History Today

mosaic depicting the Flood, Basilica di San Marco, Venice, 13th century.

No Edens

A level-headed chronicle of the varied impact of climate on our history.

English army with banner, from the Chroniques de France ou de St Denis, late 14th century.

Outlaws at War

For Edward I, filling his army with criminals made perfect sense.

Armenia’s Eleventh Century

Where relations between Armenia and Turkey are concerned, the 11th century never ended.

demonstrators outside Leeds Crown Court on the first day of the trial of the Leeds Bonfire Night 12, June 1975. Photograph by Max Farrar.

Is Violence the Answer?

Using violence as a response to racism can both divide and unite communities. This was demonstrated when a riot erupted in the Leeds suburb of Chapeltown on Bonfire Night 1975.

Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle.

This Flammable Isle

The familiar story of the 17th century told through unfamiliar voices.

Portrait of Süleyman by Nakkaş Osman, 1579.

The One True Emperor on Earth

As sultan, Süleyman the Magnificent was portrayed as the Shadow of God on Earth, the Caliph of Islam, the Last World Emperor, the distributor of crowns to other rulers and the purveyor of justice.

Literary Heroine

One of Croatia’s most-read authors, Marija Jurić Zagorka spent her life in defiance of convention.

creation of the world, decoration from the Ål Stavkirke, Norway, late 13th century.

The Birth of Time

March has two of the year’s most important anniversaries: the creation of the world and the creation of time.

Continental Shame

The Holocaust as European history.

Hot Gossip

Recalling Hollywood’s best anecdotes and old grudges.