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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, May 06, 2024

General view of Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California. (prisons, penitentiary
6 Ingenious Escapes
Feeling stuck? Get inspired by these brilliant breakouts.
Charles I of England.
Why Is Charles I Buried with Henry VIII and Jane Seymour?
Henry VIII and his third wife were never meant to be buried at Windsor Castle forever. How did Charles I end up joining them...
Portrait of Marie Antoinette by Jean-Francois Janinet, 1777. Color etching and engraving with gold leaf printed on two sheets, 30x13.5 in.
Did Marie-Antoinette Really Say “Let Them Eat Cake”?
Party like it’s 1789
Nelson Mandela, undated photo.
15 Nelson Mandela Quotes
Words of wisdom from Nelson Mandela.
Industrial Revolution: spinning room
Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution, in modern history, the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated...
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was a celebrated Roman general and statesman, the conqueror of Gaul (58–50 bce), victor in the civil war of...
World War II: Germany invading Poland
World War II
World War II, conflict that involved virtually every part of the world during the years 1939–45. The principal belligerents...
The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an insurrection carried out by 13 of Great Britain’s North American colonies that began in 1775...

World History Quizzes

Lucy Burns Speaking in from of a group of people. American Suffragist. Womens Rights. ca. 1910-1915
Women’s History: Nineteenth Amendment and Women’s Suffrage
Women in the United States were finally granted the right to vote with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. How much...
Fidel Castro arrives MATS Terminal, Washington, D.C.
U.S. and Cuba
Relations between the United States and Cuba have a storied history. How much do you know about the ties and feuds between...
Adolf Hitler participating in a Nazi parade in Munich, Germany, circa 1930s.
Infamous Nazis
Do you know Goebbels from Göring? Test your knowledge of Hitler’s right-hand men and other Nazi officials.
Hatshepsut. Hatchepsut. Pharaoh. Ancient Egypt. Carving. Statue.
Hatshepsut
How much do you know about Hatshepsut, the woman who was king of Egypt? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
Queen Anne of Cleves (1515-1557), fourth wife of Henry VIII. Portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1539.
Henry VIII and His Wives
How much do you know about Henry VIII’s love life? Test your knowledge of his wives—whether divorced, beheaded, or not.
Suffragettes with signs in London, possibly 1912 (based on Monday, Nov. 25). Woman suffrage movement, women's suffrage movement, suffragists, women's rights, feminism.
Women’s History: Famous Suffragettes
How much do you know about suffragettes, the “soldiers in petticoats” who fought for women’s rights? Test your knowledge...
Battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, lithograph by Kurz and Allison, circa 1888.
American Civil War: Who Won Which Battles?
While you probably know the Battles of Gettysburg and Antietam, do you remember who were the victors? Take this quiz to test...
Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, attends the 12th African Union Summit Feb. 2, 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Robert Mugabe: Fact or Fiction?
How much do you know about one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders? Test your knowledge with this quiz about Robert Mugabe’s...
Mount Everest, Himalayas, Nepal. (Himalayan Mountains; mountain range; mountain landscape; Mt. Everest)
Mount Everest
Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, has long been a place of fascination and an alluring draw for climbers and adventure...
Abraham Lincoln, three quarter length portrait.
Abraham Lincoln
He is arguably the most-popular U.S. president, but how well do you really know Abraham Lincoln? Take our quiz to find out.

World History Videos

Listen to Thomas Jefferson muse the differences between the American Revolution and the French Revolution
Listen to Thomas Jefferson muse the differences between the American Revolution and the French Revolution
Learn through an animated map about the First Battle of Bull Run
Learn through an animated map about the First Battle of Bull Run
Listen to Franklin D. Roosevelt's reaction to the Pearl Harbor attack
Listen to Franklin D. Roosevelt's reaction to the Pearl Harbor attack
Find out how soldiers killed in battle were buried and commemorated during and after the American Civil War
Find out how soldiers killed in battle were buried and commemorated during and after the American Civil War
Watch President John F. Kennedy delivering his inaugural address in Washington, D.C., January 20, 1961
Watch President John F. Kennedy delivering his inaugural address in Washington, D.C., January 20, 1961
See how the Confederates' attack on the Union Army at Shiloh ended in large casualties for both sides
See how the Confederates' attack on the Union Army at Shiloh ended in large casualties for both sides
Mysteries of ancient Babylon
Mysteries of ancient Babylon
See the recovery effort of Nepal after the 2015 earthquake, particularly in helping the children
See the recovery effort of Nepal after the 2015 earthquake, particularly in helping the children
See pictures of immigrants entering the United States of America via New York and Boston
See pictures of immigrants entering the United States of America via New York and Boston
July Plot: A failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler
July Plot: A failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler
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
subcategory placeholder 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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