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World History
From the first farmers to the digital age — the people, ideas and events that shaped our world.
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World History on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu has 80 interactive topics. Each one has a plain-English explanation, a live animation you can control, key ideas to remember and a quick quiz. Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Ancient World
1Early Humans and the Stone AgeEarly humans used stone tools and lived as hunter-gatherers.2The Agricultural RevolutionFarming let people settle and build villages.3Mesopotamia and SumerSumerians built the first cities between the Tigris and Euphrates.4Ancient EgyptEgyptian civilization grew along the Nile for 3,000 years.5The Pyramids and Egyptian BeliefsPyramids were royal tombs built to guide pharaohs to the afterlife.6Indus Valley CivilizationCities like Mohenjo-daro had planned streets and drains.7Ancient ChinaChinese dynasties created bureaucracy, writing and the Great Wall.8Confucius and Chinese PhilosophyConfucius taught respect, duty and learning.9The Silk RoadTrade routes linked China, Central Asia and Europe.10Ancient Greece: City-StatesGreece was a land of independent poleis like Athens and Sparta.11Athens and DemocracyAthens invented direct democracy for male citizens.12Sparta and Greek WarfareSparta built its society around military training.13The Persian WarsGreek states resisted two Persian invasions.14Alexander the GreatAlexander conquered Persia and spread Greek culture.15Greek Philosophy and ScienceSocrates, Plato and Aristotle asked big questions.16The Roman RepublicRome ruled itself with elected officials and a senate.17Julius CaesarCaesar conquered Gaul and became dictator of Rome.18The Roman EmpireAugustus founded the Empire, which brought roads, law and trade.19The Fall of RomeThe Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 CE.20Maurya and Gupta IndiaIndian empires united much of South Asia.21Religions of the Ancient WorldJudaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and others shaped cultures.The Middle Ages
22The Byzantine EmpireThe Eastern Roman Empire lasted until 1453 from its capital Constantinople.23The Rise of IslamIslam began with Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century.24The Islamic Golden AgeScholars in Baghdad and beyond advanced maths, medicine and science.25Feudalism and ManorsLords gave land to vassals in exchange for loyalty and service.26CharlemagneCharlemagne united much of Western Europe and was crowned Emperor in 800.27The VikingsNorse seafarers raided and traded across Europe and the Atlantic.28The CrusadesEuropean Christians fought to control the Holy Land.29Magna CartaKing John agreed in 1215 that even kings must obey the law.30The Black DeathThe plague killed up to a third of Europeans in the 14th century.31The Mongol EmpireGenghis Khan built the largest contiguous land empire in history.32Tang and Song ChinaChina led the world in technology and trade.33Medieval Africa: Mali and SonghaiWest African empires grew rich from gold and salt.34The Aztec and Inca EmpiresTwo great American empires flourished before European contact.35Feudal Japan and the SamuraiSamurai warriors served daimyo lords under a shogun.Early Modern Era
36The RenaissanceA rebirth of art, science and learning began in Italy.37The Printing PressGutenberg's movable-type press spread books and ideas quickly.38The Protestant ReformationMartin Luther's challenge split Western Christianity.39The Age of ExplorationEuropean voyages opened sea routes around the world.40The Columbian ExchangePlants, animals and diseases crossed the Atlantic.41The Atlantic Slave TradeMillions of Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas.42The Scientific RevolutionNew observations and experiments overturned old ideas about nature.43The EnlightenmentThinkers promoted reason, liberty and human rights.44Absolute Monarchy and Louis XIVLouis XIV of France centralised power at Versailles.45The English Civil War and Glorious RevolutionParliament fought the king and won lasting limits on royal power.46The Ottoman EmpireOttoman sultans ruled across three continents for 600 years.47Mughal IndiaThe Mughals built an empire famous for art and architecture.48Ming and Qing ChinaMing and Qing dynasties ruled a large, wealthy China.49The American RevolutionThirteen colonies broke from Britain and created the United States.50The French RevolutionRevolutionaries overthrew the monarchy and proclaimed liberty, equality, fraternity.51The Haitian RevolutionEnslaved people in Saint-Domingue overthrew French rule and founded Haiti.The Modern World
52The Industrial RevolutionMachines and factories transformed production, cities and daily life.53Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon rose from general to emperor and reshaped Europe.54Latin American IndependenceColonies won freedom from Spain and Portugal in the early 1800s.55Nationalism and UnificationNationalism united Italy and Germany and challenged empires.56Abolition and EmancipationAnti-slavery movements ended legal slavery across the 1800s.57The American Civil WarThe Union fought the Confederacy over slavery and secession.58Imperialism and the Scramble for AfricaEuropean powers carved up Africa in the late 1800s.59Women's SuffrageWomen campaigned for the right to vote.60Causes of World War IAlliances, militarism, imperialism and nationalism pushed Europe toward war.61World War IThe Great War saw trench warfare and cost millions of lives.62The Russian RevolutionRevolutions toppled the tsar and brought the Bolsheviks to power.63The Great DepressionA global economic collapse followed the 1929 stock market crash.64The Rise of FascismDictators like Mussolini and Hitler exploited fear and unrest.65World War IIThe deadliest conflict in history ran from 1939 to 1945.66The HolocaustThe Nazis systematically murdered six million Jews and millions of others.The Contemporary World
67The Cold WarThe US and USSR competed through arms, space and proxy wars.68The Space RaceSuperpowers raced to conquer space.69The Korean and Vietnam WarsCold War conflicts divided Korea and Vietnam.70DecolonizationColonies in Asia and Africa gained independence after WWII.71Indian IndependenceNonviolent resistance led India to freedom from Britain.72The Chinese Revolution and Communist ChinaThe Communists under Mao won the civil war in 1949.73The Civil Rights MovementAfrican Americans and allies fought segregation and won legal equality.74Apartheid and Nelson MandelaSouth Africa's system of racial segregation ended in 1994.75The Fall of the Berlin WallThe wall that divided Berlin fell in 1989 and Germany reunified.76The Middle East in Modern TimesOil, nationalism and conflicts shaped the modern Middle East.77GlobalizationTrade, travel and technology tie the world closer together.78The European UnionEuropean states pooled sovereignty to prevent war and boost trade.79The Digital RevolutionComputers and the internet changed communication and work.80The United Nations and Human RightsThe UN works for peace, development and human rights.No topics match.
Frequently asked questions
What topics are in World History?
There are 80 topics, including Early Humans and the Stone Age, The Agricultural Revolution, Mesopotamia and Sumer, Ancient Egypt, The Pyramids and Egyptian Beliefs, and more.
Who is World History on LearnViz for?
High school students who want to understand world history visually, teachers who want a quick classroom demonstration, and parents helping with homework.
Do I have to study the topics in order?
No. The list follows the order of the course, but every topic has its own page, so you can start wherever you need help.
How do I track my progress?
Open a topic and press “Mark as learned”. This subject page then shows how many topics you have completed. Progress is saved in your own browser.
How is World History used in real life?
Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.