If you want to learn more about the story, YouTube is the perfect place to start. These days, you don’t need to go back to school if you want to learn more about the past. There is an incredible amount of high-quality historical content on YouTube. Best of all, most of it is absolutely free.
So if you want to find out more about life in the 20th century or what the ancient world was really like, check out these seven YouTube channels.
The hochelaga channel is all about uncovering strange mysteries from the past. On this channel, you can delve into topics like weird Christian art from the Middle Ages, ghost stories from feudal Japan, and even historical mysteries that remain unsolved, like the Voynich Manuscript.
The hochelaga channel takes what you think you know and turns it on its head. He’ll also learn the stories behind some of history’s most influential books and works of art. All of Hochelaga’s videos have incredible production values ​​and great attention to detail. Spend enough time on this channel and you might even forget that you’re watching a YouTube video instead of a featured documentary.
Told in Stone is one of the best places on YouTube to learn about ancient Greek and Roman history. On this channel, you’ll see the classical world come to life and get answers to questions you may not have even thought of.
Garret Ryan, a former college professor with a Ph.D. in Greek and Roman history, narrates the channel. But even though a professor created Told in Stone, he’s nothing like sitting in a lecture room. He’ll get an in-depth look at what life was like in the ancient world, from the streets of ancient Rome to the closed doors of imperial palaces.
If you’ve ever wanted to see a re-enactment of ancient Greek drinking games, find out what’s buried under the Colosseum, or find out what public baths were like in ancient Rome, Told in Stone is just what you’re looking for.
As the name suggests, Weird History is all about strange and fascinating stories from the past. Weird History covers topics and events from all eras of history, from ancient to medieval to the 20th century.
Weird History does a great job of taking intimidating topics and breaking them down into videos that are fun and easy to understand. Because the channel covers so many historical periods and topics, it’s a great way to start learning about parts of history you might not have known you were interested in.
And because the Weird History videos break complex topics down into small videos, it’s a great way to get your kids interested in the many fascinating stories from our past.
HISTORY is the official YouTube channel of the HISTORY network, and it’s a great way to catch up on your favorite shows, even if you don’t have access to a TV or streaming subscription. On the HISTORY YouTube channel, you’ll be able to watch clips and full episodes of many of the network’s biggest shows and documentaries, making it one of the best YouTube channels to watch shows and movies for free.
To be fair, the HISTORY network has been criticized for being more entertaining than fact based. And while HISTORY has its fair share of pseudoscience shows like Ancient Aliens, the network still produces some high-quality shows and documentaries. Shows like The Revolution take you back to the fight for American independence, and Colosseum features dramatic re-enactments of some of the most important events in ancient Rome.
HISTORY is part of a fully fledged TV network and has the resources for exclusive interviews and on-site footage that you won’t find anywhere else on YouTube. And because YouTube shorts are becoming more and more popular, HISTORY even has a collection of small videos to watch.
Although not everything in STORY is 100% accurate, there are still some hidden gems in the channel. And besides, who doesn’t love a little Pawn Stars every once in a while?
Feature History delves into popular historical topics like Medieval Europe, World War II, or Genghis Khan. But the channel is also a great place to learn more about topics you may not be as familiar with.
Whether it’s a breakdown of the First Boer War or the history behind the Haitian revolution, all of Feature History’s videos are well researched and well produced. They feature a great mix of hand-drawn art, animations, and historical video footage.
If you have a keen interest in some of the darker and less talked about parts of history, Feature History definitely has you covered. And if that’s not enough for you, you can always try the best apps that make learning history exciting.
If you’re interested in the stories behind the great men and women who shaped history, you’ll love Biographics.
The Biographics channel features well-researched and extremely entertaining videos documenting the lives of some of the most influential people to ever walk the earth. In just a few short years, the Biographics team has managed to create videos about literally hundreds of different historical figures.
On the channel, you will find biographies of people from all over human history. That includes ancient rulers like Nebuchadnezzar II, musicians like Elvis Presley, and contemporary figures like Queen Elizabeth II. You can even find biographies of some of the weirdest and most twisted people in history, like Jack the Ripper and Jeffrey Dahmer.
No matter who you’re fascinated by, chances are Biographics has a video about them.
Watching CrashCourse makes you feel like you are sitting in class with your favorite teacher. Hosted by John Green, the channel makes intimidating topics easy and accessible to everyone.
CrashCourse has many videos about different historical periods, events, and people, including many of the most common topics taught in history classes, making the channel an amazing resource for students.
So if you have a big exam coming up, using one of the best study planning apps and watching CrashCourse might be the perfect way to refresh your memory and learn something new while you’re at it. But while CrashCourse can definitely help make your study sessions a bit more fun, don’t forget to pay attention in your actual classes as well.
Best of all, CrashCourse’s videos aren’t just limited to the story; the channel also covers topics like science, economics, and more. That makes it a great place to start no matter what you want to learn.
Ready to jump into the past?
Learning about history doesn’t have to be boring. YouTube has become a platform for entertainment and a place where you can learn a lot about our shared past. And the right video can spark an interest in the story that can last a lifetime. So it’s never too late to start, even if you weren’t a history buff in school.