Get fascinating history stories twice a week that connect the past with today’s world, plus an in-depth exploration every Friday.

The free online history encyclopedia with fact-checked articles, images, videos, maps, timelines and more; operated as a non-profit organization.

Dec 4, 2025 · History, discipline that studies the chronological record of events, usually attempting, on the basis of a critical examination of source materials, to explain events. For the …

Historical writing evolved throughout the ages and became increasingly professional, particularly during the 19th century, when a rigorous methodology and various academic institutions were …

Learn the untold stories of human history and the archaeological discoveries that reveal our ancient past. Plus, explore the lived experiences and traditions of diverse cultures and identities.

Search our archive of 5,000+ features, photo galleries and articles on U.S. & world history, from wars and major events to today's hot topics.

The Smithsonian not only explores U.S. history and culture to better understand what it means to be an American, but also examines, explains, and protects cultural heritage in the U.S. and …

What is history and how do we study it? Explore the difference between primary and secondary sources, why it’s important to search for more than one source, and why learning about our …

The word history comes from the Greek word historía which means "to learn or know by inquiry." In the pieces that follow, we encourage you to probe, dispute, dig deeper — inquire.

History is a word of multiple meanings, all related to the past. When used as the name of a field of study, history traditionally refers to the study and interpretation of the written record of past …