Historical Period Inspiration
Suggestions on Biography Subjects From Interesting Eras
In European and American history there are many interesting periods which could set the scene for a biography.
When deciding to write a biography and struggling with the plethora of famous people that could be the subject a good way to narrow down the selection is to first choose an inspirational period.
Here are some inspirational periods and some characters from that time who could be the subject of your next biography.
Renaissance Period
The European Renaissance period was from 1350 – 1550 AD. It was an interesting period for art and science and bridged the gap between the Medieval Era and the modern world. The developments in science also brought about great religious concerns as the Church and science began to contradict each other.
Some personalities from this period who could inspire a biography are:
- Galileo Galilei
- Nicolaus Copernicus
- Nicolo Machiavelli
- William Shakespeare
- Marco Polo
- Pieter Brugel the Elder
- Titian
- Queen Elizabeth I
Colonial Period
The American Colonial Period was from 1607 – 1776 and was the time in American history when Europeans first set up permanent settlements on the North American continent. Some personalities from this period are:
- Benjamin Franklin
- Patrick Henry
- Samuel Adams
- John Hancock
- Pocahontas
1920s
Flappers, jazz music and prohibition. A daring time with some interesting figures:
- Bessie Smith
- Duke Ellington
- Al Capone
- Henry Ford
- Ernest Hemingway
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Charlie Chaplin
- Al Jolson
1960s
The 1960s saw a wealth of icons in the entertainment industry and a wealth of heroes and villains in the political arena. With exciting times including the hippy revolution, daring times in the line of fashion and revolutionary times in the world of music and cultural figures there is a biography subject for everyone in the the swinging sixties:
- John F Kennedy
- Maria Callas
- Che Guevara
- Marilyn Monroe
- Andy Warhol
- Miles Davis
- Martin Luthur King
- John Lennon
- Mary Quant
- Twiggy
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was a period when the world was ruled by Rome. A time of religion and war there are legions of subjects to write about. Warning! Tackling any subject in this period will necessitate a lot of research in order to understand all of the political and cultural background of the time.
Some possible subjects are:
- Emperor Claudius
- Emperor Caligula
- Queen Boudica
- Queen Cleopatra
- Emperor Caeser
- Hannibal
20th Century
It is not just the distant past that provides interesting personalities to look at. Try looking a bit closer to our modern world for some world changing characters:
- Tim Berners-Lee – father of the Internet
- Xavier Roberts – inventor of the Cabbage Patch Kids
- Ruth Handler – creator of the Barbie Doll
- Bill Gates
- Nelson Mandela
- J.K. Rowling
- Steven Speilberg
- Marie Curie
Which Period To Choose?
When deciding which period to choose first think through which period you enjoy. Does the 1940s inspire your dress sense? Do you love to watch movies about the Tudors? Have you always wanted to learn about Ancient Egypt? By choosing a period which you find interesting you can reduce the risk of boredom when you begin your research.
Another way to narrow down the periods which may interest you is to decide on a country for which you have an affinity then choose an era which was interesting in that country.
Once you have selected the period to concentrate on don't jump straight in and choose a famous person to write about. Those people have probably already been the subject of many biographies. Instead do some research and you may just come up with a less famous but far more interesting character to write about.
