Research Guides: Worlds of History (HIST 1062): Economics and Trade: Start Your Research Here

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Linda Cifelli

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Guide Editor

Jennifer Stevenson edited and updated this guide Fall 2022.

Kean University History Department

Visit the History Departments's web page for excellent "Research Paper" resources:

Kean University History Department The department webpage provides two sections offering tips for writing papers and citing sources: * Click "Student Resources," then scroll down and click "Research and Writing." * Click "History 1062," click "Student Resources" (on the left-hand side of page), then click "Writing Student Papers."

Subject-Focused Encyclopedias

Need to select a research topic or find background information?

The Reference Collection includes a variety of different sources, such as: subject-focused encyclopedias, handbooks, almanacs, maps/atlases, statistical compendiums, dictionaries, and more. Look here to find introductory articles on subject-related topics. The broad perspective offered by such articles often proves helpful for narrowing research topics before pursuing more in-depth information.

This guide provides some recommendations for encyclopedias and other reference resources that might provide helpful information relating to your topic.

Recommended Subject-Focused Encyclopedias

Central Asian cultures, arts, and architecture : inner Eurasia from prehistory to the medieval golden ages

Electronic Resource 2018

Dictionary of Contemporary World History

Electronic Resource 2019

Dictionary of World History

Electronic Resource 2015

Encyclopedia of U.S. Political History

Electronic Resource

The European Union in a Reconnecting Eurasia

Electronic Resource 2016

Fair progress? : economic mobility across generations around the world

Electronic Resource 2018

Guide to Countries of the World

Electronic Resource 2016

Political Handbook of the World

Electronic Resource 2019

Trade, Travel, and Exploration in the Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia

Main Collection

Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations

Electronic Resource 2017

World development report 2020 : trading for development in the age of global value chains

Electronic Resource 2019

Recommended Online Reference Databases

The following databases provide access to online encyclopedias covering multidisciplinary topics. Remember, these subject encyclopedias are great sources of background information on countless topics.

Working from off campus? If so, you will need to log in with your Kean Google username and password.

American History (Infobase Learning) This link opens in a new window Provides reference book articles about people and events in American history; also features timelines, primary source materials, images, videos, and maps.
CQ Press Library (Congressional Quarterly) This link opens in a new window Provides simultaneous searching of all Congressional Quarterly Press online collections, featuring resources in the fields of government, politics, and public affairs. Includes access to many resources of the U.S. government.
Facts on File Online Databases (now Infobase Learning) This link opens in a new window Offers a menu of all of the Facts on File (now Infobase Learning) reference and news databases, with options for searching simultaneously in several databases.
Gale eBooks (Gale Cengage Learning) This link opens in a new window A comprehensive collection of reference resources such as subject-focused encyclopedias and dictionaries, available in a single database.
Oxford Reference (Oxford University Press) This link opens in a new window Contains facts, figures, definitions, quotations, and translations from 300+ Oxford reference titles, as well as in-depth, scholarly articles from titles in the Oxford Companions series and Oxford Digital Reference Shelf.
SAGE Knowledge This link opens in a new window Provides reference resources such as subject-focused dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference materials published by SAGE.
World Constitutions Illustrated (HeinOnline) This link opens in a new window Features the current constitution of every country in the world, with text provided in its original language(s) and in English translation. Also provides "more than 800 classic books on constitutions, constitutional history and jurisprudence, and political and economic history."

Recommended Multimedia Databases

Working from off campus? If so, you will need to log in with your Kean Google username and password.

Films on Demand (Infobase Learning) This link opens in a new window Films on Demand provides access to "video and multimedia for academic, vocational and life-skills content." Click "Collections" to access videos in various subject areas, such as Art & Architecture, Biology, Business & Economics, Criminal Justice & Law, Education, English, Gender & Sexuality, Guidance & Counseling, Health & Medicine, History, Psychology, and more. Also features Archival Films & Newsreels.

Recommended Statistics Databases

The following databases provide access to statistics and other kinds of data.

Working from off campus? If so, you will need to log in with your Kean Google username and password.

Social Explorer This link opens in a new window
PolicyMap This link opens in a new window
Statista This link opens in a new window