History & Society
![Duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, illustration after a painting by J. Mund.](jpg/alexander-hamilton-aaron-burr-duel-july-11-18040d31.jpg)
Pistols at Dawn? 10 Famous Duels
The origins of dueling are uncertain, but by the 16th century duels had become a popular means of settling real or imagined slights.
Beacon Lights of History, Vol. XI, by John Lord, 1902
![International currencies, money, various banknotes, currency](jpg/banknotes-world0d31.jpg)
© Vlad Ivantcov/stock.adobe.com
A Brief (and Fascinating) History of Money
We think about it all the time, but how much do we really know about money?
© Vlad Ivantcov/stock.adobe.com
Editor's Picks
![Magna Carta](jpg/preamble-magna-carta-british-library9a9f.jpg)
Magna Carta
Magna Carta, charter of English liberties granted by King John on June 15, 1215, under threat of civil war and reissued, with alterations, in 1216, 1217, and 1225. By declaring the sovereign to be subject to the rule of law and documenting the liberties held by “free men,” the Magna Carta provided
![The Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. (Civil War, Pennsylvania)](jpg/battle-of-gettysburg-picketts-charge-attempts-south-3-18639a9f.jpg)
9 Worst Generals in History
Those who can, lead. Those who can’t,...well, nothing seems to stop them from trying.
![Rosetta Stone](jpg/rosetta-stone-basalt-slab-fort-saint-julien-egypt-196-bce9a9f.jpg)
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone, ancient Egyptian stone bearing inscriptions in several languages and scripts; their decipherment led to the understanding of hieroglyphic writing. An irregularly shaped stone of black granite 3 feet 9 inches (114 cm) long and 2 feet 4.5 inches (72 cm) wide, and broken in antiquity,
![Title: Senate Square, St. Petersburg, December 14, 1825: repression of the troop mutiny - watercolor by Carl Ivanovitch Kollman, 1825 depicts Decembrist uprising clashing with cavalry, with spectators watching. (new style December 26, 1825) Europe. Saint](jpg/watercolour-uprising-decembrist-karl-ivanovich-kollmann-st-18259a9f.jpg)
8 of the Largest Empires in History
Geopolitical giants
![golf. Competitive and cheating golfer wears golf gloves on golf club greens and prepares golf ball for lucky hole in one. Unsportsmanlike, sports, cheater](jpg/golf-golfer-gloves-unsportsmanlike-club-greens-ball9a9f.jpg)
7 Unsportsmanlike Sportsmen
Athletes behaving badly.
![Vietnam War](jpg/troops-marsh-mekong-delta-south-vietnam-19679a9f.jpg)
Vietnam War
Vietnam War, (1954–75), a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the government of South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. Called the “American War” in Vietnam (or, in full, the “War
![Ancient Olympic games. infographic, equestrian events, pentathlon, running events, boxing, wrestling, pankration, sports. SPOTLIGHT VERSION](jpg/infographic-ancient-olympic-games9a9f.jpg)
Events of the Ancient Olympic Games
The Olympic Games began in Olympia, Greece, in 776 BCE and took place every four years until 393 CE. They were held in honor of Zeus. At the first Games, athletes competed in only one running event held on a single day. However, over the years other events were added, and the Games eventually were expanded to five days.
![Currier & Ives, the Bloomer costume influenced by Amelia Bloomer who began appearing in public wearing full-cut pantaloons, or "Turkish trousers," under a short skirt nicknamed "bloomers."](jpg/currier-costume-ives-amelia-jenks-bloomer9a9f.jpg)
12 Influencers Throughout History
Style for the ages.
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
![closeup of ten dollar bill. Alexander Hamilton, money, currency](jpg/closeup-of-ten-dollar-bill9a9f.jpg)
What’s On Your Money Quiz
Do you have the skills to know your bills?
![Flag of France](jpg/flag-france9a9f.jpg)
France: A History Quiz
What French woman was arrested for wearing men’s clothing? What French landmark was supposed to last only 20 years?
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles to the crowd from Buckingham Palace (London, England) balcony at the end of the Platinum Pageant in London on June 5, 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. The curtain comes down on four days of momentous nationwide celebrations to honor Queen Elizabeth II's historic Platinum Jubilee with a day-long pageant lauding the 96 year old monarch's record seven decades on the throne. (British royalty)](jpg/queen-elizabeth-ii-buckingham-palace-platinum-jubilee-london-england-june-5-20229a9f.jpg)
Fit for a King (or Queen): the British Royalty Quiz
Acing this quiz would be a crowning achievement.
![Civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers a speech to a crowd of approximately 7,000 people on May 17, 1967 at UC Berkeley's Sproul Plaza in Berkeley, California.](jpg/king-speech-at-sproul-plaza-in-berkeley9a9f.jpg)
Who Said It? Famous Quotes Quiz
Can you name the people associated with these famous quotations?
Videos
![Learn about the journey of Nelson Mandela, from a shepherd to the first Black president of South Africa](jpg/profile-nelson-mandela.jpg)
Learn about the journey of Nelson Mandela, from a shepherd to the first Black president of South Africa
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Attila Jandi/Dreamstime.com
Galleries
![Bamburgh Castle, Berwick-upon-Tweed borough, Northumberland, England.](jpg/bamburgh-castle-berwick-upon-tweed-eng-northumberland.jpg)
Castles
![International flags on soccer balls. Futbol football. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics soccer world cup](jpg/flags-soccer-balls-futbol-football-arts-blog-2009.jpg)
World Cup
![Queen Elizabeth I, version of the Armada portrait attributed to George Gower, c. 1588. Oil on canvas.](jpg/reign-elizabeth-i-england-elizabethan-age.jpg)
Kings and Queens of Britain
![West front of Notre-Dame de Paris, France; restored by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc during the mid-19th century. (Notre Dame Cathedral, Ile de la Cite, gothic, middle ages)](jpg/notre-dame-de-paris-france.jpg)
Notre-Dame de Paris
![Woman worker at an airplane factory in America. (World War I, aeroplanes, women)](jpg/woman-airplane-factory-women-world-war-i-1918.jpg)
Women of World War I
![Skyscrapers in Singapore](jpg/skyscrapers-singapore.jpg)
Skyscrapers
Featured Categories
War
7 Deadliest Weapons in History
From rocks to rockets.
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
Important questions asked and answered, briefly.
Does Trench Warfare Still Exist?
Tanks and planes made the trenches obsolete—or did they?
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
People other than Amelia Earhart have disappeared without a trace. Really!
The Lost Colony of Roanoke
Explore the oldest mystery of colonial America.
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 2500–1700 bce, though 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