History

Topics to Explore:

10 Expressions That Came From the Ancient World

If you can see the writing on the wall and know that all roads lead to Rome, you're using some expressions that are more than 2,000 years old. Where did they come from and why have they survived?

Amelia Earhart Was Way More Than a Famous Aviator Who Disappeared

Amelia Earhart's reaction to seeing her first flight as a kid was one big yawn. But that attitude changed with her first plane ride, paving the way for a life of dare-devilry, one that ultimately cost her life.

How Former Slave Elizabeth Keckly Shaped 19th-Century Fashion

Elizabeth Keckly, a former slave turned dress designer, was once the premiere dressmaker in Washington, D.C. She was also a close confidante of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln.

Quiz: How Did States Get Their Names?

Brown v. Board Wasn't the First Case to Challenge Jim Crow in Schools

The Dyatlov Pass Mystery: Were the Hikers Murdered?

Trending in History News

Why Are We Still Talking About Plato 2,100 Years Later?

How the U.S. Capitol's Design Was Chosen By Public Competition

What Caused the Rise – and Fall – of the Ottoman Empire?

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.

Why Are We Still Talking About Plato 2,100 Years Later?

Why Frederick Douglass Was the Father of the Civil Rights Movement

How Cesar Chavez United Thousands of Farmworkers and Became a Civil Rights Icon

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 'Scarface' Al Capone Became the Original Gangster

Cash for Teeth: The Legend of the Tooth Fairy

How Hercules Totally Nailed His 12 Labors

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.

17th-century Plague Doctors Were the Stuff of Nightmares

Is Holland the Same as the Netherlands?

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

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 U.S. Capitol's Design Was Chosen By Public Competition

Why Is New York City Called the 'Big Apple'?

How the Declaration of Independence Birthed the American Nation

World History

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

What Caused the Rise – and Fall – of the Ottoman Empire?

The Dark History of Indigo, Slavery's Other Cash Crop

8 Wild and Sprawling Facts About Mongolia

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.