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History Research Guide: Background Research: Getting to Know Your Topic

This guide is intended as a point to departure for research in history. You will find search strategies to help guide your exploration of historical sources, as well as recommended databases.

Getting to Know Your Topic

Understanding your topic is the first step in any research endeavor. Gathering basic information about context, timelines, alternative terms, and key figures will help simplify the academic research process. The bellow resources will help you gather important contextual information.