History discussion topics for the classroom

One of the best ways to engage students in history classes is to encourage them to think critically about the motives, contexts, and impacts of historical events. Whether exploring ancient civilizations, revolutionary movements, or modern conflicts, having class discussions on historical topics is a surefire way for students to use their critical thinking and higher-order skills for deeper comprehension.

Ready to make history come alive for your students? Explore Kialo Edu‘s list of history discussion topics, divided by theme, and transform your history lessons into dynamic journeys of discovery and critical thinking. Best of all, since Kialo Edu is completely free, why not try it out to have interactive, engaging discussions with your students today?

History discussion topics on the ethics of history

• Can we ever truly know history?
• Does history education focus too much on warfare?
• Is the modern US an imperialist power?
• Should British people be proud of the British Empire?
• Should Americans see the Founding Fathers as heroes?
• Should European countries pay reparations to their former colonies in the developing world?
• Should the Allied Powers apologize for war crimes in World War II?
• Should history include ethical judgments?
• Should history lessons focus on the history of your own country?
• Should the British Museum return artifacts to their countries of origin?
• Should we remove statues of problematic historical figures?
• Should we teach the Great Man theory of history?

History discussion topics on prehistory and early civilizations

• Did the development of agriculture lead to a better quality of life for early humans compared to hunter-gatherer societies?
• Were land management skills the main reason for the success of Australia’s Indigenous population up to 1788?
• Was the Bronze Age more impressive than the Iron Age?
• What was most likely the main cause of the Bronze Age collapse?
• Which Bronze Age civilization was more advanced: the Indus Valley or Egypt?
• What is the most significant reason for historians knowing less about the Indus Valley than other ancient civilizations?
• What was the Phoenicians’ greatest contribution to Mediterranean civilization?
• Did the geographical features of the Yellow River Valley heavily influence the development of early Chinese civilization?
• What were the primary causes of urbanization in the Sumerian city-states?
• Was Shang Dynasty China more advanced than the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt?
• Did environmental factors play a significant role in the decline of ancient Mesopotamian societies?
• What was the main reason for the decline of the Harappan civilization in 1300 BCE?
• Did the achievements of the Olmec civilization lay the foundation for later Mesoamerican cultures like the Maya and Aztec?

History discussion topics on classical societies

• Did the rise of Christianity contribute significantly to the decline of the Roman Empire?
• Did the Pax Romana truly bring peace and prosperity to the Roman Empire?
• Was Pontius Pilate responsible for the execution of Jesus?
• Which would be better to visit: ancient Egypt or ancient Greece?
• Ancient Athens or Sparta: Which was the better place to live?
• Was the Peloponnesian War inevitable given the rivalry between Athens and Sparta?
• Should we admire Alexander the Great?
• Did Qin Shi Huang’s Legalist approach improve Chinese civilization during the Qin Dynasty?
• Was the spread of Buddhism during the Maurya Empire more influential than the spread of Confucianism during the Han Dynasty?
• Was the Athenian democracy a true democracy?
• How did the Roman Empire become so great?
• Was the Roman invasion good for Britain?
• Did the achievements of the Maurya Empire surpass those of the Gupta Empire in ancient India?
• Was the construction of the Great Wall of China worth the human and economic cost during the Qin Dynasty?
• Which ancient empire was most impressive: the Persian Empire, Macedonian Empire, Han Dynasty, or Roman Empire?

History discussion topics on post-classical societies

• Were the “Dark Ages” really so dark?
• What was the most significant factor in the spread of Islam in the seventh century?
• Did astronomy advancements during the Golden Age of Islam surpass those of other contemporary civilizations?
• In the Byzantine Empire, was the change from the provincial administration system to the theme system successful?
• Do the Vikings deserve their bad reputation?
• Did the feudal system benefit medieval European society overall?
• Did King Arthur really exist?
• What was the main impact of the Norman Conquest?
• Were the Crusades of 1095 to 1291 successful?
• Did the Tang Dynasty achieve more cultural and technological advancements than the Song Dynasty?
• What was the most significant impact of Jewish people on medieval European society?
• Was “Bad King John” really that bad?
• Were the Mongol conquests a good thing in the end?
• Did the introduction of Buddhism have a more profound impact on Japanese society than Shinto practices?
• Which pre-Columbian civilization was more impressive: the Aztecs, Incas, or Maya?
• What was the most significant factor in the rise of the Ottoman Empire?

History discussion topics on early modern societies: Age of Exploration and empire building

• Was the weakness of the Byzantine Empire the main reason for the fall of Constantinople in 1453?
• What was the main cause of the Tudor rebellions?
• Did the actions of King Charles I cause the English Civil War?
• Which Tudor monarch was most successful?
• Were Martin Luther’s methods reckless in starting the Protestant Reformation?
• Did the Reformation have a greater impact on Northern Europe than on Southern Europe?
• What was the main cause in the rise of absolute monarchies in Europe?
• Was religion the main reason for the success of the Ottoman Empire at its peak around 1500?
• Did the Ming Dynasty’s maritime expeditions under Zheng He have a lasting impact on global trade networks?
• Should we stop telling the “first Thanksgiving” story?
• What was the most significant challenge that Indigenous Americans faced with the coming of European civilizations?
• Was Aurangzeb an effective Mughal emperor?
• Was the Japanese policy of restricting trade with other countries between 1639 and 1853 effective?
• What was the main effect of the slave trade on African societies in the 1700s?

History discussion topics from the Age of Revolutions, Enlightenment, and 19th century

• What were the primary factors that led to the rise of nationalism in Europe during the 19th century?
• Was Catherine the Great an enlightened ruler?
• Was the Industrial Revolution good for society?
• What were the main factors that contributed to the rise of independence movements in Latin America?
• Was the American Revolution justified?
• Was the Enlightenment the primary cause of the French Revolution?
• Did the French Revolution need to be so bloody?
• What was the main reason for the decline of the indigenous population of Australia after 1788?
• What was the most significant reason for the collapse of Napoleon’s Empire in 1815?
• What were the main factors behind the Taiping Rebellion in China?
• Did the Revolutions of 1848 really “fail”?
• Was the Haitian Revolution a catalyst for independence movements throughout Latin America?
• Did the British East India Company’s policies contribute to the rise of nationalist movements in India?
• What was the main cause of the American Civil War?
• Could the Confederacy have won the American Civil War?
• Should Reconstruction have been harsher on the former Confederacy?
• Is Queen Victoria a feminist figure?

History discussion topics from the early 20th century

• What was the most significant cause for the rise of the Labour Party from 1900 to 1918?
• To what extent was the Great Depression responsible for the collapse of the Weimar Republic? 
• What was the most effective policy for ending the Great Depression?
• What was the main cause of World War I?
• Should the US have joined the League of Nations?
• Did women have to use militancy to obtain the right to vote?
• Did propaganda play a significant role in shaping public opinion during World War I?
• Did the Russian Revolution of 1917 succeed in achieving its initial goals?
• Was Stalin’s rule over Russia better than that of the Tsar?
• Did Lenin’s communist government betray its own revolutionary ideals?
• What was the main cause of the Great Depression?
• What was the main cause of the Spanish Civil War?
• Did the Nazis rise to power mainly because of the leadership of Hitler?
• Was the Treaty of Versailles the main cause of World War II?
• Could the Allied Powers have prevented World War II?
• Was the United States wrong to drop atomic bombs on Japan?
• Was the New Deal effective at ending the Great Depression in the United States?
• Did World War II significantly advance the rights of women in the countries involved?
• Would the Windrush Generation still have chosen to come to Britain had they known what awaited them?

History discussion topics on modern world history

• What was the most significant factor in the deterioration of relations between the US and USSR between 1945 and 1963?
• Did the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolize the definitive end of the Cold War?
• Could South Vietnam have won the Vietnam War?
• What was the main reason for the transformation of Japan’s economy after World War II?
• Was World War II the main catalyst for decolonization in Africa?
• Were the Nuremberg Trials effective in delivering justice for war crimes?
• Was Rosa Parks’s bus protest the most important factor in advancing the civil rights movement?
• Did the Korean War really end in 1953?
• Was violence justified to fight injustice during the civil rights movement?
• Were efforts by the international community responsible for ending apartheid in South Africa? 
• Was it the right decision to partition British India into two countries?
• What was the main reason for the Nationalists’ defeat in the Chinese Civil War?
• Was Mao Zedong right to involve the Chinese youth in his Cultural Revolution? 
• Did the economic reforms of Deng Xiaoping better China’s position in the global economy?
• Did the Iranian Revolution of 1979 fulfill its promises?
• Did the 1947 UN Partition Plan represent a fair resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict?
• Did the feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s achieve their primary goals regarding gender equality in the workplace?
• Is the US embargo of Cuba justified?
• Was the Arab Spring a direct result of social media influence?

Have you tried out these history discussion topics with your students in a Kialo discussion? Let us know at feedback@kialo-edu.com, or on our social media channels!