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 07, 2024
What Is the Emoluments Clause?
How a single line of the U.S. Constitution guards against improper foreign influence on federal officeholders.
7 Women Warriors
Seven women who weren’t afraid to fight.
There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Riots in U.S. History (Part Two)
Unlawful assemblies to remember.
What Is Known (and Not Known) About the Tunguska Event
Here is what scientists have determined and supposed about the 1908 explosion in Siberia.
Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution, in modern history, the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated...
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was a celebrated Roman general and statesman, the conqueror of Gaul (58–50 bce), victor in the civil war of...
World War II
World War II, conflict that involved virtually every part of the world during the years 1939–45. The principal belligerents...
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an insurrection carried out by 13 of Great Britain’s North American colonies that began in 1775...
World History Quizzes
History Buff Quiz
You know basic history facts inside and out. But what about the details in between? Put your history smarts to the test to...
All-American History Quiz
Who was the original Edsel? When did a U.S. president first appear on TV? Go back in time for the all-American answers.
World Wars
Fight for the title of War Wiz with this quiz on famous conflicts throughout history.
History: Fact or Fiction?
Get hooked on history as this quiz sorts out the past. Find out who really invented movable type, who Winston Churchill called...
Kings of England
How many kings of England have been named Henry? Who was the wife of Henry II? From the Magna Carta to the Battle of Agincourt,...
Walk Like an Egyptian
Which Egyptian pharaoh believed in the idea of a single god? From the pyramids to famous mummies, decode your mental hieroglyphics...
U.S. Presidents Facts
Who was the first U.S. president to live in the White House? How many presidents were born before the U.S. became a country?...
All About Napoleon Bonaparte
Men with short statures and quick tempers are said to have a Napoleon complex, but what was Napoleon Bonaparte’s nickname?...
Presidents of the United States Quiz
Which two U.S. presidents died on the same day? Who was the first president to serve two terms in office? Test the knowledge...
World War I Quiz
Involving all the world’s superpowers, World War I resulted in more than 35 million casualties. In what strange way did the...
World History Videos
See how the Confederates' attack on the Union Army at Shiloh ended in large casualties for both sides
Did Vikings found the Russian state?
July Plot: A failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler
Behold the Athenian Acropolis and Roman Colosseum and drive down Appian Way on the Roman road system
Birth of the Weimar Republic
Examine how Stalin's Red Army defeated Hitler's Fourth and Sixth Armies in the Battle of Stalingrad
How did Adolf Hitler speak at the 1934 Nürnberg Rally?
Watch Donald Trump take the oath of office
Follow the United States' path from isolationism toward joining the Allied powers in World War II
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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
- Great Famine
famine, Ireland [1845–1849]
- complex humanitarian emergency
disaster event
- Chernobyl disaster
nuclear accident, Soviet Union [1986]
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Mexican Revolution
- Texas Revolution
Mexico-Texas history [1835-1836]
- Cuban Revolution
Cuban 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
- ancient Rome
ancient state, Europe, Africa, and Asia
- cuneiform
writing system
- Seleucid empire
ancient empire, Eurasia
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Livy
Roman historian
- Jules Michelet
French historian
- Thomas Carlyle
British essayist and historian
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Tang dynasty
Chinese history
- house of Este
Italian family
- Maccabees
priestly Jewish family
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Ludovico Sforza
duke of Milan
- Louis IV
Holy Roman emperor
- Diana, princess of Wales
British princess
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Sir Francis Drake
English admiral
- William Clark
American explorer
- Meriwether Lewis
American explorer
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
- Oliver Cromwell
English statesman
- Hannibal
Carthaginian general [247-c.181 BCE]
- Genghis Khan
Mongol ruler
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Cold War
international politics
- Iraq War
2003–2011
- World War I
1914–1918
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
- Aurignacian culture
prehistoric technology and art
- Stone Age
anthropology
- prehistoric religion
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
- Pearl Harbor attack
Japanese-United States history
- assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
United States history
- Burr-Hamilton duel
duel, Weehawken, New Jersey, United States [1804]
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
- Napoleonic Wars
European history
- American Revolution
United States history
- Chinese Civil War
1945–1949
