The Atlas
Watch borders move across five thousand years. Forty-nine dated snapshots of the world, from 3000 BC to today, with the wars, landmarks, trade routes and people that shaped each one.
The ancient world is free, from 3000 BC to 400 AD. Plus opens every year to today, plus four more map layers and timeline playback.See plans
Territories & Borders
Click any territory to see who held it, when, and what came before. Reconstructed boundaries for 49 points in time.
Wars & Battles
Conflicts placed on the map at the year they were fought, with belligerents, key battles and what changed after.
Landmarks & Heritage
Wonders, archaeological sites, religious architecture and the full UNESCO World Heritage list, plus the trade routes between them.
People & Chronicles
Historical figures tied to the places and years they lived in. Read the chronicle, or open a conversation with them.
Where to start
Eight moments worth opening first
Each one is a written guide to that year on the map — who held what, which wars were running, and which people were alive to see it.
No account needed
The ancient world, free
- Every year from 3000 BC to 400 AD — 16 of the 49 snapshots
- Territories, wars and natural wonders
- Territory search and the full sidebar
- All 49 written year guides, whatever your plan
With Plus
The rest of the timeline
- Every year from 400 AD to today — all 49 snapshots
- Archaeological sites, religious architecture and trade routes
- The full UNESCO World Heritage layer
- Timeline playback: watch the borders move
Questions
About the atlas
Is the history map free?
Yes, in part. The map from 3000 BC to 400 AD is free and needs no account, along with territories, wars and natural wonders. Plus opens the remaining years up to today, four more layers and timeline playback. All 49 written year guides are free to read whatever your plan.
How accurate are the borders?
Boundary geometry is adapted from the open Historical Basemaps project. Historical borders are reconstructions, not records: frontiers were often zones rather than lines, and many are disputed by historians. Treat each snapshot as one careful interpretation of that year, and read the methodology before citing it.
Which years can I look at?
Forty-nine dated snapshots between 3000 BC and today, closer together in periods where borders changed quickly. Each one has its own written guide listing the powers on the map, the wars being fought and the people alive at the time.
What languages is the atlas in?
Sixteen: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Indonesian, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Polish, Russian and Dutch. Territory names, wars, landmarks and figure biographies are translated, not just the interface.
Is there a mobile app?
Yes. HistorIQly Map is a separate one-time purchase on Google Play, with the atlas bundled for offline use. It is not part of the membership, and the membership does not include it.