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, November 13, 2026
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...
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 was a French general, First Consul (1799–1804), emperor of France (1804–1814/15), and one of the most celebrated...
Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution, in modern history, the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated...
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
World War II, conflict that involved virtually every part of the world during the years 1939–45. The war was in many respects...
History Quizzes
American Football: Fact or Fiction?
You may be familiar with touchdown dances, but are there are several ways to score points in American football? Sort fact...
American History and Politics Quiz
Who drafted the U.S. Declaration of Independence? Who wrote the American national anthem? From the Constitution to the chambers...
American Industry and Innovation
Do you know which American building was the first to rise taller than 20 stories? From the transcontinental railroad to the...
American Mobsters Quiz
For a large chunk of the 1900s, the Mafia had a hand in almost everything in the United States, from gambling to politics....
American Personalities
What was Buffalo Bill’s real name? Who was the first African American to be depicted on a postage stamp? Take a snapshot...
Quick Quiz: American Playwrights
You need to know three American playwrights and their work to ace this very short quiz. How quickly can you bring the curtain...
American Reality TV
Love American reality television? Prove it during the next commercial break by acing this quiz.
American Sign Language Alphabet Quiz
Test your knowledge of the American Sign Language alphabet
American Sports Nicknames
Do you know "The Mailman" from "The Admiral"? Test your knowledge of nicknames from American sports.
American Women Writers Quiz
Who wrote The Good Earth? How about Song of Solomon? Test what you know about American women writers with...
History Videos
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
- 2010 Haiti earthquake
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Hurricane Katrina
storm [2005]
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Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011
natural disaster
Age of Revolutions
The age of revolutions was an era of upheaval, when empires shook, monarchies fell, and new ideas about liberty, citizenship, and political power changed the course of history.
Articles
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Iranian Revolution
Iranian history [1978–1979]
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Mexican Revolution
Mexican history [1910–1920]
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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
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Peloponnesian War
ancient Greek history
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Gilgamesh
Mesopotamian mythology
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Zhou dynasty
Chinese history
Historians
Meet the historians whose research, interpretation, and storytelling have deepened our understanding of the past and challenged the ways it has been remembered.
Articles
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Thomas Carlyle
British essayist and historian
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Herodotus
Greek historian
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Ibn Khaldūn
Muslim historian
Historic Dynasties & Families
Follow the dynasties and powerful families whose marriages, rivalries, successions, and ambitions shaped courts, kingdoms, and empires across centuries.
Articles
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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
Titles, lineage, land, and influence made the nobility a defining force in many societies. Explore the aristocratic figures and houses that stood close to the center of power.
Articles
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Philip
landgrave of Hesse
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Ivan the Terrible
tsar of Russia
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Saint Alexander Nevsky
prince of Russia
Global Exploration
Follow the navigators, expeditions, and encounters that expanded maps, connected continents, and transformed how people understood the wider world.
Articles
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European exploration
history
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American frontier
United States history
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Daniel Boone
American frontiersman
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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Battle of Agincourt
European history
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Magna Carta
England [1215]
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Charlemagne
Holy Roman emperor [747?–814]
Military Leaders
Meet the military leaders whose strategy, daring, and command on the battlefield altered wars, empires, and the fate of nations.
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
Industrialization, nationalism, world war, decolonization, and technological change have made the modern world a time of staggering disruption and reinvention. Explore the forces that shaped it.
Articles
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Nürnberg Rally
Nazi Party rallies
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Adolf Hitler
dictator of Germany
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Franklin D. Roosevelt
32nd president of the United States
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
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Stonehenge
ancient monument, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom
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Neolithic
anthropology
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Megalith
ancient monument
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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Battle of Gettysburg
American Civil War [1863]
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United States presidential election of 1968
United States government
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Plains Wars
United States history
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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Wars of the Roses
English history
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Napoleonic Wars
European history
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American Revolution
United States history
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