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, February 25, 2022
Why Have So Many World Leaders Married Their Cousins?
Royal weddings through history have often had one thing in common: the bride and groom were cousins. But why did so many...
#WTFact / World History
Who Were the Assassins?
Outlandish tales about a sect known as the Assassins were a staple of European lore about the Middle East. But were they...
Demystified / World History
9 Worst Generals in History
Those who can, lead. Those who can’t,...well, nothing seems to stop them from trying.
List / World History
What Is the History of Juneteenth?
On June 19, 1865, enslaved Texans first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation—over two years after it was issued. Why...
Companion / World History
South African War
South African War, war fought from October 11, 1899, to May 31, 1902, between Great Britain and the two Boer (Afrikaner)...
Encyclopedia / World History
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his country’s communist revolution. Mao was...
Biography
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan, Mongolian warrior-ruler, one of the most famous conquerors of history, who consolidated tribes into a unified...
Biography
Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution, two revolutions in 1917, the first of which, in February (March, New Style), overthrew the imperial government...
Encyclopedia / World History
World History Quizzes
Exploring Latin American History
Was the Incan civilization located in Mexico? For whom was Bolivia named? From Belize to Gran Colombia, step back in time...
Famous People in History
Who is known as the "Father of Medicine"? Where was Karl Marx, the communist philosopher, born? From Renaissance philosophers...
American Personalities
What was Buffalo Bill’s real name? Who was the first African American to be depicted on a postage stamp? Take a snapshot...
History of American Politics
Who wrote the American Declaration of Independence? Which political program is associated with Franklin Roosevelt? From presidents...
Disasters of Historic Proportion
You may have experienced the common cold, but do you know what illness caused 20 million deaths in 1918? From earthquakes...
European History
What was the name of Franz Ferdinand’s assassin? Who was known as the Iron Chancellor? From the Irish famine to Lady Godiva,...
A History of War
You may have heard of D-Day, the Battle of Hastings, and Waterloo, but do you know their historical significance? Embark...
Journey Around the World
Although its golden arches attest to serving over one billion customers worldwide, do you know where the first McDonald’s...
Germany and World War II
Obsessed with the preservation of a supposed "master race," what was Adolf Hitler’s regime called? From battle ships to ideology,...
Important Locations in U.S. History
From President Kennedy’s assasination to the Missouri Compromise and Louisiana Purchase, take a trip through American states...
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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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Chernobyl disaster
nuclear accident, Soviet Union [1986]
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Deepwater Horizon oil spill
environmental disaster, Gulf of Mexico [2010]
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Great Chicago Fire
American history
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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French Revolution
1787–1799
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Meiji Restoration
Japanese history
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Haitian Revolution
Haitian history
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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sphinx
mythology
- pre-Columbian civilizations
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ancient Greek civilization
historical region, Eurasia
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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Wei dynasty
Chinese history [386-534/535]
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Hōjō Family
Japanese family
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Fujiwara Family
Japanese family
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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Meriwether Lewis
American explorer
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Leif Erikson
Norse explorer
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Christopher Columbus
Italian 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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Norman Conquest
British history
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Black Death
pandemic, medieval Europe
- Hundred Years’ War
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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George Washington
president of United States
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Andrew Jackson
president of United States
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Augustus
Roman emperor
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Treaty of Versailles
1919
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Mikhail Gorbachev
president of Soviet Union
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Elizabeth II
queen 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
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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 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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assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
United States history
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Burr-Hamilton duel
duel, Weehawken, New Jersey, United States [1804]
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Battle of Gettysburg
American Civil War [1863]
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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Pearl Harbor attack
Japanese-United States history
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Korean War
1950–1953
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American Civil War
United States history