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.
Browse Subcategories
Featured content, September 09, 2025
Thirty Years’ War
Thirty Years’ War, (1618–48), in European history, a series of wars fought by various nations for various reasons, including...
French Revolution
French Revolution, revolutionary movement that shook France between 1787 and 1799. It reached its first climax in 1789 when...
history of Europe
History of Europe, history of European peoples and cultures from prehistoric times to the present. Europe is a more ambiguous...
South African War
South African War, war fought from October 11, 1899, to May 31, 1902, between Great Britain and the two Boer (Afrikaner)...
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong was the principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his country’s communist revolution....
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan was a Mongolian warrior-ruler, one of the most famous conquerors of history, who consolidated tribes into a...
Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution, two revolutions in 1917, the first of which, in February (March, New Style), overthrew the imperial government...
World War I
World War I, an international conflict that in 1914–18 embroiled most of the nations of Europe along with Russia, the United...
World History Quizzes
A Quiz About Walls and More
Walls. Canals. Dykes. Towers. Artfully arranged piles of stones. If people build it big enough and strong enough, it’ll make...
A Quiz from Shrews to Whales
Shrews are tiny. Whales are massive. Find out what you know about these two mammals and all the others that are somewhere...
A River Runs Through It: Fact or Fiction?
Does Delhi, India, lie far from any river? Do many large rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal? Keep your head above water,...
A Royal Vocabulary Quiz
Get your dukes in a row.
A Serving of Asparagus: Fact or Fiction?
Are all kinds of asparagus good to eat? Does asparagus grow wild in many parts of the world? Test your knowledge from A to...
A Serving of Fruit
Approximately how many cherries are on a cherry tree? Which fruit tree symbolized immortality to the ancient Chinese? Test...
A Study of Composers
What composer wrote symphonies and other major works before he was 13 years old? From Claude Debussy to "Sabre Dance," gather...
A Study of Food: Fact or Fiction?
From ketchup and vitamins to pico de gallo and popcorn, sort through the facts while testing the ingredients of your foodie...
A Study of Greek and Roman Mythology
Who led the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece? Who is the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Ares? From fruits to winged...
A Study of History: Fact or Fiction?
Is there a lost city under the Mediterranean Sea? In days of old, were all pirate flags black? From the Dark Ages to the...
World History Videos
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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accident
event
- influenza pandemic (H1N1) of 2009
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Titanic
In 1912 the Titanic became one of history’s most enduring...
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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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.
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cuneiform
writing system
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Seleucid empire
ancient empire, Eurasia
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sphinx
mythology
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Herodotus
Greek historian
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Ibn Khaldūn
Muslim historian
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A.J.P. Taylor
British historian and journalist
Historic Dynasties & Families
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Maccabees
priestly Jewish family
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Mamluk dynasty
rulers of Egypt and Syria [1250–1517]
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Ming dynasty
Chinese history
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Ivan III
Russian prince
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Casimir IV
king of Poland
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Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester
French noble
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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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.
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Norman Conquest
British history
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Black Death
pandemic, medieval Europe [1347–1351]
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Hundred Years’ War
England and France [14th–15th century]
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Genghis Khan
Mongol ruler
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St. Joan of Arc
French heroine
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Adolf Hitler
dictator of Germany
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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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.
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Ancestral Pueblo culture
North American Indian culture
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stone tool industry
archaeology
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Acheulean industry
prehistoric toolmaking
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.
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United States Presidential Election of 2016
United States government
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Louisiana Purchase
United States history
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Spanish-American War
Spain-United States
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.
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Korean War
1950–1953
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American Civil War
United States history
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Vietnam War
1954–1975
