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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, July 05, 2025

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....
Europe after the Thirty Years' War, 1648
Thirty Years’ War
Thirty Years’ War, (1618–48), in European history, a series of wars fought by various nations for various reasons, including...
Louis XVI: execution by guillotine
French Revolution
French Revolution, revolutionary movement that shook France between 1787 and 1799 and reached its first climax there in 1789—hence...
Encyclopædia Britannica: first edition, map of Europe
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: Boer troops
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
Mao Zedong was the principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his country’s communist revolution....

World History Quizzes

Child's alphabet blocks
ABCs of English
What letter begins more English words than any other? What letter does not appear in the English numbers 1 through 100? Learn...
American alligator hatchling. (endangered species; reptile; baby animal; reptile egg; animal birth; hatching)
About to Pop: How Many Babies?
How many babies does a fox typically have? What about a tiger? Test your knowledge of animal reproductive rates.
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.
Oscar statuettes in various stages of plating on a R.S. Owens & Company plating room workbench Jan. 23, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. R.S. Owens manufactures the Oscar statuettes which are presented at the annual Academy Awards. The Oscars
Academy Awards
We’ve rolled out the red carpet for you. Test your knowledge of Hollywood’s biggest night.
radio. Old analog electric radio with speaker, knobs and tuner. transmission, radio wave
Acoustics and Radio Technology: Fact or Fiction?
Do cellular phones use relayed radio signals? From antennas to tweeters, test the strength of your mental signals in this...
Drury Lane Theatre (London, England) showing a Roman play in progress, print (black ink with watercolor on paper), 1808; design by Thomas Rowlandson and August Charles Pugin. (theaters)
Actors and Acting Quiz
Do you know who founded the Old Vic? Who made her name starring in Funny Girl? Test your knowledge of actors and...
Adolf Hitler, giving Nazi salute. To Hitler's right is Rudolph Hess. 1939.
Adolf Hitler
How much do you know about Adolf Hitler? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
Flag of South Africa (1994-). The flag of the Republic of South Africa adopted on April 27, 1994. A flag of Africa. African flag. exploring africa
Africa at Random: Fact or Fiction?
You may be familiar with the West African stories of the spider and tortoise, but are you familiar with the riddle of the...
American writer Claude McKay; undated photo.
African American Writers Quiz
Who wrote Beloved? How about Home to Harlem? Test your knowledge of African American writers with this...
Street scene, Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.
African Capitals Quiz
How well do you know your African capitals? This quiz will show you the name of a country in Africa, and you’ll need to identify...

World History Videos

Gauge the moods of the European people and statesmen as Woodrow Wilson arrived to forge an end to World War I
Gauge the moods of the European people and statesmen as Woodrow Wilson arrived to forge an end to World War I
The conflicting legacies of King Henry VIII
The conflicting legacies of King Henry VIII
Ensuring maritime safety through hydrographic surveys
Ensuring maritime safety through hydrographic surveys
The horror of Auschwitz: A journey through history
The horror of Auschwitz: A journey through history
Learn about the Cuban Missile Crisis and the various aspects of the threats of nuclear warfare as reflected in the popular culture of the 1960s, urging to stop nuclear tensions through films
Learn about the Cuban Missile Crisis and the various aspects of the threats of nuclear warfare as reflected in the popular culture of the 1960s, urging to stop nuclear tensions through films
Rutherford B. Hayes and the end of Reconstruction
Rutherford B. Hayes and the end of Reconstruction
Who was Viking chieftain Ivar the Boneless?
Who was Viking chieftain Ivar the Boneless?
The D-Day attacks at Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches explained
The D-Day attacks at Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches explained
What happened when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated?
What happened when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated?
What happened to the Mayflower after Plymouth?
What happened to the Mayflower after Plymouth?
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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
The Western Schism and the Roman Catholic Church 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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