Walter Ralegh’s Final Voyage
Ralegh's fateful attempt to discover El Dorado began on March 17th, 1617.
History Today
A General State of Mourning
The 18th century saw many royal deaths, all of which had to be mourned. The effect was felt in every part of life.
Figures on a Woolsack
What has been the contribution of the Lord Chancellors to our twentieth-century heritage?
Celebrity, Politics and Francis Drake
Francis Drake’s exploits in the New World made him perfect material for the English gutter press and a figurehead for rising Hispanophobia.
Welfare Pasts and Futures
British systems of welfare and adult social care are not so different from aspects of the traditional Poor Laws.
The Unhappy Mansion
Bedlam was a constant in art and literature throughout the 18th century. In it, madness was otherworldly, bestial, pitiable and female – a mirror for concerns about society.
Henry IV of Germany: a ‘Bad King’?
Looking beyond the usual rogues’ gallery of historical figures can help us to better understand the past.
Martin Luther and the German Reformation
A comprehensive account of the life of Martin Luther, the man who split western Christendom for good.
Chaucer's Post-Truth World
If you believe the neologism 'post-truth' describes a new phenomenon, think again. Geoffrey Chaucer diagnosed the problem at the end of the 14th century.
Something to Laugh About
Laughing at experts is nothing new. Kate Davison explores our long history of puncturing the powerful with satire and humour – to keep them in line and just for the fun of it.