How do I choose what era to study in Grad School?

by CaptObvious6003

Let me preface this by saying I'm not sure if this is the right subreddit to go to, but it seemed like at least a good place to start. TL;DR at bottom.

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This December I'm getting my Bachelors in History as well as minors in Latin and Mathematics. I would like to go on and get my masters and doctorate in history as well. My professors have all said that it is crucial as a professional historian to specialize on a time and place. I know I want to study Europe in general and Britain in particular, but I am having trouble deciding on a specific time period. Right now I'm thinking either 19th century or Medieval (but even within Medieval I haven't narrowed it down between early, high, or late). I have taken classes on both eras so I have a gist of what they're like, but nothing has really swayed me one way or the other. I'm really hesitant to just jump in because I don't want to be half way through my thesis and discover I don't actually like the subject as much as I thought.

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I enjoy studying architecture/urban developments, politics, and shifts in cultural values, so those could apply to either era. However, I am also interested in studying the history of sex and sexuality and I think there would be more sources on that in the 19th century. Also, while I will graduate with an understanding of Latin, I don't know French, German, or Danish which would be a problem if I wanted to study Britain in the Middle Ages.

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So I'm looking for advice on how to choose between one or the other. How did you all choose your field of study? Are there more job prospects in one era or the other? How hampered am I by my limited research languages?

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TL;DR - I'm stuck trying to decide between studying 19th century or Medieval Britain. I'm asking for help on how should I choose between them.

itsallfolklore

A great deal of the process of doing history - or "doing" any of the humanities - is the combination of distinct experiences and backgrounds in ways that yield unique perspective. You might find fertile ground by considering nineteenth-century British fixation on everything medieval - architecture, art, etc.This might serve to combine things that attract you, but it may also allow you to wield your experience in ways that yield insights that others might find of interest.

Just a thought. Best of luck to you.