Does history really repeat itself, or can we learn from the mistakes of those who came before us? History provides a chronological, statistical, and cultural record of the events, people, and movements that have made an impact on humankind and the world at large throughout the ages.
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Age of RevolutionsThe Ancient WorldHistoriansHistoric NobilityGlobal ExplorationThe Middle AgesMilitary LeadersThe Modern WorldPrehistoric AgeUnited States History
Featured content, June 16, 2024
How the Symbolism of the Swastika Was Ruined
The swastika went from being a positive symbol to a negative one.
9 Questions About World War II Answered
Important questions asked and answered, briefly.
Who Becomes President After the President and Vice President?
The presidential line of succession is longer than you might think.
What was Ulysses S. Grant’s policy regarding Reconstruction?
Grant signed the Fifteenth Amendment and helped squash the Ku Klux Klan.
Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire, the eastern half of the Roman Empire, which survived for a thousand years after the western half had crumbled...
Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution, (1910–20), a long and bloody struggle among several factions in constantly shifting alliances which resulted...
Seven Years’ War
Seven Years’ War, (1756–63), the last major conflict before the French Revolution to involve all the great powers of Europe....
Thirty Years’ War
Thirty Years’ War, (1618–48), in European history, a series of wars fought by various nations for various reasons, including...
World History Quizzes
More Than Just Vikings: Swedish History Quiz
Who was the “Theatre King,” a keen patron of the arts who founded the first opera company in Stockholm? Who was the only...
Native American History Quiz
Who was the Shawneechief, orator, military leader, and advocate of intertribal Indian alliance who directed resistance...
Archaeology: Great Discoveries Quiz
What is the name of the largest religious structure in the world? Who is considered the father of Egyptian archaeology? Test...
The Victorian England Quiz: Art, Literature, and Life
Which children’s author and mathematician wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland? Which libel suit resulted in one...
Slavery and Resistance Through History Quiz
How many U.S. presidents owned slaves during their lifetimes? In 1839 who led the mutiny of 53 enslaved people on the Spanish...
Do You Know These African American Innovators? Quiz
Who was the first African American woman granted a U.S. patent? Which African American explorer was the first known human...
Famous Deaths in History Quiz
Which Russian poet was fatally wounded in a duel with his brother-in-law? Whose death was caused by the tooth of a decapitated...
Archaeology: Digging and Scraping Quiz
What is the scientificdisciplineconcerned withdatingand interpreting past events according to the...
Women's Headgear Through the Ages
Which women’s headdress was worn over the head and around theneck, cheeks, and chin? Which hat has a broad brim that...
World History Videos
Analyze the effects of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed under the Lyndon Johnson administration during the Vietnam War
Adolf Hitler's death and its impact on Nazi Germany
Count diphtheria, dysentery, drowning, accident, and exhaustion as some of the dangers along the Oregon Trail
Learn how the Wagner Act was a victory for organized labour but excluded semiskilled and unskilled labourers
Explore causes of the Texas Revolution
Learn how war and political instability have wracked the Balkans from World War I to the fall of communism
Witness Barack Obama taking the presidential oath and delivering his inaugural address, January 20, 2009
Observe mining methods used during the California Gold Rush
The Ottomans' failed siege of Vienna explained
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World History
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World History Subcategories
Nature isn’t always peaceful and idyllic. Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and other powerful natural phenomena can have devastating consequences on communities and regions throughout the world. But nature is far from the only instigator of large-scale misfortune; human-made disasters and tragedies, both accidental and intentional, can cause significant misery, damage, and loss of life.
Articles
- Chile earthquake of 2010
- Chile mine rescue of 2010
- Challenger disaster
United States history [1986]
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- French Revolution
1787–1799
- Meiji Restoration
Japanese history
- Haitian Revolution
Haitian history
The Ancient World
The modern world may look very different from the world that existed in the time of ancient civilizations, but our modern-day life continues to show the influence of cultures, traditions, ideas, and innovations from hundreds of years ago. Learn more about important historical civilizations, sites, people, and events.
Articles
- Han dynasty
Chinese history
- Bronze Age
- ancient Rome
ancient state, Europe, Africa, and Asia
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Thomas Carlyle
British essayist and historian
- Herodotus
Greek historian
- Ibn Khaldūn
Muslim historian
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Hōjō Family
Japanese family
- Fujiwara Family
Japanese family
- Fugger family
German family
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Ivan III
Russian prince
- Casimir IV
king of Poland
- Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester
French noble
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- David Livingstone
Scottish explorer and missionary
- Abel Tasman
Dutch explorer and navigator
- Lewis and Clark Expedition
United States history
The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages comprise the period in European history that began with the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century CE and lasted until the dawn of the Renaissance in the 13th, 14th, or 15th century. This interval of time saw the development of the Gothic style of art and architecture, flying buttresses and all. It was also the era of the Crusades and of papal monarchy, and it was during this period that the idea of Europe as a distinct cultural unit emerged.
Articles
- Western Schism
Roman Catholic history
- Fall of Constantinople
Byzantine history [1453]
- Battle of Agincourt
European history
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Andrew Jackson
president of United States
- Augustus
Roman emperor
- Napoleon I
emperor of France
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Mao Zedong
Chinese leader
- Cold War
international politics
- Iraq War
2003–2011
Prehistoric Age
The prehistoric age covers the millions of years that took place before human beings began to create written records of their life and of the world in which they lived. Archaeology and similar fields of study allow us to fill in the gaps and piece together an image of what life was like for our ancestors, including what kinds of flora and fauna they might have encountered.
Articles
- Ancestral Pueblo culture
North American Indian culture
- stone tool industry
archaeology
- Acheulean industry
prehistoric toolmaking
United States History
As with most nations, the history of the United States contains a number of twists and turns throughout the centuries, from the time of the English colonization of North America up to the modern-day America that we're familiar with. Learn more about the people, events, and movements that left an indelible mark in history and shaped the development of the United States as a nation.
Articles
- Burr-Hamilton duel
duel, Weehawken, New Jersey, United States [1804]
- Battle of Gettysburg
American Civil War [1863]
- United States presidential election of 1968
United States government
Wars, battles, and other domestic or international conflicts, whether armed or diplomatic, are often the outcome of a dispute over natural resources or a struggle for power, influence, and wealth. Major conflicts between nations, peoples, and political groups can end up shifting the cultural and political geography of the world and can also effect change, whether intentional or not, in societal values and the balance of power.
Articles
- World War I
1914–1918
- World War II
1939–1945
- Crusades
Christianity
