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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Get quick answers to common questions about Historact’s features, tools, and community.

How do I create an account?
  • Find the “Register” button in the top menu—usually next to “Login.”

  • Fill in your details:

    • Username: pick something memorable (no spaces or special characters).

    • Email: make sure it’s one you check often.

    • Password: use at least 8 characters, mixing letters and numbers (e.g. HistoryFan2025).

  • Agree to the Terms & Conditions by checking the box.

  • Click “Register.”

  • Verify your email: shortly after, you’ll get a message with a link. Click it to confirm your account.

    • Tip for younger users: if you don’t see the email within a few minutes, check your Spam or Promotions folder.

    • Tip for older users: if you have trouble, you can ask a family member or friend to help open your email and click the link.

  • Click “Login” in the top menu.

  • Enter your Username or Email and Password.

    • Use the “show password” toggle (eye icon) if you need to check what you typed.

  • (Optional) Tick “Remember Me” if you’re on a private computer and want to stay signed in.

  • Click “Log In.”

    • Troubleshooting: If you see an “incorrect password” message, try resetting your password (see Q3) or check for extra spaces before/after what you typed.

  • On the Login page, click “Forgot Password?”

  • Enter the Email address you used to register.

  • Click “Reset Password.”

  • Check your email for a reset link (again, look in Spam/Promotions if you don’t see it).

  • Click the link, choose a new password (different from your last one), and save.

    • Tip: Write down your new password in a secure place—like a notebook or password manager—so you don’t lose it again.

How do I find articles on a specific topic or era?
  • Use the Search Bar at the top of the Knowledge Base: start typing keywords like “World War II” or “Impressionism.”

  • Autocomplete will suggest full terms; click one to jump straight to results.

  • Apply filters:

    • Category: e.g. “Historical Events,” “Art Movements,” “Philosophers.”

    • Author: if you’re looking for work by a favorite writer.

    • Date range: useful for seeing only the newest or oldest content.

    • Tags: such as “European History” or “Renaissance.”

  • Sort results by:

    • Relevance (best match to your keywords),

    • Date (newest or oldest first),

    • Popularity (most-read or highest-rated).

    • Tip for precision: use quotation marks around a phrase, e.g. "cold war", to search that exact phrase.

  • When you find an article you like, click the bookmark icon (often a ribbon or star) near the title.

  • All saved items go into My Bookmarks under your profile menu.

  • You can create folders or labels in Bookmarks (e.g. “Homework,” “Favorites”) to stay organized.

    • Advice for seniors: group articles by topic or year to find them more easily later.

  • After entering your search term, click the Sort dropdown.

  • Choose “Date: Newest First” to see the most recent articles.

  • Choose “Popularity” to see what the community is reading most.

  • You can also combine filters: for example, show only “Philosophy” articles from the last month sorted by popularity.

How do I join a discussion in my preferred language and topic?
  • Click “Community” in the main menu.

  • You’ll see a list of Language Groups (e.g., English, Spanish, Arabic).

  • Click your language, then pick a Topic: History, Philosophy, or Art.

  • You’ll enter that space’s feed—just scroll to see recent posts, or use filters (Q10) to find something specific.

    • Tip for teens: try posting a quick intro (“Hi, I’m Alex from Budapest…”) to get involved right away.

  • In any space, look for the “What’s on your mind?” box at the top.

  • Type your message—share a question, fact, or opinion.

  • To add media:

    • Click the GIF icon to search the built-in library.

    • Click the Image or Video icon to upload from your device.

    • Click the Poll icon to enter a question and up to four answer choices.

  • Click “Post” when you’re ready.

    • Best practice: keep text concise (2–3 short paragraphs) and break up longer thoughts with headings or bullet points for readability.

  • Click the Chat or Messages icon (usually a speech-bubble) in the header or sidebar.

  • To start a Direct Message: type the person’s username in the search field and click to open a one-on-one chat.

  • To start a Group Chat: click “New Group,” select multiple users, give the chat a name, and send the first message.

    • Tip for older users: someone in the group can always add more people later—just click “Add Members.”

  • Use the Community Search bar at the top of the Community page.

  • Enter keywords (e.g. “Byzantine art”) and press Enter.

  • Then use the Filters panel to narrow results by:

    • Language and Topic (if you’re searching across multiple spaces).

    • Author: type their username.

    • Media Type: choose Text, Image, Video, or Poll.

    • Date: pick a range (e.g. last week).

    • Sort: Newest or Popular.

    • Advanced tip: combine filters—e.g. images by “MariaHistory” from the last month.

What can the on-site AI Chat do?
  • Answer factual questions (e.g. “When did the Renaissance begin?”).

  • Clarify complex concepts (e.g. “Explain Marxist dialectics in simple terms”).

  • Suggest related readings or articles based on your query.

  • Translate or summarize any text you paste in.

  • Generate quizzes or timelines for study purposes.

    • Use case for students: ask for a 5-question quiz on Ancient Rome before your exam.

  • Click “Try AI” on the Home Page banner to open the chat window.

  • Or click the chat icon (usually bottom-right corner) on any page.

  • The chat history stays visible, so you can scroll up to review earlier answers.

  • To start fresh, click “New Conversation.”

  • No limits—you can ask as many questions as you like, day or night.

  • Best practice: be clear and specific (“Compare Stoicism and Epicureanism”) to get more accurate answers.

  • If the AI goes off-topic, simply type “Restart” or “New Conversation.”

Where can I follow Historact on social media?
  • Twitter: look for our handle or search hashtags like #TodayInHistory and #PhilosopherOfTheDay.

    • You can retweet or like posts to share them with your own followers.

  • Pinterest: find our boards filled with article images, historical timelines, and themed wallpapers.

    • Use the Save button on any image to add it to your personal boards.

  • PWA (Progressive Web App):

    1. Open Historact in your phone’s browser.

    2. Tap your browser menu (⋮ or …) and choose “Add to Home Screen.”

    3. The app icon appears on your home screen—tap it anytime to launch.

    4. Works offline for pages you’ve already visited.

  • Android app via Google Play:

    1. Open Google Play, search for “Historact,” and tap Install.

    2. The icon and offline features work just like the PWA, with automatic updates.

    • Note for iPhone users: PWAs function like apps but aren’t listed in the App Store.

How do I subscribe to the newsletter?
  • Scroll to the Newsletter section in the website footer or sidebar.

  • Enter your Email address in the box provided.

  • Click “Subscribe.”

  • You’ll receive a welcome email—click its confirmation link to complete signup.

    • What to expect: a weekly digest of featured articles, community highlights, and upcoming events.

    • Tip: add our sender address to your contacts so it doesn’t end up in Spam.

  • Go to your Profile Settings and open Notifications.

  • Toggle on email or push notifications for:

    • New Articles in your favorite categories.

    • Replies or Mentions when someone responds to your posts.

    • Site News and special announcements.

  • Save your settings. Now you’ll get a brief summary whenever there’s something new to explore.

 

Can I submit my own article?
  • Eligibility: selected members gain contributor access—watch for an invitation or apply via Contact Us.

  • How to submit:

    1. Open the Submission Portal from your profile menu.

    2. Upload a draft file (Word or Markdown).

    3. Provide a title, summary, and list of sources.

    4. Click Submit for Review.

  • Review process:

    • Editors check your draft for accuracy, style, and readability.

    • You’ll receive feedback or approval within 7–10 business days.

    • Tip: follow our Article Guidelines (tone, citation format) to speed up approval.

How do I reach the Historact team?
  • Click “Contact Us” in the main menu or footer.

  • Fill out:

    • Your Email (so we can reply).

    • Subject (e.g., “Feature Request” or “Report a Bug”).

    • Message (detailed description of your question or issue).

  • Click Submit. You’ll see an on-screen confirmation and get an email receipt.

    • Response time: typically 1–2 business days.

  • First, check the FAQ you’re reading now for quick answers.

  • If it’s a technical issue, include:

    • Your device type (PC, Mac, Android, iOS).

    • Browser name and version (e.g., Chrome 114).

    • A screenshot if possible.

  • Send details via Contact Us so our support team can diagnose and fix it faster.

Is the site available in multiple languages?
  • Yes—the entire interface, articles, and community sections are automatically translated into dozens of languages.

  • To switch language: click the language selector (usually a globe icon) in the header or footer.

  • Tip: machine translation may vary—feel free to ask for human-verified translations in the community.

  • Students: study guides, quizzes, research sources.

  • Educators: lesson materials, discussion prompts, community collaboration.

  • Hobbyists & Enthusiasts: deep-dive articles, art galleries, lively forums.

  • Researchers: structured knowledge base, citation support, expert discussions.

  • No matter your age or background, our goal is a barrier-free experience—no paywalls, no required reading levels, just open learning.

Need More Help? Contact Us

Still have a question we haven’t answered? We’re here to help.