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CSS written syllabus

CSS European History Syllabus

European History is a 100-mark Group IV optional subject in the CSS written exam, examined in one three-hour paper. Below is FPSC's official syllabus, word for word: every section, topics and suggested readings.

Marks
100
Papers
1
Time
3 hours a paper
Group
Group IV
Subject code
29

The paper

100 marks
  • I.
    The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era (1789-1815)
    • •
      The causes of French Revolution
    • •
      The consequences of Revolution
    • •
      Napoleon rise to power
    • •
      Creation of Empire
    • •
      The Continental system
    • •
      The fall of Napoleon
  • II.
    The Concert of Europe (1815-1830)
    • •
      The Congress of Vienna
    • •
      Metternich’s Era
    • •
      The Concert of Europe and Congress System
    • •
      Balance of Power
  • III.
    Forces of Continuity and Change in Europe (1815-1848)
    • •
      Nationalism
    • •
      Liberalism
    • •
      Romanticism
    • •
      Socialism
    • •
      Industrial Revolution
    • •
      Colonialism
    • •
      Cosequences
  • IV.
    The Eastern Question (1804-1856)
    • •
      The nature of the Eastern question
    • •
      The Crimean War
    • •
      Russo Turkish War 1877
    • •
      Consequences
  • V.
    Unification of Italy
    • •
      The effects of the revolution of 1848
    • •
      The obstacles to unification
    • •
      Cavour and the unification of Italy
    • •
      The Process of Italian unification (1859-1871)
  • VI.
    Unification of Germany
    • •
      The rise of Bismarck
    • •
      Diplomatic events
    • •
      The Austro-Prussian War (1866)
    • •
      The Franco- Prussian War (1870-1871)
    • •
      The triumph of Bismarck and process of unification
  • VII.
    The Origins of First World War (1890-1914)
    • •
      Formation of Alliances and Counter Alliances
    • •
      The Balkans War (1912-1913)
    • •
      The outbreak of the World War 1
  • VIII.
    The First World War and its aftermath
    • •
      The War (1914-1918) and peace treaties
    • •
      The League of Nations
  • IX.
    Dictatorships in Europe
    • •
      Fascism in Italy under Musssolini
    • •
      Hitler,Nazism and Germany
    • •
      Russia , Marxism Revolution and its working under Stalin
    • •
      Great Depression and its effects on Europe
    • •
      Appeasement
    • •
      The Arm race
    • •
      The Sudetenland Crisis (1938)
    • •
      The distraction of Czechoslovakia (1939)
  • X.
    The Second World War and its Effects on Europe
    • •
      The Main Events of the War
    • •
      Impact of war
  • XI.
    Post- War Europe
    • •
      The post war settlements
    • •
      The United Nations
    • •
      Economic Recovery of Europe,Marshal Plan
    • •
      German Question
    • •
      NATO
    • •
      Decolonization
  • XII.
    Cold War Europe (1955-1991)
    • •
      Effects of cold war
    • •
      Warsaw Pact (1955)
    • •
      The European Economic Community (EEC)
    • •
      Nuclear Non-Proliferation Agreement
    • •
      Charles Degaule and France
    • •
      Spread of communist regimes in Europe
  • XIII.
    Europe (1991-2012)
    • •
      The Gorbachev and Disintegration of USSR
    • •
      The reunification of Germany
    • •
      The Balkan crisis of 1990s
    • •
      The European Union
    • •
      Role of Europe in War against terrorism
    • •
      Global Economic Crisis and Europe

Suggested readings

  • 1.A History of Modern Europe (1789-1991)H.L. Peacock,
  • 2.The Struggle for Mastery in Europe: 1848-1918A.J.P Taylor,
  • 3.The Cold War: Ideological Conflict or Power StruggleNormali A. Grabener
  • 4.The USSR: A Share HistoryVladimir Polrtayen,
  • 5.Development in Russian PoliticsStephen White,
  • 6.Mastering Modern European HistoryStuart Miller,
  • 7.A Text Book of European Historyby Southgate, G.W.
  • 8.Aspects of European History 1789-1980.Stephen J. Lee
  • 9.Europe Since NapoleonThompson, D.
  • 10.European Union: European politics.Tim Bale.
  • 11.Modern Europe in the Making from the French Revolution to the Common MarketFasal, G.
  • 12.The Norton History of Modern EuropeGilbert, F.
  • 13.The Origins of the Second World WarTaylor, A.J.P.
  • 14.The Rise and Fall of Great Powers.Paul Kennedy.

Past papers

FPSC's European History papers from 2016 to 2026, as text. Open a year, or see them all.

FPSC's wording, spelling and numbering, as printed in its Revised Syllabi for CSS Competitive Examination (CE-2016 and onwards), updated 7th July, 2015.

The written exam starts with the MPT

Only candidates who pass the MCQ screening test (MPT) sit the written papers. Practice the 200-question MPT under exam conditions first.