World History

Ever wondered how many countries start with "W"? Well, spoiler alert: You won't need many fingers to count them.

By Mack Hayden

Statistically, over half of the people reading this article live in a city, with a higher population density than rural or suburban areas. For instance, New York City has nearly 27,000 people crammed into each square mile (2.6 square km) of land.

By Talon Homer

Former countries that start with "O" include Orange Free State and Oldenburg but these states have since dissolved. There is now one remaining holdout between Asia and Africa: the Sultanate of Oman.

By Mitch Ryan

You've probably heard of the Russian, the Mongol, the Roman, the British and a few other empires. Until pretty recently, they were all over the place (literally). So, what were the largest empires in history?

By Zach Taras

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.

By Desiree Bowie

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.

By Desiree Bowie

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

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

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.

By Allison Troutner

Like many things, chess wasn't invented by one person but rather several people. Here's a short history of chess.

By Dave Roos

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?

By Patrick J. Kiger

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.

By Patrick J. Kiger

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.

By Patty Rasmussen