History

Topics to Explore:

When Government Conspiracies Come True

Not all conspiracies are bogus. Some have managed to be real, and the work of the government.

Meet Hell-Cat Maggie, the Mythical Dame of the Dead Rabbits Gang

Hell-Cat Maggie, Gallus Mag and Sadie the Goat sure have colorful names. They're alleged to be members of various 19th century New York gangs. But did any of them really exist?

7 Famous Folks Who Were Also Doctors

Earning a medical degree takes a lot of hard work, but sometimes destiny calls to other things. These folks abandoned their medical careers to get involved in other lines of work and make their names.

Why World War I Became the 'Forgotten War'

The Incredible True Story of the Real 'Black Klansman'

5 Events in Black History You Never Learned in School

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The Tragic Life of Joseph Merrick, the 'Elephant Man'

Free Land: How the Homestead Act Helped America Expand Westward

What Is Transcendentalism and How Did It Change America?

Historical Events

From the Age of Enlightenment to the Christmas Truce, learn about some of history's most pivotal events.

What Is Transcendentalism and How Did It Change America?

5 Events in Hispanic History You Never Learned in School

Why Did Hundreds of Americans 'Drink the Kool-Aid' at Jonestown?

Historical Figures

From Musketeers to Nazis, Archimedes to Harriet Tubman, these famous historical figures changed the course of history -- for better or worse.

The Tragic Life of Joseph Merrick, the 'Elephant Man'

How Did Benedict Arnold Become America's Most Infamous Traitor?

How Vladimir Lenin Took Russia From Romanov Rule to Communist U.S.S.R.

History vs. Myth

You don’t need fiction when history provides you with tales as crazy as the ones we’ve collected for you. Read up while your jaw drops.

Did the Bible 'Borrow' the Noah's Ark Story From the Epic of Gilgamesh?

Dionysus Was the Greek God With a Dual Personality

5 Fascinating Egyptian Gods and Goddesses You Should Know

Europe

No matter how knowledgeable you are about European history, there's always more to learn! Get an in-depth look at European history in these articles.

How Did Constantinople Become Istanbul?

Göbekli Tepe: The Temple That Hints at What Humans Were Up to 11,000 Years Ago

Meet the Trebuchet, the Castle-crushing Catapult of the Middle Ages

North America

From the southern tip of Florida to the Alaskan wilderness, explore North American history in-depth in the North American history section.

Free Land: How the Homestead Act Helped America Expand Westward

Sundown Towns: 'Hiding' Racism Right in the Open

Capitalize This! The State Capitals Quiz

World History

HowStuffWorks looks at the history and culture of places from all over the world.

5 Reasons Why the Bay of Pigs Invasion Failed

Deciphering the History, Symbols and Sounds of Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Against Crazy Odds, Simon Bolivar Liberated Six Countries in South America

World Wars

World wars and conflicts have shaped the course of history as countries stuggle to maintain a balance of power. In this section topics such as the Korean War, Vietnam and both World Wars are explored.

How Hitler's Blitzkrieg Tactic Shocked the Allies in WWII

Crafty Wartime Spies Put Codes Right Into Their Knitting

Japanese Kamikazes: Heroic or Horrifying?