Since the dawn of civilization, a lot of important things have happened. Here are lists of about the many winding routes we took to get where we are today.

Historical Contexts

Weird History

If you weren't living in the 21st century, when and where would you live? There are many advantages to living in the 21st century, but there are also&nbsp;forgotten <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/which-era-would-you-want-to-live-in/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">eras of history</a> full of peace, rapid cultural&nbsp;building, and prosperity.&nbsp;Some people choose their&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/which-era-would-you-want-to-live-in/jacob-shelton">favorite historical era</a> based on their personality - but what was really the&nbsp;best time to be alive? And could the perks of a bygone era&nbsp;convince you to hop into&nbsp;a time machine?&nbsp;It is important to note that while an era might have brought amazing experiences to some people, those opportunities often came with&nbsp;pain and persecution for&nbsp;others. Still, there are surprising times and places where certain groups, like women, may have had even more rights than they do in Western society today.So, what was the best time in history to live in?

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What Were The Best Times In History To Be Alive?

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What Were The Best Times To Be Alive In History?

Susanna Olson

Before the invention of photography (1822), the wealthy donned their fanciest duds, sat perfectly still for hours on end, and let artists do their best to make them look attractive. Let's rank.

Portrait Gallery

In 2013, the unveiling of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2260655/Kate-Middleton-Rotten-official-portrait-Duchess-Cambridge-artist-Paul-Emsley-unveiled.html">the first official&nbsp;portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge</a> caused an international response fit for, say, an actual important international event. People all over the world&nbsp;went crazy with&nbsp;judgment and jeers, critiquing every aspect of the painting. But Kate Middleton's portrait looks like a Rembrandt compared to some of the heinously ugly royal portraits&nbsp;that came before it. The&nbsp;historical artists who&nbsp;crafted many of these horrendously unflattering <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/portraits-of-historical-royals-vs-real-life/alby-thompson">royal portraits</a>&nbsp;are lucky they aren't alive to experience the wrath of the Twitterverse. If they were, their paintings, and they themselves, would probably be torn to shreds for the travesties they committed to canvas.&nbsp;To be fair, it isn't always the fault of the artist that a&nbsp;painting comes out looking like the stuff of nightmares.&nbsp;Sometimes, a royal just doesn't measure up to the day's beauty standards, and an artist has to grit his teeth and muscle his way through. Perhaps that's why a few monarchs&nbsp;make their way onto the list numerous times, painted by different artists.There are also artists throughout history who created intentionally&nbsp;bad portraits, as a means of criticizing&nbsp;a royal individual or family.&nbsp;Ultimately, whether the result of bad artistry&nbsp;or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/weird-royals-in-history/danielle-ownbey">royal inbreeding</a>, these royal&nbsp;embarrassments are our enjoyment. Want more?&nbsp;Take a look at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-descriptions-what-royals-really-looked-like/setareh-janda">our roundup of written, firsthand descriptions of historical royals</a>.

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23 Of The Most Heinously Unflattering Royal Portraits In History

23 of the Most Heinously Unflattering Royal Portraits in History

Danielle Ownbey

History

What are the largest empires in history?&nbsp;That question is much more loaded than it may first appear to be. There's no single metric by which the size or influence of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-empires-collapse/michael-muir">any empire</a> is measured. As a result, there can be several answers to such a question. It's all in how you look at it.The biggest empires in terms of land is generally considered to be<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-it-was-like-to-live-british-empire-farthest-reaches/melissa-sartore"> the British Empire</a>. But, when the population enters the conversation, several dynastic lines from Asia truly reign supreme.&nbsp;Then, there's influence. If one were to assess which empire left the biggest genetic imprint on history, Genghis Khan and his <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-many-people-are-related-to-genghis-khan/melissa-sartore">Mongolian legacy</a> are still very much among us. Leadership, like that of Genghis Khan or someone like Alexander the Great in his vast Macedonian Empire, are also fair to consider.&nbsp;Culturally, groups like the Umayyads and the Persians made their own contributions, muddying the waters even more when trying to decipher which empire was the biggest. And, what about timespan? Egyptians ruled for thousands of years and, arguably, the Roman Empire continued through the Byzantine Empire and well into the 14th century.Collectively, these factors make determining the biggest world empires a challenge. But, by looking at land and population at an empire's peak, it's possible to get clarity about just how much influence an empire really had. Below you will find the dates each of the largest empires existed, when they peaked, and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.space.com/17638-how-big-is-earth.html#:~:text=The%20surface%20area%20of%20Earth,%25%2C%20is%20covered%20by%20water.">amount of land</a> they controlled (out of the 57 million square miles on Earth) when they were at their biggest. Then, you'll find out exactly why they ultimately came to an end.&nbsp;

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The Largest Empires In History, By The Numbers

The 9 Largest Empires In History, By The Numbers

Melissa Sartore

World History

Throughout history, wealthy&nbsp;people &ndash;&nbsp;like many <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/notable-monarch_s)/reference" target="_blank">notable kings</a>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;had extravagant weddings. For these inestimably costly ceremonies,&nbsp;pre-celebration festivities often&nbsp;included very lavish dowries on behalf of the new brides. Sometimes, these nuptials that involved famous dowries took place between <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/weird-royals-in-history/danielle-ownbey" target="_blank">weird royals</a>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;like uncles and nieces and already closely related cousins.&nbsp;But who had the&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;dowry&nbsp;in&nbsp;history?

A fair number of medieval and early modern princesses and archduchesses were given lots of land as their dowries, and their husbands wed them for the promise&nbsp;of significant revenue&nbsp;from these properties. Sometimes, these territories were so vast they&#39;re nearly unthinkable. For example, Eleanor of Aquitaine&nbsp;brought the rulership of most of southwestern France &ndash;&nbsp;her duchy of Aquitaine&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;to both of her husbands. Anne of Denmark wed Eleanor&#39;s descendant, James VI of Scotland/I of England, and brought the Orkney Isles with her. But was this the&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;dowry&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;world?

Other wives have brought a ton of cash with them to their newly minted husbands. Modern-day royal Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, apparently brought $200 million to her husband, while Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza&nbsp;gave her spouse, Charles II of England, trading rights all over the world.

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The Most Lavish Dowries In History

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Carly Silver

Fascinating and valuable things found in unexpected places.

Strange Discoveries

Artifacts

There have been some seriously strange things found at construction sites. While some&nbsp;people have spent their entire lives searching for buried riches or lost holy relics only to come up short, others have just sort of stumbled upon historical artifacts found at construction sites. The weird stuff found on construction jobs&nbsp;ranges from priceless treasures to tangible evidence of civilizations thought lost forever. Truly, a few of these accidental <a href="/list/archaeology-that-changed-history/nathan-gibson" target="_blank">archaeological&nbsp;finds changed what we know about history</a>.&nbsp;

In all cases, the stories of those lucky (or unlucky) enough to find a mummy or a trove of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tudor-artifacts-found-in-rat-nest/garri-chaverst" target="_blank">Tudor artifacts in their floorboards</a> are fascinating and often creepier than fiction.&nbsp;These discoveries are by turns heartwarming, stomach-churning, and awe-inspiring. Be careful, or these&nbsp;serendipitous moments may inspire&nbsp;you to&nbsp;start digging in your backyard, combing the beach, or putting holes in your wall. But then again, who knows? You might get lucky. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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The 16 Most Bizarre Historical Artifacts Ever Discovered On Construction Sites

The 16 Strangest Things Ever Found on Construction Sites

Dave Smith

Lists about period between the 15th and 18th centuries, when worldwide exploration, colonialism, and mercantilism brought the first periods of globalization.

The Age of Discovery

Christopher Columbus

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But what if Columbus never came back from his voyage? Columbus&#39;s three ships, the Ni&ntilde;a, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, might have run out of water, threatening the lives of all the sailors. They could have been lost at sea, or shipwrecked in a storm because they sailed during hurricane season. Or, most likely, Columbus might have reached the Caribbean and never returned to Europe. In fact, Columbus&#39;s largest ship, the Santa Maria, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/05/13/312142316/christopher-columbus-ship-the-santa-maria-may-have-been-found" target="_blank">ran aground on a Haitian reef</a>. Columbus barely made it back to Europe after his first voyage.

So what if Columbus sailed off into the Atlantic and never returned? Would Europe have given up on a western route to Asia, or would other countries have eventually sent their own voyages? Without silver and gold from the New World flowing into Europe, would the Habsburgs have maintained power? Would the British Empire exist? With less competition, would the Ottomans have conquered Europe? Without Columbus&#39;s voyage, the world&#39;s history would look drastically different.

What Would Have Happened If Christopher Columbus Missed The Americas?

What If Columbus Never Found America?

Genevieve Carlton

History is a murky concept at best, and it gets murkier the further back one goes. That’s why it’s often so surprising to learn about famous historical figures who lived at the same time, let alone <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/historical-events-happening-at-the-same-time/kellen-perry" target="_blank">historical moments that happened at the same time</a>. Sometimes, it’s even more surprising to learn about historical figures who were born at the same time, which, rude as it may sound, often gives one a true sense of just how damn old some people are!History is full of amazing paths that crossed. Thanks to all the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-important-leaders-in-world-history?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous world leaders</a> who were alive at the same time, humanity&nbsp;has had some&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/unlikely-friendships-throughout-history-v1/katherine-ripley" target="_blank">unlikely friendships throughout history</a>, like the one between&nbsp;Elvis and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/how-and-why-richard-nixon-invented-the-war-on-drugs/stephanroget" target="_blank">Nixon, who invented the&nbsp;war on drugs</a>. As they say, it’s a small world, after all,&nbsp;and it also happens to be a world filled with interesting people -&nbsp;many of whom walked the Earth at the exact same time.

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Famous Historical Figures Most People Have No Idea Lived At The Same Time

Historical Figures You Never Realized Lived At The Same Time

Stephan Roget

People have been living all around the world for literally thousands of years. Here are some of the most interesting things human beings have ever done (that we know about).

Fascinating Ancient History

Fun facts and fascinating trivia about historical, bygone, and modern foods for people who love eating food.

Chew on This

A look at some of the oldest known, recorded, and/or existing things on earth.

Old School Cool

Archaeologists often make gruesome, significant, and fascinating discoveries, but some of their finds are downright repulsive &ndash; sometimes they unearth ancient <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/what-people-ate-in-colonial-america/setareh-janda" target="_blank">foods</a>.&nbsp;These foods date back thousands of years, making them actual archaeological discoveries,&nbsp;and most of them sound pretty disgusting.&nbsp;

Archaeologists find&nbsp;food all the time, whether it&#39;s&nbsp;hiding in ancient tombs, resting on the bottom of the sea in a sunken ship, or tied around the neck of a mummy. These ancient food discoveries range from the palatable &ndash; such as preserved honey found in Egyptian pyramids &ndash; to the completely revolting &ndash; 5,000-year-old butter pulled out of a bog &ndash; to the culturally significant &ndash; 4,000-year-old preserved noodles discovered at Lajia&nbsp;site, also known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bodies-at-lajia-the-pompeii-of-china/nicky-benson" target="_blank">China&#39;s Pompeii</a>.&nbsp;

Take a look&nbsp;through the oldest foods archaeologists have discovered, and contemplate facing these choices at a sadistic buffet. What would be the absolutely worst food to eat today?&nbsp;

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The Oldest Foods Ever Discovered By Archaeologists, Ranked By How Terrible They Would Be To Eat

Kings & queens, princes & princesses. They're made of blood and bones like the rest of us, but they're told they can do whatever they damn well please. Sometimes, this causes problems.

Royal Pains

George III of the United Kingdom

King George III was a whole lot more than just America’s final king. Known to history as “<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/bizarre-obsessions-of-royals-in-history/chase-christy">Mad King George</a>,” this British monarch may have ruled over an empire, but he didn’t always rule over his own body and mind. His story is filled with tragedy and drama.Born in 1738 in London, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/unflattering-royal-portraits/danielle-ownbey">George III</a> may have come from a line of Germanic princes, but he was proud to be a British king. Over the course of his reign, he saw the British Empire expand – even as he lost the American colonies – and the map of the entire Western world change many times over, thanks to the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.But even as Britain projected itself on the world’s stage, George himself was suffering greatly from what may or may not have been a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/mutations-and-birth-defects-caused-by-royal-inbreeding/peterdugre">genetic disease</a>. Plagued by what many at the time called a “<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/weird-royals-in-history/danielle-ownbey">madness</a>,” George went through bouts of physical anguish and mental instability in an era that was not well equipped to manage such issues. The madness of King George, as it would come to be known, defined the final decades of his life.George III was thus more than simply the king who enraged American patriots. He was a troubled man whose body and mind rebelled against him.&nbsp;

15 Surprising Facts About George III, The 'Mad' King Who Lost America

15 Wild Facts About Mad King George III, America's Last King

Setareh Janda

Joseph Stalin

Technological and scientific advances rose rapidly during the late 19th and early 20th century, prompting a worldwide interest in all the new -&nbsp;and sometimes very strange -&nbsp;possibilities science had to offer. Humanzees,&nbsp;man-ape hybrid soldiers,&nbsp;presented one such possibility.

This was the age of steel, the railroad, the factory system, and even eugenics. But before Europe fully moved towards extreme nationalism and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/weird-causes-historical-figures-supported/stephanroget" target="_blank">surprising figures campaigned</a>&nbsp;for breeding a master race, a lone Russian scientist who had successfully crossbred a variety of mammals -&nbsp;including zebras and donkeys -&nbsp;got the idea to try and breed&nbsp;humans with apes. But his name was not Josef Stalin;&nbsp;it was Ilya Ivanov, and he was exploring the human-ape hybrid possibility long before Stalin ever succeeded in politics.

Over the years, and thanks to articles published by creationist organizations, Ivanov&#39;s weird experiments were conflated with Stalin, who supposedly asked scientists to breed a race of man-ape hybrid soldiers who would be super strong and serve in an enormous Soviet army. Such plans were never on Stalin&#39;s radar; indeed, such a fighting force&nbsp;was never even of interest to Ivanov. All he wanted to do was prove the creation of a humanzee was possible.

The real story of how Ivanov managed to secure a small amount of funding from the Soviet government to conduct artificial insemination experiments on both humans and chimpanzees&nbsp;is far more intriguing than the rumors -&nbsp;but just as despicable.

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Did Stalin Really Force Soviet Scientists To Create A Human-Chimpanzee Hybrid?

Debunking Stalin's Attempts To Make Man-Ape Super Warriors

Cheryl Adams Richkoff

As long as human beings have been alive, we have been doing bizarre things that barely make sense. Here are lists of a few thousand of them.

Weird History Around the World

Old Stuff

Historical artifacts and photographs never fail to fascinate &ndash; they&#39;re like mysterious keys to other cultures &ndash;&nbsp;but this roundup of some of the strangest and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-artifacts/pierce-nahigyan" target="_blank">most mesmerizing artifacts</a> from history might&nbsp;just take the cake. From a piece of bread that dates back to <a href="/list/facts-about-pompeii/theodoros-karasavvas" target="_blank">Pompeii</a>&nbsp;to some truly disturbing melted wax figures from a fire at Madame Tussauds wax museum in London, these images are sure to incite some reaction, be it delight or disgust.

Artifacts are objects made by human beings that &ndash; with the passage of time &ndash; come to represent a cultural or historical moment in the popular imagination. Which is why really weird artifacts are still so interesting;&nbsp;what do they reveal about the societies that created them?

For that matter, in the future, what will our cultural artifacts say about us?

Super Weird And Interesting Historical Artifacts That Will Mesmerize You

Weird And Interesting Historical Artifacts That Will Mesmerize You

Cleo Egnal

Re-watching & cracking up at the funniest, most memorable sketches and lines in the history of Saturday Night Live.

Great Moments in SNL History

Comedy TV

Saturday Night Live has been on NBC since 1975, entertaining the masses while offering weekly commentary and interpretations of current, past, and even future events.

During the show&#39;s&nbsp;tenure, SNL skits have highlighted&nbsp;the inconsistencies, injustices, or contradictions of major events - and provided much-needed comic relief in the process. Sometimes SNL sketches are ridiculous to the point of absurdity. On other occasions, SNL manages to&nbsp;depict&nbsp;historical events with an uncanny sense of realism.

On SNL,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-political-figures-feel-about-snl-impressions/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">impressions of politicians</a> and celebrities accompany pokes at everyday actions, behaviors, and attitudes. A healthy mix of these can be found in countless sketches about historical events, some of which you can find discussed below.&nbsp;

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How 'Saturday Night Live' Has Handled 21 Historical Events

How SNL Has Handled 21 Historical Events

The world is a big place, and the scope of history is even bigger. It's pretty difficult to know every single event in history, but it's also possible to lose sight of how historical happenings from around the globe line up with one another.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-timeline-comparisons-history/melissa-sartore">Looking at a timeline</a> can be pretty mind-blowing when you realize Uranus was discovered before Antarctica and the Founding <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-founding-fathers/amylindorff?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Fathers of the United States</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-historical-date-comparisons/melissa-sartore"> never knew about dinosaurs</a>.&nbsp;Even when you condense time into a period like the Middle Ages, it isn't always intuitive to match up something that happened in Western Europe with an event or person in Africa, Asia, or the Americas. We got to thinking about what was happening outside of Western Europe during the medieval period and found some&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/more-weird-but-true-historical-date-comparisons/melissa-sartore">fascinating historical comparisons</a>.&nbsp;While it helped us put time and history into perspective, it also made us realize there's a whole lot about the past that deserves more attention. Take a look and let us know which events you agree have been unfairly overlooked.&nbsp;

Going Medieval

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11 Timeline Facts About The Middle Ages That Prove Western Europe Wasn't The Center Of The Universe

Facts That Prove Western Europe Wasn't The Center Of The Middle Ages

Explore the gripping world of Napoleonic War movies with this comprehensive list, crafted for both history enthusiasts and film lovers alike. These films transport viewers back to the tumultuous Napoleonic Era, a pivotal period that reshaped Europe. This era, marking the fourth phase of the French Revolution, began with General Napoleon Bonaparte's dramatic coup in 1799 and concluded with his historic defeat at Waterloo in 1815.The list delves into the cinematic portrayals of this era, featuring stories of bravery, strategy, and the complexities of war. It includes films that capture the essence of the Napoleonic wars and the iconic Battle of Waterloo. The selections reflect the broad impact of Napoleon's conquests across Europe, influencing nations like Germany, Russia, Austria, Spain, and Italy. This period was characterized by widespread uncertainty and tension, elements that these films vividly bring to life.Highlighted movies include titles like The Duellists, showcasing the lives of two French officers in Napoleon's army, and Master and Commander, a thrilling tale of a British warship's crew navigating the aftermath of a French ambush. These films, among others on the list, offer a blend of historical accuracy and compelling storytelling, making them favorites among history film buffs.This list is continually evolving with contributions and votes from viewers like you. If you find a Napoleonic War movie that deserves recognition but isn't featured, feel free to add it. Your input is invaluable in shaping this list into a definitive collection of the best Napoleonic War movies. Remember, each vote counts in pushing your favorite films to the top of the list, reflecting the collective opinion of a community passionate about history and cinema.

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The Best Napoleonic War Movies Ever Made

Film

The 35+ Best Napoleonic War Movies, Ranked by Viewers

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In Soviet Russia

Historical Facts

City 40, or what is today known as <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/europe/the-city-russia-is-hiding-from-the-world/news-story/cb87c4024bac14222787538baf86a590" target="_blank">Ozersk,</a> is a closed city&nbsp;in Russia&nbsp;that the Soviet Union created during the Cold War. City 40 didn&#39;t appear on any maps until 1991, allowed no outsiders to enter, and&nbsp;for a long time, no insiders were&nbsp;allowed out.&nbsp;It wasn&#39;t until very recently that the Western world has even become aware of Ozersk,&nbsp;and it took a brave <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2721744/" target="_blank">documentary crew</a> sneaking cameras through the heavily guarded gates for any footage of the city to escape.

That footage shows&nbsp;Ozersk as the heart of the Russian nuclear program and its residents as the people charged with keeping that heart beating. The denizens of the cloistered city&nbsp;were&nbsp;treated to&nbsp;luxuries that the rest of the country was denied&nbsp;but also exposed to dangers that others were not.&nbsp;While there is (and will always be) much that outsiders will never know about what happens inside those gates, here is what we do know about the surreal, dangerous,&nbsp;closed-off world of City 40.

Everything To Know About City 40, The Secret Town Where Russia Began Its Nuclear Program

Everything to Know About City 40, the Secret Town Where Russia Built Nukes

David Sharp

Military

Throughout the&nbsp;tapestry of&nbsp;stories that makes up human history, near misses and close calls have both&nbsp;threatened our existence and pushed us in directions few could imagine. We've survived natural disasters, diseases, dictators, rush hour traffic&nbsp;and have come out okay&nbsp;considering the&nbsp;circumstances.&nbsp;These&nbsp;brushes with death or&nbsp;destruction have come from all directions as black swan events and completely predictable occurrences brought on by us or fate. Nevertheless, historical close calls always leave a lasting&nbsp;impact. Sometimes literally!

Historical Close Calls And Their Impacts On The World As We Know It

Historical Close Calls with Huge Impacts

World History lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of world history lists and rankings

World History lists on Ranker

Saving Private Ryan

Patton

Schindler's List

Lists about life for soldiers and civilians alike during the Second Great War, which raged around the world from 1939-1945.

WWII

Looking closer at some of the best, most realistic, most brutal depictions of war in the history of entertainment.

Wars on Screen

Looking closer at films, TV shows, docs, and miniseries that explore, recreate, and occasionally flub up real historical events.

Watching History

All about Spielberg's epic & heartbreaking WWII drama, celebrating 25 years in 2023.

Watchworthy

The best World War II movies not only recount historical events, but also deeply resonate with audiences through powerful portrayals of courage amidst adversity. World War II, a tumultuous period marked by bravery, sacrifice, and human resilience, has long been an evocative backdrop for storytelling. Films inspired by this era delve into the complexities of war, capturing the essence of heroism and loss on both grand and intimate scales. &nbsp;These movies invite viewers to reflect upon the past while appreciating the artistry of filmmaking.Showcasing diverse perspectives during one of history's most harrowing periods, these exceptional films immerse audiences in tales that span from battles to quiet acts of defiance. Great WW2 movies reveal multifaceted aspects of humanity caught in the throes of conflict by highlighting themes such as camaraderie, betrayal, hope, and despair across different cultural contexts. These stories come alive through outstanding cinematography, gripping performances, and masterful direction that evoke poignant emotions even decades after their release.Movies like Saving Private Ryan, The Great Escape, and Schindler's List stand as prime examples of remarkable World War II cinema. In Saving Private Ryan, director Steven Spielberg throws audiences into the visceral chaos of D-Day before transitioning to a captivating mission that showcases loyalty and selflessness among soldiers. Meanwhile, The Great Escape expertly blends suspense and adventure as it follows Allied prisoners plotting against all odds to break free from a German POW camp. Lastly, the monumental impact of Schindler's List is indisputable; its stark (mostly) black-and-white visuals coupled with compelling character arcs immortalize Oskar Schindler's efforts to save Jewish lives under unimaginable circumstances. Yet these are just a few gems amid an array of incredible wartime narratives. Other famous WWII movies contending for the top spots on this list include Hacksaw Ridge, Letters from Iwo Jima, Patton, and A Bridge Too Far.As cinema continues to evolve over time, filmmakers will persistently draw inspiration from pivotal moments throughout human history - particularly when they have the potential to strike emotional chords within viewers. In this context, movies about the second World War will undoubtedly remain a significant subgenre of filmmaking as they challenge us to confront the darkest chapters of our collective past while celebrating acts of valor and resilience in trying times. The greatest World War II films serve as vital reminders that even amidst the horrors of war, there are stories worth remembering and lessons to be learned about the human spirit's remarkable capacity for survival and hope.