The Knights Templar was a Christian military order created to defend the conquered Holy Land.

Disease outbreaks have ravaged humanity from prehistory to modern times, sometimes changing the course of history and even wiping out entire civilizations.

Although ancient Roman women had fewer rights than men did, some gained incredible power and influence over the empire.

The Reign of Terror, also called the Terror, was a period of state-sanctioned violence and mass executions during the French Revolution.

Herodotus was the first true historian and has been called the "father of history," but his reliability has often been questioned.

How did Frederick Douglass, an enslaved man from Maryland, become an international celebrity, author and abolitionist hero?

From politics to protests, women have shaped the world we live in today. These 10 stand out above the rest.

On Feb. 23, 1945, six Marines raised the U.S. flag over the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. Their photo is one of the most iconic images of World War II.

Fought on a tiny volcanic island 76 years ago, this brutal clash between American and Japanese forces defined the horror of the Pacific theater.

This political activist and minister challenged the conventions of race and religion during the early years of the civil rights movement.

Margaret Thatcher was Britain's first woman prime minister, and one of the country's most controversial figures.

Prince Charles and Diana's engagement and wedding captured the world's attention, but it wasn't as perfect as it appeared.

Written over 200 years ago, the Constitution is a legal document of Articles and Amendments that form the foundation of the federal government, state authority and citizen rights.

These spooky costumes may have been worn by some early modern physicians to ward off infection, but the history of plague medicine goes back much further.

The Tudor explorer risked everything in his obsessive hunt for gold and glory.

On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies, bringing an end to World War II in Europe and triggering huge celebrations around the world.

Over 100 years ago, a killer strain of the influenza virus infected over a third of the world's population.

Jerusalem is the epicenter of several of the world's major religions, but its importance is much more than just spiritual.

The Black Death killed over half the population of Europe during the Middle Ages.

Thirty years ago this November, the fall of the Berlin Wall marked the end of the Cold War — but what would have happened if East and West remained divided?