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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Accidents & Disasters Age of Revolutions The Ancient World Historians Historic Dynasties & Families Historic Nobility Global Exploration The Middle Ages Military Leaders The Modern World Prehistoric Age United States History Wars, Battles & Armed Conflicts

Featured content, February 02, 2023

Julius Caesar in full Gaius Julius Caesar (100? BCE-44 BCE) statue in Rimini, Italy. Roman general and statesman and dictator
The Time Julius Caesar Was Captured by Pirates
Be careful who you kidnap.
Feed corn ready for harvest after drying in the field, Kings Hill County, Virginia. Agriculture food grain cereal corncob
18 Food Crops Developed in the Americas
How Native peoples revolutionized your dinner.
Johanna Sigurdardottir Iceland's first female prime minister, the first openly gay prime minister in the world. A Veteran M (longest serving MP) elected in 1978 for the Social Democratic party. Official photo 2009
7 People Who Shaped LGBTQIA+ World History
Key figures of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Close-up of marijuana plant growing outdoors
Why Is Marijuana Illegal in the U.S.?
Get the 411 on why 420 was outlawed in the U.S.
Hagia Sophia: mosaic
Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire, the eastern half of the Roman Empire, which survived for a thousand years after the western half had crumbled...
combatant in the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution, (1910–20), a long and bloody struggle among several factions in constantly shifting alliances which resulted...
Seven Years' War: Battle of Zorndorf
Seven Years’ War
Seven Years’ War, (1756–63), the last major conflict before the French Revolution to involve all the great powers of Europe....
Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years’ War
Thirty Years’ War, (1618–48), in European history, a series of wars fought by various nations for various reasons, including...

World History Quizzes

"The Fifteenth Amendment. Celebrated May 19th, 1870" color lithograph created by Thomas Kelly, 1870. (Reconstruction) At center, a depiction of a parade in celebration of the passing of the 15th Amendment. Framing it are portraits and vignettes...
Reconstruction Era Quiz
This quiz will enable you to test how well you understand the essential components of
Potrait of Ivan the Terrible, Valentin Vasnetsov (1530-84), Ruler of Russia. Painting by Viktor Mihajlovic Vasnecov. (tsar, czar)
Rulers with Unfortunate Nicknames: The Quiz
Some rulers in history have...well, rather boring epithets: Catherine the Great, Peter the Great, Frederick the Great, Hugh...
Publicity still of Jerry Orbach (foreground) and Jesse L. Martin from the television series "Law & Order"; photo undated, but Martin was on the show from 1999-2008.
This Day in History Quiz: September 13
What happened on September 13 throughout history? Take this quiz to find out!
George Washington presides over the Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 25 - September 17, 1787. (Philadelphia Convention)
This Day in History Quiz: September 17
From allegorical novels to naval battles, September 17 is filled with monumental events. Try this quiz to see how many you...
Aerial view of the "Amant Double" (L'Amant Double) film screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals, May 26, 2017, Cannes, France. (red carpet)
This Day in History Quiz: September 20
September 20 is an iconic date throughout history. Take this quiz to learn why!
Sir Francis Drake. Sir Francis Drake English navigator and privateer. Drake (1540-1596) was the most renowned seaman of the Elizabethan Age. He circumnavigated the globe (1577-1580), commanded the attack on the Spanish fleet in Cadiz Harbour...(see notes)
This Day in History Quiz: September 26
Do you know what happened on September 26 throughout history? Take this quiz to find out!
Betsy Ross Flag
Major Events of the American Revolution
How well do you know what happened during the American Revolution? This quiz will ask you about the major events that happened...
Anne Hutchinson. Illustration from 1916. (died 1643) One of the founders of Rhode Island. Banished by Puritans from Massachusetts Bay Colony. Believed in freedom of religion. Religious leader.
Massachusetts Bay Colony Quiz
Most people know all about the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, and the first Thanksgiving. But do you know anything else...
King George V of Britain, c. 1910, shortly after his accession to the throne
Quick Quiz: Weird British Royalty
When it comes to British royalty, nothing is what you’d expect. Test your knowledge of some of the weirder facets of the...
Solar system illustration. (planets; sun)
This Day in History Quiz: September 23
We all know what makes September 23 such an important day in history…or do we? Test your knowledge of the day’s events with...

World History Videos

Learn how the nonaggression pact between the Third Reich and the Soviet Union sealed Poland's fate before World War II
Learn how the nonaggression pact between the Third Reich and the Soviet Union sealed Poland's fate before World War II
Explore the political career of Helmut Schmidt
Explore the political career of Helmut Schmidt
Travel back to the night of Abraham Lincoln's assassination days after the end of the Civil War
Travel back to the night of Abraham Lincoln's assassination days after the end of the Civil War
Learn about the culture of Mesopotamia in the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Learn about the culture of Mesopotamia in the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Learn about the history of the Siege of Vienna, 1683
Learn about the history of the Siege of Vienna, 1683
Trace how British strategy evolved as the scope of the American Revolutionary War expanded worldwide
Trace how British strategy evolved as the scope of the American Revolutionary War expanded worldwide
Study the history of the African slave trade and its economic effect on western Africa, where coastal states became rich and powerful while savanna states were destabilized as their people were taken captive
Study the history of the African slave trade and its economic effect on western Africa, where coastal states became rich and powerful while savanna states were destabilized as their people were taken captive
Follow archaeologists as they look for evidence to support the Normanist Theory of Viking origin
Follow archaeologists as they look for evidence to support the Normanist Theory of Viking origin
Hear U.S. President Richard M. Nixon announcing the January 1973 agreement to end the Vietnam War
Hear U.S. President Richard M. Nixon announcing the January 1973 agreement to end the Vietnam War
View footage of the first test of a hydrogen bomb carried out by the United States in the Marshall Islands
View footage of the first test of a hydrogen bomb carried out by the United States in the Marshall Islands
Image Gallery
World History
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World History Subcategories

Chile earthquake of 2010 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
Louis XVI: execution by guillotine Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
ancient Middle East 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
Livy Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
branches of the Medici family Historic Dynasties & Families
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
subcategory placeholder Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
David Livingstone. Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
Clement VII 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
Kemal Atatürk Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
Kindertransport The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
Mississippian culture: Ocmulgee National Monument 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
Pearl Harbor attack 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
World War I 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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