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. Investigating the causes and results of past events is critically important in gaining a full understanding and perspective of present-day issues.
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Featured content, January 25, 2021
What Is an Executive Order?
How does the U.S. president’s primary instrument of executive action work?
Demystified / World History
7 Massachusetts Bay Colonists to Know
You know about the Pilgrims and Plymouth colony. Learn about Massachusetts’s other colony and colonists.
Companion / World History
Gilles de Rais: History’s First Serial Killer?
Gilles de Rais was a wealthy nobleman and a war hero. Today, though, he is remembered for something much more sinister.
#WTFact / World History
Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution, (1910–20), a long and bloody struggle among several factions in constantly shifting alliances which resulted...
Encyclopedia / World History
Seven Years' War
Seven Years’ War, (1756–63), the last major conflict before the French Revolution to involve all the great powers of Europe....
Encyclopedia / World History
Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years’ War, (1618–48), in European history, a series of wars fought by various nations for various reasons, including...
Encyclopedia / World History
French Revolution
French Revolution, revolutionary movement that shook France between 1787 and 1799 and reached its first climax there in 1789—hence...
Encyclopedia / World History
World History Quizzes
Historic Firsts Quiz
There’s a first time for everything—and there’s a lot of everything across all of history. Take a deep dive into who, or...
Egyptian History Quiz
From the pyramids to the Suez Canal, Egypt has a vast history. How well do you know it? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
France: A History Quiz
The historian Jules Michelet once claimed that “England is an empire, Germany is a nation, a race, France is a person.” This...
Notable Prime Ministers Quiz
The term prime minister means, literally, the “first,” or most important, minister. Take this quiz to learn more...
Ancient Rome Quiz
Rome began as a small town, grew to a vast empire, collapsed, and gave rise to this quiz. Figure out how much you know about...
Russia: A History Quiz
Russia is the world’s largest country by area, and it has a history to match. Test your knowledge of Russian (including Soviet)...
Queens in England Quiz
British royal history includes a great number of queens, some of them reigning over England, others reigning over the United...
Crusades Quiz
There were at least eight Crusades, beginning in the late 11th century and ending in the late 16th century. Test your knowledge...
Nazi Germany Quiz
Which book was considered the bible of National Socialism in Germany’s Third Reich? Who were Hitler’s elite bodyguards? How...
United States at War Quiz
A war was fought to create the independent United States. Another war was fought that reunited a divided United States. Test...
World History Videos
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World History Subcategories
Accidents & Disasters
Technology and its related processes have been the site of great innovation and advancement over the course of time, but sometimes such improvements came at a high price, after serious accidents, disasters, or tragedies belatedly prompted closer scrutiny of existing procedures. Advances in science have also improved the accuracy of human predictions on some of nature's most forceful manifestations, but earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and other natural phenomena still yield devastating consequences worldwide.
Articles
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Titanic
ship
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Eastland disaster
maritime disaster, Chicago River, Chicago, Illinois,...
- Ebola outbreak of 2014–16
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Haitian Revolution
Haitian history
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Glorious Revolution
English history
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Russian Revolution
Russian history [1917]
The Ancient World
The modern world has inherited many cultural elements from ancient civilizations, from communications systems to ways of improving technology. Their stories, battles, and views on life are still relevant today for a full understanding of our world and our cultural legacy.
Articles
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Peloponnesian War
ancient Greek history
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Gilgamesh
Mesopotamian mythology
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Zhou dynasty
Chinese history
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Jules Michelet
French historian
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Thomas Carlyle
British essayist and historian
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Herodotus
Greek historian
Historic Dynasties & Families
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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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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William I
king of England
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Cosimo I
duke of Florence and Tuscany [1519–1574]
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Itō Hirobumi
prime minister of Japan
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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René-Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle
French explorer
- Baroque art and architecture
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Ann Bancroft
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
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Holy Roman Empire
historical empire, Europe
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Battle of Tours
European history [732]
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Norman Conquest
British 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 BC]
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Rebellions of 1837
Canadian history
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League of Nations
international organization
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Fidel Castro
political leader of Cuba
Prehistoric Age
The prehistoric age covers the millions of years that transpired 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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Magdalenian culture
prehistoric technology and art
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Moche
ancient South American culture
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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 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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United States presidential election of 1968
United States government
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Plains Wars
United States history
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War of 1812
United Kingdom-United States history
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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Crusades
Christianity
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Battle of Thermopylae
Greek history [480 bc]
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Cuban Revolution
Cuban history
