History

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Mysterious First Settlers of Madagascar Identified by Ancient Seeds

Linguistic and cultural clues have long suggested Madagascar's prehistoric human settlers came from Southeast Asia, but now scientists have found physical proof.

George P. Burdell: The Georgia Tech Student Who Never Existed

George P. Burdell has registered for classes, signed petitions and even lettered in football and basketball, but on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta, he is the man who never was.

World's Oldest Veggie Casserole Found in the Sahara Desert

Prehistoric people cooked food in ceramic pots, and the oldest known evidence of cooked vegetables has now been found in the Sahara desert.

Did William Tell really shoot an apple off his son’s head?

New Clues to Ancient Roman Art Discovered in Egyptian Mummy Portraits

Why the Ghost of Andrew Jackson Haunts the Modern U.S. Presidency

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7 'Facts' They Got Wrong in School About Christopher Columbus

How Hercules Totally Nailed His 12 Labors

Why the Ghost of Andrew Jackson Haunts the Modern U.S. Presidency

Historical Events

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

The Peace Sign: From No Nukes Logo to Anti-war Symbol

20 Memorable Moments of the 21st Century So Far

The War of 1812: The White House Burns and 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Is Born

Historical Figures

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

7 'Facts' They Got Wrong in School About Christopher Columbus

Why the Ghost of Andrew Jackson Haunts the Modern U.S. Presidency

Chinese-American Actress Anna May Wong Fought Racism in Life and Onscreen

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.

How Hercules Totally Nailed His 12 Labors

7 Facts About Crafty Athena, Favorite Daughter of Zeus

Anubis Was Ancient Egypt's Jackal-headed Guard Dog of the Dead

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.

Is Holland the Same as the Netherlands?

Shhh! Don't Tell. There's a Secret Apartment Atop the Eiffel Tower

Groom of the Stool: A Crappy Job With Royal Benefits

North America

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

How the Declaration of Independence Birthed the American Nation

The Long, Hard Battle for the 19th Amendment and Women's Right to Vote

How the Boston Massacre Fanned the Flames of a Revolution

World History

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

8 Wild and Sprawling Facts About Mongolia

5 Large Nations With No Homeland

How Colonialism Works

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.