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, December 07, 2024
Leaders of World War I
Learn more about the leaders of World War I.
What Was the Little Ice Age?
The Little Ice Age is known for its effects in Europe and the North Atlantic region over hundreds of years, but was it comparable...
Before the E-Reader: 7 Ways Our Ancestors Took Their Reading on the Go
Books have been around for a long time. But not always.
18 Food Crops Developed in the Americas
How Native peoples revolutionized your dinner.
French Revolution
French Revolution, revolutionary movement that shook France between 1787 and 1799 and reached its first climax there in 1789—hence...
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....
World History Quizzes
World History Videos
Image Gallery
World History
View Gallery
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
-
Challenger disaster
United States history [1986]
-
accident
event
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Iranian Revolution
[1978–1979]
- Mexican Revolution
-
Texas Revolution
Mexico-Texas history [1835-1836]
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
-
ancient Rome
ancient state, Europe, Africa, and Asia
-
cuneiform
writing system
-
Seleucid empire
ancient empire, Eurasia
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Livy
Roman historian
-
Jules Michelet
French historian
-
Thomas Carlyle
British essayist and historian
Historic Dynasties & Families
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Fugger family
German family
-
Fatimid dynasty
Islamic dynasty
-
house of Habsburg
European dynasty
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Itō Hirobumi
prime minister of Japan
-
Ludovico Sforza
duke of Milan
-
Louis IV
Holy Roman emperor
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Abel Tasman
Dutch explorer and navigator
-
Lewis and Clark Expedition
United States history
-
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
-
Charlemagne
Holy Roman emperor [747?–814]
-
Middle Ages
historical era
-
Holy Roman Empire
historical empire, Europe
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Napoleon I
emperor of France
-
Julius Caesar
Roman ruler
-
Peter I
emperor of Russia
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Franklin D. Roosevelt
32nd president of the United States
-
Soviet Union
historical state, Eurasia
-
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian leader
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
-
Jōmon culture
ancient culture, Japan
-
Aurignacian culture
prehistoric technology and art
-
Stone Age
anthropology
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
-
Salem witch trials
American history
-
United States presidential election of 1972
United States government
-
9-11 Commission
United States commission
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
-
Hundred Years’ War
England and France [14th–15th century]
-
Punic Wars
Carthage and Rome [264 bce–146...
-
Pearl Harbor attack
Japanese-United States history