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, July 28, 2023
Why Do Americans Celebrate the Fourth of July with Fireworks?
How fireworks became a part of patriotic celebration and why John Adams had nothing to do with it.
Ten Days That Vanished: The Switch to the Gregorian Calendar
In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII introduced a more accurate calendar. But switching over wasn’t easy.
9 Questions About World War II Answered
Important questions asked and answered, briefly.
A Brief Overview of China’s Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution began on May 16, 1966, under the direction of Mao Zedong.
Renaissance
Renaissance, (French: “Rebirth”) period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages and conventionally...
Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire, empire created by Turkish tribes in Anatolia (Asia Minor) that grew to be one of the most powerful states...
Napoleon I
Napoleon I, French general, first consul (1799–1804), and emperor of the French (1804–1814/15), one of the most celebrated...
Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution, in modern history, the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated...
World History Quizzes
Prehistory and Origins: Fact or Fiction?
Was the first metal to be worked in prehistory aluminum? Are Homo sapiens the only human species to have existed?...
New or Old: Fact or Fiction?
Is the census a modern invention? Has hemp been grown for centuries? Sort fact from fiction in this quiz of new and old discoveries...
Historical Smorgasbord: Fact or Fiction?
Did The Diary of Anne Frank originally have a different title? Was paper money first issued because of a shortage...
A Study of History: Fact or Fiction?
Is there a lost city under the Mediterranean Sea? In days of old, were all pirate flags black? From the Dark Ages to the...
History 101: Fact or Fiction?
Was Buddhism founded in Japan? Does the Jamaican plantation system still flourish today? From Canada to the papacy, sort...
History Lesson: Fact or Fiction?
Was aluminum once more valuable than gold? Did Native American people actually bury hatchets when making peace? Uncover the...
Historical USA
Religious groups, witchcraft trials, ivy league universities, and assembly lines are a few things that have drawn the colorful...
This or That? WWI vs. WWII
Do you know your World War battles? Test your knowledge of which battles happened in WWI and which happened in WWII.
Pirates: Fact or Fiction?
Avast! Test ye knowledge of pirates...or walk the plank.
Japanese History: Fact or Fiction?
From tea ceremony to Meiji Restoration, test your knowledge about Japan with this quiz.
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.
Articles
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complex humanitarian emergency
disaster event
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Chernobyl disaster
nuclear accident, Soviet Union [1986]
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Deepwater Horizon oil spill
environmental disaster, Gulf of Mexico [2010]
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Glorious Revolution
English history [1688–1689]
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Russian Revolution
Russian history [1917]
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Iranian Revolution
[1978–1979]
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
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cuneiform
writing system
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Seleucid empire
ancient empire, Eurasia
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sphinx
mythology
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.
Articles
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Tang dynasty
Chinese history
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house of Este
Italian family
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Maccabees
priestly Jewish family
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Diana, princess of Wales
British princess
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Ivan III
Russian prince
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Casimir IV
king of Poland
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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William Clark
American explorer
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Meriwether Lewis
American explorer
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Leif Erikson
Norse 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
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Fall of Constantinople
Byzantine history [1453]
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Battle of Agincourt
European history
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Magna Carta
England [1215]
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Oliver Cromwell
English statesman
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Hannibal
Carthaginian general [247-c.181 BCE]
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Genghis Khan
Mongol ruler
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Spanish Inquisition
Spanish history [1478–1834]
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two-state solution
Israeli-Palestinian history
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Winston Churchill
prime minister of United Kingdom
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
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Ancestral Pueblo culture
North American Indian culture
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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
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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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Battle of France
World War II [1940]
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Pacific War
theatre of war, World War II
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Wars of the Roses
English history