayal of WWI by the media networks.
• The role of nurses during their role in the First First War: Nightingale's Hereditary.

Italian Unification Dissertation Topics

It was a social and political movement that contributed to the late 19th-century unification of the different nations on the Italian peninsula. It began with the Congress of Vienna and the overthrow of Napoleonic government in 1815, and it concluded with the Franco-Prussian War as Italy made its first steps toward independence. You can select a topic from the list below if you want to switch gears from studying British history and instead concentrate on the Italian Unification.

• What were the major factors that led to Italian unification?
• What were the most pressing challenges facing the newly formed Italian government? And how could they be addressed?
• Examine the contribution of Cavour to Italian unity - was Cavour the main reason Italy was unified?
• The one you consider more crucial in the unification process - foreign policy or economics?
• What effect would the unification process of Italy had on the operation within Vienna? Vienna system?
• What did Italy's attitude to foreign policy mirror that of other countries in the present moment?
• What was the reason why Italy been many years within a state 'disunion'?
• Examine whether Italian unification has helped improve the standard of life of people?
• What was the success rate of Italian unification? What could the unification accomplish?
• Consider the significance of Garibaldi's involvement in the process of Italian unification.
• What impact did the unification process of Italy affect on the Balance of Power in Europe?
• Consider the argument you believe Guiseppe Mazzini is the main driver in the direction of Italian Unification?
• Examine the many social factors that contributed to Italian Unification. What factors can be considered as the most significant?

Mussolini's Italy History Dissertation Topics

Mussolini is another well-known leader who impacted the lives of many individuals and nations. His political views are still being researched due to the close connections that they shared with the Second World War.

• Mussolini and Hitler The connection and its implications for Italy
• Fascism's development within Italy under Mussolini's regime
• The decision of Mussolini to rise to the position of power in Italy
• Those who endured the most suffering under Mussolini's rule
• The most significant Italian leader was Mussolini.
• Two key features that characterize Mussolini's rise to the limelight
• Politics Mussolini implemented while he was in control of Italy
• The fall of Mussolini and his regiment in Italy
• The influence of Hitler on Mussolini's views
• Positive and negative developments Italy experienced under Mussolini
• talks with Mussolini talks with Mussolini: facts and myths
• What kind of social issues that have led to people changing in their opinions in the wake of Mussolini's ideas?
• Mussolini was the founder of Italy's criminal gangs either right or wrong.

Topics for dissertations on the Second World War

The enormous number of lives lost during the Second World War continues to serve as a sad and melancholy reminder. Since the war was a relatively recent occurrence and there are still living individuals who participated in it, its relevance won't diminish anytime soon.

• How would things have changed to the world What would have happened if Germany would have won this Second World War?
• The attitude of the old towards Germans A historical issue
• The force Hitler's army had ensured most of their victory
• Country that was the most affected as WW II results.
• The repercussions that the Second WW caused for Germany and Japan The two countries had a lot in common and differences
• Events that led to Allies triumph over Germany
• Arguments for why there is too much emphasis upon American attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
• Black people in the Second World War
• Nazi experiments' consequences for prisoners in the current German medical treatments
• US justification for allowing escapees Nazi criminals
• The importance of techniques of communication and the specific units.
• How did reading help keep sanity intact in the Second World War?
• The racial comments made from Nazi Germany.

Stalin's Russia Dissertation Topics

Since Stalin was such a well-known person in the history of mankind You might want to consider picking your subject from the historical dissertation topics listed below. Stalin remains a highly controversial character in Russia even today. Despite being appreciated from a few for his contribution in modernizing Russia as well as for his war management, he's an object of suspicion for historians of the present.

• What factors led to Stalin's rise to power following his death?
• What were the most pressing issues that confronted the Russian/Soviet community following the demise of Lenin and, if so, how did Stalin deal with these issues?
• Was Stalin's repressive method of controlling the Soviet Union at the time of purges even needed?
• What were the most significant successes and failures, and what made them so important?
• What made Russia change from being one of the West's most loyal allies in the Second World War to being widely feared afterward?
• What was the reason for it that the USSR permitted to grow to include other nations when similar policies was in place Nazi Germany led to war?
• Examine the differences between communism versus fascism, by looking at Hitler and Stalin's policy with the intention of determining the degree to which they have political similarities.
• What was the reason why communism spread across to USSR to other regions of the globe?
• In what ways was Stalin's style of governance during Stalin's Soviet Union different from Lenin's?
• How much could the Soviet Union's political objectives in the period of Stalin (1944-1947) could be legally recognized as legitimate under international law?
• Did the 7-10 million deaths during the Ukrainian Holodomor of 1933 a deliberate genocide, ordered by Stalin?
• From the Soviet standpoint what were the main benefits from the Nazi Soviet Pact, 1939?
• Examine Soviet Antisemitism during the Stalin regime.
• A study of the relationship between Stalin and the Church during the Second World War.

15 Interesting Topics for History Dissertations

• The business community in London during World War One.
• Crimean Khanate historical writings.
• historical personalities from various eras.
• the development of social democratic regimes over time.
• The 1894–1895 Chinese War.
• The Indian Constitutional Policy.
• Between the first and eighth centuries, Franks and Anglo-Saxons held the sway of the royals.
• Argentina and the United Kingdom's ties in the 1980s.
• Spirituality, culture and daily living of Scandinavian people living in the XIX century.
• Conflicts between ethnic groups in post-WWII era.
• The growth of the workers movement in Germany in the 1860s as well as the 1870s (from in the formation of the party of workers until the passing of an unusual law that rebuked social democrats).
• Rural migration during the XVII Century Psychological and historical aspects.
• The nineteenth-century American national culture.
• The Ukrainian National Liberation War, 1648–1654.
• National policies in the 19th century for Austria-Hungary.

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Frequently asked questions

How do i choose a dissertation topic for history .

• Make sure the subject pertains to your area of study.
• Determine your level of interest in the subject you plan to write about.
• Make sure your topic is focused enough.
• Do some homework first.
• Asking for help from your dissertation adviser is nothing to be embarrassed about.

What makes a good history dissertation ?

include your core thesis or arguments using a mix of primary sources and some secondary sources. A strong history dissertation should devote a significant amount of time to engaging with and analyzing primary sources. This primary evidence should support and illustrate your core thesis or arguments.

Which topic is best for dissertation ?

Here are 3 excellent dissertation topics.

• Internet influence on pupils' social and spiritual values.
• One of an educational organization's primary goals should be to promote a democratic culture among teenagers.
• High school students' cultural autonomy in the social studies and humanities curriculum.

How long should a history dissertation be ?

Dissertations typically range in length from 75,000 to 100,000 words, or around 300 to 350 typed pages with double spacing, excluding bibliographies.

How long does it take to write a history dissertation ?

Most Ph.D. candidates spend longer than a year finishing the first draft of their dissertation. Before beginning a dissertation draft, students often spend one to two years conducting research and evaluating literature while completing doctorate coursework. Beyond that, the writing process normally takes another year or two.

How do you start a dissertation history ?

Research/writing.

• Get hold of pertinent primary and secondary sources.
• Make thorough notes and analyze them.
• Write an abstract and continually improving your research proposal as you go.
• Map out potential dissertation strategies.
• Talk about the rough outline.
• finish most of the research by the conclusion of the holiday break.

What is methodology in a history dissertation ?

The methodology chapter, a crucial section of your thesis, dissertation, or research paper, outlines what you did and how you did it so that readers may assess the validity and dependability of your study. It ought to contain: the kind of study you carried out. how your data was gathered and analyzed

What is a history dissertation ?

A history dissertation is a written analysis of a certain historical topic, concept, person, or event (most colleges stipulate around 10,000 words). A large portion of the third year of an undergraduate degree is made up of it (many universities, including us, double-weight them so they count for two modules).

How do you conclude a dissertation history ?

Length. The average dissertation is between 100 and 300 pages long. Each dissertation should be broken down into the proper portions, and lengthy dissertations may require chapters, major divisions, and subdivisions.

How long should history dissertation chapters be ?

You must be aware that the standard length might range from 130 pages (math) to 500 pages or more (history).

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90+ History Dissertation Topics to Help You Score A+

History is the subject that helps you get information about what event yesterday: the glorious fight, sacrifices of our forefathers, era-changing events. You get to know what mistakes are made in the past and what you should keep in mind and repeat for what we did. History dissertations are one of the most tiring assignments, and you can’t skip them as it is essential to complete them to get a doctorate. You walk half of the way once you start the work. But for giving it a kick start, you need to choose a topic. You have to be very sure about which history dissertation topics   you are taking into consideration. So don’t worry, in this article, you will get to know everything about picking up a topic.

Go through the write-up thoroughly and a solution for everything you need regarding history dissertation ideas.

How to Choose History Dissertation Topic?

When it comes to choosing a topic for your history dissertation, things are not that easy. Be very specific while having your history dissertation topics to write about. Here are some points that you need to keep in your mind while picking up your topic.

It what you are studying –

The topic that you are picking up should be relevant to your study and research. What is the point of wasting time on something that gets rejected in the very beginning? Pick those who are there in your curriculum.

If you get Goosebumps of excitement –

Do check if you are getting excited about the topic. Dissertations are way too long, and if the topic fails to interest you, everything is worthless. You won’t be able to finish it with wase and comfort. You won’t be able to make that pace.

Manage the source –

Every dissertation stands on the strong foundation of authentic sources. You can get these sources from various platforms. But not every history dissertation topics are not that common, which can provide references easily. So, do check that what you are choosing and do you have enough sources or not.

Research before Research –

Do your research work before picking up your topic. You have to make sure it is in trend and a common ongoing topic.

These are some points that you should keep in mind before you select your topic. These points will help you to pick the perfect one for your dissertation.

Let’s move to the next main important that you need to get is an option with topics. Here are the topics that you choose for your dissertation.

History Topics to Write About in Your Dissertation

Choose your favorite topic that can help you score a dream score:-

• Civilization around the word
• Rome civilization
• Mesopotamia: Everything that Happened
• Human evolution and growth
• World war I
• World war II
• British Raj: All the Colonies
• Di solution of Roman Empire
• Art Society: Causes and Effect
• Everything about Pyramids in Egypt
• Muslims and Jew of Medieval Spain
• A critical overview of Roman Age in London
• Renaissance: Everything that you need to know
• Late Medieval Period: Beginning and End
• Cultural and Economic influences on Renaissance
• What is Dark Age?
• Historical influences of Abraham Lincoln
• A complete history of Cuban Society
• Cold war Between the USA and USSR
• Missile crises in Cuba
• Role Played by Berlin in Cold war
• Everything about Cols war, politics, and war
• Civil War: causes and later effect
• How did the role of Fathers acknowledge in American Religious Society
• What was the significance of frontiers in American history?
• Suppression of Women in the Middle Era
• Rise of women
• Prime causes of Spanish-American war
• Influence of racism in American Art
• British colonization: impact on European Society
• World war II and Nationalism
• Impact of the industrial revolution in world war II
• American revolution and constitution
• Reconstruction after the civil war
• Cause of revolution during Napoleon
• Strategies of Napoleon in Russian Revolution
• Everything about French Revolution
• Journey of Columbus in European studies
• Traces of Witchcraft in Europe in 1950-1750
• World history and global impact on culture
• Renaissance painting and Religion
• Throw light on Principle of Liberalism
• Impact of the industrial revolution on western civilization
• Warfare of medieval age
• Reasons of success of Mussolini and Fascists in Seizing Italy
• A deep discussion on principles of Gerald of Wales
• Mental illness and myths in the Early era
• Spanish war and women
• Colonization of America
• Everything about the french revolution
• Connection between settlers and Native Americans
• Main causes of civil outburst in America
• Deep discussion on the attack on Pearl Harbour
• India and historical glories
• Caste system in India
• British invasion in India
• First war of Independence
• Complete history of East India Company
• Final War of Independence
• South Africa: Political violence in 1985-1989
• Everything about Nelson Mandela
• Everything you need to know about Kongo People
• Slave trade in Africa
• America and South African between 1800-2000
• Story of Constantinople
• 5 major things to avoid from ancient history
• 10 things that you should continue to follow from the past
• Impact of Islam on the world
• History and influence of Buddhism
• Racism and conflicts
• Plutarch’s view on Alexander the Great
• Burial rituals of the world and their significance
• Geographical impact on conquering any city
• Description of Chichen Itza archaeological site
• Harappan civilization and its discovery
• Mesopotamian archaeological sites
• Sculptures and art and craft
• Mohenjodaro and its civilization
• Beliefs and Myths of religions in the early medieval period
• India and its early medical myths and faiths
• Sushurut and Charaka Sanhita of Indian Medical stream
• Ancient tribes of the world
• Story of Andaman Island during British Rule
• Indian constitution and its inspiration
• Story of reconstruction of the world after World War II
• Indian and world Architecture
• Influence of Mughal in the world
• Persian influence on the world
• Story of Kohinoor
• Everything that happened during massacres in the civil war
• Story of Silk root of India

These are some of the topics that you can choose for your dissertation. A good history topic to write about is that it attracts the reader and as much it will be interesting the grades will enhance. You can choose any of the topics and select some other, keeping the mentioned tips in mind.

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Home — Blog — Topic Ideas — Thesis Topics in History: The List of 100 Perfect Ideas

Thesis Topics in History: The List of 100 Perfect Ideas

When choosing a thesis topic in history, several essential factors come into play. Firstly, consider your passion and interest in the subject matter. Opt for a topic that genuinely intrigues you, as this will motivate and drive your research efforts. Secondly, strive for originality and significance. Look for gaps in the existing historical literature and propose a fresh perspective or a novel approach to a well-studied topic. Your goal should be to contribute new insights and knowledge to the field. If your ideas are recognized, then perhaps in the future some history thesis examples will be written based on them.

Feasibility is crucial in selecting a thesis topic. Ensure that you have access to the necessary primary and secondary sources, archives, or data required to support your research. Additionally, consider the relevance of your chosen topic to current historical debates or contemporary issues. Demonstrating the significance of your research in the broader context adds depth and impact to your work.

Ultimately, the result you should strive for is a well-crafted thesis topic that not only showcases your academic prowess but also excites and captivates your readers or academic committee. Your chosen topic should be engaging, thought-provoking, and capable of advancing the collective understanding of historical events or phenomena. By meticulously selecting a compelling thesis topic and conducting thorough research, you can embark on a rewarding journey of scholarly exploration and contribute meaningfully to the ever-evolving field of history.

✨ Top-20 History Thesis Ideas

• The Role of Media in Shaping Public Perception during the Cold War
• The Great Depression: Economic and Social Impacts on American Society
• The Age of Exploration: Cultural Exchanges and Global Interactions
• Women's Suffrage Movement: Analyzing Strategies and Achievements
• The French Revolution: Causes, Consequences, and Historical Interpretations
• The African-American Civil Rights Movement Essay : Leaders, Strategies, and Legacies
• The Rise and Fall of Ancient Empires: Lessons from Mesopotamia and Egypt
• World War II: Examining the Global Impact and Lessons Learned
• The Scientific Revolution: Advancements in Science and their Societal Impact
• Slavery and Abolition: A Comparative Study of Different Regions
• The Cultural Exchange along the Silk Road: Connecting East and West
• The Age of Imperialism: Colonialism, Resistance, and Global Consequences
• The Renaissance and Its Influence on Art, Literature, and Politics
• The Native American Experience: Examining Histories and Perspectives
• The Impact of the Protestant Reformation on European Society and Religion
• The Construction and Fall of the Berlin Wall: Symbolism and Global Implications
• The Spanish Inquisition: Religious Orthodoxy and Power Dynamics
• The Industrial Revolution: Changes in Work, Society, and the Environment
• The Mongol Empire: Conquest, Governance, and Cultural Integration
• The Crusades: Motivations, Outcomes, and Effects on Christian-Muslim Relations

✍️ History Thesis Topics for Bachelor's Degree: Tips and Tricks

Writing a diploma thesis in history is a significant milestone for university graduates. It allows students to showcase their research skills, critical thinking, and expertise in the subject. Crafting a compelling and well-structured thesis requires careful planning and adherence to specific guidelines. Here are some recommendations and criteria to consider when undertaking a history dissertation:

• Topic Selection: Choose a topic that genuinely interests you and aligns with your academic passions. A well-chosen topic will keep you motivated throughout the research process.
• Originality: Strive for originality in your research. Identify gaps in existing historical literature and propose a unique perspective or fresh analysis.
• Research Depth: Conduct thorough research using a variety of primary and secondary sources. Academic journals, historical documents, and reputable books are essential resources.
• Structure and Format: Follow the prescribed structure and format provided by your university or department. Adhere to proper citation and referencing guidelines.
• Word Count: Depending on your university's requirements, diploma theses in history typically range from 60 to 100 pages. However, check the specific word count guidelines for your institution.
• Abstract: Include a clear and concise abstract that summarizes the key objectives, research methods, and findings of your thesis.
• Introduction: Introduce your topic, provide background information, and state your research question or thesis statement.
• Literature Review: Review relevant literature to demonstrate your understanding of existing research on the topic.
• Methodology: Explain the research methods and approaches you used to collect and analyze data.
• Analysis and Findings: Present your research findings and analyze them in the context of your research question.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main arguments, discuss the implications of your findings, and suggest avenues for future research.
• References: Provide a comprehensive list of all the sources you cited in your thesis.

When starting your dissertation, begin with extensive reading and research to gain a solid understanding of the topic. Take notes and organize your sources efficiently. Create a detailed outline that will serve as a roadmap for your writing process. Seek guidance from your advisor or professors throughout your research journey, as their insights and feedback will be invaluable.

As you write, maintain a clear and coherent writing style, and avoid excessive jargon. Use headings and subheadings to structure your thesis logically. Remember to proofread and edit your work carefully to ensure accuracy and clarity.

In conclusion, writing a diploma thesis in history requires dedication, critical thinking, and meticulous research. By following these recommendations and adhering to the given criteria, you can create a compelling and well-argued thesis that contributes meaningfully to the field of history. Embrace this opportunity to delve into the past, unearth new insights, and leave a lasting academic legacy as you embark on this exciting academic journey.

If you still have not found suitable historical theses, then we continued the list with examples, one of which is right for you

🌆American History Thesis Topics

• The American Revolution : Causes, Consequences, and Legacies
• 1950s Body Image History
• The 1950s vs Modern Era
• 1960s Entertainment
• Abigail Adams Letter Rhetorical Analysis
• Abigail Williams in The Crucible
• American Imperialism: Factors, Impact, and Legacy
• The American and French Revolutions: Causes, Key Events, and Outcomes
• A Comparative Analysis of Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine
• About The Underground Railroad
• Colin Kaepernick Argument: a Controversial Figure in American Sports
• Mitch Landrieu Speech Analysis
• Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X in the Civil Rights Movement
• Causes of the Civil War
• Harlem: A Community Profile Examination
• Harriet Hollywood Film
• Manifest Destiny: Expansion, Impact, and Legacy
• A Day Of Infamy: Speech Analysis
• The Lasting Impact of Slavery
• How the Columbian Exchange Benefited Europe and North America

🗺️ Ideas for Thesis Topics in European History

• The Life of Adolf Hitler: Understanding the Emergence of a Monster
• Biography of Adolf Hitler
• Factors Contributing to the Fall of the Roman Empire
• Alexander The Great: a Rhetorical Analysis
• Christopher Columbus: Legacy and Impact
• Julius Caesar: Funeral Speech Analysis
• The Industrial Revolution in Europe: Technological Advancements and Social Changes
• The Cold War in Europe: Superpower Rivalries and the Division of the Continent
• The Age of Exploration: European Voyages and Global Encounters
• The Profound Impact of the Black Death
• The Russian Revolution : Revolution and the Formation of the Soviet Union
• The Crusades: Religious Wars and Their Influence on Europe and the Middle East
• The Treaty of Versailles: Evaluating Its Role in Shaping Post-World War I Europe
• The Spanish Inquisition: Investigating Religious Persecution and Its Consequences
• The Age of Imperialism: European Colonization and Its Global Consequences
• The Holocaust : Examining the Holocaust and the Dark Chapters of European History
• The Berlin Wall: The Divided City and Its Symbolism during the Cold War
• The Byzantine Empire: A Comprehensive Study of Its Contributions and Decline
• The Napoleonic Era: Napoleon Bonaparte's Impact on European Politics and Warfare
• The Reformation and Counter-Reformation: Religious Conflicts and Their Resolutions in Europe

🎭 Ideas for Art History Thesis Topics

• The Renaissance Masters : Analyzing the Artistic Achievements of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael
• Impressionism and Its Influence on Modern Art
• The Evolution of Abstract Art: From Kandinsky to Pollock
• Women in Art: Celebrating Female Artists and Their Impact on Art History
• A Great And Mighty Walk Analysis
• Compare Reverend Hale and John Proctor
• Mark Antony's Speech: A Masterclass in Rhetoric
• Iconography and Symbolism in Religious Art
• African Art and Cultural Identity
• Surrealism: Exploring Dreams and the Subconscious in Art
• The Art of Ancient Civilizations: Uncovering the Aesthetics of Egypt, Greece, and Rome
• The Birth of Modern Photography: Pioneering Photographers and Their Contributions to Art
• Investigating the Relationship between Artistic Expression and Sociopolitical Movements
• Postmodernism in Art: Deconstructing Boundaries and Challenging Tradition
• The Harlem Renaissance: African-American Art and Culture in the 1920s
• Pop Art: Examining the Pop Culture Movement and Its Influence on Contemporary Art
• Islamic Art and Architecture: Tracing Aesthetics across Different Eras and Regions
• Asian Art and Cultural Heritage: A Comparative Study of China, Japan, and India
• Exploring the Intersection of Digital Media and Creative Expression
• The Role of Museums in Shaping Art History

📒 History Thesis Topics for Master’s Degree

Choosing an appropriate history dissertation topic for your master's degree is a key step. It is important to choose a subject that matches academic interests and hobbies. The theme should also offer room for originality and contribution to the existing body of historical knowledge. A master's thesis in history is a comprehensive academic work, often 80 to 100 pages or more. This requires careful research, analysis of primary and secondary sources, and critical evaluation of historical arguments. In addition, the dissertation must comply with the guidelines and formatting requirements set by the academic institution. Seeking advice from faculty advisors and professors is invaluable in the dissertation writing process. Their experience and feedback can determine the direction of the research and ensure its scientific rigor. Here are some examples of possible History Thesis Topics for Master's Degree that can serve as a basis for you:

• Abigail Williams: A Villain Analysis
• Early Colonial Government Policies Still in Use Today
• A Kingdom Strange: Analysis
• History of Egypt
• Compare and Contrast Inca and Aztecs
• Positive Effects of Colonialism in Africa
• Benefits of Colonialism to Europeans and the Colonies
• Japan’s Rise and Fall in the Global Electronics Market
• Information On The Holocaust
• An Analysis of the Leadership Style of Mahatma Gandhi
• Comparison and Contrast of Egypt and Mayans
• Oppression: Contemporary Manifestations, and Resistance
• Analyzing Cultural Exchange along the Ancient Silk Road
• Medieval Queens: Agents of Power and Diplomacy
• Ottoman Empire: Socio-Political Changes and Legacy
• The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Africa's Role and Impact on the America
• The Fall of Ancient Civilizations: Lessons from Rome and Greece
• Reevaluating the Causes and Impacts of the American Revolution
• Propaganda in World War II: Shaping Public Perception
• The Impact of the Russian Revolution: Political Ideologies and Social Shifts

In conclusion, theses and dissertations serve different purposes and have different requirements depending on the academic level. Each represents a milestone in the student's academic journey, and mastering the arts of research, analysis, and critical thinking is essential to success at every level. Whether you are writing a short abstract or a comprehensive dissertation, the pursuit of knowledge and scientific contributions remains at the center of all academic research. And of course, to prepare a quality thesis, you will have to start choosing your topic among the many history thesis examples. We hope that we have helped you with finding an idea to start. And in the following articles we will try to develop this topic so that you can write an interesting and individual thesis.

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Resources for My Subject

History: writing a history dissertation.

• Writing a History Dissertation
• Referencing and Style Guide
• Literature Search Plan

Starting a Literature Search

Conducting a literature search is a great way to find a viable topic and plan your research. It will also give you the opportunity to look for primary and secondary resources that can support the arguments you make in your dissertation. 

Starting your literature search early will help you plan your dissertation and give you an overview of all the resources you might want to consult. Below are examples of how you can start this process and how they can help.

Dissertation Books

Define your Topic

Start your search by identifying a broad subject area, such as a country, period, theme or person. You might do this by looking at reference works, such as a Very Short Introduction , Cambridge Histories , or Oxford Handbooks . These books will give you an insight into the many areas you can investigate in greater depth and they will also provide references to peer-reviewed material on more defined topics. 

Next , look at material which focuses more on the area you have identified from reference works. These might be books, chapters or articles which focus on a more defined area of the subject you have identified. Use these to formulate questions that you can answer in your research.

Then ,  read resources that will help you form your argument and answer the questions you have set. This material should focus on the topic you have chosen and help you explain what has been written on this area before.

Search for Secondary Resources

In order to successfully search for resources relevant to your study, you will need to use search-terms which will retrieve the best results. The tips below will help you do this:

Terms you have found in your reading

Keep a note of terms you have seen when you have been identifying your topic. This could be anything relevant your topic, including: places, people, jobs, religions, institutions, objects, periods, or events. Also, take note of terms that are related to your topic and had an impact on the area you are studying. Write down all the terms which relate to your topic and note which ones provide the most relevant results.

It can also be useful to keep a note of what you are not looking at so that you stay focused on your topic and do not retrieve too many results.

Authors who are written about the topic

You will start to notice that some authors are mentioned as specialists on the topic you are researching. Search a variety of catalogues to find what they have written on the subject in different formats. They might have contributed to edited works, written articles, given presentations to conferences or annotated works. They also might lead you to others who have written about your topic or research groups which are relevant to your studies.

Use subject searches

Most secondary resources have been indexed according to their subject. Through using these subject terms you can search catalogues more efficiently and find relevant resources without just searching the title or author. 

If you find a useful resources, try looking at its catalogue record. See if any of the subject headings look useful and note what terminology they use as this will be consistent across most databases. When you have found a useful term, copy and paste it into a subject search (or select the link) and see what other resources are available.

You can also use an online thesaurus to find search terms. The most commonly used terms are the Library of Congress Subject Headings  which provide uniform terms across international databases.

Use databases

The University subscribes to many databases that focus on different countries and topics. These will provide a comprehensive guide to what has been written in your area and may use different subject headings. Reference databases and bibliographies can be especially useful for finding citations of everything that has been written on a certain area of history. Biographical databases can also help find information about individuals and institutions. For a complete list of all the databases the University subscribes to, look at the A-Z of databases . 

Search for Primary Resources

There are plenty of primary resources that can be used in your dissertation. The University subscribes to many databases that provide access to primary resources and some of our libraries hold special collections which can be used in your research. Below are some examples:

The University subscribes to many newspapers from the past and present. They can be a really useful tool for finding contemporary accounts of events and provide more than just articles (including: advertisements, illustrations, family notices, sports, arts, court cases). Many newspaper databases will also include related content, such as pamphlets and newsbooks.

The University Library has a collection of print newspapers which can be consulted on site. The University also subscribes to electronic databases of national and local newspapers across the world. More information about the newspaper databases we subscribe to is available on our  dedicated website .

Special Collection Material

Many libraries and archives provide access to rare, unique and specialised collections of books and manuscripts. The University Library, for example, provides access to Manuscripts and Rare Books Departments , as do some of the colleges. Some of the more frequently used and important material is also available as part of an online library, such as Cambridge's CUDL .

Official Publications (Government Documents)

Documents produced by governmental and intergovernmental bodies can provide an insight into their decision making and governance. Several libraries in Cambridge have received official publications material and a lot of material is now available online. More information about the official material in Cambridge libraries is available on our Official Publications LibGuide .

Data and Statistics

Figures can be used to help illustrate a point and provide evidence as you answer the central question in your dissertation. You might chose to refer to census data, crime statistics, trade figures, or any other data set that relates to your area of history. This sort of information can be found in databases and replicated in secondary resources. 

Private Papers

If you are researching an individual (or someone who played a prominent role in the area you are focusing on) it is a good idea to see if they have deposited private papers in an archive. These might includes diaries, letters, draft works, or anything else that was kept and not published. These works are normally kept in an archive, so a good starting point is to look at a catalogue that might show where relevant papers are held (such as Archives Hub )

These can include maps, cartoons, paintings and photographs. Images are available both in print and online, but you need to be cautious of the copyright restrictions of images before you use them (check the information given by the source). Some databases will allow you to search images, like ARTstor , so use them as a good starting point for your search. 

Audio-Visual

Similarly to images, the University provides access to a variety of audio-visual resources, including interviews, recordings, radio and films. If there is a particular DVD you would like to use, try searching the title in iDiscover. For example, " Interviews with Historians " will take you to a comprehensive collection of DVDs available at the Seeley. Many films are also available online, such as British Pathe .

Organise and Save Your Research

You will be able to do a comprehensive and efficient literature search if you keep a record of what you have read, where you read it and what each item means to your research. The best way to achieve this is to:

1. Record the key ideas, themes and quotes from what you have read. Try to find a uniform way to do this as it will make it easier to find information when you come to write your dissertation. Some formats are freely available on the internet, such as the Cornell Note Taking System .

2. Save citations you have looked at so you do not struggle to find them again. Also, this will help you when you come to do your references. There are many reference managers available to help you store this information and create a fully formatted bibliography.

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100+ Original History Dissertation Topics

While, some countries use terms “thesis” and “dissertation” interchangeably, dissertations typically refer to effort-intensive research projects included in undergraduate or master’s degree programs. Hence, history dissertation topics we explore below refer mainly to undergraduate dissertations. These are long well-structured essays that follow specific requirements that might somewhat vary from one university history department to another. These requirements refer to appropriate use of sources, terminology, language, writing style, formatting (our service knows them perfectly, so we can offer help writing a dissertation for you). Below, we briefly review how such essays are structured but also provide a selection of history dissertation topics focusing on Western and particularly, on European history.

Perfect History Dissertation Structure

Dissertation structure typically comprises such sections:

• Dissertation abstract – very briefly summarizes all content, including key findings or conclusions. Its key purpose is to help readers decide whether they should read entire paper.
• Introduction – here, all necessary background and contextual information is presented, terms are defined, thesis statements, hypotheses, research goals, and objectives are formulated, outlines are provided, topic importance is explained.
• Main body – content is provided here: facts, proofs, judgements, opinions, etc. This content is organized into relevant chapters, subchapters, into well-structured paragraphs that relate to thesis and ensure a smooth content flow. Depending on content, main body might contain a literature review section where most primary, secondary sources are being interpreted in order to explain current state of knowledge, context of this research; methodology section detailing tools or procedures used; results section stating key findings; discussion section, where these findings are analyzed and put into context.
• Conclusion – key points & ideas are summarized, thesis is restated, suggestions are made for future research. Importantly, no new ideas are allowed here – these should be discussed or mentioned earlier in your dissertation.
• Bibliography – lists all primary and secondary sources used, typically, in alphabetical order or in order of appearance.

Some Hot History Dissertation Ideas

Below are some history topics grouped into a few popular categories related to Western history.

Historical Events & Personalities

• Otto von Bismarck – his role in Germany’s unification.
• Charle de Gaulle – his role in French Resistance, in rebuilding post-war France, in founding the Fifth Republic.
• Molotov-Ribbentrop agreement – did it offer Hitler a much-needed pause before starting the Eastern front?
• How the outbreak of 1918 influenza pandemic (Spanish flu) was aggravated by WWI?
• Why is term “genocide” justified to designate the Armenian mass murder organized by Ottoman Empire in 1914-1923?
• The role of Sir Winston Churchill for society.
• Diana, Princess of Wales.
• Norman Dynasty and William the Conqueror.
• The role of Athelstan (895-939 AD) for history methods.
• Boris Johnson – a controversial politician or a reflection of the foreign policies?

The Great Depression

• What caused The Great Depression?
• How was life of a typical family affected during this crisis?
• What were roles of monetary contraction and gold reserve during the Great Depression?
• How well were banks worldwide prepared for this worldwide crisis?
• What is the legacy of this crisis for our understanding of economy and finance?
• What caused the stock market crash of October 1929.
• The current Wall Street protests and their relation and roots to the Great Depression.
• Banking panics and monetary contraction reflection in the press in the 1930s.
• The effect of the Great Depression on Great Britain vs Eastern Europe.
• The personality of Herbert Hoover and his role in the 1929 crash.

First & Second World Wars

• What role imperialism played in triggering the First World War.
• Why assassination of Franz Ferdinand was only a pretext to start WWI?
• What is similar and different in composition of alliances formed by great powers during WWI and WWII – is there a common pattern?
• What impact had burdensome war reparations imposed after WWI in triggering WWII? What does it teach us about how post-war agreements should be forged?
• Deception & disinformation practices in warfare during the Second World War.
• Hitler’s role in destroying democratic institutions as the doctrine has taken place.
• The resistance forces and opposition to Nazism in Germany during WWII.
• The role of invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, and the world’s reaction.
• Controversial facts analysis of The Allies and Central Powers negotiations.
• The healthcare situation through the lens of living in trenches.

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History Dissertation Topics on Napoleon III

• Napoleon III’ role in modernizing French agriculture, commerce, banking sector, infrastructure.
• How did Paris, Marseille, and Lyon change under Napoleon III?
• France’s role in Italian unification under Napoleon III.
• Major advances in workers’ and women’s rights during Napoleon III.
• French empire’s expansion under Napoleon III.
• The laws of the Third Republic as the legacy of Napoleon III.
• Otto von Bismarck’s influence on Napoleon and his military tactics.
• The role and influence of the Bourbon monarchy in France for the subsequent elections.
• What caused the exile of the Bonaparte dynasty.
• Felice Orsini and assassination attempt: a reflection of Napoleon’s regime or authoritarian pressure?

Topics on Italian Unification

• How did revolutionary movements in 1820s-1830s inspire the start of Italian unification in 1848?
• How Italian unification spurred nationalist sentiments giving birth to irredentist opinion movement.
• What impact irredentism had on Italy’s involvement in WWI and WWII?
• How sharing a common past within the Roman Empire helped in Italy’s unification.
• How Italian unification (Risorgimento) reflected in culture?
• The social movement side of Italian Unification.
• The Acquisition of Venice in 1866 as the reflection of clever opposition tactics.
• The end of the diplomatic relations with Britain and the United States during a post-unification period and establishment of the new rules.
• The role of foreign interference in the unsuccessful unification attempts.
• The religious aspect of Italian Unification for modern Italy.

Nazi Germany History Dissertation Ideas

• Extent of propaganda in the Third Reich: news, art, public life, etc.
• To what extent did resources acquired by Nazi Germany during its early expansion help fuel subsequent warfare?
• Was a fact that Europe reacted so slowly and passively to Hitler’s actions an exception or rather a behaviour normally expectable even nowadays (say, in other world regions)?
• Would it have been realistic for to forge peace with Nazi Germany?
• Would have Britain lost to Hitler if it failed to evacuate Allied troops at Dunkirk?
• The role of male supremacism in Nazi Germany and the creation of the Great Powers Europe model.
• What caused the persecution of Jews by the fascists?
• The role of the people with disabilities among Germans vs other nations.
• The presence of national socialism in the modern world vs World War 2 era.
• Analysis of the German press during WWII.

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Topics About The Crimean War

• To what extent did this military conflict stop or slow the Russian Empire from overwhelming the Ottoman Empire?
• Crimean War viewed as a conflict of religious confessions.
• Did this conflict bring any tangible benefits to Britain or was involvement in such a distant conflict unjustified?
• The Crimean War as a trigger for military modernization of Britain and for social reforms in the Russian Empire.
• What role did new technologies (like telegraph, railways, explosive naval shells) had in this conflict?
• The role of the war correspondence as to the first-time occurrence of postal service.
• The role of women in the Crimean War.
• Reflection of the Crimean War in Russian literature.
• The cultural peculiarities of the Ottoman Empire and its effect on negotiations.
• The role of religious tensions as the mental engine of the Crimean War.

Russian History Dissertation Topics

• The reasons that lead to opposition to Tsarism.
• The woes of Russian Industrialisation practices: unrest and inequality.
• The Lena River massacre: the causes.
• Pagan practices in the Russian countryside.
• The community spirit of commune practices and Revolution school of thought
• What qualifies Stalin as one of the cruelest dictators of twentieth century
• How Stalin’s poor performance in the Winter War convinced Hitler of the Red Army’s deplorable state encouraging his Barbarossa plan.
• How NKVD’s mass shootings and Stalinist repressions destroyed USSR’s elites, crippling country ahead of WWII as well as for decades afterward.
• Why was Stalin’s invasion of Poland somewhat overlooked by international public as opposed to Nazi invasion?
• How could Stalin be viewed positively by many in today’s Russia despite all his crimes? It is it explained by Stalin’s propaganda that could transcend generations, by certain merits, by war-related trauma, or by a failure to thoroughly denounce his crimes by successors in power?

Looking up history dissertation questions, always refer to more than one source of information as you explore the facts and analyse what you could discover. It will help you to provide your target audience with verified data and more than one opinion. Dealing with Russian history is even more important.

Art History Dissertation Topics

• Should Pop-Art be considered an art form?
• Can abstract art be used for encryption and coding?
• The history of photography and the modern digital colouring practices.
• The Soviet-era art.
• The main principles of abstraction vs portraiture principles.
• Conflict and Adversity subjects in 19th-century art.
• English Rennaissance and portraiture.
• Thomas Gainsborough vs Joshua Reynolds art.
• Francis Bacon – the controversies of the great personality.
• Why is Banksy an outstanding personality in the history of art?

Remember that history of art dissertation topics should always include relevant references to avoid copyright issues or disputes of any kind!

Ancient History Dissertation Topics

• Administrative structure of the Roman Empire.
• The role of rulers in the Mauryan Empire.
• The cultural legacy of Vedic India for Great Britain.
• Law and justice in Ancient Rome and legislation system.
• Gender relationships in ancient Greece.

Since the majority of what we may remember from ancient history has been learned in middle school, it is only natural to forget some facts and details. Therefore, choosing dissertation topics ancient history, it is vital to make an outline with the dates and read more about various historical personalities.

Modern History Dissertation Topics

• The role of Margaret Thatcher in the Cold War.
• The causes of the Mexican-American War.
• How does Royal Family affect society?
• The evolution of human rights with the advancement of technology.
• What has Brexit changed for the ordinary citizen?

Choosing dissertation ideas for history that are more modern, always use only verified sources and avoid resources like Wikipedia since almost anyone can contribute to it without verified facts.

African History Dissertation Topics

• The causes and the rise of the Kush.
• The challenges of historical data collection in Africa.
• African response to European colonialism and conquest practices.
• What has caused the spread of Islamisation in Africa and facts about Islam in Africa that pose major concerns.
• The disastrous effect of the Atlantic slave trade.

History Dissertation Topics Cold War

• The role of the Cuban Crisis in the Cold War conflict.
• The controversy in the press about the race for the moon.
• The Olympics 1980: what did the athletes say?
• The fall of the Berlin Wall: a liberation or disappointment?
• The role of children during the Cold War: Samantha Reed Smith.

Economic History Dissertation Topics

• How have the migration flows affected the American economy?
• The impact of slavery and the African-American trade practices in the modern world.
• The pros and cons of urbanization for the economical development of the countryside in Ireland and Wales.
• Covid-19 changes to the transportation sector compared to the fall of the economics during the Great Depression.
• Industrial Revolution: an advancement or a giant step back?

Scottish History Dissertation Topics

• The Declaration of Arbroath: political, land ownership, and social motives involved.
• The religious aspect of the Scottish Reformation: why it is still relevant today.
• The Union of The Crowns is the major point in the history of Scotland.
• Glencoe Massacre and the ruling clans’ history.
• The personality of Simon Fraser of Lovat and the Battle of Culloden (1746).

Victorian History Dissertation Topics

• Charles Dickens and literary description of the Victorian Era.
• The casualties in the railway boom in Great Britain.
• Poor housing and the history of architecture in the Victorian era for the ordinary inhabitants vs noblemen.
• The rights of women and ethnic minorities during the Victorian era.
• How have technology and industry impacted already existing conflicts of morality and the labour force?

Looking for good history dissertation topics that deal with the Victorian era, it is recommended to look up famous works of Charles Dickens who provided a perfect description of all the cultural and social aspects. By doing so, you will be able to understand this period in history in a much better way!

History Dissertation Introduction Samples

As you approach interesting history dissertation topics, always start with an outline and collection of the key dates and the facts. Regardless if you are writing about some personality or a famous Waterloo Battle, it is essential to start with the most common facts just to refresh your memory and things you have learned at school. It is also recommended to start with a certain time period because it helps to narrow things down a little bit. Take your time to explore various history dissertation samples as it will help you to calculate the best strategies for dissertation methodology.

The European Union as a Successful Peace Project The EU project started in 1951 with creation of European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) between West Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Luxembourg. Just a few years later, these states formed the European Atomic Energy Community, and European Economic Community. These European integration processes culminated with Maastricht treaty of 1993 which officially established a union of states with a shared currency, with free circulation of goods and people, with an identical foreign and security policy, as well as citizenship rights. Given its contribution to promoting peace and democracy not only within its borders but also beyond, the EU has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012.

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The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact – Lessons Learned by Small States Also known as the Treaty of Nonaggression Between Germany, the USSR, the Molotov-Ribbentrop agreement was signed in 1939 and became notorious for its additional secret protocol, through which two powers split spheres of influence in Europe, deciding the fate of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Romania. Later, these agreed split was largely respected as both Nazi Germany and the USSR annexed corresponding territories. Decades later, this pact could serve as a lesson for small states to assemble in political, economic, and military unions that would help avoid such vulnerability in front of great powers.

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206 Informative History Dissertation Topics For Research Thesis

History is the study of the past. The past entails a lot, hence, history helps us to understand the world better, and how things came to be. History consists of past events as well as different inventions that have revolutionized till now. Writing a history dissertation is not that complex.

Essential Parts of A History Dissertation

A history dissertation is much more advanced than simple history homework . But fear not, follow this brief guide and checkout the list of topics to help you out. Most dissertations follow a similar basic structure. Ideal history dissertations include an abstract, introduction, methods, discussion, conclusion, and references.

Get An Ideal Topic. First, you will need to find an ideal topic that your professor will approve of. Also, remember, you must stick to your course unit to ensure that you write what is needed. Furthermore, keep in mind the specific length of the dissertation, rules, and regulations that you should stick with. Abstract. Remember to have a great title page, acknowledgment, dedication, and much more. You should then have an abstract that is normally a summary of the whole project, dissertation, or thesis. However, you should write it after you are done with the entire work. It should just be brief. Introduction. This is another major part that illustrates what you will cover while doing your dissertation. Hence, do proper research to ensure that what you write in the introduction is built up in the dissertation. Additionally, you should provide a background to the topic and reasons for choosing the specific topic. Also remember to highlight the key questions to be explored, the structure of the dissertation, and ultimate goals. Methods And Discussion. These are the methods that you will use to research your topic. There are qualitative and quantitative research methods. You need to properly choose a research method that will help you in the collection of data. Once you compile the data, you can then discuss your findings. Conclusion. Once you are done, you will need to provide a conclusion that sums up all that you have done. This will help you to align all your findings easily without any issues. You can have your deductions, inferences, assumptions, and much more. This is a great way to make your assumptions clear or nullify your hypothesis References. Remember to provide references that show the resources that you used in your research. Hence, use credible sources to get your data. Also, do a proper literature review for your dissertation.

Controversial History Dissertation Topics

Are you in college or uni and looking for ideal topics? You can start with these. Whether you are a graduate or undergraduate at school, the topics are ideal.

• Evaluate the Mesopotamia civilization back in the day.
• The history of the ancient Greek Olympics.
• Evaluate the warfare and violence in ancient times.
• The various women roles and gender relations over time.
• Discuss the Maya empire according to the ancient civilizations.
• Compare the burial rituals between Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.
• How has Geography had an impact on ancient culture development?
• The impact of the invention of papyrus on the world.
• The cause and effect of art on classical societies
• The importance of the Egyptian pyramid.
• The evolution of the Stone Age period.
• The various cultural practices during the historical period.
• The cultural transformation of Rome in the Middle Ages.
• Evaluate feudalism development.
• The art development in the Middle Ages.

Interesting History Thesis Topics

When choosing a topic, try to choose one that is interesting. Also, you should try to choose a topic that you will feel happy doing its research. However, remember, you will need to consult your professors first.

• Evaluate London during the Roman age.
• The role of the church in the Middle Ages.
• The various defense methods that were used during the Middle Ages.
• Analyze the medieval convivencia.
• Evaluate nationalism since the 19th century.
• Evaluate the religious symbolism in renaissance paintings.
• The impact of the industrial revolution on western civilizations.
• The major principles of liberalism.
• Analyze the history of the Cuban revolution.
• The historical influence of Abraham Lincoln.
• What were the gender roles during the Spanish Civil War?
• The origin of the French Revolution.
• The impacts of consumerism in world history.
• The development of feminism over time.
• The development of patriarchy over time.

In-Depth History Dissertation Ideas

As a student in class, you need to be observant and try your best to succeed while in school. Hence, you can even brainstorm with other students to know how best to do your dissertation.

• The importance of Berlin in the Cold War.
• The causes and effects of the Cuban missile crisis.
• The main cause of the Crimean war.
• The major consequences of the Crimean war
• The religious role of the Crimean war.
• How the Cold War influenced the film industry.
• The post-cold war world challenges.
• The relationship between the settlers and Native Americans.
• The causes of civil war in America.
• The major causes of depression during the 1890s.
• The major roles of founding fathers in American society and religion.
• The causes and consequences of the Spanish-American war.
• The major importance of the frontier in American history.
• The racism role in American art.
• The historical analysis of drug use.

Best Ancient History Dissertation Topics

You need to write a high-quality dissertation to get high grades. These are some of the best ancient history dissertation topics that you can start with.

• The impact of British colonization.
• The rise and fall of Napoleon.
• The causes of revolution in history.
• The evolution of the IRA.
• Evaluate the history of feudalism.
• Europe’s perception of Islam in the different centuries.
• The major political conflicts in India.
• The impact of the First World war on British policies.
• The role of women in Hinduism.
• The paradox of Christianity, slavery, and colonialism.
• The comparison of classical art and cubism.
• Analyze the impact of religion on innovation.
• The evolution of advertising and marketing in the UK.
• The history of public health.
• How history helps in exploring the future of any country.

Good Art History Dissertation Topics

Art is beautiful. Did you know that people started making art even in the early years? Yes, they did, and it looked as amazing as it looks even now. Here are some topics that deal with the history of art.

• Evaluate the past architecture.
• The development of the human body in the past.
• How did Egyptian art change over time?
• The relation between feminism and Egyptian art.
• Evaluate the development of the Amarna art.
• The evolution of paintings.
• The impact of the natural world in Indian painting.
• Do you think the British era led to a repression of Indian art development?
• The Indian temple art.
• How did Miro contribute to the surrealist movement?
• Evaluate contemporary feminism according to Egyptian art.
• Compare the development of Byzantine and Egyptian art.
• Evaluate the gothic art through medieval eyes.
• Analyze the past Egyptian paintings.
• Evaluate art and politics.

Advanced History Dissertation Topics

Finding an ideal topic can take you a considerable amount of time. Hence, you can use any of these topics for your history dissertation. They are all simple, straightforward, and ideal.

• The political causes of Britain’s decision to join WW1.
• The major political factors that led to the creation of Nazi Germany.
• The damages were caused by the great depression in Britain.
• An analysis of the German confederation and inevitability.
• The role of Napoleon III in the Crimean war.
• The major implications of the change of roles in The British Queen.
• The contribution of the Victorian era.
• How does the Victorian era affect the perceptions of the British culture in popular novels?
• The spread of Islam after WWII in the UK.
• Explore Britain, the age of romanticism.
• The modes of British history have shaped its current culture.
• The major British economy changes in the two World wars.
• The British mining historical perspective.
• Explore British mining and opportunities in the colonial lands.
• The role of the British Empire in the creation of the economic disparities in its colonies.

Interesting History Dissertation Topics

While doing a history dissertation, you need to have a goal in mind. What do you exactly want to find out? Why do you want to know more about it? Here are some topics that you can start with.

• Evaluate what led to the fall of the British Empire.
• The impact of British India in the field of medicine.
• Analyze patenting during the Industrial revolution.
• The contribution of the Industrial revolution globally.
• The evolution of the gas industry over time since inception.
• Evaluate the changing roles of the British military over the past century.
• Explore communism in the UK.
• How can all the UK’s migration patterns over time be traced?
• The origin, changes, and current challenges of the history of the British birds.
• Labor contribution from underdeveloped regions to the building of the British Empire.
• The reasons why it took long for the Berlin Wall to fall.
• The reasons that led to the American Revolution stages.
• The major causes of the WW1.
• Evaluate Hitler in the WW1
• The major unions in WW1.

Informative History Of Art Dissertation Topics

Are you a good history student? Then you should try any of these dissertation topics and see how best you can cope with them. They are ideal, and you will be happy in the long run.

• How WW1 can be avoided?
• The most meaningful decisions that affected the First World War conclusion.
• Make a comparison between the Great Migration and the Great depression.
• The meaning of black Tuesday and its implications.
• The various parties that became wealthy during the Great Depression.
• Evaluate major disasters in the United States.
• Analyze the countries that were destroyed during WW II.
• Which are the various things that led to Germany’s defeat.
• Which are the major impacts of Napoleons’ leadership style.
• Analyze the life of Napoleon over time.
• The motivation of Hitler in the past.
• The contribution of Hitler in history.
• The most relevant battles in Napoleon’s life.
• The consequences of the fight of Napoleon vs. Hitler.

Unusual History Dissertation Topics

Yes, these are some of the most unusual history dissertation topics that you wouldn’t have thought of. You just need to know how to do research and choose one for your dissertation.

• Evaluate the life of Medieval European peasants.
• Analyze the Western world and social stratification.
• Compare the World War I and World War II.
• Analyze the recent historical development of Japan and China
• Which are the significant events of the Ottoman Empire?
• Evaluate the impact of nuclear weapons on the world military clashes.
• Which is Japanese history?
• The key achievements of the World Rights movement.
• Review the lessons gotten from the World Wars.
• Analyze the common impacts of Roman cultures.
• Evaluate imperialism in the 20th century.
• The role of the colonial American women in the revolution.
• Describe how Martin Luther King Jr assassination occurred.
• Evaluate the conflicts, strikes, and labor unions in the 18th century.
• Analyze the democratic convention in Chicago during 1968.

Victorian History Dissertation Topics

The Victorian era had a lot of evolutions and great steps. Here are some Victorian history dissertation topics that you can use in your coursework to get top grades.

• The diplomatic history of World War I
• Evaluate Korean poetry since time immemorial.
• Analyze the modern dress versus classical art.
• Analyze decorative art and exoticism.
• Evaluate the development of Pablo Picasso’s painting.
• Analyze the Ancient Greece power versus ancient Rome.
• Medieval Europe and city development.
• The significance of the Quran in Medieval Europe.
• The common protests and demonstrations during the ancient ages.
• Evaluate the rise of the Dutch republic.
• The decline of the Eastern Empire.
• Feudalism decline.
• The various queens and kings of Britain since ancient times.
• Europe and 18th-century politics.
• The rising of the Eastern powers.

African History Dissertation Topics

These are some of the best African history dissertation topics. They are all attributed to the African continent and its development over time.

• The emergence of the National Congress of British West Africa.
• The politics of transformation in Abuja.
• The origins of indirect rule in Nigeria.
• The major role of ex-servicemen in nationalism in Kenya.
• The Dutch participated in the African slave trade.
• The negative impact of the slave trade on the current generations in Africa.
• The history of labor emigration from Malawi and its neighborhood.
• Evaluate the Afrikaners in Kenya.
• The paradox of the indigenous church building.
• The historical study of Malawi Lake.
• Malawians in the Great War and after.
• The development of the transportation sector in Tanzania.
• The Rwandan colonial economy.
• The state and society in colonial Malawi.
• The internal and external dimensions of the Eritrean conflict.

Russian History Dissertation Topics

Russia has developed over time. These are some of the topics that you can use to understand why some things happened as they did, back in Russia.

• What is so remarkable about Russian leaders?
• The influence of Russian history in the current political practices.
• How can Russia’s social interaction be considered different from that of the rest of the world?
• The major causes of the coal up springs throughout Russia’s history.
• The main Russian obstacles in the quest for industrialization.
• The origins of the social classes in Russia.
• The major causes of the breakup of the Soviet Union.
• The major contributors in the formation of Russia.
• The major roles of the former empires of Russia in the current nation.
• How was Christianity incorporated into the Russian culture?
• What led to the customary war-like culture of the Russian leaders?
• The evident impacts of the Soviet Union.
• The various social classes in Russia.
• The impact of the revolutionary action and the impact of the industrial workers in the early 1900s.
• The reasons for the Russian social interaction over time.

American History Dissertation Topics

Are you looking for the best American history dissertation topics? You can start with these! They are ideal, simple, and easy to comprehend.

• Evaluate the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
• The politics of public health and welfare in the United States.
• The impact of the baby boom on American Society.
• The secrecy methods used in the Manhattan Project.
• The causes of McCarthyism and the effects.
• The impact of the midway battle in World War II.
• The causes, effects, and events that led to the Harlem renaissance.
• What led to the protest of the bonus army?
• The cause and effects of the spring face race riot of 1908.
• The strengths and weaknesses of the two sides of the civil war.
• The impact of the United States Abolitionist movement.
• Evaluate the Mexican war provoked by the U.S.

Modern History Dissertation Topics

Over time things have changed. These are some of the best modern history dissertation topics that you can use in your course unit.

• Does the decline of socialism give rise to the authoritarianism of the past?
• Does the loss of faith in democracies produce conservative leaders?
• Did the world learn from the rise of Hitler?
• The most successful and disastrous vaccines produced by scientists.
• How science has changed human behavior over the years.
• What changed the world more, the crash of the 1920s or 2000s?
• Can the market be trusted even after historical crashes and recessions?
• Evaluate the age of digitalization.
• The history of the modern world.
• How the USA benefitted from industrialization.
• The impact of industrialization in Africa.
• How can history be termed as the best teacher?
• Do you think today’s education system is well-equipped to produce innovators?

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History Dissertation Topics

Writing a dissertation serves as the primary project of the academic element of your university experience. It is an opportunity to delve deeper into an academic topic of particular interest to you and your primary opportunity to demonstrate your capacity for independent research work within an academic environment. Your dissertation can either help develop a more nuanced understanding of existing scholarship, analyze existing scholarship through a new analytical prism or if you are particularly fortunate perhaps even shed new light on a subject. However, your dissertation evolves in its objective and scope, it is paramount that you choose a topic that can sustain your interest and help you maintain the motivation needed in producing a quality piece of academic research. The scope of historical periods studied in your degree programme means narrowing your focus on one particular topic can prove to be a daunting task. To aid you in choosing a topic for your dissertation, this article offers numerous topic suggestions across a broad span of historical periods. The suggestions offered cover the following periods in history: the Crimean War, Napoleon, Italian Unification, German Unification, the First World War, the Great Depression, Mussolini, Nazi Germany, Stalin’s Russia and the Second World War.

The Crimean War Dissertation Topics

Napoleon iii dissertation topics, italian unification dissertation topics, german unification dissertation topics, the first world war dissertation topics, britain 1918-1939 & the great depression dissertation topics, mussolini’s italy dissertation topics, nazi germany dissertation topics, stalin’s russia dissertation topics, the second world war 1939-1945 dissertation topics.

The Crimean War is considered to be the first ‘modern’ conflict, having influenced the course of all future wars. If you are looking to write your history dissertation on the Crimean War, the topics suggested below will give you an idea of where to start.

• What was the main cause of the Crimean war?
• Why could the Crimean War be considered to be a ‘modern’ war?
• What was the most important event in the Crimean War?
• Examine and explain French policy during the Crimean War.
• What were the consequences of the Crimean War?
• What role did religion play in in the Crimean War?
• What was the most significant event that served to settle the Crimean War?
• Why did so many attempts at peace fail with regards to the Crimean War?
• Why did the Crimean War end when it did?
• Why is the involvement of women in the Crimean War considered to be so significant?
• What were the objectives of the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean War?
• What factors motivated the French and British empires to oppose Russia and side with The Ottomans in the Crimean War?
• Was the Crimean War inevitable given the strategic objectives of the primary actors?

Napoleon III was the first President of the French Republic and the only Emperor of the Second French Empire. He rebuilt Paris to mirror what he had seen in London and sought to improve living standards, but his military policy has been called into question. Possible ideas for your history dissertation topics on Napoleon III could include:

• How and why did Napoleon III come to power?
• What was Napoleon III’s attitude towards the Vienna system and how did he put this policy into practice?
• What were the key facets of Napoleon III’s economic and social policies and how did they allow him to retain power?
• Was Napoleon III driven by a desire to liberalise or to rule?
• What were the main problems faced by Napoleon III when he came to power and were they successfully overcome?
• What was the significance of the role Napoleon III played in the Crimean War?
• How did Napoleon III’s ‘authoritarian’ system of government differ from those of previous French Emperors?
• What were the key principles behind Napoleon III’s foreign policy?
• What was the key reason for Napoleon III’s demise? Why was it so significant?
• How would you consider Napoleon III’s legacy to have influenced relations in Europe since his demise?
• Is it fair to consider Napoleon III a patron of the Arts?
• What factors underpinned Napoleon III’s decision to support Italian unification?
• Considering his numerous social and political achievements, why do you think Napoleon III’s legacy is considered to be negative by many historians?

This was the political and social movement that served to unify the different states of the Italian peninsula in the 19th century. It began with the end of Napoleonic rule and the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and ended with the Franco-Prussian War, as Italy took shape as one nation for the first time. If you are looking to take a step back from British history, perhaps you could choose a dissertation topic that focuses on Italian Unification from the list of topics below.

• What were the main causes of Italian unification?
• What were the biggest issues facing the newly formed Italian government and how were they resolved?
• Evaluate Cavour’s contribution to Italian unification – was he the key reason why Italy was successfully unified?
• Which was more important with regards to unification – economics or foreign policy?
• What impact did the unification of Italy have on the functioning of the Vienna system?
• How did Italy’s approach to foreign policy reflect that of other nations at this time?
• Why had Italy existed for so long in a state of ‘disunity’?
• Evaluate whether Italian unification served to improve people’s standard of living?
• How successful was Italian unification? What, if anything, did unification achieve?
• Evaluate the significance of the contributions of Garibaldi to Italian Unification
• How did the unification of Italy impact the Balance of Power in Europe?
• Assess the position that Guiseppe Mazzini was the key driving force behind Italian Unification?
• Evaluate the various social factors that played into Italian Unification. Can one be considered to be most important?

Germany was effectively unified in 1871 when Otto von Bismarck managed to unify all the independent states into one state. Much debate surrounds whether or not there was a master plan to unify Germany or whether the aim was just to expand the Prussian State. Please see below a choice of free history dissertation topics concerning the subject of German Unification:

• Was German unification inevitable? Consider the events that led to unification to effectively determine whether Germany was always heading towards it.
• In what ways did German unification represent a victory for German liberals during this period?
• Explain the significance of the Schleswig Holstein crisis to German unification – was it the key reason for why unification was achieved?
• How important was Bismarck to the unification of Germany?
• Was German unification a success?
• What was Germany’s biggest achievement upon its unification?
• What issues did German unification fail to address?
• Did German unification serve to remove the divisions within society and government?
• Why was German unification so important for European society at this time?
• Consider the reasons why German unification was such a significant event.
• Evaluate the argument that German Unification was primarily an exercise in Prussian Nationalism.
• What was the role of Wilhelm I in the unification of Germany?
• What were the foreign policy implications for the existing major European powers of German Unification?

Although the war was ostensibly a global one, it predominantly took place in Europe after a chain reaction of war declarations leading to war on several fronts. It broadly encircled the European continent with an astronomical loss of life that was only ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The First World War is a major part of history that we have all heard about and which has many elements worthy of deeper analysis. For your history dissertation topics you could research further into one of these areas:

• Of the following events – (a) The Morocco Crisis (1905-1906); (b) The British agreement with Russia (1907); (c) The Bosnia Crisis (1908); (d) The Agadir Crisis (1911); (e) The Balkan Wars (1912 and 1913); and (f) The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand – evaluate which was most significant in causing the First World War?
• Was any one party to blame for the First World War, if so, who and why?
• Why was there so much unrest and rivalry amongst the European nations in the early part of the twentieth century and how could this be said to have led to the outbreak of war?
• Why did Gavrilo Princip assassinate the Archduke Franz Ferdinand? Was the reasoning for this decision misguided?
• Why were the great powers of Europe able to contain the Balkan crises of 1912 and 1913, but unable to prevent this developing into a European-wide war in 1914?
• Why did German attitudes change towards Austria during this period? How could this change in attitude be said to have led to the outbreak of war?
• How did events going on in the rest of the world at this time lead to the outbreak of war in Europe?
• “Now we know where our enemy stands. Like a flash of lightning in the night, these events have shown the German people where its enemy is. When the hour of decision comes we are prepared for sacrifices, both of blood and of treasure” (From a speech made in the German Reichstag in November 1911 in Balfour. M The Kaiser Cresset (1964)) – How could it be argued Germany’s entry into the war was based on paranoia within government that influenced the general public in their push towards war?
• “The British Government cannot undertake to declare war, for any purpose, unless it is a purpose of which the people of this country” (Note to the Cabinet from the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, in May 1901) – What were the reasons why Britain entered the war and were they the right ones?
• Did the First World War achieve anything? Was it successfully resolved?
• Was World War I inevitable? If so, why?
• Focussing on a particular country, evaluate the role of intelligence agencies in the outcome of the war.
• Assess the strategic impact of the Battle of the Marne (1914). Can it justifiably be called the key battle of the war? If so, why?

Between the two World Wars, Britain was faced with numerable problems that various governments sought to resolve for the good of society. However, whilst successive governments were criticised, some significant advancements were made. The Great Depression was a period of British history that is perhaps overlooked more than it should be. Research in this area would make for very interesting reading, if you choose one of the following history dissertation topics:

• What were the main problems facing Lloyd George’s government in the immediate aftermath of the First World War and how successfully were these resolved?
• Why did the Labour government fall in Britain in 1924?
• Why were the effects of ‘The Great Depression’ so severe in the old industrial and mining districts of Britain?
• How did the return to the Gold Standard in 1921 only serve to exacerbate the oncoming effects of ‘The Great Depression’?
• What polices did the government introduce in an effort to resolve the ‘The Great Depression’ and did they achieve anything to limit its effects?
• What were the main problems faced by the British government in the Interwar period and were they ever effectively resolved?
• What factors outside of Europe caused ‘The Great Depression? Was it the economic breakdown in the US alone?
• Why did the world economy ‘boom’ and ‘bust’ so quickly?
• When the Second World War started to what extent was Britain ready for war?
• What was Britain’s greatest achievement in this period and what was its biggest failing?
• To what extent did the First World War directly contribute to the inability of government to respond to the Great Depression?
• Was Neville Chamberlain ‘the voice of the British people’ during the Munich crisis?
• An analysis of the policies and support for the fascist movement in Britain during the 1930’s?
• Was appeasement really a means to prepare Britain for the inevitable conflict with Hitler?
• Why did the Munich crisis fail to deliver ‘Peace in Our Time?’

Mussolini effectively became a dictator in Italy in 1922 and governed the country through the advancement of his fascist ideology. But although he initially won a great deal of popularity, he made the mistake of siding with the Nazis in the Second World War, to his cost. Perhaps you could choose this or other areas involving Mussolini for your history dissertation topics.

• What failings of previous governments made Italy so susceptible to fascist rule?
• Why did fascism seem such an interesting alternative for the Italian people – what was its appeal within sections of Italian society?
• What is the concept of ‘totalitarianism’ and how ‘totalitarian’ was Mussolini’s regime in Italy?
• Critically evaluate Mussolini’s period of government – could it be considered successful based on the benefits that accrued to the people?
• What happened in 1922 to ‘free’ the Italian Republic to Mussolini’s government and why was this event so significant?
• How and why, once Mussolini had attained power, did public opinion change?
• Choose one event and consider why this could be considered to be the defining moment that led to Mussolini’s downfall – why is this so important?
• Consider whether Mussolini had the same level of control in Italy that Hitler had attained in Germany and explain your answer through the exploration of social, political and economic factors.
• Was Mussolini’s government a continuation of, or departure from, previous Italian governments??
• Did Mussolini’s style of government overextend Italy’s resources during the Second World War?
• With reference to Antonio Gramsci’s speech to the Italian Parliament: 16th May 1925, consider the statement that ‘the fascist revolution (in Italy) was only the replacement of one administrative personnel by another.’
• Were Hitler and Mussolini ‘suspicious allies’ throughout the 1930’s?
• In what forms did the fascist government of Italy collaborate with, or oppose, the Catholic Church?
• Was the Fascist government of Italy anti-Semitic?
• Account for the repression of freemasonry by Mussolini, the forms this oppression took, and the reasons for this.

Hitler came to power as, first chancellor, and then dictator, of Germany in 1933. His Nazi Party utilised their propaganda to effectively destroy the last threads of democracy in Germany and went on to attempt to implement their ideology in Europe, with devastating results. The impact of Nazi Germany is key to the history of many countries within Europe, and indeed the world, and would be an excellent area to base your history dissertation on. Some key history dissertation topics related to Nazi Germany are listed below.

• Why did the Weimar Republic’s collapse serve to make Germany so susceptible to the rise of the Nazis?
• What was it about the Nazis that made them an attractive choice for government with a large section the German people?
• What did National Socialism stand for both before and after Hitler took over the party?
• Why was Adolf Hitler able to stay in power after it became apparent to many in Germany that the war was lost?
• Was Hitler successful in his handling of domestic affairs up until 1939?
• What was Hitler seeking to achieve when the Germans invaded Poland in 1939? Is there any way Hitler could have achieved his policy goals in this regard? Why did he not achieve the domination and control he was seeking?
• Did Hitler feel cheated by the Munich agreement? What were the longer-term consequences of Munich for his ambition?
• Why did the German people not respond more forcefully to prevent the Nazis in relation to their dealings with the Jewish population of mainland Europe?
• How did the Nazi regime use art and cinema for wider propaganda purposes?
• With a consideration of contemporary reporting of the Berlin Olympics in 1936, were they a success for the regime?
• Who were the leading women within the Nazi movement, and what did they contribute to the Reich?
• ‘Triumph of the Will’ (1935) – directed by Leni Riefenstahl – can be considered the greatest example of a Nazi propaganda film. With reference to this film and other propaganda measures by the Nazi’s, on what level does the film seek to appeal to the German people?
• Analyse the education policies of the Third Reich, their aims and whether these were ever met.
• To what extent did alternative youth movements such as The Swing Kids offer an alternative for German youth to the Hitler Youth movement?

As Stalin is such a prominent figure in history, you may consider choosing your topic from the history dissertation topics below. Stalin is still an extremely divisive figure in Russia today, and although admired by some for his role in modernising Russia and for his war leadership, he remains a figure of much suspicion for modern historians.

• What contributed to Stalin’s rise to power after the death of Lenin?
• What were the main problems facing Russian/Soviet society after the death of Lenin, and how, if at all, did Stalin resolve them?
• Was Stalin’s repressive approach to governing the Soviet Union at the time of the purges necessary?
• What were Stalin’s biggest successes and failings, and why were they so significant?
• How did Russia move from seemingly being one of the West’s staunchest allies during the Second World War to being universally feared thereafter?
• Why was the USSR allowed to expand to encompass other countries when a similar policy in Nazi Germany led to war?
• Consider the differences between communism and fascism through an evaluation of Hitler and Stalin’s policies, with a view to determining whether they shared political similarities.
• How and why did communism spread from the USSR to other parts of the world?
• To what degree was Stalin’s style of rule in the Soviet Union different from Lenin’s?
• How far could the Soviet Union’s policy goals under Stalin (1944-1947) be considered legitimate in international law?
• Were the 7-10 million deaths in the Ukrainian Holodomor of 1933 a deliberate genocide ordered by Stalin?
• From a Soviet perspective, what were the benefits of the Nazi Soviet Pact, 1939?
• Discuss Soviet Anti-Semitism during the Stalin dictatorship.
• An analysis of the Stalin/Churchill relationship throughout the Second World War.

Unlike the First World War, the Second World War was a war of more rapid advancement and was a complex affair with major campaigns across Europe and the rest of the world – the war was effectively the protection of freedom against the threat of conquest. Such an important event in history would make for excellent reading so you might be interested in the following history dissertation topics:

• Why did the Second World War start? What was the cause?
• Was the war between Finland and Stalin’s Russia an example of Finland losing the war, but winning the peace?
• What was the most significant event in the war that led to the war’s result? Why is the event you have chosen so significant?
• How did Britain survive after the fall of France as the key resistance to Nazi Germany’s complete conquest of Europe? What factor was particularly significant?
• At what point did the Axis powers lose the war? Why?
• What were the effects of the war upon European society in its aftermath?
• Why were the Germans almost completely successful until 1941? How did they so spectacularly lose their position of ascendancy?
• How great was the US’ impact upon the war? What changed when they entered the conflict in Europe?
• Could the Second World War have been resolved peacefully at any point?
• How close was Britain to asking for talks with Hitler after the fall of France?
• To what extent does the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands serve as a blueprint for their policies in other occupied territories?
• Was Rumania a willing, or coerced, ally to Nazi Germany in WW2?
• What was the key factor for German failure to break through in the Battle for Britain?

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• Researching your dissertation

When it comes to thinking about dissertations, it's useful to know how and where to look for material, both within Cambridge and further afield. The following is some guidance on finding various different types of material, whether primary or secondary.

Finding books in Cambridge

Finding books outside cambridge, finding articles.

• Unpublished material

Online sources

Subject gateways.

For further help our LibGuide has lots of information about how to carry out research in History.

Finding secondary material

The best place to begin looking for secondary material is a specialist bibliographical database covering your area of interest, eg. the Bibliography of British and Irish History . Teaching staff will be able to advise on what databases there are in your subject area. There may not be a specialist database covering your topic, in which case a more general literature search may be the best way to begin. Literature searches may also help you to find supplementary material, and to identify what is available within Cambridge.

Literature searches will help you to identify a viable topic of research, or a new angle from which to approach a subject, and they will also ensure that you do not duplicate work in progress. You will need to be compiling lists of material to consult at the same time as taking organised notes and writing; you should not wait to complete the reading before beginning to write.

For searching across library catalogues in Cambridge, use iDiscover ; as well as searching library holdings it also retrieves records for ejournals and ebooks, and can be extended to search databases such as JSTOR . You can also turn searches into RSS feeds (for alerts when any relevant items are added to the catalogue).

The University's ebooks@cambridge team subscribe to thousands of ebook titles, including key resources such as the Cambridge Histories and Cambridge Companions. These are searchable through iDiscover; if there is an electronic copy of the book you are looking for, it will have the phrase "[electronic resource]" in the record after the title, and you can follow the link in the record directly through to the text. Ebooks are easy to use, can be accessed from home and can normally have several users accessing the text simultaneously, so access is almost always available.

You may need to extend your search beyond Cambridge, to see if there is material available elsewhere which is not held by any of the libraries in the university. Library Hub Discover  is the best way for finding material held in libraries in the United Kingdom; it is the combined catalogue of the UK's major research libraries (including the British Library, National Library of Scotland and National Library of Wales), as well as various specialist research libraries and collections. The catalogue contains over 32 million records. It is possible to search by subject, author, title or keyword, and you can restrict your search by date, place published, type of material (eg. periodicals, maps), or language. Search results will display where an item is held, and provide links to an electronic copy, if there is a freely available one. 

The Document Delivery Service is available to help support students access difficult to locate material. This includes Inter-Library loan and Rapid Inter-Library loan.

If you are working away from Cambridge (for example, during the vacation), you may be able to get access to other higher education libraries in your area; visit SCONUL Access  for more information.

For catalogues of libraries outside the United Kingdom try WorldCat , a catalogue of over 10,000 libraries, which indexes 1.5 billion items.

You will need to look at journal articles as well as books, as journals are often where the latest, most up-to-date historical research is published. There are several citation databases which you can search for articles which might be relevant to your topic. As well as general historical databases, there are also more specialised ones, covering various regions, periods and topics. (Most of these will require a Raven password for off-campus access.) To search across the full range of electronic journals Cambridge subscribes to go to the ejournals@cambridge page. It is also possible to search across popular databases for article titles (as opposed to journal titles) on iDiscover.

Key general databases

• Historical Abstracts: This covers the history of the world from 1450 to the present (excluding the United States and Canada). Published since 1954, it indexes over 3,100 academic historical journals in more than 40 languages; thousands of new citations are added every year.
• Scopus: This database is by far the largest citation database available to members of the University. It covers a range of disciplines and includes information about where articles have been cited.

Digital journal archives

• JSTOR: A digital archive of over 1,000 journals; it can be subject-searched and gives immediate online access to articles in titles to which the University subscribes.
• Project Muse: Full-text access to nearly 500 journals from over 130 scholarly publishers.

Region/country databases

• America: History and Life: A companion title to Historical Abstracts. There is not online access, but the print copy can be found in the University Library (North Front, Floor 6, classmark: P660.b.31).
• Bibliography of British and Irish History: A bibliographical database of historical writing dealing with the British Isles, the British Empire and the Commonwealth, from 55 B.C. to the present, containing over 500,000 records. (It is worth noting that it is not an exhaustive bibliography of works relating to the British Empire and the Commonwealth; it covers the relations of those countries in the Empire and the Commonwealth with Britain.)
• Bibliography of Asian Studies: A bibliographical database covering articles and book chapters on all parts of Asia published since 1971.
• Index Islamicus: A bibliographical database of books, articles and reviews on Islam and the Muslim world.

Chronological databases

• International Medieval Bibliography: A bibliographical database covering medieval civilization, containing over 440,000 records.

Topical databases

• ATLA Religion Database: A bibliographical database covering theology and church history, containing over 1.7 million records.
• Bibliography of the History of Art: A bibliographical database on European and American art from late antiquity to the present, covering material published between 1975 and 2007.
• History of Science, Technology & Medicine: amalgamation of a few separate bibliographies. Includes historiography and the role of science in society and culture from prehistoric times onwards.

Unpublished material (dissertations and theses)

There are several different databases for searching for university dissertations and theses, whether produced in the United Kingdom or further afield.

• History Online: Contains a directory of history theses and research Masters produced in the U.K. since 1970, along with a list of theses currently in progress.
• EThOS: The national thesis service: a British Library-administered database of over 300,000 theses from U.K. universities.  Those which have already been digitized can be downloaded for free, but if the thesis you want to look at has not yet been digitized, you will have to pay a fee.  (Cambridge dissertations are listed on Ethos but not supplied by the service.
• ProQuest Digital Dissertations: A database of 2.4 million dissertation and theses citations from 700 academic institutions worldwide, offering full text for most of the dissertations added since 1997.
• Apollo: Cambridge University's institutional repository.  Includes a collection of voluntarily deposited Ph.D. theses.

Finding primary sources

You can access more online resources through iDiscover and the UL's eresources@cambridge page , which includes links to visual and sound resources, film and video services, and newspapers (both archives and current).

Some examples of online collections of primary source material:

• American Memory (Library of Congress): online collection of documents for American history, comprising written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music.
• British History Online: digital library of primary and secondary sources for medieval and modern history of the British Isles
• Empire Online: online collection of original documents relating to empire studies, including exploration journals, periodicals, government papers, maps.
• First World War: Personal Experiences: database of digital images of original documents, including diaries, letters, personal narratives, scrapbooks, and visual sources.
• German History in Documents and Images: digital collection of original historical materials documenting German history from the beginning of the early modern period to the present.
• UK Parliamentary Papers includes over 200,00 House of Commons sessional papers from 1715, with supplementary material back to 1688.

In Cambridge

ArchiveSearch  provides finding aids and links to digital records for the majority of archives located in the city of Cambridge., including the archives of many colleges, and of the Churchill Archives Centre .

In the United Kingdom

You may need to visit archives outside Cambridge as part of your research. To find out what archival material is held where, there are various union catalogues of archive material:

• National Archives: Formerly the Public Record Office, this repository holds the national archives for England, Wales and the United Kingdom (there are separate national record offices for Scotland and Northern Ireland). They have extensive online catalogues , which can be searched by subject, and you can access their online collections and download copies of documents.
• National Register of Archives: A register of over 44,000 unpublished lists and catalogues, detailing the nature and location of manuscripts and historical records relating to British history. These are "non-official" archives covering the holdings of local record offices, national and university libraries (including Cambridge), specialist repositories, museums and other bodies in the United Kingdom and abroad, as well as papers held privately by individuals, firms and institutions. The research guides on the website explain how the National Register of Archives can be used for locating material on particular topics.
• Archives Hub: A national gateway to descriptions of archives of over 180 UK repositories (including Oxford and Cambridge); again, you can search by subject.

To search the holdings of archives outside the United Kingdom, try Archive Grid , a major catalogue of historical documents, personal papers and family history material held in repositories around the world; you can search for collections by topic.

Subject gateways are online portals to subject-specific resources, and can be excellent places to look for more information on your topic. Some gateways where the sites have been evaluated by experts include:

• History Online: Created by the Institute of Historical Research, this initiative indexes books and journal articles, details history lecturers in the U.K., digital history projects, and current and past historical research.
• History Data Service: This project collects, preserves, and promotes the use of digital resources, which result from or support historical research, learning and teaching.
• Connected Histories: A collection of digital resources on early modern and 19th century British history.
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• Natural History in the Age of Revolutions, 1776–1848
• In the Shadow of the Tree: The Diagrammatics of Relatedness as Scientific, Scholarly and Popular Practice
• The Many Births of the Test-Tube Baby
• Culture at the Macro-Scale: Boundaries, Barriers and Endogenous Change
• Making Climate History overview
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• Histories of Artificial Intelligence: A Genealogy of Power overview
• From Collection to Cultivation: Historical Perspectives on Crop Diversity and Food Security overview
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• Epsilon: A Collaborative Digital Framework for Nineteenth-Century Letters of Science
• Contingency in the History and Philosophy of Science
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• FlyBase: Communicating Drosophila Genetics on Paper and Online, 1970–2000
• The Lost Museums of Cambridge Science, 1865–1936
• From Hansa to Lufthansa: Transportation Technologies and the Mobility of Knowledge in Germanic Lands and Beyond, 1300–2018
• Medical Publishers, Obscenity Law and the Business of Sexual Knowledge in Victorian Britain
• Kinds of Intelligence
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How to organise a history essay or dissertation

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Sachiko Kusukawa

There are many ways of writing history and no fixed formula for a 'good' essay or dissertation. Before you start, you may find it helpful to have a look at some sample dissertations and essays from the past: ask at the Whipple Library.

Some people have a clear idea already of what they are going to write about; others find it more difficult to choose or focus on a topic. It may be obvious, but it is worth pointing out that you should choose a topic you find interesting and engaging. Ask a potential supervisor for a list of appropriate readings, chase up any further sources that look interesting or promising from the footnotes, or seek further help. Try to define your topic as specifically as possible as soon as possible. Sometimes, it helps to formulate a question (in the spirit of a Tripos question), which could then be developed, refined, or re-formulated. A good topic should allow you to engage closely with a primary source (text, image, object, etc.) and develop a historiographical point – e.g. adding to, or qualifying historians' current debates or received opinion on the topic. Specific controversies (either historically or historiographically) are often a great place to start looking. Many dissertations and essays turn out to be overambitious in scope, but underambition is a rare defect!

Both essays and dissertations have an introduction and a conclusion . Between the introduction and the conclusion there is an argument or narrative (or mixture of argument and narrative).

An introduction introduces your topic, giving reasons why it is interesting and anticipating (in order) the steps of your argument. Hence many find that it is a good idea to write the introduction last. A conclusion summarises your arguments and claims. This is also the place to draw out the implications of your claims; and remember that it is often appropriate to indicate in your conclusion further profitable lines of research, inquiry, speculation, etc.

An argument or narrative should be coherent and presented in order. Divide your text into paragraphs which make clear points. Paragraphs should be ordered so that they are easy to follow. Always give reasons for your assertions and assessments: simply stating that something or somebody is right or wrong does not constitute an argument. When you describe or narrate an event, spell out why it is important for your overall argument. Put in chapter or section headings whenever you make a major new step in your argument of narrative.

It is a very good idea to include relevant pictures and diagrams . These should be captioned, and their relevance should be fully explained. If images are taken from a source, this should be included in the captions or list of illustrations.

The extent to which it is appropriate to use direct quotations varies according to topic and approach. Always make it clear why each quotation is pertinent to your argument. If you quote from non-English sources say if the translation is your own; if it isn't give the source. At least in the case of primary sources include the original in a note if it is your own translation, or if the precise details of wording are important. Check your quotations for accuracy. If there is archaic spelling make sure it isn't eliminated by a spell-check. Don't use words without knowing what they mean.

An essay or a dissertation has three components: the main text , the notes , and the bibliography .

The main text is where you put in the substance of your argument, and is meant to be longer than the notes. For quotes from elsewhere, up to about thirty words, use quotation marks ("...", or '...'). If you quote anything longer, it is better to indent the whole quotation without quotation marks.

Notes may either be at the bottom of the page (footnotes) or at the end of the main text, but before the bibliography (endnotes). Use notes for references and other supplementary material which does not constitute the substance of your argument. Whenever you quote directly from other works, you must give the exact reference in your notes. A reference means the exact location in a book or article which you have read , so that others can find it also – it should include author, title of the book, place and date of publication, page number. (There are many different ways to refer to scholarly works: see below.) . If you cite a primary source from a secondary source and you yourself have not read or checked the primary source, you must acknowledge the secondary source from which the citation was taken. Whenever you paraphrase material from somebody else's work, you must acknowledge that fact. There is no excuse for plagiarism. It is important to note that generous and full acknowledgement of the work of others does not undermine your originality.

Your bibliography must contain all the books and articles you have referred to (do not include works that you did not use). It lists works alphabetically by the last name of the author. There are different conventions to set out a bibliography, but at the very least a bibliographic entry should include for a book the last name and initials/first name of the author, the title of the book in italics or underlined, and the place, (publisher optional) and date of publication; or, for an article, the last name and initials/first name of the author, the title in inverted commas, and the name of the journal in italics or underlined, followed by volume number, date of publication, and page numbers. Names of editors of volumes of collected articles and names of translators should also be included, whenever applicable.

• M. MacDonald, Mystical Bedlam: Madness, Anxiety, and Healing in Seventeenth-Century England , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981.
• William Clark, 'Narratology and the History of Science', Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 26 (1995), 1–72.
• M. F. Burnyeat, 'The Sceptic in His Place and Time', in R. Rorty, J. B. Schneewind and Q. Skinner (eds), Philosophy in History , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984, pp. 225–54.

Alternatively, if you have many works to refer to, it may be easier to use an author-date system in notes, e.g.:

• MacDonald [1981], p. 89; Clark [1995a], p. 65; Clark [1995b], pp. 19–99.

In this case your bibliography should also start with the author-date, e.g.:

• MacDonald, Michael [1981], Mystical Bedlam: Madness, Anxiety, and Healing in Seventeenth-Century England , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Clark, William [1995a], 'Narratology and the History of Science', Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 26, 1–72.

This system has the advantage of making your foot- or endnotes shorter, and many choose it to save words (the bibliography is not included in the word limit). It is the system commonly used in scientific publications. Many feel however that something is historically amiss when you find in a footnote something like 'Plato [1996b]' or 'Locke [1975]'. In some fields of research there are standard systems of reference: you will find that this is the case if, for example, you write an essay/dissertation on classical history or philosophy of science. In such cases it is a good idea to take a standard secondary source as your model (e.g. in the case of classics, see G.E.R. Lloyd's The Revolutions of Wisdom: Studies in the Claims and Practices of Ancient Greek Science , Berkeley 1987).

Whatever system you decide to follow for your footnotes, what matters most is that the end-product is consistent.

Keep accurate records of all the relevant bibliographic information as you do your reading for your essay/dissertation. (If you don't you may waste days trying to trace references when you are close to submission deadlines.)

Consistency of style throughout the essay/dissertation is encouraged. There are many professional guides to thesis writing which give you more information on the style and format of theses – for example the MLS handbook (British) and the Chicago Manual of Style (American), both in the Whipple, and a booklet, H. Teitelbaum, How to Write a Thesis: A Guide to the Research Paper , 3rd ed., 126 pp., New York: Macmillan (& Arco), 1994 (in the UL: 1996.8.2620). But don't try to follow everything they say!

Every now and then you should read through a printout of your whole essay/dissertation, to ensure that your argument flows throughout the piece: otherwise there is a danger that your arguments become compartmentalised to the size of the screen. When reading drafts, ask yourself if it would be comprehensible to an intelligent reader who was not an expert on the specific topic.

It is imperative that you save your work on disk regularly – never be caught out without a back-up.

Before you submit:

• remember to run a spell-check (and remember that a spell check will not notice if you have written, for example, 'pheasant' instead of 'peasant', or, even trickier, 'for' instead of 'from', 'it' instead of 'is', etc.);
• prepare a table of contents, with titles for each chapter of your essay/dissertation, page numbers and all;
• prepare a cover page with the title, your name and college;
• prepare a page with the required statement about length, originality etc.

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Department of History

Yale history dissertations.

During the late 1800’s, only a trickle of dissertations were submitted annually, but today, the department averages about 25 per year. See who some of those intrepid scholars were and what they wrote about by clicking on any of the years listed below.

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History belongs to all known events, incidents, discoveries, and memories of the past. History is the past and its interpretations. Literature talks about history's connection to today. Researching history can be interesting and informative. Thus, students must look for good history dissertation topics for their dissertation modules.

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History students often choose World War II dissertation topics thinking they are the easiest option, but this is not always true. Topics related to WWII can be broad and complex, including anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, foreign policies, and military history. It's important to choose a topic of interest. Our expert writers have created a list of relevant and modern history dissertation examples to help you choose a topic. Clear objectives are key to developing a good dissertation, identifying a valid issue, and proposing solutions. We'll guide you through the process, ensuring you enjoy writing your history dissertation.

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Home » Blog » Dissertation » Topics » History » History Dissertation Topics (25 Examples) For Research Ideas

History Dissertation Topics (25 Examples) For Research Ideas

Mark Jun 23, 2020 Jun 20, 2020 History No Comments

Since history has already happened and people have been analysing it for decades and centuries, it does not mean that any topic can be selected for history dissertation. Choosing the right history dissertation topic is critical considering what can be actually analysed and reported. Fortunately, we have developed a list of history dissertation topics, which […]

Since history has already happened and people have been analysing it for decades and centuries, it does not mean that any topic can be selected for a history dissertation. Choosing from the right history dissertation topics is critical considering what can be actually analysed and reported. Fortunately, we have developed a list of history dissertation topics, which can be selected for your research, dissertation, and projects.

The list of research topics in history is developed to help out students in finding an interesting topic for their dissertation. Once the project topic on history is selected, we can help you in completing your research according to your requirements and needs. Go through the list of history research topics presented below, select a topic, and allow us to help you.

List of History dissertation topics

A critical analysis of the events responsible for a revolution in America.

Analysis of the French revolution considering the triumph of romanticism.

Studying the impact of popular culture on Evangelical Christians in North America.

Exploring the impact of religion on innovation.

A literature review on the history of Bazaars in Eastern countries.

The evolution of advertising and marketing in the UK.

A comparative review of the history of Canada – political analysis.

An analysis of the history of public health – the case of the UK.

A historical analysis of the social business enterprises – looking back to look forward.

A comparative review of history and social science framework – a country analysis.

Studying the importance of teaching history in elementary schools.

How history helps in exploring the future of a country?

Exploring and analyzing the five decades of mathematics education research.

Investigating the main causes of the Boer War.

To study the impact of the slave trade on the European economy.

A literature review on the feudal system.

The consequences of a cold war on the world.

A literature review on the idea of communism and its impact on the world.

Investigating the factors related to the colonization of America.

Studying the Desert Shield Operation in the context of the Gulf War.

To analyze the origins of the European Union.

Exploring the idea of class-based colonies.

Impact of the Great Depression on the economies – a comparative review.

Studying the role of women in Colonial America.

A critical analysis of the reality about the west – differentiating between the myths and reality.

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100+ History Dissertation Topics

A history dissertation is one of the most meticulous pieces of historical writing. It may examine a certain event, person, political violence, or any number of subjects that have a tinge of history. By implication, this means history dissertation topics can involve almost anything since history continually grows to incorporate everything considered "the past." We'll explore several dissertation topics as well as how to structure your paper depending on the field you're writing on.

Without further ado, we'll dive into this deep and interesting topic that allows us to explore 100+ history dissertation topics that give students depth and good material for their dissertations.

List of The Top 20 Favorite Ideas for History Dissertation Topics

• US-Soviet relations during the Cold war
• Battle for Kyiv: a case of modern warfare
• China's transformation from the 1970s onwards
• The foreign policy that led to India-Pakistan border hostility
• The end-stages of socialism in the Soviet Union
• Trade laws in medieval England
• Development of banking institutions in Italy during the 14th century
• Why did Hungary's "Magna Carta" fail why England's succeeded?
• Creation of special economic zones in China
• Implication of lifting the special economic zone status of Hong Kong?
• The birth of Nazi nationalism in Germany
• Impact of World War II on social processes in the US
• First world war on political and socioeconomic processes in Europe
• The Yugoslav socialism model: Cause of the 1990s Balkan crisis
• The emergence of Freemasonry in the 18th century Europe
• Avant Garde fashion and its connection to the Russian enlightenment
• The impact of England's policies in 19th century Ireland
• Cultural transformation during the enlightenment age in France
• Influence of 20th-century French colonial expansion in modern Mali
• How oil became dominant and how electricity could fix this problem

Good Dissertation Topics in History: Time Period

History is a subject as old as time and more vast than the time humankind has existed. It only makes sense to study the subject based on a specific timeline. Let's look at some creative dissertation proposal topics for varying periods in history.

• Ancient history dissertation topics
• Medieval history dissertation topics
• Modern history dissertation topics

Ancient History Dissertation Topics

Take a look at some sample topics for ancient history. And this is but a scratch of what you can come up with!

• Origin of Eastern Slavs: Ancient cultures
• Ancient civilizations: the Maya Empire
• Political formation of Macedonia: 359 B.C. to 336 B.C.
• The Roman statehood crisis in the 3rd century
• Greek city-states: inspiration for Herodotus
• Khosrau's influence on the development of Persia
• Sociopolitical ideas in the book of Judges in the Bible
• Women's roles and gender relations in the ancient world
• The status of Assyrian women under Middle Assyrian Laws
• Iron Age burial monuments in the Middle East
• Julius Caesar's personality and its effect on Rome
• Mesopotamian civilization as the inspiration for the epic of Gilgamesh
• Political systems in ancient Egypt
• Socioeconomic reasons that led to the collapse of Mesopotamia
• How geography influenced the development of ancient civilizations

Medieval History Dissertation Topics

Here are some sample dissertation topics on medieval issues that you could explore.

• Cultural exchanges in medieval Europe
• The influence of the Knights Templar on European socioeconomics
• The black death of the 14th century
• Rome's cultural transformation in the middle ages
• Establishment of feudalism in Europe during the Medieval era
• Why the Crusades failed: middle ages
• The Renaissance and its economic effect on France's economy
• Ibn Al-Haytham: philosophy of the rise and fall of empires
• Developments in Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate
• Creation of a unified China: The War of Kingdoms

Modern History Dissertation Topics

Let us now consider the more recent topics that most of us will be familiar with.

• The possible energy implications of the Russian-Ukraine war
• The history of the Taliban in Afghanistan
• Nationalism in 19th-Century Europe: a case of Germany
• The industrial revolution and its influence on Western civilizations
• Imperialism and its impact on African civilizations
• Ideologies of liberalism and its relationship to conservatism
• Why Adolf Hitler and the Fascists were able to seize power in Germany
• Rise of nationalism in Japan
• Ethical treatment of mental illness
• The history and development of the Federal Reserve banks of the US
• A history of the Cuban revolution
• Detangling the Venezuelan economic crisis
• Understanding the Chinese-Hong Kong integration conflict
• Why the US has major business ties to Taiwan
• The growth and development of Qatar from the 1940s
• Reasons for the breakup of the former Yugoslavia
• Historical development of feminism in the United States
• Growth and development of gay rights in the US
• Role of women in the first world war
• The influence of world war ii on nursing

Best Ancient History Dissertation Topics

We have come up with a short list of some juicy topics that have loads of information and are bound to get heads turning.

• The origin of Anglo-Saxons in the UK
• Political law under Hamurrabi's rule
• Sociocultural organization of European Celts
• Effects of Nubia's invasion of Egypt on the latter's economic development
• The collapse of the Roman age in the 3rd century

Dissertation Topics from the Nineteenth Century

The 19th Century has to be one of the most fascinating historical periods. It saw the creation of skyscrapers, and many towns were built. This is primarily owed to industrialization. People sought accommodation in towns where they worked in droves at factories. This led to a decline in rural populations across Europe.

Getting the right idea for your dissertation topic in the 19th century may be an uphill task because many social issues are interwoven with other fields. While it's not easy, these ideas can spur something in your brain. Check them out and personalize the dissertation ideas into thoughts and topics of interest to you.

• The sociocultural effects of Darwin's work in Victorian England . Many people in this era found Darwin's theory of evolution very unsettling and discerned that considering that humans evolved from apes was a dangerous theory.
• Changing social ideals in Europe . The transition of people from rural areas in Europe to urban centers led to major changes in their social interactions. It led to the collapse of cottage industries that produced quality goods, while mass production in factories became the default mode of production.
• Prince Albert's housing influence and its sociocultural implications . The British monarch realized that families and workers did not have well-suited places to live and sought to provide them with housing designs more developed than the ghettos to which they were accustomed.
• Secular change in Europe: social upheavals . Writers like Thomas Hardy and his book, "Love and Loss," gained prominence as people sought to associate the loss of meaning in their lives due to major social upheavals with literary works.
• Creation of religious doubt during the Spanish Inquisition . Darwin's theory of evolution led to many people questioning sacred writings and beliefs in the Bible. In this sense, most people in Victorian England started losing touch with religion and felt that the Bible had lost its meaning.
• Industrialization across the world: Chinese expansion in Asia . The industrial revolution was exported to other countries, such as the U.S., where more people were moving closer to factories and hence, cities. We can examine the textile factories and how they created items like jeans to see how production changes workers' dressing.
• Family under Jim Crow law in Southern US . Works like those from Ruskin and Gaskell demonstrate how the 19th century transformed the family unit. Gender relations were also evidently affected by this shift to urbanization.
• Power dynamics in Eastern Europe . Represented in literary works by individuals like Charles Dickens, there were social changes demonstrated in works like The Old Curiosity Shop and Bleak House.
• Treatment of inmates in Norwegian cells . It may also help to write about a specific topic, like how convicts were exported t Australia and how that manifested in feelings of nationalism.
• Domestic work during world war ii . It would also help to focus on more internal issues, such as the social hierarchy that developed in countries like the U.S. and Europe during this era. We could analyze the types of domestic work available and how it influenced the traditional family.

Interesting History Dissertation Topics

A history dissertation benefits from a strong thesis. This will help you achieve what you intend to with your paper. Tell your audience why this information is interesting to you. Also, inform them of its importance. This is an excellent place to start writing your dissertation.

Let's check out some more dissertation topics that could spark your interest and help you brainstorm ideas.

• George Washington's historical influence
• Origin and influence of the French revolution
• The Russian Working Class Movement
• The influence of Consumerism in modern world history
• The creation and evolution of the hermit country: North Korea

The possibilities are endless. Take some time to look into these topics, and you'll find a trove of information that you may find interesting to help you come up with fresh history dissertation topics.

Good Art History Dissertation Topics

One of the most compelling and exciting ways in which history develops is in the art world. Oil paintings, sculptures, and other historical artifacts tell deep and meaningful tales. For instance, the Nigerian and German governments signed a deal for the former to return hundreds of artifacts referred to as the Benin Bronzes. These are priceless artifacts from the Dahomey kingdom in modern Benin. Art tells stories, so let's look at some great topics you could consider for your history dissertation.

• History and development of Avante Garde in Russia
• History and development of ballet
• Flamenco and its origins in Latin American history
• Jazz culture and its development in North America
• The music of Beethoven: influence on classical art
• The life of Michael Jackson as a pop icon
• The contribution of Shakespeare's work to modern theatre
• The History and evolution of modern Chinese music
• Changes in Vincent Van Gough's technique and their inspiration
• The curious ambiguity of the Mona Lisa

Historical analysis of art proves one point, history is in everything, and one needs to relate their dissertation topic to what one studies.

Historical People and Events Dissertation Topics

History is wrought with incredible information about heroes of myth and history. The good thing is that events are inspired mainly by people so that you can tell a tale of pretty much anyone famous. Ensure they relate to your area of study, or you could be in for a lot of work. Here are some timeless topics that are difficult to exhaust information on.

• The Spartan Kings by Herodotus.
• Winston Churchill: improving the U.K.'s international relations
• The relationship dynamics between Margaret Thatcher and Mary Whitehouse
• Political activities of Mahatma Gandhi
• Adolf Hitler and his ascension to power
• Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi: the development of algebra and geometry
• Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu: the foreign policy of Israel
• The Colonial War in West Africa: Ghana
• People's Democracy in Cambodia in the 20th century
• African Communities in North America

If you can name an event that transpired since we could write, you could find a history topic to write about. Just make sure it interests you and dig deep for information that will fill up your manuscript. And remember, you must be well-versed in the research method best for your topic, so keep this in mind as you think of a person or event you'd like your report to be about.

Italian Unification History Dissertation Topics

Risorgimento, or the unification of Italy, happened in the 19th century. This social and political movement also led to the amalgamation of the different states constituting the Italian Peninsula. This consolidation occurred in 1861 and led to the birth of the Kingdom of Italy.

• A history of the disorgimento in Italy
• The Unification of Italy was an accident
• Bismark and Cavour: the reason for Italian Unification
• The effects of the disorgimento on the Italian government
• The uphill journey that was the Unification of Italy
• The historical significance of the disorgimento in the nineteenth century
• The three prominent figures of the Unification of Italy
• The life of the Count of Cavour, Camilion Benso

With the proper research materials, you can write a topic on just about anything. But remember, it must be interesting to enable you to enjoy yourself while working on a tedious project.

American History Dissertation Topics

When approaching a subject like American history, you have many ideas to choose from for your paper. What you must consider is which one best suits you. As always, please choose an area of interest and inject some energy and passion into it. However, if you must select a topic that does not interest you,  buying a dissertation online  can help you avoid the hustle and struggle of writing dissertations.

Remember to reconstitute the ideas as you look through the following list of ideas. Make the paper unique and suited to your area of study; make it your own. This is your starting point as you begin reflecting on something you'd like recognized as the crown jewel of your academic writing prowess. Let's get to it!

• The possible causes of the Salem witch trials
• The relationship of North American religions to the environment
• The reasons for and consequences of the Boston Tea Party
• The ramifications of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794
• The politics of public health and taxation in the U.S.: 1990-2020
• Impact of the cotton gin on the American economy
• Political implications of the cotton gin in U.S. history: 19th century
• Causes and effects of the Mexican war
• Reasons for the opposition of the Mormon settlers in Illinois
• The impact of the Abolitionist movement in the U.S.

The U.S. has more than 300 years of interesting history topics to choose from. It has some of the most proficient innovators in different fields. You will definitely find something that piques your interest to write about among these American history dissertation topics.

Second World War Dissertation Topics

Arguably one of the most impactful wars in human history, the second world war predicated an era known as the Cold war. These two periods are wrought with historical figures, the best broth to collect a good history dissertation topic. Let's look at some of the areas you could explore when it comes to a world war ii history dissertation topic.

• Overview of world war II
• Causes of world war II
• The invasion of France by Germany
• The devastation of the Blitzkrieg
• Battles in the Italian Peninsula during the second world war
• Operation Barbarossa and its effects on German economics
• The invasion of Pearl Harbor: ramifications to U.S. politics
• The events leading to the Berlin airlift

As we can see, the topics to write on are practically endless. You can derive even more topics from each of these if you explore the subject deeply. The lucky thing with such topics is their abundance of research material to draw from. Always do some prior research before you start writing your dissertation topic. It will save you a lot of headaches in the future.

How Long Is a History Doctoral Dissertation?

A good undergraduate dissertation will take about 8,00 to 15,000 words. This will increase for higher-level dissertation papers, with a typical master's dissertation taking between 12,00 0 and 50,000 words, while PhD theses require book-length writing, that is, around 70,000 to 100,000 words. This will take a toll on someone. So you have to be ready with a good dissertation topic or get help from  experts on dissertation chapters .

You must come up with a practical timetable not to leave your paper unattended, as you need it to pass your finals. So coming up with a good and exciting topic for your dissertation is paramount. Explore your field and areas in history that interest you as you have some time to write the paper. But don't take too long; you must complete this mammoth task articulately to graduate with that A+.

How to Choose a History Dissertation Topic?

Choosing a topic to write about is integral to your dissertation. Professors advise students to consider building on past research philosophy. That is, using a dissertation proposal from a past assignment to formulate their research paper. It makes sense to continue digging into a familiar topic rather than start from scratch with another topic and different research methods.

However, if you feel that a change is necessary and want to explore new ideas, go for it! You can direct your paper in a new direction and tackle other issues. Remember to align your topic with the department you'll submit it to. This way, it will pose relevant theories to your field of study.

Here's an easy system to guide you in choosing your topics using specific historical periods to focus on:

• Ancient history
• Middle Ages
• Modern and Recent history

Quick note:  Many students find the best history dissertation topics from the Middle Ages because it has a fair deal of documented materials. There are also many peer reviews on topics from this era. This makes it the most popular period to consider for the best history dissertation topics.

How to Select the Best History Dissertation Topic?

Coming up with a dissertation can be one of the most exciting but challenging moments of a student's academic writing career. It takes a lot of intellectual effort, time, and courage to write such papers. This is the reason why each step in the writing process is important.

Your journey must begin with researching good dissertation topics, a challenge. This is especially so for liberal arts units. World history, literature, and social studies have practically endless subjects to consider.

You have to be interested in historical events to develop the best dissertation topics for your work. We get it; it's tough. It may be too much to wrap your head around. This is why  My Custom Essays  prepares history dissertation topics promptly for students. Here's what you must consider to create a catchy and interesting topic for your paper.

• Your topic must fit your field of study
• Determine how much interest you have in your chosen topic
• Ensure that you have enough material to write your topic on
• Conduct some prior research
• Ask your dissertation advisor for help when needed

1. Your topic must fit your field of study

You must be conversant with what you intend to write. Experts recommend basing your paper on existing experience and knowledge. This will help you come up with a strong dissertation. Choosing to work in an overly complicated field could backfire on you though it seems impressive. Your dissertation writing will be hellish if you choose this route. How can you work on an almost 14,000 worded document without fully understanding it? Remember this question before you begin writing on any topic, and you should be fine.

2. Determine how much interest you have in your chosen topic

This may seem obvious without looking at it critically. You must remember that having an actual interest in a topic makes a huge difference in your work. There are many students that are working on easy but boring topics and find the work twice as difficult. Don't be one of these students; choose a topic that interests you.

3. Ensure that you have enough material to write your topic on

Another important thing to consider is the research methods you will use for your paper. The ideas you choose for your topic should have prudent research methods that can reach accurate conclusions. You must narrow down your area of study to write an excellent dissertation. Many students find it easier to direct their examination and have sufficient sources to work with if they first consider the research limitations and methods. As a bonus, you will get to explore your topic further.

4. Conduct some prior research

This will help you better understand how many documents you can find for document analysis in your literature review. Make careful notes about the notes you will use in your literature review for the reference list. Looking at examples of history essays is also a good idea.

5. Ask your dissertation advisor for help when needed

Even great writers have teachers. Don't be shy to ask for help when you feel stuck. After all, this is why we have teachers, right? Yeah. Also, it helps to see which ideas they find appropriate and viable.

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Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences

Two Penn Ph.D. candidates awarded 2024 Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

The school of arts & sciences awardees are arielle xena alterwaite, who is pursuing a ph.d. in history, and katherine scahill, who is pursuing a ph.d. in music..

Two University of Pennsylvania Ph.D. candidates in the School of Arts & Sciences have been named to the 2024 class of the Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship , administered by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars .

The Newcombe Fellowship, funded by the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation , is the largest and most prestigious award for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences addressing questions of ethical and religious values in interesting, original, or significant ways. Fellows receive a 12-month award of $31,000 to support the final year of dissertation writing.

Arielle Xena Alterwaite , a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of History , and Katherine Scahill , a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Music , were named as 2024 Fellows.

Alterwaite’s research explores Haiti’s sovereign debt in the aftermath of the Haitian Revolution in her dissertation, “Empire of Debt: Haiti and France in the Nineteenth-Century Atlantic World.”

“With support from the Newcombe Foundation and its interdisciplinary focus, I look forward to deepening the ways in which I can bring my work to broad audiences,” Alterwaite says. “My hope is that this archivally grounded historical account of Haitian debt in a global context can speak to international activists, legislators, and policymakers who take the ethical ramifications of finance seriously.”

History department chair Sophia Rosenfeld says it’s no surprise that Alterwaite continues to win an extraordinary number of major external fellowships, including, now, the Newcombe.

“For her dissertation, she has taken on a crucial topic in 19th century Atlantic history—the massive debt that a newly independent Haiti owed to the French state—and she has managed both to find brand-new sources for understanding it and to generate new explanations that have real implications for thinking about sovereign debt and reparations for slavery today,” Rosenfeld says.

Scahill’s dissertation, “The gendered politics of religious authority in Thai Buddhism: Voice, embodiment, and sonic efficacy in the movement for female monastic ordination,” is based upon ethnographic fieldwork with three communities of female Buddhist monks (bhikkhunīs) in Thailand. Drawing on the fields of religious studies and music studies, her dissertation investigates the sonic practices bhikkhunīs employ to establish alternate channels of recognition, given that women’s ordination is not accepted at a national level.

“I am honored to have been selected as a 2024 Newcombe Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Fellow. The Fellowship will provide me with the resources and time I need to adequately engage with the stories and practices shared at bhikkhunī monasteries,” Scahill says. “I am truly grateful for this opportunity.”

Timothy Rommen, chair of the music department, says he’s unsurprised that Scahill’s “excellent” work continues to be recognized. 

“Katherine’s dissertation intervenes at the intersections of ethnomusicology, religious studies, and gender studies to explore what she calls efficacious chant. What makes her project so interesting and innovative is her recognition of a set of lacunae within the study of Buddhist chant,” he says. “While text, context, and religious labor have all been explored, very little has been written about the female monastics on which this dissertation is focused or on the role of ‘voice’ within their practice. Katherine zooms in on the ways that chant helps train monks to stabilize their own bodies while also making them aware of the body’s instability. We are all convinced that Katherine’s dissertation will make a signal contribution to several disciplines.”

Funding at the dissertation stage remains a vital way to support up-and-coming scholars. Since its creation in 1981, the Fellowship has supported more than 1,300 doctoral candidates with essential time and resources to complete their writing. Newcombe Fellows have gone on to be noted faculty at domestic and foreign institutions, leaders in their fields of study, Pulitzer Prize winners, MacArthur Fellows, and more.

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Hundreds of undergraduates take classes in the fine arts each semester, among them painting and drawing, ceramics and sculpture, printmaking and animation, photography and videography. The courses, through the School of Arts & Sciences and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in an art form in a collaborative way.

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Solar production has begun at the Great Cove I and II facilities in central Pennsylvania, the equivalent of powering 70% of the electricity demand from Penn’s academic campus and health system in the Philadelphia area.

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The Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program at Penn’s Graduate School of Education is helping to prepare and retain teachers and educational leaders.

‘The Illuminated Body’ fuses color, light, and sound

A new Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of work by artist Barbara Earl Thomas features cut-paper portraits reminiscent of stained glass and an immersive installation constructed with intricately cut material lit from behind.

CBC Outstanding Thesis Awards for 2024

CBC congratulates Shinhye Chloe Park, Rei Ellsworth, and Clare Hotze as this years CBC Outstanding Thesis Award recipients!

Shinhye Chloe Park – First Place Read more about Chloe at this page .

Rei Ellsworth – Second Place "I've been very fortunate to grow up in the Tucson community and have an incredible experience with the University of Arizona. I've gotten to meet some really amazing people during my time in college and am grateful for all of the support of my friends and family. I came into undergrad thinking I would be going into healthcare, but during my time on and off campus have realized that I was much more interested in a research setting.

I'm excited to continue working with my lab after graduation and I'm open to any opportunities that will come my way in the future!"

Clare Hotze -Third Place "I have worked in the Tomasiak Lab for the past four years. My research mainly concerns membrane transport protein structure and function. For my senior thesis, I worked alongside a graduate student to investigate the molecular basis of substrate transport by a membrane protein in yeast that helps to  confer resistance to toxic heavy metals to the yeast cell.

Throughout this project and my time in the CBC Department, I learned a lot about biochemistry applications and techniques. I am so grateful for my time in the Tomasiak Lab and the people that mentored me along the way. After graduation, I am attending the University of Kansas Medical School, where I hope to combine my love of research with patient care."

The Potential of Nanoparticle-Mediated Macrophage Polarization for Solid Tumor Therapy: Evidence Synthesis and Temporal Monitoring

Cancer persists as a significant public health challenge despite treatment advances.  Colorectal cancer is especially a concern because its incidence and mortality are increasing in  young individuals. Solid tumors, such as colorectal cancer, are challenging to treat with  immunotherapies due to their immunosuppressive microenvironment preventing T cell infiltration.  Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a pivotal role in supporting this immunosuppression  by adopting an anti-inflammatory and pro-tumoral phenotype within the tumor microenvironment.  Leveraging nanoparticles to repolarize TAMs towards a proinflammatory and tumoricidal  phenotype holds promise for solid tumor therapy. However, clinical translation of cancer nanomedicines has been slow. This dissertation aims to address this through quantitative review  of the intersection between the colorectal cancer nanomedicine and macrophage polarization,  and by proposing a novel method of temporally tracking macrophage polarization using  bioluminescent reporter cells.  

Using eLDA topic modeling, the dissertation identifies six major topics in the intersection  of cancer medicine and macrophage polarization, providing insights into nanoparticle design  choices and therapeutic strategies across various cancer types. A scoping review and meta analysis of colorectal cancer nanomedicine over two decades reveal evolving nanoparticle design  strategies and their impact on macrophage polarization. We also demonstrate how a  nanoparticle’s ability to increase macrophages’ ratio of M1 to M2 polarization is correlated with  their efficacy at reducing tumor growth and increasing survival. This dissertation also includes a  technology assessment of how evidence synthesis of preclinical studies informs open science  policy.   

To better temporally track macrophage polarization, the dissertation introduces a method  utilizing THP-1 reporter cells with bioluminescently labeled polarization-relevant transcription  factors. We demonstrated how these reporter cells enable time-resolved activation curves for  tumor-associated macrophages, revealing unique NFκB activation profiles dependent on cancer  type that we linked to the tumor microenvironments immunogenicity. Furthermore, monitoring  monocyte to macrophage differentiation with this method highlights the importance of selecting appropriate differentiation protocols for the intended use. These examples demonstrate the  potential use of this bioluminescent platform to monitor macrophage polarization in response to  immunomodulatory treatments, like macrophage-targeted cancer nanomedicine.  

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• Biomedical Engineering

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• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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• The Buzz on Florida Politics

Miami police officer with history of misconduct allegations joins State Guard

• Ana Ceballos Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
• Charles Rabin Miami Herald

Javier Ortiz, a Miami police captain whose long history of citizen complaints alleging beatings, false arrests and harassment made him notorious in the city he swore to protect and serve, has joined Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Florida State Guard.

Ortiz, 44, joined the paramilitary organization in February, about a year after the Miami Police Department rescinded his firing on the condition that he give up his work-issued gun, work a nighttime desk job and commit to an early retirement.

As a member of the State Guard, Ortiz can now be deployed to respond to natural disasters and situations the governor deems to be emergencies, such as stopping migrants at sea or at the southern border in Texas .

Some members of the 300-member force have undergone combat training and are allowed to carry weapons and make arrests, though Ortiz is not a member of that specialized unit. A State Guard roster shows he is part of the general Crisis Response Battalion that responds to emergencies on the ground.

It is unclear whether he has been deployed yet. Both he and the State Guard ignored repeated questions over several weeks from the Times/Herald.

The Miami Police Department also declined to comment.

The Miami cop’s association with the State Guard came to light in February, when a police report listed him as one of two guards who reported that another recruit had allegedly threatened to “blow up” Camp Blanding, the North Florida military base where they were training.

Some who are familiar with Ortiz’s history in Miami are now questioning the judgment of State Guard leaders after learning Ortiz had joined the organization’s ranks.

“I can’t wrap my mind around how concerning this is,” Rodney Jacobs, the director of Miami’s civilian police review panel, said after learning Ortiz became a State Guard member this year. “Are they being vetted?”

Jacobs, a Democrat running to represent District 35 in the Florida Senate, is familiar with Ortiz’s history with the Miami Police Department, which was problematic enough to draw the attention of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI .

A few years ago, the two agencies looked into nearly 70 complaints, including 44 citizen complaints and 18 allegations of excessive use of force. Ortiz-related complaints settled by the city cost taxpayers nearly $600,000 combined.

Investigators talked to witnesses — including former and current Miami police officers — who said Ortiz engaged in a “pattern of abuse and bias against minorities, particularly African-Americans” and that he cyber-stalked and doxxed “civilians who question his authority or file complaints against him.”

The two-year investigative report produced in 2021 by state and federal law enforcement officials did not lead to criminal charges against Ortiz. Though the report found many allegations of wrongdoing, investigators concluded “there was not enough physical evidence and not enough information within the five-year statute of limitations to pursue any criminal charges.”

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“His judgment while here was questionable,” Jacobs said. “I can’t remember how many complaints he’s had since he’s been here. There have been a ton of use-of-force issues and discourtesies.”

Bringing Ortiz Aboard

Ortiz joined the Florida state force after graduating from a monthlong boot camp in February with roughly 200 other volunteers, personnel records show. The training, based at Camp Blanding, was the State Guard’s second boot camp since being revived by the Florida Legislature at DeSantis’ behest in the summer of 2022.

The Times/Herald confirmed Ortiz’s involvement in the State Guard through public records that were released by the DeSantis administration after lawyers for the news outlet intervened.

DeSantis, who wants to build the force to 1,500 members , initially floated bringing back the State Guard — a World War II-era force decommissioned in 1947— to back up a stretched-thin National Guard in times of crisis. Since then, he has sent members to migrant hotspots at the southern border and in the Florida Keys, and worked with lawmakers to create a specialized unit with guns and police-like responsibilities. Members can be paid a stipend based on what they do during a mission and where they travel.

Earlier this year, the State Guard’s vetting process came under scrutiny when recruits were detained for criminal and mental health issues.

The State Guard has since asked the Legislature for the authority to conduct more extensive background checks on recruits, saying volunteers would be interacting with vulnerable populations. Lawmakers agreed, and DeSantis last month signed into law a bill allowing the State Guard to do fingerprint-based checks on a person’s state and national criminal and employment records — a change that would not have affected the onboarding of Ortiz, who has no criminal convictions.

A long history

Yet Ortiz’s history with the Miami Police Department is long and controversial — and the two-year investigative report details much of it.

In one instance, the report says Ortiz pulled over a Black school teacher after she picked up her 1-year-old at her mother’s home in Liberty City. Ortiz said he stopped her because he saw her buying drugs. When she denied it, he asked her how she could afford her nearly new Dodge Charger and what she did for a living. The woman said the encounter ended with Ortiz arresting her and pressing her face into the pavement.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement report also noted that Francois Alexandre, a college student, accused Ortiz and other police officers of beating him up and breaking his eye socket while he was celebrating the Miami Heat’s second straight NBA championship in June 2013.

In a lawsuit, Ortiz was accused of placing Alexandre in a “headlock around the neck” and pushing him against a wall, according to court records. Ortiz prevailed in court, with a federal appeals court judge saying Ortiz had “qualified immunity” because he used reasonable force when he took down Alexandre and did not pile up on him or punch him like other officers allegedly did.

“When somebody like Ortiz has a track record like this, how can anyone stand up and say, ‘He works for me,’” Alexandre told the Herald at the time.

Several police chiefs tried to fire Ortiz, but their efforts were rebuffed by strong union protections. Then, in September 2022, Miami Police Chief Manny Morales fired him — but it only lasted eight months. Ortiz was reinstated in May 2023 under an agreement that severely limited his interactions with the public and guaranteed his retirement by November 2025.

As part of the agreement, Ortiz earns more than $155,000 a year but he was stripped of a gun and a take-home car.

In addition to the citizen complaints, Ortiz has drawn headlines for making racial comments.

He once called 12-year-old Tamir Rice — who was shot and killed by a Cleveland cop while playing with a toy gun — a “thug.” He flew to Ferguson, Missouri, to take part in a barbecue with police officers after civil unrest exploded there following the killing of Michael Brown, a Black man shot and killed by police. He instigated a social media battle with Beyonce over a video about police brutality and urged other Miami officers to refuse to work security details for her concert.

And at a Miami commission meeting, Ortiz once explained to the city’s lone Black commissioner that he was not Hispanic, but a Black man because of the “one-drop rule” — an old racist trope that implies anyone with a degree of Black ancestry was Black. Ortiz is a white Hispanic.

“He has a laundry list of abuses in the community,” said Ruben Sebastian, a 60-year-old who was paid $65,000 by the city in a settlement after he sued Ortiz for wrongfully arresting him during a 2015 traffic stop.

Sebastian, who for years tried to hold Ortiz accountable for the 2015 traffic stop, said the State Guard should have taken citizen complaints into consideration when they welcomed him to work with a public organization.

“I believe the way he acts is not in a professional matter,” Sebastian said.

If things go wrong, he added, “the taxpayers end up paying for all the stupidity.”

Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau reporter Lawrence Mower contributed to this report.

Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

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Explore Topics and Trends impacting today's markets

Agriculture and energy have intersected for as long as futures have been traded in Chicago, though both energy and agriculture have come a long way since Oats futures, launched in 1877 and considered the first energy derivative , fuelled the city’s horses.

A Rich History

Driving development in the late 19th century, the country’s railroads (and thus indirectly the enmeshed coal sector) shaped American agriculture. Before the expansion of the railroad and the necessary growth in Appalachian coal mining, cattle needed to be driven on foot to Chicago, then the center of U.S. meatpacking. After rail proliferation, animals could be moved to packing facilities without the loss of muscle, fat, and life implicit in a long cattle drive, making beef cheaper and more plentiful. 

Rail also allowed lumber to be transported by means other than water, enabling the shipping of hardwood and relieving lumberjacks of the mortal threat of logjams. Those railcars that brought cattle and lumber to Chicago could then be filled with grain from the city’s elevators, traded and hedged at the Chicago Board of Trade, to feed the expanding westward human and animal population, writes William Cronon in his book Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West.

Biofuel Production Marks the 21st Century

Today, the driving force in the push and pull between energy and agriculture is the rapid development and use of feedstock biofuels . According to the April 2024 WASDE, the USDA estimates that of the 27,200 million pounds of soybean oil consumed in the U.S. in the 2023/2024 crop year, 13,000 million pounds (48%) will be attributable to biofuel production. Of the 15,342 million bushels of corn expected to be produced this crop year, 5,400 (35%) will be used in the production of ethanol. Ethanol production has accounted for the large majority of food, seed and industrial (excluding feed) use of corn in the past decade. 

EPA Blending Mandates Influence Ags Markets

In the U.S., policy in the form of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which sets national blending mandates, drives these markets. In the U.S., soybean oil is the principal input to what is designated by the RFS as biomass-based diesel (BBD), with biodiesel and renewable diesel being the primary fuel types. 

While biodiesel and ethanol need to be blended with petrodiesel to operate in unmodified internal combustion engines, renewable diesel can function identically to petrodiesel as a drop-in fuel. Biomass-based diesel fuels are widely considered to emit significantly less carbon than petrodiesel or ethanol-blended gasoline.

Seasonal Volatility

Agricultural volatility peaks in the summer months, when volatilities of other asset classes tend to experience a lull. Agricultural volatility peaks in the summer because the principal crops –  corn and soybeans – are in the ground, and thus the slightest zephyr in weather and planting can yield significant headwinds or tailwinds in price in new crop instruments December Corn and November Soybean Complex futures. Volatility tends to peak around the end of June, coinciding with the release of the USDA Acreage report. 

According to the CME Group Volatility Index (CVOL) , Soybean Oil has been among the most volatile Agricultural products at CME Group in average weekly CVOL since 2021, behind only Lean Hogs and Chicago Wheat. The commodity’s energy application has strengthened traded volume in Soybean Oil futures in the past few years, propelling the product into the contest for third place among most traded Agricultural futures products, overtaking Soybean Meal and Chicago Wheat in Q2 2024. Soybean Oil futures saw an average daily volume (ADV) of around 150,000 in 2023 and are experiencing record average daily volume and open interest thus far in Q2 2024.  

The Growing Importance of Soybean Oil

While use of corn for ethanol has found stability in recent years, use of soybean oil for biomass-based diesel is only expected to increase further. Renewable diesel production capacity, in particular, is being rapidly built to satisfy blending mandates under the RFS. While canola and waste and residual oils are the primary inputs to BBD in the European Union , soybean oil continues its dominance in feedstock inputs in the U.S., underlying a robust and liquid derivatives market. As market dynamics evolve in an ever changing world, CME Group continues to provide risk management solutions across the agricultural and energy markets.

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All examples are hypothetical interpretations of situations and are used for explanation purposes only. The views expressed in OpenMarkets articles reflect solely those of their respective authors and not necessarily those of CME Group or its affiliated institutions. OpenMarkets and the information herein should not be considered investment advice or the results of actual market experience. Neither futures trading nor swaps trading are suitable for all investors, and each involves the risk of loss. Swaps trading should only be undertaken by investors who are Eligible Contract Participants (ECPs) within the meaning of Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act. Futures and swaps each are leveraged investments and, because only a percentage of a contract’s value is required to trade, it is possible to lose more than the amount of money deposited for either a futures or swaps position. Therefore, traders should only use funds that they can afford to lose without affecting their lifestyles and only a portion of those funds should be devoted to any one trade because traders cannot expect to profit on every trade. BrokerTec Americas LLC (“BAL”) is a registered broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ( www.FINRA.org ), and is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation ( www.SIPC.org ). BAL does not provide services to private or retail customers.. In the United Kingdom, BrokerTec Europe Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. CME Amsterdam B.V. is regulated in the Netherlands by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) ( www.AFM.nl ). CME Investment Firm B.V. is also incorporated in the Netherlands and regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), as well as the Central Bank of the Netherlands (DNB).

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