We support educators, students, and institutions worldwide by providing reliable, engaging, and high-quality educational resources entirely free of charge.
Our content helps educators build historical literacy in their classrooms while giving students the tools to think critically about the past and its relevance to today.
World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organisation that publishes free, high-quality historical content to advance historical literacy and improve history education worldwide. We believe that deeper knowledge of our interconnected human past creates curious, open-minded, and democratic societies.
Our Mission
Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide.
"WHE is the flagship of unambiguously trustworthy, well researched historical information."
Why We Exist
History education shapes how we understand ourselves, our societies, and our view of the future. In today’s polarized world, understanding history isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. Quality history education gives people the tools to recognize bias, resist manipulation, and engage thoughtfully in civic life. It teaches that the past is complex, that narratives can conflict, and that truth must be grounded in evidence.
Yet easy to understand historical resources of academic quality remain out of reach for millions of learners worldwide.
We exist to change that by making comprehensive historical knowledge freely accessible to everyone, helping people develop the critical thinking skills needed to navigate our complex, interconnected world. We believe that access to historical knowledge is a human right that should be extended to all.
What We Do
World History Encyclopedia (WHE) is a leading non-profit organisation with a global mission. Since our inception in 2009, we have made history education freely accessible to everyone, everywhere. Today, we are proud to be the most-read history publication in the world, with millions of visitors each month from 150+ countries, forming a diverse and interconnected community of history enthusiasts.
Free Education
Access to History
Our publication is completely free and designed for ease of use, allowing anyone to explore thousands of articles, multimedia content, and interactive resources without barriers.
We also strive to ensure the content is as accessible as possible to different countries, with translations in 45 languages (and counting!).
We also strive to ensure the content is as accessible as possible to different countries, with translations in 45 languages (and counting!).
Reliability
We provide trustworthy historical information that readers can depend on.
In an era of misinformation, we maintain rigorous editorial standards to ensure our content reflects current scholarly consensus and is thoroughly fact-checked, as every piece of content is reviewed by multiple team members.
In an era of misinformation, we maintain rigorous editorial standards to ensure our content reflects current scholarly consensus and is thoroughly fact-checked, as every piece of content is reviewed by multiple team members.
How We Do It
Our editorial content is rigorously researched, peer-reviewed, and authored by historians, archaeologists, educators, and scholars from around the globe. This expert authorship contributes to our status as a trusted resource in classrooms and universities, recommended by esteemed institutions such as Oxford University, California State University, and Common Sense Education. World History Encyclopedia maintains complete editorial independence, providing objective historical information based on current scholarly consensus, free from political bias or ideological influence. Read our full editorial policy here.
As a registered non-profit organisation in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, WHE operates through a sustainable funding model that combines advertising revenue, member subscriptions, and donations, allowing us to keep all educational content completely free whilst maintaining our independence and editorial integrity. Read about how you can contribute to our mission here.
"Engaging with history has not only enriched my knowledge but also enhanced my critical thinking and cultural awareness."
Our Impact
Since our founding in 2009, we have grown from a small history website to become the world's largest and most popular history encyclopedia. Our reach demonstrates the global need for quality historical education.
- 89+ million page views from over 150 countries
- Used by schools worldwide, reaching millions of students every month
- 84% of students report that our website has improved their academic performance
- Recommended by leading universities and educational institutions
- Award-winning content recognised by the .eu Web Award and Anthem Awards
Looking forward
Today, we continue expanding our impact through innovative approaches to historical education. We are developing new resources for educators, exploring partnerships with schools and universities, and using technology to make historical knowledge more accessible than ever before. We are expanding our reach by developing a mobile app, ensuring that quality historical content is available whenever and wherever our readers want to learn, including offline reading capabilities for those without consistent internet access.
Our commitment remains unchanged: to provide free, high-quality historical education that builds historical literacy and helps create a more informed, understanding world.
Our Story
World History Encyclopedia was founded in 2009 by Jan van der Crabben, who recognised that the internet lacked a comprehensive, reliable resource for historical education. Originally launched as Ancient History Encyclopedia, we rebranded in 2021 to reflect our expanded coverage of world history.
From the beginning, our approach has been rooted in the understanding that history is interconnected rather than linear. This philosophy shapes how we present historical knowledge, helping readers understand the complex relationships between different cultures, periods, and events.
As a registered non-profit organisation, we remain committed to transparency and accountability. We publish annual reports detailing how we invest donations and membership revenue in our mission to advance historical literacy worldwide.