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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Featured content, May 02, 2024
9 Questions About the Vietnam War Answered
Important questions asked and answered, briefly.
How was Ulysses S. Grant involved in the Civil War?
How was Ulysses S. Grant involved in the Civil War?
Timeline of the Spanish Civil War
Who did what and when?
Did the Vikings Discover America?
Learn how the Vikings beat Christopher Columbus to America by 500 years.
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...
World History Quizzes
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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
Age of Revolutions
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Meiji Restoration
Japanese history
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Haitian Revolution
Haitian history
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Glorious Revolution
English history [1688–1689]
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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Gilgamesh
Mesopotamian mythology
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Zhou dynasty
Chinese history
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Babylon
ancient city, Mesopotamia, Asia
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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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
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Fatimid dynasty
Islamic dynasty
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house of Habsburg
European dynasty
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Rothschild family
European family
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Robert
duke of Apulia
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Mohammed bin Salman
Saudi Arabian prince
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Philip
landgrave of Hesse
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
- European exploration
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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.
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Battle of Tours
European history [732]
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Norman Conquest
British history
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Black Death
pandemic, medieval Europe [1347–1351]
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Julius Caesar
Roman ruler
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Peter I
emperor of Russia
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George C. Marshall
United States general
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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League of Nations
international organization
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Fidel Castro
political leader of Cuba
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Tokugawa period
Japanese history
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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Mississippian culture
ancient North American culture
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Mogollon culture
North American Indian culture
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Stonehenge
ancient monument, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom
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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Mexican-American War
Mexico-United States [1846–1848]
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United States Presidential Election of 2016
United States government
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Louisiana Purchase
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.
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Afghanistan War
2001–2014
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French Revolutionary wars
European history
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Battle of France
World War II [1940]