SOAS Library provides access to many databases which support research into History

SOAS students and staff can cross-search a range of History related databases via EBSCO Discovery .

Below is a list of our major databases available for History. Most databases can be accessed by all Library users on-campus. For a full list of our databases please see A-Z list databases

  • Bibliography of Asian Studies
    An index of Western language monographs, journal articles, book chapters, conference proceedings, anthologies and Festschriften on all parts of Asia published since 1971.
    On campus use / Off campus use
  • Brill Online Reference Works
    For Encylopedia of Islam, Encyclopedia of the Qur’an and Encyclopedia of Judaism (among others)
    On campus use / Off campus use
  • Cambridge Histories Online
    The complete Cambridge Histories series (some 270 volumes published since 1960) and some volumes in the New Cambridge Histories series
    On campus use
    / Off campus use
  • House of Commons Parliamentary Papers
    Access to over 200,000 House of Commons sessional papers from 1715
    On campus use / Off campus use
  • Index Islamicus
    Bibliographic database of books and journal articles about the Islamic World, published since 1906
    On campus use / Off campus use
  • Mobilizing East Asia Online
    The resource offers a selected range of essential English-language newspapers, magazines, pamphlets and books published in East and South-East Asia from the turn of the twentieth century to the 1950’s. Content includes developments in 1930's Manchuria, the Second World War years in Japan and China, the communist revolution in China and its aftermath, and the nascent Cold War
    On campus use / Off campus use
  • Oxford Bibliographies Online
    Online subject bibliographies for Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic studies. Useful for anyone looking at the history of these religions and countries where they are practiced.
    On campus use / Off campus use
  • Oxford Islamic Studies
    Access to a wide range of Oxford University Press publications on Islam and the Islamic World.
    On campus use / Off campus use
  • Oxford Reference
    Access to over 100 Oxford University Press encyclopaedias, dictionaries and other reference works across a wide range of subjects relevant to historians
    On campus use / Off campus use
  • On campus use / Off campus use
  • Proquest Times of India (1838-2003) An easily searchable database of this major newspaper covering key events in the history of India and the British Empire. An excellent resource for political, social and cultural history.
    On campus use / Off campus use