THE INTERACTIVE MAPStart anywhere
Ask anything.
Choose a place, a year or an event. Ask a question and watch the map change.
Explore the mapInteractive history maps that explain why things happened.
21 atlases, from Rome to the Arab Spring. Read the story while the map changes, and select any sentence to ask a question about it.
WW2 is free, every chapter. Paid plans open every atlas, from $9 a month.
MAR 1936
An armed peace
The WW2 atlas, replaying 1936–1945. Hover a country to see
who held it; click to open the atlas at that date.Tap a country to
see who held it; tap it again to open the atlas at that date.
Maps and borders can always be traced back to direct sources
MAPS OF HISTORY · TWO WAYS TO LEARN
How would you like to start?
Explore through questions, or follow a course one chapter at a time.
THE ATLAS COURSESOne step at a time
- 1Read a chapter
- 2Ask your guide
- 3Test on the map
Take a course.
Follow the story with a map beside you. Each chapter has one clear goal and space for your questions.
Choose a courseFind your subject, from Rome to the twentieth century.
Browse all atlasesOne account. Two ways to explore history.
Free account
Welcome back
Your progress
New and recommended
Your free account opens the WW2 atlas in full, chapter 1 of every atlas, and 3 more chapters a day. For $9 a month, Starter opens all 21 atlases and gives you 500 map chat messages a month.
See plansHow it works
Each atlas tells a book-length history, with a map that changes as the story unfolds. Read the chapters, explore the map for yourself, and then use it to test what you have learned.
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1Read a chapter and ask questions
The chapter follows events from their causes through the turning point to the results, while the map moves with the story. If a sentence raises a question, select it and press Ask; an answer arrives in seconds.
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2Explore any year
Move the timeline to a year you want to examine. A click on a country shows who controlled it and when; a click on a battle or event explains what happened there and why it mattered.
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3Test yourself on the map
The map quiz at the end of each atlas asks 15 to 17 questions. You answer by clicking the map, and an explanation accompanies each answer.
Every chapter of the WW2 atlas is free to try, with no sign-up. Open it
Built for IB History
The atlases are tagged to the IB History course, including the new course first examined in May 2028. The three papers ask for different kinds of study; the sections below show their coverage.
Paper 1Focused studies, with sources
One atlas for each focused study, its two case studies side by side, with IB source packs.
Paper 2Thematic studies
Essays on a theme across regions. The atlases for each theme:
Paper 3Regional studies, Higher Level
Atlases that cover sections of each region:
The IB notes switch
In the 8 IB atlases, the notes switch adds material to every chapter: syllabus links, key evidence, primary sources and a practice question with an essay plan. Switch it off when you want to read the atlas as a plain history.
How Maps of History helps IB students
Exam soon? Starter opens every atlas, map quiz and study guide for $9 a month. You can cancel any time.
Maps of History is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the International Baccalaureate.
All atlases
21 atlases · 264 chapters · 264 BC to 2015Each atlas offers a guided story in 12 to 15 chapters. You can also explore its map year by year and take a map quiz. The whole WW2 atlas and chapter 1 of every atlas are free. A free account opens 3 more chapters a day.
Region
IB
No atlas matches both filters.
Planned atlases
Start free. Upgrade when you need more.
Four monthly plans. Every plan includes map chat; paid plans open all 21 atlases and renew every month until you cancel.
Free
$0
30 messages to try map chat, the WW2 atlas in full and chapter 1 of every atlas.
Start freeStarter
$9/month
500 messages a month, full map tools and all 21 atlases.
Choose StarterUser
$25/month
Everything in Starter, our best answers and 3,000 messages a month.
Choose UserPro
$89/month
Unlimited messages, with priority for new features and for the errors you report.
Choose ProCompare plans and read the questions · Business & Education: contact us
Cancel any time in your account, with no cancellation fee. Your access continues until the end of the month you already paid for. There is no free trial.
Reading plans
A reading plan sets out a list of chapters to finish. Once you start, its next chapter waits here for you. Follow one plan at a time, and stop whenever you like.
The Dispatch
Hi, I’m Paul, and I make these maps. If you leave your email, I’ll send a few short letters, followed by one whenever a new atlas opens. That’s all.
No tracking. Your address is used for the Dispatch and nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime. Or write to me.
Questions
What is Maps of History?
Maps of History brings together 21 interactive history atlases. Each takes a subject, such as the Cold War, the Mongol Empire or Indian independence, and tells its story in 12 to 15 guided chapters. As the story moves, so does the map. You can also explore it year by year and answer a map quiz.
What is free?
The full WW2 atlas is free: read every chapter, explore the map and take the map quiz. Chapter 1 of every other atlas is free as well. A free account lets you open 3 more chapters a day in any atlas. Today, On this day and the printable study guides are free too.
The Free plan includes 30 map chat messages. Starter ($9 a month), User ($25 a month) and Pro ($89 a month) open all 21 atlases, with no daily limit, and give you more messages. See plans
How is it different from a textbook?
A textbook tells you where events happened. Here the map moves to the date and place described in each chapter, so you can watch them happen. The chapter examines causes, the turning point and consequences to argue why events happened. It also names uncertainty: casualty ranges, debated turning points and the limits of historical sources. Afterwards, you can test yourself on the map itself.
Maps and borders can always be traced back to direct sources, with the references linked below each chapter. How the maps are made
Is it aligned with IB History?
Yes. The atlases are tagged to the IB History course, including the new course first examined in May 2028. Each of the five Paper 1 focused studies has an atlas of its own, with source packs. The atlases also cover the Paper 2 themes and Paper 3 regions. See what covers each paper
Maps of History is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the IB.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. You can use the atlases in any modern browser on a phone, tablet or computer. On a phone, the map fills the screen; pull up the panel to read the chapter text.
How do I cancel?
You can cancel online under Cancellation settings in your account. Plans renew every month until you cancel, and there is no cancellation fee. Your access continues until the end of the month you already paid for. Payments aren’t refundable, except where the law gives you a right to cancel. Terms
Start with the Second World War — free, every chapter.
No sign-up. Chapter 1 of every other atlas is free too, and a free account opens 3 more chapters a day.
Made for IB and AP students, teachers, homeschooling families, readers and strategy gamers.