Ideas change everything

History

A collection of TED Talks (and more) on the topic of History.

Video playlists about History

The most popular talks of 2020

What ideas captured people's attention and took off the quickest in 2020? Here are the talks that intrigued and propelled us to the end of this world-shifting year.

Little-known big history

A collection of histories textbooks leave out.

Theories of evolution

The enduring ideas, discoveries and observations that define and expand life as we know it.

Reclaim the past, save the future

How do we look forward without knowing where we come from? These talks emphasize the importance of historical truths, nuanced observations and preserving cultural heritage.

See all playlists on History

Talks about History

Juwen Zhang

The woman who broke the Great Wall of China

Chris Byrne

How your childhood toys tell your life story

Ümit Kurt

Ugly History: The Armenian Genocide

Dan Kwartler

The real reason polio is so dangerous

Malcolm Gladwell

The tipping point I got wrong

Eric Nuzum

Why don’t vampires cast reflections?

Joel Bervell

A medical mythbuster's mission to improve health care

Royal Ramey

From prison to purpose through wildland firefighting

Iseult Gillespie

Greek mythology’s greatest warrior

Mark S. Micale

What is hysteria, and why were so many women diagnosed with it?

Amy Kurzweil

Time traveling with AI to connect with lost loved ones

Cella Wright

The surprising reason zebras have stripes

Paschal Kyiiripuo Kyoore

The tale of the boy who tricked a tyrant

Noah Charney

The tragedy of the one guy who was right about the Trojan Horse

Paul Rucker

We were lied to

Stephanie Honchell Smith

Why did people wear powdered wigs?

See all talks on History

Exclusive articles about History

8 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose innovations have changed your life (really!)

Can you name a notable Asian-American or Pacific Islander scientist, inventor or entrepreneur? Don't worry -- after reading this article, you should have no problems remembering some.

Posted May 2021

How did the human heart become associated with love? And how did it turn into the shape we know today?

We see the familiar symbol everywhere -- in text messages, signs, cakes, clothing, and more. But we also know the real heart looks nothing like it. Historian Marilyn Yalom tells us how the anatomical organ became the symbol that we all know today.

Posted Feb 2019

A mobile documentary asks: What if Martin Luther King, Eartha Kitt and others were on Facebook in 1968?

In journalist Mikhail Zygar’s innovative series, you can watch the events of that momentous year come to vibrant life on your phone in weekly episodes.

Posted May 2018

See all articles on History