About HistoryData
What is HistoryData?
HistoryData is a free, open encyclopedia of historical figures and events. Our mission is to make history accessible and browsable for students, researchers, educators, and anyone curious about the past.
The project currently covers 4,453 notable people from 111 countries, organized across 366 birthday pages, year-by-year timelines, and event calendars. Every profile includes biographical data, category tags, and links to primary sources so you can verify and explore further.
Data Sources & Methodology
Our dataset is built on structured data from Wikidata and biographical summaries sourced from Wikipedia. We use the following pipeline to ensure data quality:
- Extraction — SPARQL queries pull biographical facts (birth/death dates, nationality, occupations) from Wikidata.
- Enrichment — Descriptions and contextual details are generated using AI models, then cross-referenced against Wikipedia articles.
- Validation — Automated checks flag inconsistencies in dates, missing fields, and duplicate entries before publication.
- Categorization — People are tagged with occupation-based categories (leaders, artists, scientists, etc.) derived from Wikidata properties.
Editorial Process
HistoryData uses AI-assisted content generation to create introductory text and biographical descriptions. Every piece of generated content is reviewed for factual accuracy against primary sources. We update the dataset monthly to incorporate corrections, new Wikidata entries, and improved descriptions.
Our goal is factual accuracy over narrative flair. When sources conflict, we defer to Wikidata's community-curated records and note discrepancies where relevant.
Licensing
All content on HistoryData is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license. You are free to share and adapt the material for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you give appropriate credit and distribute contributions under the same license.
Contact
Questions, corrections, or partnership inquiries? Reach us at contact@historydata.com.