History & Society
Major Events of 2026
Our timeline highlights some of the notable developments of the year.
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Five Stories of the Wrongfully Accused
Learn about the Central Park Five and other cases of people wrongfully accused.
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Editor's Picks
A Brief History of White House Construction
The changes to the White House undertaken by Pres. Donald Trump during his second term may seem stunning to those who think that the White House of today is how it has always been. The reality is that in its more-than-200-year history, the People’s House has undergone changes necessitated by
How Did the Tradition of Wedding Rings Start?
When Taylor Swift said yes to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in August 2025, it seemed as if all the megastar’s romantic anthems were coming true. And by proposing with what fans quickly identified as a dazzling Old Mine-cut diamond set on a gold mount, Kelce joined a long tradition of
Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement
The civil rights movement came to national prominence in the United States during the mid-1950s and continued to challenge racial segregation and discrimination through the 1960s. Many organizations, notably the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), headed by Martin Luther King, Jr., the
Drone Warfare in the 21st Century
Uncrewed air vehicles (UAVs), colloquially known as drones, have existed since the First World War. Throughout the 20th century they remained something of a niche capability, performing limited surveillance and intelligence roles, notably during such conflicts as the Vietnam War. UAVs were also
What’s Inside the Great Pyramid?
According to Napoleonic legend, the future emperor of France emerged from Egypt’s Great Pyramid pale and shaken, having spent hours alone in the King’s Chamber. He never revealed what had rattled him, but supposedly the episode changed his life. Whether or not the story is true, it certainly
Roswell incident
Roswell incident, events surrounding the crash and recovery of a U.S. Army Air Forces high-altitude balloon in 1947 near Roswell, New Mexico, which became the centre of a conspiracy theory involving UFOs and extraterrestrials. The U.S. military fostered the intrigue by initially claiming that the
9 Worst Generals in History
Alexander, Napoleon, Rommel. Military greatness can most easily be defined by comparison. These battlefield bumblers serve to provide that contrast. list, worst generals, Lee, Confederate, World War I, ancient Rome, Civil War, American Civil War, World War II, NapoleonThis entire list could be
Which Religion Is the Oldest?
Adherents hold that Hinduism—one of the principal faiths in the modern world, with about one billion followers—is the world’s oldest religion, with complete scriptural texts dating back 3,000 years. The oral tradition that gave rise to the Mahabharata, for example, probably dates to about 850 BCE,
Spotlight: World War I
The international conflict was virtually unprecedented in the slaughter, carnage, and destruction it caused, embroiling most of Europe along with Russia, the U.S., the Middle East, and other regions. WWI led to the fall of four great imperial dynasties, resulted in the Bolshevik Revolution, and, by destabilizing Europe, laid the groundwork for WWII.
Quizzes
World War II Quiz
Test your military intelligence.
That Swinging ’60s Quiz
If bell-bottoms and Beatlemania are your bag, this is the quiz for you.
Women in Power Quiz
Empresses, queens, prime ministers, and more—throughout history there have been many notable women in positions of power. Take this quiz to find out more about them.
Emperors and Empresses from Around the (Non-Roman) World Quiz
You may know the emperors of ancient Rome, but do you know emperors and empresses from China, Russia, the Holy Roman Empire, and elsewhere? Take this quiz to find out.
Videos
The Real History of the Illuminati
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Featured Categories
War
7 Deadliest Weapons in History
The earliest known purpose-built weapons in human history date to the Bronze Age. Maces, which were little more than rocks mounted on sticks, had questionable value as hunting tools, but they were superbly suited for smashing the bones and skulls of other humans. Later in the Bronze Age, the sword
The War of a Thousand Days
The War of a Thousand Days, (1899–1903), Colombian civil war between Liberals and Conservatives that resulted in between 60,000 and 130,000 deaths, extensive property damage, and national economic ruin. The Liberal Party represented coffee plantation owners and import-export merchants who favoured
9 Questions About the American Civil War Answered
The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The questions and answers in this list are taken from the Top Questions sections of the articles on the American Civil War,
Does Trench Warfare Still Exist?
The phrase “trench warfare” immediately conjures images of the mud and slaughter of the Western Front during World War I. Millions died in fruitless offensives that saw men “go over the top” into withering machine gun fire. Ultimately, inventions such as tanks and airplanes allowed troops to move
History's Mysteries
Nazca Lines
Nazca Lines, groups of geoglyphs, large line drawings that appear, from a distance, to be etched into Earth’s surface on the arid Pampa Colorada (“Coloured Plain” or “Red Plain”), northwest of the city of Nazca in southern Peru. They extend over an area of nearly 190 square miles (500 square km).
9 Mysterious Disappearances of People Other Than Amelia Earhart
It turns out that a number of people throughout history have mysteriously disappeared. Some were famous when they went missing and became even more legendary afterward, and some reached celebrity status simply because they disappeared. Here are nine strange tales of people (aside from Amelia
The Lost Colony of Roanoke
In 1587 a small colony was founded on an island off the eastern coast of North America. The settlement would have been the first permanent English colony in the New World, had the settlers not disappeared owing to unknown circumstances. The lost colony of Roanoke is one of the most notorious
Voynich manuscript
Voynich manuscript, illustrated manuscript written in an unknown language and thought to have been created in the 15th or 16th century. It is named after antiquarian bookseller Wilfrid Voynich, who purchased it in 1912. Scholars and scientists have sought to decipher the text since the manuscript
Ancient Civilizations
Mali
Mali, trading empire that flourished in western Africa from the 13th to the 16th century. The Mali empire developed from the state of Kangaba, on the upper Niger River east of the Fouta Djallon, and is said to have been founded before 1000 ce. The Malinke inhabitants of Kangaba acted as middlemen
Indus civilization
Indus civilization, the earliest known urban culture of the Indian subcontinent. The nuclear dates of the civilization appear to be about 2600–1900 bce, although the southern sites may have lasted later into the 2nd millennium bce. Among the world’s three earliest civilizations—the other two are
Druid
Druid, member of the learned class among the ancient Celts. They acted as priests, teachers, and judges. The earliest known records of the Druids come from the 3rd century bce. Their name may have come from a Celtic word meaning “knower of the oak tree.” Very little is known for certain about the
Achaemenian Dynasty
Achaemenian Dynasty, (559–330 bce), ancient Iranian dynasty whose kings founded and ruled the Achaemenian Empire. Achaemenes (Persian Hakhamanish), the Achaemenians’ eponymous ancestor, is presumed to have lived early in the 7th century bce, but little is known of his life. From his son Teispes two