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 17, 2024
Timeline of the Titanic’s Final Hours
Learn more about the doomed ocean liner’s sinking.
11 of the World’s Most Famous Warplanes
Which warplanes shaped modern history?
What Led to France’s Reign of Terror?
Some 17,000 people were killed in the Reign of Terror, and as many as 10,000 more died in prison or without trial. What caused...
Why Was Nazi Germany Called the Third Reich?
A bit of background on the First and Second Reichs.
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 principal belligerents...
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an insurrection carried out by 13 of Great Britain’s North American colonies that began in 1775...
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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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- Mexican Revolution
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Texas Revolution
Mexico-Texas history [1835-1836]
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Cuban Revolution
Cuban 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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Cleopatra
queen of Egypt
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Chichén Itzá
ancient city, Mexico
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Marcus Aurelius
emperor of Rome
Historians
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Ibn Khaldūn
Muslim historian
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A.J.P. Taylor
British historian and journalist
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Thucydides
Greek historian
Historic Dynasties & Families
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Mamluk
Islamic dynasty
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Ming dynasty
Chinese history
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Barmakids
ʿAbbāsid viziers
Historic Nobility
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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William I
king of England
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Cosimo I
duke of Florence and Tuscany [1519–1574]
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Itō Hirobumi
prime minister of Japan
Global Exploration
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Ann Bancroft
American explorer
- European exploration
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American frontier
United States history
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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Black Death
pandemic, medieval Europe [1347–1351]
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Hundred Years’ War
England and France [14th–15th century]
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Battle of Poitiers
French history [1356]
Military Leaders
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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St. Joan of Arc
French heroine
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Adolf Hitler
dictator of Germany
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Frederick II
king of Prussia
The Modern World
This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
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Mikhail Gorbachev
president of Soviet Union
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Elizabeth II
queen of United Kingdom
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World War II
1939–1945
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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Magdalenian culture
prehistoric technology and art
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Moche
ancient South American culture
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Jōmon culture
ancient culture, Japan
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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United States presidential election of 1968
United States government
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Plains Wars
United States history
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War of 1812
United Kingdom-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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Napoleonic Wars
European history
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American Revolution
United States history
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Chinese Civil War
1945–1949