History Study For All
The stories behind the dates
In-depth guides to American and European history, from the first colonies and the age of kings to Napoleon, the World Wars and beyond. Told through the people who lived it.
“The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”
Theodore Roosevelt
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Two ways into the past
1490 – present
US History
Four centuries, from Jamestown to a world superpower, in six eras.
1000 – 1945
World History
Kings, explorers and revolutions in Europe, England and France, and the global war that followed.
More ways to explore
People, wars, timelines and books
People
The people who shaped it
Presidents, generals, explorers and kings, and why history is always about people.
World War II
Every theater, in order
From Pearl Harbor and Midway to North Africa, Sicily and Normandy.
Timelines
History in order
Year-by-year timelines that show what happened when, and what came next.
Recommended books
The essential reading
Thousands of history books exist. These are the ones worth your time.
Popular pages
New to the site? Start with an era.
Each era page gives you the big picture in a few minutes, then points you to the people, battles and turning points worth reading next.