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, March 12, 2024
Timeline of the Titanic’s Final Hours
Learn more about the doomed ocean liner’s sinking.
9 Infamous Assassins and the World Leaders They Dispatched
Meet the people behind the guns.
Who Becomes President After the President and Vice President?
The presidential line of succession is longer than you might think.
8 Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century
Many lives have already been lost in this millennium.
Cold War
Cold War, the open yet restricted rivalry that developed after World War II between the United States and the Soviet Union...
Renaissance
Renaissance, period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages and conventionally held to have been characterized...
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...
World History Quizzes
English Men of Distinction: Fact or Fiction?
In Britain, is a knight given the title "Sir?" Is Prince Charles the Earl of Inverness? Sort fact from fiction in this quiz...
Exploring Italy and France: Fact or Fiction?
Was France named for the Franks, a German people? Was the Republic of Venice once ruled by a king? From lilies to the Eiffel...
Charlemagne: Fact or Fiction?
Test your knowledge of Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne with this quiz.
Nautical Exploration and Aviation: Fact or Fiction?
Was an American ship the first ship to reach the North Pole? Is it true that no woman has ever sailed around the world alone?...
European Exploration: Fact or Fiction?
Were the French the first Europeans to reach southern Africa? Was Christopher Columbus the first European to see South America?...
Southeast Asia: Fact or Fiction?
Was Thailand colonized? Has the Philippines ever had a female president? From European colonization to universities, test...
Ancient Civilizations: Fact or Fiction?
Were the earliest civilizations of Greece called Aegean? Do any of the ancient Wonders of the World survive? Test how far...
Famous American Faces: Fact or Fiction?
Was there a real person called Johnny Appleseed? Did Theodore Roosevelt inspire the teddy bear? Sort fact from fiction while...
Faces of European History: Fact or Fiction?
You may have heard of "Robin Hood" and "Bloody Mary," but how much do you really know about these historical figures? Sort...
President of the United States: Fact or Fiction?
Is former U.S. President Jimmy Carter associated with the New Deal? Has any U.S. president served more than two four-year...
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
- Chile mine rescue of 2010
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Challenger disaster
United States history [1986]
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accident
event
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Haitian Revolution
Haitian history
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Glorious Revolution
English history [1688–1689]
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Russian Revolution
Russian history [1917]
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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Trojan War
Greek mythology
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Roman Empire
ancient state [27 bce-476...
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Attila
king of the Huns
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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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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Charles
duke of Burgundy
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Bohemond I
prince of Otranto and of Antioch
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Henry III
duke of Bavaria and Saxony
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
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Abel Tasman
Dutch explorer and navigator
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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
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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Kindertransport
European history [1938–1940]
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Spanish Inquisition
Spanish history [1478–1834]
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two-state solution
Israeli-Palestinian history
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.
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dolmen
archaeology
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stela
architecture
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Hohokam culture
prehistoric North American Indian 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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French Revolutionary wars
European history
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Battle of France
World War II [1940]
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Pacific War
theatre of war, World War II