Youtube history channels are a fantastic source of free information on pretty much any era in pretty much any area – from revolutionary America to the first civilizations. Both professional historians and lovers of history are sharing their passion and their knowledge on the platform.
Want to learn about Roman Emperors? Find out about Victorian serial killers? Get the facts on the Yukon gold rush? And what really happened during the Russian Revolution? No matter what you want to know about, YouTube probably has you covered.
But where to start? There are dozens of big channels out there. And unfortunately, not all of them offer reliable facts.
We’ve done the quality check for you. Here are the ten best history channels on YouTube. They cover a huge range of eras and subjects – but they’ve got one thing in common: They’re both reliable and entertaining.
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If it’s long-form documentaries you’re after, Timeline is the right channel for you. Here, you’ll find high-quality, in-depth information about topics ranging from the 1942 tank defense of Stalingrad to the rediscovery of a lost medieval hospital.
Videos are uploaded about two times a week and are 45 to 90 minutes long. Some topics have longer run-times: The history of the Americas before Columbus, for example, is covered in three hours. Most of the documentaries have previously aired on modern history TV, for example on PBS or the BBC. The production quality is correspondingly high, which well over 5 million subscribers appreciate.
Of course, this also means that the presenters and crews vary, though there are some recurring series (like the Dive Detectives). So if you’re looking to get your history served through the lens of your favorite internet historian, Timeline isn’t the right place.
By the way: The Timeline channel is part of the HistoryHit Network, which offers on-demand documentary streaming.
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Whether it’s the Battle of Okinawa or daily life in East Berlin, The Armchair Historian features fantastic animated videos on a variety of historical subjects, though the focus is on military history. The videos are usually between 10 and 30 minutes long. Some subjects, such as the Fall of Italy during World War II, are covered in multiple parts.
Griffin Johnsen, the creator behind this YouTube history channel, also runs his own streaming service (Armchair History TV, with even more animated history videos). He did so in response to YouTube demonetizing his – and other history creators’ – videos showing swastikas and other symbols, despite the educational context.
Are you after compact introductions to complex historical events? Then Oversimplified is a fantastic resource for you.
Harnessing animations and humor, this channel provides crash courses to topics such as the Napoleonic Wars and the French Revolution. Usually, videos are between 15 and 30 minutes long.
For a true history enthusiast, these clips are just a taster – for an in-depth look at, say Roman History, you will want to move on to other channels. (Like Mike Duncan’s long-running History of Rome podcasts or Historia Civilis, which you’ll find farther down).
Oversimplified has recently completed a series on the Punic wars, but is currently on hiatus.
British former soldier and policeman Kevin Hicks is the founder and presenter of History Squad. Hicks began working as a freelance history educator after a move to Canada, offering both live history workshops and webinars. In 2022, the History Squad team also launched a YouTube channel. Videos are posted roughly weekly.
Owing to Hicks’ expert storytelling, the channel has rapidly grown since. His aim is to bring the experience of history to life, rather than just teaching it. Where other history channels rely heavily on animation, History Squad makes amazing use of costume, props, and models.
The channel chiefly deals with European medieval history, especially military life and history. Hicks has a captivating penchant for drilling down to detail, sometimes gruesome. A recent video, for instance, explores what an arrow to the knee meant for its victim on the battlefield – with matching props, of course.
Looking for resources for younger audiences? Our list of kids’ education channels has you covered!
Another fantastic resource to discover historical figures and events that you’ve never heard of before is The History Guy. Covering topics from the Wild West to aviation, this channel features videos of 5 to 10 minutes that dive into otherwise obscure historical topics.
Recent examples include the life of the pink plastic lawn flamingos – and of how the humble shipping container revolutionized logistics.
Enjoying this list? Why not also have a look at the top 15 family channels on YouTube?
If you’re interested in Ancient Rome in particular, Historia Civilis should be your go-to source on YouTube. This channel takes viewers on a deep-dive into the history of the Roman Empire. It will give you an introduction to the Roman Senate, walk you through the Invasion of Gaul, and give you the run-down on the assassination of Julius Cesar.
Recent videos have also covered theories for the fall of civilizations during the Bronze Age Collapse, as well as the effects of the Vienna Congress following the Napoleonic Wars.
Amazingly researched and presented, the channel can be a little frustrating: Uploads are infrequent, and as much as a year can go by before a new video.
For fantastic, illustrated insights into history from ancient times to the 19th century, look no further than See U in History / Mythology. As this channel’s name suggests, it focuses not only on historical events and persons, but also on mythologies from different time periods and geographical regions. Whether you want to know who the Vikings worshiped, or dive into the Tudor dynasty, this is a fantastic address.
Plus, See U in History has also started publishing YouTube Shorts. So if you need a super quick history pick-me-up, you can tune in here.
The channel’s videos are generally short – rarely over 10 minutes, but in return it offers rapid-fire daily uploads.
Also check out: the top 15 cooking channels. As a history highlight, that list includes Tasting History by Max Miller!
Did Ronald Reagan really use astrology to make decisions? What mysterious disease wiped out the Aztecs? And why do babies in medieval art look like creepy adults?
Weird History offers answers to all of these questions. This channel takes a closer look at the fringes of history, unearthing facts that will make you say “No way!”
Feature History is another great resource if you’re looking for quick, no-nonsense introductions to particular chapters in history. Lachlan McLeod, the Australian creator of the channel, ran it practically solo from his teenage years into his twenties, but it is currently dormant. The last video was uploaded a year ago.
With a focus on armed conflicts, from the First Boer War to the Second Opium War, Feature History provides great bite-sized information on a variety of topics.
Plus, it also tackles some more recent topics, such as Saddam’s Iraq and the history of military 4×4 vehicles.
Did you grow up watching the History Channel? Then you’ll love History, its YouTube division.
In true History Channel style, it gives you insights into mysteries such as the labyrinth hidden under Rome’s famous Colosseum, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and deadly Aztec weapons.
In addition, History is also bringing new life to ancient practices. You’ll find videos of people trying out Viking workouts and cooking dishes that would have been served at the Last Supper.
Why is it last on here? Because the History Channel is now also notorious for series of the Ancient Aliens kind, which have to be taken with a very large grain of salt.
The Bottom Line
YouTube is an amazing repository of knowledge on history. By browsing the channels above, you can rediscover forgotten historical figures, gain insights into events that irrevocably shaped our world, and get captivated by engrossing stories and mysteries. Happy watching and learning!
OverSimplified and History are perhaps the two most popular history channels on YouTube, at several million subscribers each.
Look no further than Historia Civilis, a YouTube channel focused on ancient European history.
Kids will love the compact bites of info and entertainment that channels or OverSimplified or See U in History put out. They’re short, fun, but also strongly based in fact.
