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, April 16, 2024
What Is an Executive Order?
How does the U.S. president’s primary instrument of executive action work?
Pirate School: 5 Things You Can Shoot from a Cannon
Hit me with your best shot.
A Teen Girl Recalls Juneteenth in the 1950s
The New York Times columnist Charles Blow recounts his mother’s recollections of celebrating Juneteenth as a free-spirited...
Pablo Escobar: 8 Interesting Facts About the King of Cocaine
Get to know the infamous drug kingpin.
World War I
World War I, an international conflict that in 1914–18 embroiled most of the nations of Europe along with Russia, the United...
Cold War
Cold War, the open yet restricted rivalry that developed after World War II between the United States and the Soviet Union...
Renaissance
Renaissance, period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages and conventionally held to have been characterized...
Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire, empire created by Turkish tribes in Anatolia (Asia Minor) that grew to be one of the most powerful states...
World History Quizzes
American Civil War: Who Won Which Battles?
While you probably know the Battles of Gettysburg and Antietam, do you remember who were the victors? Take this quiz to test...
Robert Mugabe: Fact or Fiction?
How much do you know about one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders? Test your knowledge with this quiz about Robert Mugabe’s...
Mount Everest
Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, has long been a place of fascination and an alluring draw for climbers and adventure...
Abraham Lincoln
He is arguably the most-popular U.S. president, but how well do you really know Abraham Lincoln? Take our quiz to find out.
African Leaders: Part One
Do you think you can match these African leaders to the countries they’ve led? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
Modern U.S. Political Scandals
How much do you know about political scandals? Test your knowledge of public officials behaving badly.
Salem Witch Trials
Do you know what really happened at the Salem witch trials? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
Match the Battle with the War
Can you tell your Hastings from your Hattin?
African Leaders: Part Two
Do you think you can match these African leaders to the countries they’ve led? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
Which John Adams?
Two U.S. presidents, one name: John Adams. Can you tell the father from the son? Prove it with this quiz.
World History Videos
Witness Barack Obama taking the presidential oath and delivering his inaugural address, January 20, 2009
Witness the inaugural address of President Jimmy Carter at Washington, D.C., January 20, 1977
Listen to Franklin D. Roosevelt's reaction to the Pearl Harbor attack
How the 1972 Munich Olympic Games turned into tragedy
See how the Louisiana Purchase led to the forcible removal of Indian tribes and fueled the slavery debate
Reunification of Germany: How it happened
Take a look into the rolls featuring the Act of Union with Scotland (1707) and the Articles of Union with Scotland (1706)
Listen to what the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 taught about seismology, early warning system, earthquake preparedness and the role of the Berkeley seismology lab
See how German troops parachuted behind the Maginot Line as part of the blitzkrieg against Allied forces
Discover more about Copperhead opposition to Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. presidential election of 1864
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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
- Ebola outbreak of 2014–16
- 2010 Haiti earthquake
- Hurricane Katrina
storm [2005]
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Meiji Restoration
Japanese history
- Haitian Revolution
Haitian history
- Glorious Revolution
English history [1688–1689]
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 Egypt
- Cleopatra
queen of Egypt
- Chichén Itzá
ancient city, Mexico
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
- Barmakids
ʿAbbāsid viziers
- Wei dynasty
Chinese history [386-534/535]
- Hōjō Family
Japanese family
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- William I
king of England
- Cosimo I
duke of Florence and Tuscany [1519–1574]
- Itō Hirobumi
prime minister of Japan
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- Ann Bancroft
American explorer
- European exploration
- American frontier
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
- Frederick II
king of Prussia
- George Washington
president of United States
- Andrew Jackson
president of United States
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
- Magdalenian culture
prehistoric technology and art
- Moche
ancient South American culture
- Jōmon culture
ancient culture, Japan
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
- Afghanistan War
2001–2014
- French Revolutionary wars
European history
- Battle of France
World War II [1940]
