Essays and Research Papers on European History

A 4 page article analysis of J.S. Gordon's essay "What We Lost in the Great War." The writer argues that Gordon offers a different, insightful perspective on history that discusses not only events, but puts those events into the context of how they were viewed by the people at the time. In other words, Gordon ...

This is a 5 page book review of Sharon Kay Penman’s novel “When Christ and His Saints Slept”. Sharon Kay Penman’s novel “When Christ and His Saints Slept” (1995) tells the story of the struggle for the English crown upon the death of Henry I during the 12th century. The novel is considered excellent on ...

5 pages in length. "History is little more than a register of crimes, follies and misfortunes of man" This famous quote from Edward Gibbons provides meaningful insight to what humanity's historical significance truly represents. When taken in its realistic context, one can readily support the validity of such a claim, inasmuch as ...

A 7 page overview of nationalism around the world. This paper notes that nationalism, the strong belief in country and culture, is a characteristic of most contemporary countries. Nationalism has played a particularly strong role in the history of the world during the last three centuries, from the American and French Revolutions right ...

An 18 page research paper that examines the past and present of the Russian border guard. The writer details the history of the guard and how they maintained the 'Iron curtain' for the former Soviet Union and then details how the guard has changed with the demise of the USSR. Bibliography lists 15 sources.

A 35 page discussion of the much misunderstood Orange Order of Northern Ireland. Sometimes described as a “secret order”, the Orange Order is anything but secret, it is in fact one of the most visible political/religious organizations of Northern Ireland. Its history is steeped in a rigid devotion to the promotion of Protestant ...

A 5 page outline of the contributions of Justinian I to subsequent societies. Outlines the hardships he faced in regard to disease and famine and emphasizes that he overcame these hardships to instill critical policies and philosophies into world history. Notes the importance of Justinian's Corpus Juris Civilis which provided a unity to ...

This 5 page paper provides a history of this notorious conqueror of Europe and ruler of France. An overview of his life is provided and the Battle of Waterloo is included. His final exile is discussed in detail. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 14 page research paper that examines the question of whether or not Ottoman rule of the Balkans was an unmitigated disaster as some scholars assert. The writer points out that there are those who argue the opposite position, stating that there is little evidence to substantiate such claims. This examination of the history of ...

A 7 page paper that recounts the history and effects of Alfred Nobel's trials with nitroglycerin. Contrary to popular belief, Nobel did not invent nitroglycerin, but his invention of dynamite, its first usable form, was a significant breakthrough for the scientific community as well as industrialization. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 6 page paper on Anne Salmond's Two Worlds: First Meetings Between Maori and Europeans. It gives some background on the early history of the Maoris, and will track the seeds of the tragic denigration of a proud people. Bibliography lists one source.

A 5 page paper that provides an overview of the history of England as it reflects the neoclassism of the 17th and 18th centuries and correlates this to the development of England's earliest asylum. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 20 page research paper on the history, causes, and ramifications of the Boer War. Bibliography lists more than a dozen sources.

This 6 page paper provides an overview of the history and industrial development of England and reflects upon the significance of some major events, including the progression of the Corn Laws and the initiation of World War I. In addition, this paper also focuses on population growth and the industrial revolution as factors that ...

In 5 pages, the author discusses what was happening in other parts of the world during the Renaissance. Europe, China, Africa, America and other nations had a great deal of things going on during the Renaissance period in history. Change, rebirth, and modernization did not only belong to European countries. Bibliography lists 9 ...

A 10 page research paper that examines the topic of colonialism, in general, and focuses on the British Empire, in particular. The writer discusses the extent of the British Empire, some of the forces, which caused European imperialism, and some of the lasting effects of this era. The writer specifically focuses on the history ...

A 5 page analysis of historian Stephen J. Lee's book. The writer discusses how this volume offers students an overview of the historical themes that characterize world history in the first half of the twentieth century. No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper considers Napoleon’s use of artillery in his conquests. Artillery is discussed in depth and the paper explains that the use of weaponry helped propel Napoleon to greatness. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

Beginning in the Renaissance and the emergence of linear perspective there has been certain expectations ascribed to art and artists. During the Renaissance, the rendition of the human form was for the first time able to be portrayed with depth and in context. For many years after photography had been invented the only ...

This 5 page report discusses European art of the years encompassing World War I, post World War and the onset of World War II. It was art filled with contradiction and radical change and served as an appropriate metaphor for the social and political upheaval faced throughout Europe as well. The paper discusses Matisse, ...

This 5 page paper is comprised of two distinct essays on Germany. One reflects on the film Europa Europa and Germany's difficulty in expanding its culture. The second essay talks about the German problem and how that has changed over the years. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 5 page “letter” from a fictitious Bavarian aristocrat to his King in 1871, advising him that uniting with the other independent states of Germany would be in their best interests. The letter outlines nineteenth-century German history and explains how nationalism and a belief in their manifest destiny as a people convinced Germans to unite. Bibliography lists ...

This 6 page paper focuses on the ideas of Hobsbawm and how they relate to nationalism. Nationalism is discussed as a concept in a general sense. The modernist view is evaluated in light of history and recent activities in Slavic nations. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

This eight-page paper gives an overview of the U.S. National Holocaust Memorial and Museum. The history of the museum and the various exhibitions that are on display are discussed and described. Bibliography lists seven sources.

This 10 page paper is broken down into three sections, each answering questions posed by a student. Many topics are addressed with a focus on Karl Marx, his writings, and French society. Jean Paul Sartre and his ideas about historical materialism are discussed. Karl Marx's contributions, and those of other theorists are evaluated in the ...