It is difficult to make sense of time, isn't it? Then let's reflect on how impossible it is to do the same with 5000 years of recorded human history. Right now, even the birth of the internet seems ages ago. The Sumerians captured history in their own way, and we in the digital age are doing it with these fascinating history websites that combine interactivity with storytelling to bring our past alive.
If you didn't like history in school, you can make up for those poor grades by enjoying the fifteen sites below. As they prove – history was never dull. We just thought it to be so.
1. Histography
Sounds, animations, and visuals. What else do you need to "relive" history? Histography gives you all three on an interactive timeline that spans across 14 billion years of history, from the Big Bang to 2015. The historical information comes from Wikipedia, and the timeline self-updates as new events are recorded. Move the mouse across the timeline to speed through history. Focus on one historical event to know more about it. Or, use the categories on the left bar to dive into related events.
The timeline helps you understand the cascading impact of related events on the world.
2. Histagrams
There shouldn't be anything remarkable about a site that combines Instagram and history. Except, there is. A lot of the photos will sum up the value of the site for you. Historical events and photos are presented with tongue-in-cheek comments and they just might make you relive the moments that shaped our world. It's almost as if event makers from the past shared the snaps themselves.
3. A History of The World
The BBC takes a different approach to explore history. A History of the World in 100 Objects is their tagline, and it works. The objects are spread across the ages from 2 billion years ago to 2010. Many more museums across the UK have added more objects from their own collections. Go from a Woolly Mammoth's tooth to a Honda Civic from 1979.
Also, listen to the excellent series of podcasts that retell humanity's history through the objects we have made.
The page is archived and is no longer updated, but the information stored still makes it a fun history website to visit.
4. HistoryExtra
If the last website is an educational archive, then this one keeps up with the times past and present. HistoryExtra is the official website for BBC History Magazine and BBC History Revealed.
The site also produces a history podcast, but the most interesting section could be the Historical Q&A section that takes a question and gets to the bottom of it with historical fact-finding.
For instance, learn if Churchill and Hitler ever meet? And if you think you know all the answers, then try out the Historical Quizzes section.
5. Museo Gallileo
Enter the virtual portals of The Museo Galileo in Florence, Italy. The virtual museum has more than 1,000 objects on permanent exhibition. In-depth descriptions of all objects, a detailed glossary index, and biographies of inventors and artists form the backbone of the exhibits. The site is made up of several multimedia exhibits displayed on their own individual sites.
But the best part is the virtual exhibit of more complex objects like Galileo's telescope and his compass or Leonardo da Vinci's works. The exhibits are organized by themes and reconstruct the historical contexts behind the inventions.
The recommended route is to go through the virtual museum room by room as you would do in the real world.
6. Show Me
Show me "everything." This simple concept explains the function of this educational site from the UK. The creators know that browsing through all museum galleries and archives can take a few lifetimes. The site is a shortcut through the historical bylanes and the dusty corners with games, videos, stories, and homework help. Sort through the collections by topic or tag and find out where they are being displayed.
Show Me is an educational tool for teachers and students, but there's a lot to discover for any adult interested in history. The short descriptions can spark more searches, or you can directly visit the exhibitions if they are nearby for a family day out.
7. History Explorer
The Smithsonian is the largest museum complex in the world. It may be the cradle of American history but many of the exhibits can be connected to the rest of the world. The History Explorer is an interactive exhibit curated from the 3 million items in the Museum's collections.
It is meant for use by K-12 teachers and students, afterschool program providers, families, and anyone interested in lifelong learning. Use the filtering tools on the right side of the screen to narrow your results by grade, resource type, or historical era.
Learn about American history by investigating the artifacts and the stories behind them. You can take a virtual look at the Gunboat Philadelphia, a warship sunk in Lake Champlain in 1776. Or direct an interactive movie of your own with images from an online image database.
8. Mission US
Mission US is an interactive exploration of US history for middle and high school classrooms. The four interactive games are designed to immerse the players in rich, historical settings. You have to make everyday choices to understand how ordinary people experienced the past. One of the objectives of the site is to help relive the past and develop historical empathy.
For example: In the "City of Immigrants," you learn how to survive in New York's Lower East Side as Lena, a young Jewish immigrant from Russia. Lena works long hours in a factory for little money in order to bring her parents to America. She gets caught up in the growing labor movement in the early part of the 20th Century.
9. History of Vaccines
It's as good a time (or bad) as any to educate ourselves on the role vaccines play in public health. This educational resource takes you through the history of immunizations and how they have ensured life for a large section of our population.
The Coronavirus informative articles and the Coronavirus Timeline are timely reads too.
10. A History of The Second World War in 100 Objects
Just like the Show.Me, this Dutch site presents the best collections from 25 war and resistance museums across the Netherlands. It is a short behind the scenes look at objects of historical value that also became symbols of The Second World War. Click on the thumbnails or use the dropdown index.
One of the more interesting items on display is a foldable motorcycle that was airdropped during the Battle of Arnhem.
11. Royal Constellations
Royal marriages were strategic imperatives and an exercise to preserve their bloodlines. Someone rarely married a commoner. Use this interactive historical website to discover the vast royal family tree as each marriage between kingdoms led to entangled relationships.
The visual doesn't go very far into the past but offers enough connections to help you understand how all ten of today's European hereditary royal leaders can be connected to each other through their ancestors.
12. Smarthistory
Smarthistory wants to make public art accessible to everyone. The site showcases public art history with thousands of free videos and essays written by scholars who are art historians, archaeologists, and museum curators.
Use the search box or the Histories of Art pulldown menu at the top of every page to explore the resources on the site. You can also cite the resources in an essay or paper as the site is an open educational resource.
13. David Rumsey Map Collection
The American map collector is among the well-known map collectors and cartographers in the world. His 63,000-strong historical map collection is perhaps the largest resource available on the web for the public. Here you can find rare maps from the 16th through the 21st Century of America, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Pacific, and the world. Many more are being added every day as the total collection is 150,000 strong.
Maps are convenient places to merge the ancient with the modern. Use the LUNA Browser to view multiple maps from different time periods. Create your own collections for studying history, art, genealogy, explorations, and your own family history.
14. Epic History TV
YouTube is the television you wished you had in school back in the day. The Epic History TV channel on YouTube is just one of the places to catch up on the history of our fascinating past.
The trailer above will tell you all about the effort that goes into the production. Start with any video and follow the stories told in one single video or in a series.
15. Stuff You Missed in History Class
Tracy and Holly forgive you for hating history in school. Thanks to their podcasts, you can redeem yourself easily. These history podcasts are easy to listen to and explore in-depth the stories that make up some of the most interesting parts of history.
The site is part of the How Stuff Works network.
Is History Fascinating for You?
Time is a rollercoaster. History gives us a firmer footing. We not only learn about what has shaped our present but also get to understand how certain actions can impact our future. This in turn shapes our worldview. So, don't let history turn you off. Try these history-related apps too and see for yourself that history can be fun.