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, July 06, 2021
What were Alfred’s military achievements?
What were Alfred’s military achievements?
Companion / World History
Was Napoleon Short?
Find out if the most-known aspect of Napoleon’s legacy is really true.
Demystified / World History
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.
#WTFact / World History
Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire, empire created by Turkish tribes in Anatolia (Asia Minor) that grew to be one of the most powerful states...
Encyclopedia / World History
Napoleon I
Napoleon I, French general, first consul (1799–1804), and emperor of the French (1804–1814/15), one of the most celebrated...
Biography
Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution, in modern history, the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated...
Encyclopedia / World History
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar, celebrated qo general and statesman, the conqueror of Gaul (58–50 bce), victor in the civil war of 49–45 bce,...
Biography
World History Quizzes
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, this tragic war resulted in over 35 million casualties. From weaponry and spies to...
Space Exploration
From man-made satellites to the first woman in space, take flight in this quiz about astronauts and space exploration.
American Civil War Quiz
Fractured by ideology and economy, this war sought to unify a divided nation. From famous battles to infamous generals, test...
The American Revolution
Spurred by Great Britain’s taxation without fair representation, this political uprising led to the formation of the United...
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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Accident
event
- Influenza pandemic (H1N1) of 2009
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Titanic
ship
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Russian Revolution
Russian history [1917]
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Iranian Revolution
[1978–1979]
- Mexican Revolution
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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Mamluk
Islamic dynasty
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Ming dynasty
Chinese history
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Barmakids
ʿAbbāsid viziers
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Robert
duke of Apulia
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Mohammed bin Salman
Saudi Arabian prince
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Philip
landgrave of Hesse
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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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
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René-Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle
French 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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Magna Carta
England [1215]
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Charlemagne
Holy Roman emperor [747?–814]
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Middle Ages
historical era
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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St. Joan of Arc
French heroine
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Adolf Hitler
dictator of Germany
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Frederick II
king of Prussia
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Winston Churchill
prime minister of United Kingdom
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Vietnam War
1954–1975
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Ho Chi Minh
president of North Vietnam
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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Mississippian culture
ancient North American culture
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Mogollon culture
North American Indian culture
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Stonehenge
ancient monument, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom
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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American Revolution
United States history
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Mexican-American War
Mexico-United States [1846–1848]
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United States Presidential Election of 2016
United States government
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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Pacific War
theatre of war, World War II
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Wars of the Roses
English history
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Napoleonic Wars
European history
