LibGuides: History: World History

Frequently Asked Question

What are the differences between websites and library databases?

1. Generally, websites and library databases both can contain:

scholarly information (such as facts, scholarly essays, research results, and research reports), and
non-scholarly information (such as popular opinion and guesswork).

NOTE: Researchers should take the time to verify research results by checking several other reliable sources before using it or acting on it. (See more about how to determine what types of sources are credible at PPLD's LibGuide on Finding Good Information here.)

2. Library databases do not generally use natural language to search, but use specialized wording and symbols. One of the benefits of using library databases is that they give more precise results than websites or web searches, which may include duplicate or irrelevant results.

3. In addition, library databases contain content that is sometimes only available by paying for it. The library pays for access to that information on behalf of the community it serves.

4. Online web searches often do use natural language, but the results may not be exactly what a researcher is looking for.

5. The order of an online result list is also often based on the priorities of the companies who offer the search (usually at no out-of-pocket cost), rather than the priorities of the researcher.

For a more detailed discussion of researching best practices, see PPLD's LibGuide on Information and Media Literacy here.

World History Featured in PPLD's Collection

On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe

Available as an eBook and eAudiobook for checkout through Libby/OverDrive and (as featured here) as a print book for checkout

A landmark work of narrative history that shatters our previous Eurocentric understanding of the Age of Discovery by telling the story of the Indigenous Americans who journeyed across the Atlantic to Europe after 1492. We have long been taught to presume that modern global history began when the "Old World" encountered the "New", when Christopher Columbus "discovered" America in 1492. But, as Caroline Dodds Pennock conclusively shows in this groundbreaking book, for tens of thousands of Aztecs, Maya, Totonacs, Inuit and others--enslaved people, diplomats, explorers, servants, traders--the reverse was true: they discovered Europe. For them, Europe comprised savage shores, a land of riches and marvels, yet perplexing for its brutal disparities of wealth and quality of life, and its baffling beliefs. The story of these Indigenous Americans abroad is a story of abduction, loss, cultural appropriation, and, as they saw it, of apocalypse--a story that has largely been absent from our collective imagination of the times. From the Brazilian king who met Henry VIII to the Aztecs who mocked up human sacrifice at the court of Charles V; from the Inuk baby who was put on show in a London pub to the mestizo children of Spaniards who returned "home" with their fathers; from the Inuit who harpooned ducks on the Avon river to the many servants employed by Europeans of every rank: here are a people who were rendered exotic, demeaned, and marginalized, but whose worldviews and cultures had a profound impact on European civilization. Drawing on their surviving literature and poetry and subtly layering European eyewitness accounts against the grain, Pennock gives us a sweeping account of the Indigenous American presence in, and impact on, early modern Europe.

Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943

Available as an eBook for checkout through Libby/OverDrive

The Battle of Stalingrad was not only the psychological turning point of World War II: it also changed the face of modern warfare.
In August 1942, Hitler's huge Sixth Army reached the city that bore Stalin's name. In the five-month siege that followed, the Russians fought to hold Stalingrad at any cost; then, in an astonishing reversal, encircled and trapped their Nazi enemy. This battle for the ruins of a city cost more than a million lives. Stalingrad conveys the experience of soldiers on both sides, fighting in inhuman conditions, and of civilians trapped on an urban battlefield. Antony Beevor has interviewed survivors and discovered completely new material in a wide range of German and Soviet archives, including prisoner interrogations and reports of desertions and executions. As a story of cruelty, courage, and human suffering, Stalingrad is unprecedented and unforgettable. Historians and reviewers worldwide have hailed Antony Beevor's magisterial Stalingrad as the definitive account of World War II's most harrowing battle.

The Great Courses: History of India

Available as Available as an eAudiobook for checkout through Libby/OverDrive

Over 5,000 years, India has been home to a rich tapestry of cultures, and the lands east of the Indus River have long been a hub for trade and cultural exchange. Today the subcontinent contains 20% of the world's population and is an economic powerhouse. Go inside this thrilling story with A History of India, a breathtaking survey of South Asia from its earliest societies through the challenges of the 21st century.

Cold Warriors: Writers Who Waged the Literary Cold War

Available as a print book for checkout, as an eBook for checkout through Libby/OverDrive, and (as featured here) an eBook for checkout through Freading

In this brilliant account of the literary war within the Cold War, novelists and poets become embroiled in a dangerous game of betrayal, espionage, and conspiracy at the heart of the vicious conflict fought between the Soviet Union and the West.

During the Cold War, literature was both sword and noose. Novels, essays, and poems could win the hearts and minds of those caught between the competing creeds of capitalism and communism. They could also lead to blacklisting, exile, imprisonment, or execution for their authors if they offended those in power. The clandestine intelligence services of the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union recruited secret agents and established vast propaganda networks devoted to literary warfare. But the battles were personal, too: friends turned on one another, lovers were split by political fissures, artists were undermined by inadvertent complicities. And while literary battles were fought in print, sometimes the pen was exchanged for a gun, the bookstore for the battlefield.

In Cold Warriors, Duncan White vividly chronicles how this ferocious intellectual struggle was waged on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Among those involved were George Orwell, Stephen Spender, Mary McCarthy, Graham Greene, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, John le Carré, Anna Akhmatova, Richard Wright, Ernest Hemingway, Boris Pasternak, Gioconda Belli, and Václav Havel. Here, too, are the spies, government officials, military officers, publishers, politicians, and critics who helped turn words into weapons at a time when the stakes could not have been higher.

Drawing upon years of archival research and the latest declassified intelligence, Cold Warriors is both a gripping saga of prose and politics, and a welcome reminder that--at a moment when ignorance is all too frequently celebrated and reading is seen as increasingly irrelevant--writers and books can change the world.

Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter who Forever Changed British History

Available as an eBook for checkout through Libby/OverDrive and (as featured here) as a print book for checkout

Anne Boleyn may be best known for losing her head, but as Tudor expert Tracy Borman reveals in a book that recasts British history, her greatest legacy lies in the path-breaking reign of her daughter, Elizabeth. Much of the fascination with Britain's legendary Tudors centers around the dramas surrounding Henry VIII and his six wives and Elizabeth I's rumored liaisons. Yet the most fascinating relationship in that historic era may well be that between the mother and daughter who, individually and collectively, changed the course of British history.

The future Queen Elizabeth was not yet three when her mother, Anne Boleyn, was beheaded on May 19, 1536, on Henry's order, incensed that she had not given him a son and tired of her contentious nature. Elizabeth had been raised away from court, rarely even seeing Anne; and after her death, Henry tried in every way to erase Anne's presence and memory. At that moment in history, few could have predicted that mother and daughter would each leave enduring, and interlocked, legacies. Yet as Tracy Borman reveals in this first-ever joint portrait, both women broke the mold for British queens and for women in general at the time. Anne was instrumental in reforming and reshaping forever Britain's religious traditions, and her years of wielding power over a male-dominated court provided an inspiring role model for Elizabeth's glittering, groundbreaking 45-year reign. Indeed, Borman shows how much Elizabeth-most visibly by refusing to ever marry, but in many other more subtle ways that defined her court-was influenced by her mother's legacy.

In its originality, Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I sheds new light on two of history's most famous women-the private desires, hopes, and fears that lay behind their dazzling public personas, and the surprising influence each had on the other during and after their lifetimes. In the process, Tracy Borman reframes our understanding of the entire Tudor era.

The World War I Book

Available as a print book for checkout

Discover the key battles, tactics, technologies, and turning points of the First World War - the epic conflict that was supposed to be "the war to end all wars."

Combining authoritative, exciting text and bold images, The World War I Book explores the historical background of the war, its causes, all of the key events across the major theatres of conflict, and its aftermath.

Using the original, graphic-led approach of the series, entries profile more than 90 of the key events during and surrounding the conflict - from the growing tensions between Europe's major powers to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the German invasion of Belgium, the endless slaughter in the trenches, the American entry into the war, the Russian Revolution, the Armistice, and the creation of the League of Nations.

In this book, you can explore the following :

* Key milestones of the First World War - exploring the technologies, tactics, and turning points.

* Main theatres of the conflict and the experience of war - from civilian life to the horrors of gas attacks.

* Bold imagery and clear text with insightful and inspiring quotes from military leaders and historians

Offering a uniquely compelling, accessible, and immediate history of the war, The World War I Book shows how certain key battles, individual leaders, political, and economic forces, and technological advances influenced the course of the conflict and the following decades.

Crusade in the Pacific

Available as a DVD recording for checkout

Experience the epic television documentary event that chronicles all the bloody land, sea, and air battles for the Pacific. Featuring never-before-seen footage from the archives of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, as well as film captured from the Japanese government. From the Japanese seizure of Manchuria and attack on Pearl Harbor through the detonation of the atomic bomb and the post-war rise of China, Korea, and Vietnam. Includes all 26 episodes.

River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile

Available as an eBook and eAudiobook for checkout through Libby/OverDrive, as a CD recording for checkout and (as featured here) as a print book for checkout

Set against the backdrop of the race to exploit Africa by the colonial powers, a story of courage and adventure brings to life the rivalry between two enemies--a decorated soldier and a young aristocrat/Army officer--as they set out to find the mysterious headwaters of the Nile River. Map included on endpapers.

World History Databases & Recommended Websites

PPLD Databases
Recommended Websites

PPLD Databases

For general history databases, see PPLD's General History Research tab (click here or on the blue General History Research tab at the top of the screen on mobile devices or at the left of the screen on computers).

Ancient Civilizations Reference Library This link opens in a new window
The ancient civilizations of Iraq, Egypt, India, China, Central America and other regions are the focus of this remarkable contribution to student reference.
Arts and Humanities Through the Eras This link opens in a new window
Profiling milestones and movements in the arts, literature, music and religion from a specific period, each volume in this set helps students and researchers understand the various disciplines of the humanities in relation to each other, as well as to history and culture. An overview of the period and a chronology of major world events begin each volume.
Cold War Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Covers the Cold War period between the Western powers and the Communist bloc from the end of World War II through 1989. Includes discussion of the historic causes of the tension and information on the lives and actions of major figures, such as Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin.
The Crusades Reference Library This link opens in a new window
The three-volume The Crusades covers everything from the First Crusade (1095-99) through the Ninth Crusade (1271-72).
CultureGrams This link opens in a new window
Experience the world through cultural information on more than 200 countries. Explore all the U.S. states in colorful, engaging reports. Tour all the Canadian provinces and territories in 13 image-filled reports.
Early Civilizations in the Americas Reference Library This link opens in a new window
This reference library provides a comprehensive overview of the history of the regions of the American continents in which two of the world's first civilizations developed: Mesoamerica (the name for the lands in which ancient civilizations arose in Central America and Mexico) and the Andes Mountains region of South America (in present-day Peru and parts of Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Ecuador).
Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion This link opens in a new window
A survey of clothing, costume and fashion. Coverage includes the origins of clothing and body adornment, the development of fabrics and technologies, and the social meanings of dress, as well as representative costumes from a wide range of historical eras.
Encyclopedia of Food and Culture This link opens in a new window
A three-volume survey of food and its place in human culture and society, presented through 600 alphabetically sorted entries. Features multidisciplinary coverage of such topics as comfort food, ethnicity and food, medieval banquets, and nutrient composition, among many others. Includes photographs, illustrations, sidebars, recipes, menus, and timelines.
Encyclopedia of the Solar System This link opens in a new window
Provides a framework for understanding the origin and evolution of the solar system, historical discoveries, and details about planetary bodies and how they interact.
Epidemics and Pandemics: From Ancient Plagues to Modern-Day Threats This link opens in a new window
This book discusses epidemics and pandemics, their impact on public health, and how they shape and are shaped by political, economic, and social forces.
Europe Since 1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of War and Reconstruction This link opens in a new window
A multi-volume survey of European history from the beginning of World War I in 1914 to the present, presented through alphabetically arranged entries that focus on the period's scientific, social and cultural history as well as the political, military and economic developments.
Explora for Public Libraries This link opens in a new window
Find articles and facts from the world’s leading magazines and reference books in one search.
Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages This link opens in a new window
Provides a broad overview of costume traditions of diverse cultures from prehistoric times to the present day. Examines more than 430 items of human decoration and adornment, ranging from togas to turbans, necklaces to tennis shoes. Explores how and why items were created, the people who made them, and their uses.
French and Indian War This link opens in a new window
Contains historical overviews, biographical entries, and primary source material on the French and Indian War.
Gale in Context: Biography This link opens in a new window
Biography is built on a foundation of more than 600,000 biographical entries covering international figures from all time periods and areas of study. Providing coverage of the most searched and studied people, Biography includes over 5,000 portal pages on contemporary and historical figures. Reference content is offered alongside videos, audio selections, images, primary sources, and magazine and journal articles from hundreds of major periodicals and newspapers. This resource is continuously updated to ensure users have access to the latest information.
Gale in Context: World History This link opens in a new window
Gale In Context: World History reaches back to the ancient world—and forward to today's headlines—to deliver a chronicle of the people, cultures, events, and societies that have formed the history of the human race. A range of topics such as Aztecs, Industrial Revolution, Silk Road, the Buddha, Space Race, and more provide a wide perspective across the globe.
Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Searches our entire collection of Gale eBooks on a variety of subjects, including history, science, government, business and more.
Global Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) History This link opens in a new window
This encyclopedia covers LGBTQ topics in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East, as well as North America, and takes an interdisciplinary approach to the subject, using film, literature, human rights, politics, landmark legislation, activism, the arts, language, sports, and historical events as points of entry into the content.
History Collection This link opens in a new window
Explore a collection of over 20 Gale history reference books on a wide variety of topics.
History Reference Source This link opens in a new window
History Reference Source offers full text from more than 1,620 reference books, encyclopedias and non-fiction books, cover to cover full text for more than 150 leading history periodicals, nearly 57,000 historical documents, more than 78,000 biographies of historical figures, more than 113,000 historical photos and maps, and more than 80 hours of historical video.
Industrial Revolution Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Covers the ideas and social turmoil that marked this transition as well as the machines, manufacturing processes and energy sources that spurred it on.
Korean War Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Covers the Korean War by exploring the major topics and events related to the period. The combined Almanac and Primary Sources covers the background of and issues related to the conflict in 13 chapters. Biographies includes 25 biographical entries on major figures from the period and 50 photographs.
Mexican-American War This link opens in a new window
Covers the period from the U.S. annexation of Texas to the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo (1848).
Middle Ages Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Covers the different civilizations and peoples of Medieval times; includes biographical essays on significant individuals of the era; and presents a collection of excerpts from relevant letters, journal entries, poems and more from the era.
Religion & Philosophy Collection This link opens in a new window
Religion & Philosophy Collection is a full-text database for theology and philosophy research. It includes hundreds of journals and magazines covering many religious and philosophical topics, including world religions, religious history, political philosophy, and philosophy of language.
Spanish-American War This link opens in a new window
Covers the underlying causes of the Spanish American war, the battles, and the resolution of the conflict with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
Transgender Life This link opens in a new window
This resource provides students with an understanding of the transgender experience, starting with evidence and treatment of transgender people throughout history, challenges related to coming out as transgender, dealing with gender dysphoria, questions related to transitioning, and a discussion of rights and legal issues, with a variety of perspectives represented.
Vietnam War Reference Library This link opens in a new window
This title traces the progression of this controversial war from its beginnings in 1941 with the creation of the Vietminh guerrilla force under Ho Chi Minh, through its last days in 1975 with the fall of Saigon. It covers high ranking government officials both foreign and domestic, antiwar activists, and soldiers and provides a variety of perspectives on the country's involvement in the war with excerpts from screenplays, literature, speeches and hearing testimonies.
War in the Persian Gulf Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Triggered by its invasion of Kuwait, Iraq was pitted against a 32-nation coalition of forces commanded by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, whose air attacks led the way for a ground war that met with success in less than four days.
War of 1812 This link opens in a new window
Covers the War of 1812 by providing a detailed overview of an often overlooked war.
World War I Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Provides comprehensive coverage of the World War I period.
World War II Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Provides comprehensive coverage of the World War II period.

Recommended Websites

For general history websites, see PPLD's General History Research (click here or on the blue General History Research tab at the top of the screen on mobile devices or at the left of the screen on computers).

CIA World Factbook
"The World Factbook provides basic intelligence on the history, people, government, economy, energy, geography, environment, communications, transportation, military, terrorism, and transnational issues for 266 world entities." (description from website)
Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU)
"The HAEU preserves and makes accessible for research the archives deposited by EU institutions according to the thirty-year rule governing access to archival material. It also collects and preserves private papers of individuals, movements and international organisations involved in European integration. Finally, it facilitates research on the history of the European Union, promotes public interest in European integration and enhances transparency in the functioning of EU Institutions." (description from website)
Primary Source Sets
"Primary source collections exploring topics in history, literature, and culture developed by educators — complete with teaching guides for class use." (description from the Digital Public Library of America [DPLA] website)
The Wiener Holocaust Library Refugee Map
"Supported by Designated Development Funding from Arts Council England, our Refugee Map represents part of The Wiener Holocaust Library's archives. This site includes a selection of our rich collections of Family Papers, including handwritten diaries, photo albums, identity and emigration papers, Red Cross letters and recorded interviews. These documents reveal and preserve the stories of the individuals and families that fled Nazi persecution and antisemitism in the years before, during, and after the Second World War." (description from website)
World Cultures & History
From the Library of Congress Digital Collections: Digital materials relating to world history and cultural context, including written documents, spoken-word recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, sheet music, and musical recordings.
World History - Khan Academy
Class Table of Contents includes: Beginnings - 600 BCE; 600 BCE - 600 CE Second-Wave Civilizations; 600 - 1450 Regional and interregional interactions; 1450 - 1750 Renaissance and Reformation; 1750 -1900 Enlightenment and Revolution; and The 20th century.
World History Resources
From the Colorado Department of Education: "Teaching the Colorado Academic Standards in social studies is supported through a wide array of free instructional resources. This webpage lists just a few of these resources and will be updated regularly." (description from website)

Looking for more resources on researching?

Debate Issues & Paper Topics
Are you working on a research project? This guide offers an overview of some of PPLD's research resources. The resources are best suited for an argumentative research paper, but can be applied to other research projects as well.
History Subject Guide
Includes key research terms, search tips, and help guides.
Homework Help
PPLD Teens Homework Help Subject Guide: Explore resources for live tutoring, research, and more
Information and Media Literacy: How to Spot the Good, the Bad, and the Just Plain Ugly
PPLD's LibGuide on how to evaluate information and media online.
Library of Congress Research Guides
Reference websites compiled by the Library of Congress

History

Frequently Asked Question

World History Featured in PPLD's Collection