"History is the systematic study and documentation of the human past."
Recorded events and stories that shape the identity of the people or society inhabiting a particular region.
Ancient Civilizations: This topic covers the earliest human societies such as the Mesopotamians, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Greece, and their contributions to human history.
Medieval Europe: This topic covers the period of time in Europe between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, including the Dark Ages, the Viking Age, and the Crusades.
Colonialism and Imperialism: This topic explores the expansion of European powers into Africa, Asia, and the Americas, and the impacts of this on both colonizers and colonized.
Renaissance and Enlightenment: This topic investigates the major cultural and intellectual movements of the 15th-18th centuries in Europe, including the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment.
World Wars and Cold War: This topic focuses on the global conflicts that occurred during the 20th century, including World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.
Contemporary World: This topic covers the events and developments that have occurred in the world since the end of the Cold War, including globalization, the rise of new technologies, and the changing political landscape.
National Histories: This topic covers the specific histories of individual nations, including the United States, China, India, and others, and explores their unique contributions to world history.
Social History: This topic explores the history of everyday people, their lives, struggles, and achievements, and how they have shaped the world we live in.
African History: The study of the continent of Africa, its people, cultures, and political systems.
American History: The study of the history of the United States, including its national and cultural developments, political events, and social movements.
Asian History: The study of the history of Asia, including its diverse cultures, languages, religions, and political systems.
Middle Eastern History: The study of the history of the Middle East, including its religions, languages, cultures, and economies.
European History: The study of the history of Europe, including its ancient and modern civilizations, languages, cultures, and politics.
Latin American History: The study of the history of the countries of Latin America, including its diverse cultures, languages, economies, and political systems.
Indian History: The study of the history of the Indian subcontinent, including its diverse cultures, religions, economic and political systems.
Australian History: The study of the history of Australia, including its Indigenous peoples, colonial era, and modern societies.
Canadian History: The study of the history of Canada, including its Indigenous peoples, colonial era, and modern societies.
Pacific Island History: The study of the history of the Pacific Islands, including its diverse cultures, languages, religions, and economies.
"The period of events before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory."
"Historians seek knowledge of the past using historical sources such as written documents, oral accounts, art and material artifacts, and ecological markers."
"Historians debate which narrative best explains an event, as well as the significance of different causes and effects."
"History differs from myth in that it is supported by verifiable evidence."
"Herodotus, a 5th-century BC Greek historian, is often considered the 'father of history.'"
"Along with his contemporary Thucydides, he (Herodotus) helped form the foundations for the modern study of past events and societies."
"Though he (Herodotus) has been criticized as the 'father of lies.'"
"In East Asia, a state chronicle, the Spring and Autumn Annals, was reputed to date from as early as 722 BC."
"Historians seek knowledge of the past using historical sources such as written documents, oral accounts, art and material artifacts, and ecological markers."
"The ancient cultural influences have helped create variant interpretations of the nature of history, which have evolved over the centuries and continue to change today."
"History is incomplete and still has debatable mysteries."
"History is taught as a part of primary and secondary education."
"Its usefulness in giving perspective on the problems of the present."
"Historians debate the nature of history as an end in itself, and its usefulness in giving perspective on the problems of the present."
"Stories common to a particular culture, but not supported by external sources, are usually classified as cultural heritage or legends."
"The modern study of history is wide-ranging, and includes the study of specific regions and certain topical or thematic elements of historical investigation."
"History is an umbrella term comprising past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of these events."
"The nature of history as an end in itself, and its usefulness in giving perspective on the problems of the present."
"Reputed to date from as early as 722 BC, though only 2nd-century BC texts have survived."