Below you can find a list of prompts for possible pitches you may want to write. We have selected a few popular first-year history modules and created some questions to give you suggestions for pieces.

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HI113 – Europe in the Making, 1450-1800

• How do we define Europe? Is there such thing as a collective European identity? What influenced the emergence of any identity?

• What are the long-term consequences of European colonisation of the Americas? How do we construct notions and themes of colonisation? How do we understand colonisation in terms of religion, economics and politics?

• How did the “global” economy work in early modern Europe? What was the role played by merchants in the economy? Where was the global “centre” of trade in the 15th century?

• How did the Reformation shape wider European society? What were the long-term consequences of the Reformation? What were the cultural implications of the Reformation and how were such implications represented? What, if there is, the link between Protestantism and the emergence of modern capitalism?

• How did the growth of witchcraft beliefs influence social dynamics and popular culture in early modern Europe? How did the growth of witchcraft beliefs influence the role and representation of women within society? What, if there is, the link between witchcraft and the emergence of modern capitalism?

• How can we reconcile science with religion? What was the impact of religion on the development of science and scientific practices and investigations in early modern Europe?

• Why has the state system developed as it has? What were the city states and how did they function in the European economy and wider political sphere? How did early notions of the nation and identity shape the development of the state?

• What were the major grassroots popular protests in early modern Europe? What was the impact of early popular movements in Europe? What was the link between religion and popular protest? How did popular protests in early modern Europe impact European governance?

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HI114 – History and Politics of the Modern Middle East

• Is there such thing as a “Middle East”? How have perceptions of the Middle East been shaped by the past? How have the limits of the Middle East changed over time (are there areas that were considered in the region that aren’t now?)

• How have representations of the Middle East changed over time? How do we picture the Middle East? What is the role of Hollywood and other bodies in shaping representations of the Middle East?

• What is the history of Islam? What were the Islamic Caliphates and how did they expand over the MENA region? Could we class the Caliphates as early empires? What was the Golden Age of Islam? How do we increase accessibility to the history of Islam and socio-scientific developments that occurred centuries before they did in Europe?

• How has the European experience in the Middle East shaped representations and knowledge of Middle East? What are the long-term impacts of European colonisation of the Middle East? How can we reimagine Middle Eastern resistance to colonisers in the face of oppression?

• What can we learn from the secrecy and elitism in redrawing Middle Eastern borders for the contemporary experiences of the Middle East? How do arbitrary borders relate to different cultures and experiences in the Middle East?

• What is the role of oil companies in shaping Middle Eastern politics? How can we reimagine the role of oil companies in shaping Middle Eastern politics? What is the relationship between oil and religion in the Middle East?

 

HI115 – Latin America: Themes and Problems

• What were the different cultures and distinct civilisations of the region before 1492? How do views of pre-1492 Latin America influence how we understand the Conquest of the Americas?

• How did different groups understand the notion of “conquest” and is it possible to reconcile these different interpretations? Is there such thing as a collective conquest of Latin America?

• What role did race and identity play in influencing social order and authority in Latin America? What were the implications of colonial structures in the long-term? What was the role of religion in shaping colonial experiences?

• Is there such thing as a “collective” independence movement in Latin America? What were the role of ordinary people in shaping Latin American independence movements?

• Popular Democracy in Latin America

• How and why did populism emergence in Latin America? How did notions of “national identity” shape populist movements?

 

HI178 – Farewell to Arms? War in Modern European History, 1815-2015

• How did the Napoleonic Wars influence the political landscape of Europe in the 19th century? How did the outcomes of the Napoleonic Wars contribute to the rise of nationalism in Europe?

• How did Otto von Bismarck use war as a tool for unifying Germany? How did the unification of Germany alter the balance of power in Europe?

• What role did technological advancements play in the evolution of industrial warfare during the 19th and 20th centuries? How did industrial warfare change the nature and scale of conflicts in Europe? What were the social and economic effects of industrial warfare on European societies?

• How did pacifist movements in Europe respond to the rise of militarism and the outbreak of wars in the 19th and 20th centuries? What were the main arguments and tactics used by pacifist groups to oppose war? How effective were pacifist efforts in influencing government policies and public opinion regarding war?

• How did the concept of "total war" develop and manifest in the world wars of the 20th century? What were the political, economic, and social implications of total war for European nations? How did total war affect the civilian populations?

• What role did propaganda play in social mobilisation efforts during wartime? How did gender roles and expectations change as a result of social mobilisation in war?

 

HI179 – Deviance and Nonconformity in Early Modern Europe

• What were the primary causes of heresy in early modern Europe? How did the Catholic Church respond to the spread of Protestantism during the Reformation? What methods were used to identify and punish heretics in early modern Europe? How did the Inquisition function and what was its impact on European society?

• What role did Islamic culture and scholarship play in early modern Europe? How did the Reconquista and the expulsion of Muslims from Spain affect European attitudes towards Islam? How did interfaith interactions shape religious and social dynamics in early modern Europe?

• How was atheism perceived and treated in early modern European society? How did authorities respond to the presence of atheistic beliefs in early modern Europe?

• How was poverty understood and addressed by early modern European societies? What were the main causes of poverty in early modern Europe? How did charitable institutions and practices evolve during this period?

• What challenges did migrants face upon arriving in a new region or city? How did authorities and local populations typically respond to the presence of migrants? What role did migration play in the spread of cultural and technological innovations?

 

HI180 – Britain in the Twentieth Century: A Social History

• What were the main factors contributing to perceptions of national decline in Edwardian Britain? How did social commentators and politicians propose to address the challenges facing Britain at the turn of the century? What role did imperial concerns play in discussions about national decline?

• How did the First World War impact British society and culture? What were the experiences of soldiers on the front lines and civilians on the home front? How did the war change gender roles and expectations in Britain?

• How did technological advancements, such as radio and cinema, contribute to the growth of mass culture in interwar Britain? How did mass culture reflect and shape social attitudes and values in interwar Britain? What impact did the Great Depression have on the consumption of mass culture? How did the government and private industry regulate and promote mass culture?

• How did the experience of WWII differ from that of WWI for British civilians and soldiers? What were the roles of women and minorities in the war effort and on the home front?

• How has nostalgia been used as a cultural and political tool in Britain throughout the 20th century? What were the main sources of nostalgia for different generations in Britain? How did nostalgia influence popular culture, including literature, film, and music? What role did nostalgia play in shaping attitudes towards social change and modernisation? How has nostalgia contributed to debates about national identity and the future direction of British society?

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