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, October 11, 2024
What Was Life Like in Japanese American Internment Camps?
Internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II were a combination of barbed wire and baseball games.
Leaders of World War I
Learn more about the leaders of World War I.
Major Events in the Life of Constantine I
From birth to Constantinople.
How Did Helen Keller Fly a Plane?
In 1946 deaf-blind writer and activist Helen Keller piloted a plane over the Mediterranean. How?
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
Titanic Quiz
You may have seen the blockbuster Hollywood movie, but how much about the Titanic do you really know? Learn more...
Gandhi and Indian History
What method of protest did Mohandas Gandhi advocate? Who was the first Sikh to serve as India’s prime minister? Learn more...
Passage to India
Who was the founder of Jainism? Who was the last Mughal emperor? From Madhya Pradesh to Mohandas Gandhi, test your knowledge...
The Roman Empire
In what year did the Roman Empire come to an end? How many hills was Rome built on? From Julius Caesar to the city-state’s...
Navigating the Sky
In what year was the first balloon launched? In which state was the first sustained manned flight achieved? Test the heights...
Early Aviation
What was the name of Charles Lindbergh’s Atlantic-crossing airplane? Who was the first pilot to fly solo from Hawaii to California?...
Inventions: From Bayonets to Jet Engines
When was the safety pin invented? When was the Model T automobile introduced? Dot your I’s and cross your (model) T’s while...
American Industry and Innovation
Do you know which American building was the first to rise taller than 20 stories? From the transcontinental railroad to the...
Human Exploration: From Earth to Space
Was Australia the last continent to be discovered? Who was the first human to orbit Earth? From treks through the South Pole...
Exploring Russian History
Who was the first democratically elected president of Russia? From "terrible" rulers to infamous Tsars, test your knowledge...
World History Videos
Meet the president who expanded the country's territory to the Pacific Ocean and won the Mexican-American War
Travel across the United States with gold miners to explore the dynamics of the California Gold Rush
Behold the Athenian Acropolis and Roman Colosseum and drive down Appian Way on the Roman road system
Listen to a participant sharing memories and photographs of the March on Washington in 1963
Learn about the U-2 incident and the collapse of the 1960 Paris summit
This Week in History, March 24–29: Find out about the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the renaming of Constantinople, and the Three Mile Island nuclear accident
Learn how an anonymous letter foiled the Gunpowder Plot conspiracy
Uncover the military career and accomplishments of Winfield Scott, one of the United States most distinguished soldiers
Learn how the Declaration of Independence was drafted, reviewed by Congress, and adopted
Compare the Progressive politics of Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson
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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
- Hurricane Katrina
storm [2005]
- Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011
- Great Famine
famine, Ireland [1845–1849]
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
- Trojan War
Greek mythology
- Roman Empire
ancient state [27 bce-476...
- Attila
king of the Huns
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Jules Michelet
French historian
- Thomas Carlyle
British essayist and historian
- Herodotus
Greek historian
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Mamluk
Islamic dynasty
- Ming dynasty
Chinese history
- Barmakids
ʿAbbāsid viziers
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Diana, princess of Wales
British princess
- Ivan III
Russian prince
- Casimir IV
king of Poland
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- American frontier
United States history
- Daniel Boone
American frontiersman
- Sir Francis Drake
English admiral
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
- Black Death
pandemic, medieval Europe [1347–1351]
- Hundred Years’ War
England and France [14th–15th century]
- Battle of Poitiers
French history [1356]
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- St. Joan of Arc
French heroine
- Adolf Hitler
dictator of Germany
- Frederick II
king of Prussia
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Mikhail Gorbachev
president of Soviet Union
- Elizabeth II
queen of United Kingdom
- World War II
1939–1945
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
- prehistoric religion
- Ancestral Pueblo culture
North American Indian culture
- stone tool industry
archaeology
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
- assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
United States history
- Burr-Hamilton duel
duel, Weehawken, New Jersey, United States [1804]
- Battle of Gettysburg
American Civil War [1863]
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
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