What period of history should I focus on for my major?

[Oblivion]

Well, after finishing my required classes (3 years ago) and FINALLY being eligible for financial aid again, I now have the opportunity to transfer to a University. Now, I have to pick a period for which to focus on. Geography-wise, it will be in Europe and the U.S.

So what does everyone suggest?

[Eric P]

the industrial revolution and the beginning of modernity

[Oblivion]

Oh, Eric P. Always so helpful, and one of my fav posters here.

But everything past the industrial revolution doesn't interest me.

[Phoenix Dark]

Robert's Rebellion

[demi]

Why do you have other people choose your future?

[Oblivion]

Why do you have other people choose your future?

Suggest, not choose!

[crimsondynamics]

Does it have to be a period that involves both Europe and the US? If so, your choices are pretty limited...

[Eric P]

Why do you have other people choose your future?

technically, we are choosing his past

[Oblivion]

Does it have to be a period that involves both Europe and the US? If so, your choices are pretty limited...

No, it doesn't have to overlap. It could be different periods for each.

[Eric P]

how about the Napoleonic Era?

[Oblivion]

how about the Napoleonic Era?

Ooh, that's a good one, methinks.

[demi]

Why do you have other people choose your future?

technically, we are choosing his past

Well in that case, how about the era where you still owe me $200

[xnikki118x]

What about from like 1800-1950? When the US was expanding a lot all the time.

[Fragamemnon]

US in the 1850s is the best part of American history. You can either go with that or do Europe, IMO.

Europe has some interesting choices, though generally well researched-the long period of Reconquista in the Iberian, the huge changes in a relatively short period of time in the Holy Roman Empire in the late 15th/early 16th centuries, and the very modern era where the dramatic displacement of the Industrial revolution with the Information one combined with the lack of a terror-next-door (Nazi Germany, Warsaw Pact) has led to a "nationalism of modernity", if you will.

[Mandark]

US in the 1850s is the best part of American history. You can either go with that or do Europe, IMO.

Insanity!  I barely recognize antebellum America as having existed.  Awful fashion and a president named after Mallard Fillmore.


Oblivion: What periods or aspects of history have gotten you interested before?  Are you planning on going for a graduate degree eventually?  yadda yadda

I'd personally suggest either the Regency or Victorian eras for the UK, only cause a lot of the fiction I like winds up being set in that time.

[brawndolicious]

I think the 1800's would be the funnest.  You learn how a lot of American history got distorted today with the Native Americans and slavery.  Some history teachers call that teaching that period an iconoclasm because everybody gets surprised at how major historical figures/events really were.  Of course, you may have already taken classes explaining what that period was like, in which case I would suggest the Industrial age to the Modern age.

[Oblivion]

Why do you have other people choose your future?

technically, we are choosing his past

Well in that case, how about the era where you still owe me $200

Hey, I said I'll pay it!

Oblivion: What periods or aspects of history have gotten you interested before?  Are you planning on going for a graduate degree eventually?  yadda yadda

I really like Classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages, as far as Europe goes, and probably the World War period for the U.S. And yes, I am planning on getting my master's at the very least.

[Tieno]

I'd go for Middle-Ages, so much stuff happens. With the printing press, muslim angst and the crusades, burning witches, big cities, phylosophy, art, discovery of 'new' worlds, etc.

[CajoleJuice]

20th Century Europe is awesome, but I think everyone knows that.

[recursivelyenumerable]

how about the Napoleonic Era?

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SUGGEST THAT 
The War of 1812 is interesting, both for the US-Europe connections and as a chance to see some of the holy founding fathers totally fuck up at foreign policy.

[Tauntaun]

The time when slavery was still around white people were still cool.  Oooo, the war of 1812, that's a good one, I'd suggest that too.  Maybe do something about the Louisiana Purchase or something?  How about the Mexican-American war?

[Akala]

Fronde - French Revolution - Napoleonic period is pretty interesting, and is so dense that it makes papers easy.

[FlameOfCallandor]

How about Native Americans and the american revolution?

[Boogie]

The history of international relations, from the late 1700s straight through 'till the end of the Cold War.

But that's just me.