Volume 61 Issue 8 August 2011

Olympias' Funeral Games

Robin Waterfield looks at the influence of the mother of Alexander the Great in the years following her son’s death.

Pilgrim's Progress: Crossing the Mediterranean

A sea voyage in the 12th century was a perilous undertaking, as a Spanish Muslim courtier’s account of his crossing of the Mediterranean demonstrates. Yet, explains David Abulafia, it was also a test of one’s religious devotion, whether Muslim or Christian.

Roman Naval Power: Raising the Ram

A series of archaeological discoveries off the coast of Sicily reveal how Rome turned a piece of lethal naval technology pioneered by its enemy, Carthage, to its own advantage, explains Ann Natanson.

Changing Moral Climates

History tells us that the West’s embrace of liberal values was not inevitable and is unlikely to last, says Tim Stanley.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Robin Bayley tells how his great grandfather, a Mancunian businessman, became caught up in the tumultuous period of worker unrest that paved the way for the Mexican Revolution.

Syria: Coup Proof?

Syria was among the most unstable states in the Middle East until Hafez al-Assad came to power in 1970. But, asks James Gelvin, can his son, Bashar, maintain the regime’s iron rule in the face of growing dissent?