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 30, 2024
Did George Washington Really Say, “I Can’t Tell a Lie”?
The story behind the legend of George Washington and the cherry tree.
Why did Joseph McCarthy’s influence decline?
Why did Joseph McCarthy’s influence decline?
Riding Freedom: 10 Milestones in U.S. Civil Rights History
Righting civil wrongs.
Ten Days That Vanished: The Switch to the Gregorian Calendar
In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII introduced a more accurate calendar. But switching over wasn’t easy.
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...
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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.
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complex humanitarian emergency
disaster event
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Chernobyl disaster
nuclear accident, Soviet Union [1986]
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Deepwater Horizon oil spill
environmental disaster, Gulf of Mexico [2010]
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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Zhou dynasty
Chinese history
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Babylon
ancient city, Mesopotamia, Asia
- Aegean civilizations
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Livy
Roman historian
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Jules Michelet
French historian
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Thomas Carlyle
British essayist and historian
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
Islamic dynasty
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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 the Terrible
tsar of Russia
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Saint Alexander Nevsky
prince of Russia
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William I
king of England
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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William Clark
American explorer
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Meriwether Lewis
American explorer
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Leif Erikson
Norse 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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Holy Roman Empire
historical empire, Europe
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Battle of Tours
European history [732]
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Norman Conquest
British history
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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Rebellions of 1837
Canadian history
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League of Nations
international organization
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Fidel Castro
political leader of Cuba
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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Neolithic
anthropology
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megalith
ancient monument
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Magdalenian culture
prehistoric technology and art
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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Pearl Harbor attack
Japanese-United States history
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assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
United States history
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Burr-Hamilton duel
duel, Weehawken, New Jersey, United States [1804]
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