World History
HowStuffWorks looks at the history and culture of places from all over the world.
10 Things Done Completely Out of Spite
Exploring the Impact of the Industrial Revolution Factory System
How Al Capone's Mobsters Outmuscled Chicago Milkmen
Jayne Mansfield: Death, Life and Legacy
How Did Helen Keller Fly a Plane in 1946?
Who Were the Titanic Survivors?
Who Is the Controversial Green Man on the Royal Coronation Invitation?
666 Meaning: Angel Number or the Devil's Digits?
Operation Midnight Climax: A CIA Sex, Drugs and Surveillance Program
Exploring the Balkan States: 10 Countries on 1 Peninsula
Norland College: Where the Royals Find Their Nannies
How the CPR Doll Developed From a Famous Parisian Death Mask
The Title of Oldest President of the United States Goes To...
U.S. State Capitals, Listed Oldest to Newest
Biggest Cities in the U.S. (And the Biggest in Each State)
How the Ritchie Boys, Secret Refugee Infiltrators, Took on the Nazis
The French Resistance Took Many Forms During WWII
Inside Unit 731, Japan's Gruesome WWII Human Experiment Program
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Eurasia is the largest continent on Earth, home to a rich tapestry of cultures, languages and histories. From the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia to the bustling cities of the modern era, the countries of Asia offer a glimpse into the diversity of the world's population.
By Mack Hayden
From the Amazon Rainforest to the Andes Mountains, the fourth-largest continent is a treasure trove of natural wonders and historical sites. Let's explore the countries of South America and take a look at what makes each one unique.
By Mack Hayden
With the addition of South Sudan as the 195th sovereign nation in 2011, the world witnessed another chapter in its ever-expanding story.
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The African continent is home to a remarkable array of cultures, landscapes and histories. This vast land comprises 54 recognized African countries, each with its own distinct identity. Here, we'll explore the countries of Africa, divided into the key regions: North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa.
By Mack Hayden
If you were to explore the world alphabetically, you’d find 27 countries starting with "s" — like Spain, Sweden and South Africa — each with its own rich history and vibrant culture. But when you get to "X," the map draws a blank; no countries start with that elusive letter.
If you are looking at a traditional world map, you won't get an accurate idea of the size of the seven continents; depicting a sphere onto a flat surface means that something will end up distorted. For that reason, you may not truly understand something like the size of the largest continent.
By Yara Simón
With constantly changing borders and governments, identifying the oldest countries in the world is tricky work.
By Sascha Bos
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Uncover the secrets of Greek fire, ancient warfare's legendary weapon. Explore its history, composition, and deadly impact.
By HowStuffWorks
The dense Aokigahara Forest has acquired another name, the "suicide forest." Why has it acquired that reputation and what is being done about it?
By Dave Roos
An island doesn't necessarily have to be small. You might be surprised by the size of some of these islands on our list. Here are the nine biggest ones.
By Dave Roos
We can easily picture a group of beard-and-toga geniuses hunched over scrolls inside a magnificent colonnaded hall. But what was the real Library of Alexandria like? And why do some scholars doubt its existence?
By Dave Roos
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Look at any vintage map and you'll see how a country's borders shift. But what reason would a country have for changing its name?
By Lauren David
Back in the Cold War craziness of the 1950s, a CIA operative in the Philippines used the local folklore myth of the blood-sucking aswang to try and scare off communist rebels. Did it work?
By Dave Roos
For centuries, Razzouk Tattoo in Jerusalem has provided tattoos to both pilgrims and posers, using hand-carved wooden stamps, some of which are 500 years old.
Like many things, chess wasn't invented by one person but rather several people. Here's a short history of chess.
By Dave Roos
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It's hard to nail down the oldest city in the world. Some say it's Damascus, Syria, while others suggest it's Jericho, in the West Bank. So which is older?
For centuries, colonizers, missionaries and anthropologists have attempted to make contact with the residents of North Sentinel Island. But outsiders have learned the hard way that, even today, the Sentinelese just want to be left alone.
By Dave Roos
The Dahomey warriors were an all-female regiment that existed for 300 years. Their bravery is legendary and portrayed in "The Woman King," but their ties to the Transatlantic slave trade are undeniable.
By Dave Roos
The Nizari Ismaili were some of the most feared assassins in the turbulent medieval Middle East. They used secret techniques to survive against enemies with bigger armies. That is until they finally met their match.
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Some claim the "haunting shrieks" of the death whistle were used to terrify the Aztecs' enemies in battle or to mimic the death cries of sacrificial victims to their gods. But does anyone know its real use?
By Dave Roos
It's a big old world and the number of countries it contains changes all the time. So, do you know how many there are? It's not an easy question.
Photographers have been risking their lives since the Civil War to bring back images from the front lines. Not just to document history, but to show the uncensored, gritty version of battle to those of us who never have to face danger.
By Sarah Gleim
The struggle to sever colonial ties with the British has been going on for nearly 400 years in Barbados. On Nov. 30, 2021, the island officially became a republic, installing Dame Sandra Mason as its first president.
By Lewis Eliot
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Some 50,000 people jammed in an area one-hundredth of a square mile. An urban planning nightmare, it was home to gangs, factories and vibrant nightlife. How did it start, and what caused it to end?
By Dave Roos
Some $150 billion in nonmilitary U.S. aid flowed into Afghanistan from 2001 to 2020, but what exactly was accomplished in that time with that amount of money?