Category:History

His"to*ry, n.; pl. Histories. Etym: [L.historia, Gr. 'istori`a history, information, inquiry, fr. 'istwr, "istwr, knowing, learned, from the root of wit. See Wit, and cf. Story.]

1. A learning or knowing by inquiry; the knowledge of facts and events, so obtained; hence, a formal statement of such information; a narrative; a description; a written record; as, the history of a patient's case; the history of a legislative bill.

2. A systematic, written account of events, particularly of those affecting a nation, institution, science, or art, and usually connected with a philosophical explanation of their causes; a true story, as distinguished from a romance; -- distinguished also from annals, which relate simply the facts and events of each year, in strict chronological order; from biography, which is the record of an individual's life; and from memoir, which is history composed from personal experience, observation, and memory. Histories are as perfect as the historian is wise, and is gifted with an eye and a soul. Carlyle. For aught that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history. Shak. What histories of toil could I declare! Pope. History piece, a representation in painting, drawing, etc., of any real event, including the actors and the action. -- Natural history, a description and classification of objects in nature, as minerals, plants, animals, etc., and the phenomena which they exhibit to the senses.

Syn. -- Chronicle; annals; relation; narration. -- History, Chronicle, Annals. History is a methodical record of important events which concern a community of men, usually so arranged as to show the connection of causes and effects, to give an analysis of motive and action etc. A chronicle is a record of such events, conforming to the order of time as its distinctive feature. Annals are a chronicle divided up into separate years. By poetic license annals is sometimes used for history. Justly Cæsar scorns the poet's lays; It is to history he trusts for praise. Pope. No more yet of this; For 't is a chronicle of day by day, Not a relation for a breakfast. Shak. Many glorious examples in the annals of our religion. Rogers.

history His"to*ry, v. t.

Defn: To narrate or record. [Obs.] Shak.

This category contains articles related to history and historical events at the bottom of the page.

A timeline


 * 1st Century AD
 * On Pentecost Sunday the Holy Spirit descended on the twelve Apostles in the Upper Room.
 * Saint Paul is converted to Christianity.
 * The Roman Emperor Nero begins his persecution of Christians after a fire devours much of the city of Rome.
 * Saints Peter and Paul are martyred in Rome.
 * Jerusalem is conquered by Roman forces
 * 79 June 23  Emperor Vespasian dies.


 * 2nd Century AD
 * 117 August 7  Emperor Trajan dies.


 * 3rd Century AD
 * 4th Century AD
 * 313 Diocletian dies.
 * 313 Constantine I legalizes Christianity by the Edict of Milan
 * 325 The first Council of Nicea was convened to make a determination on Arianism.
 * 337 May  Emperor Constantine the Great dies.
 * Emperor Julian the Apostate attempts to restore paganism and rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem.
 * 363 June 26  Emperor Julian the Apostate dies.
 * 387 Saint Augustine is baptized by Saint Ambrose.


 * 5th Century AD
 * Saint Jerome completes the Vulgate Bible.


 * 6th Century AD
 * 7th Century AD
 * 8th Century AD
 * 741 October 21  King Charles Martel of the Franks dies.
 * 768 September 24  King Pepin the Short of the Franks dies.
 * 800 Charlemagne crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III


 * 9th Century AD
 * 10th Century AD
 * 973 May 7  Emperor Otto I the Great dies.


 * 11th Century AD
 * 1095 Blessed Pope Urban II preaches the First Crusade to regain the Holy Land.


 * 12th Century AD
 * 13th Century AD
 * 1216 June 16  Pope Innocent III dies.
 * St. Dominic founds the Dominican order.
 * 1226 October 3: St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan order, dies in Assisi.


 * 14th Century AD
 * 1309 Pope Clement V moves Roman Curia from Rome to Avignon.
 * 1378 Pope Gregory XI moves papacy back to Rome from Avignon.


 * 15th Century AD
 * Saint Joan of Arc mostly frees France from English rule.
 * Johannes Gutenberg begins prodction of the Bible with the printing press.
 * Columbus discovers America


 * 16th Century AD
 * 1547 January 28  King Henry VIII of England dies.
 * 1558 Charles V, former Holy Roman Emperor, dies.
 * 1558 November 17  Queen Mary Tudor of England dies.
 * The apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Saint Juan Diego
 * The Jesuit order is founded.
 * 1598 September 13  King Philip II of Spain dies.


 * 17th Century AD
 * 1626 November 18: St. Peter's Basilica dedicated by Urban VIII.


 * 18th Century AD
 * American War for Independence begins
 * French Revolution begins


 * 19th Century AD
 * The Louisiana Purchase is bought by the USA
 * The American Civil War is fought
 * Unification of Italy
 * Marian apparitions to Saint Bernadette at Lourdes, France
 * The Spanish-American War is fought


 * 20th Century AD
 * Pope St. Pius X dies during World War I, succeeded by Pope Benedict XV
 * 1917: Marian apparitions at Fatima
 * Lenin gains control of Russia
 * Creation of Poland
 * Pope Benedict XV dies, succeeded by Pope Pius XI
 * Pius XI signs treaty with Italy, recognizing the existence of the Vatican City State
 * Germany annexes Austria
 * Pope Pius XI dies, is succeeded by Pope Pius XII
 * World War II is declared
 * World War II is ended, large sections of Europe are dominated by Communist rule.
 * Pope Pius XII dies, is succeeded by Pope John XXIII
 * Pope John XXIII opens the Second Vatican Council
 * Pope John XXIII dies, is succeeded by Pope Paul VI
 * Pope Paul VI writes the encyclical Humanae Vitae
 * Pope Paul VI dies, is succeeded by Pope John Paul I
 * Pope John Paul I dies shortly after the beginning of his pontificate, is succeeded by Pope John Paul II
 * The Berlin Wall is razed.


 * 21st Century AD
 * Pope John Paul II dies, succeeded by Pope Benedict XVI