World History
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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Featured content, September 21, 2023
Did Anyone Really Think the Titanic was Unsinkable?
Most reports about the Titanic before it sank focused on its size and luxury, not its safety. So did anyone really think...
7 Massachusetts Bay Colonists to Know
You know about the Pilgrims and Plymouth colony. Learn about Massachusetts’s other colony and colonists.
There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Riots in U.S. History (Part Two)
Unlawful assemblies to remember.
French Revolution
French Revolution, revolutionary movement that shook France between 1787 and 1799 and reached its first climax there in 1789—hence...
history of Europe
History of Europe, history of European peoples and cultures from prehistoric times to the present. Europe is a more ambiguous...
South African War
South African War, war fought from October 11, 1899, to May 31, 1902, between Great Britain and the two Boer (Afrikaner)...
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his country’s communist revolution. Mao was...
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
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World History Subcategories
Accidents & Disasters
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.
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Challenger disaster
United States history [1986]
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accident
event
- influenza pandemic (H1N1) of 2009
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Iranian Revolution
[1978–1979]
- Mexican Revolution
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Texas Revolution
Mexico-Texas history [1835-1836]
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.
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Zhou dynasty
Chinese history
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Babylon
ancient city, Mesopotamia, Asia
- Aegean civilizations
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Livy
Roman historian
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Jules Michelet
French historian
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Thomas Carlyle
British essayist and historian
Historic Dynasties & Families
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Medici family
Italian family
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Tang dynasty
Chinese history
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house of Este
Italian family
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Saint Alexander Nevsky
prince of Russia
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William I
king of England
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Cosimo I
duke of Florence and Tuscany [1519–1574]
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Lewis and Clark Expedition
United States history
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Antoine-Thomson d’ Abbadie and Arnaud-Michel d’ Abbadie
French geographers
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Alexander von Humboldt
German explorer and naturalist
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
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Western Schism
Roman Catholic history
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Fall of Constantinople
Byzantine history [1453]
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Battle of Agincourt
European history
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Kemal Atatürk
president of Turkey
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Oliver Cromwell
English statesman
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Hannibal
Carthaginian general [247-c.181 BCE]
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Iraq War
2003–2011
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World War I
1914–1918
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Nürnberg Rally
Nazi Party rallies
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
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megalith
ancient monument
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Magdalenian culture
prehistoric technology and art
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Moche
ancient South American culture
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
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Pearl Harbor attack
Japanese-United States history
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assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
United States history
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Burr-Hamilton duel
duel, Weehawken, New Jersey, United States [1804]
Wars, Battles & Armed Conflicts
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
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Hundred Years’ War
England and France [14th–15th century]
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Punic Wars
Carthage and Rome [264 bce–146...
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Pearl Harbor attack
Japanese-United States history