History Today

The continuing use of AD and BC is not only factually wrong but also offensive to many who are not Christians.

George V retained his throne by learning a lesson ignored by most of his European contemporaries – relinquish all power, writes Miranda Carter.

India’s rulers demonstrated what power they had by adopting the crafts of their conquerors – first the Mughals, then the British. Corinne Julius looks at the background to a new exhibition of dazzling artefacts

Richard Cavendish explains how, on September 12th, 1959, the Soviet Union launched Luna 2, the first spacecraft to successfully reach the Moon.

Terry Deary’s hugely popular Horrible Histories have leapt beyond the page onto airwaves, stage and screen. Peter J. Beck considers the success of the format and what it tells us about history aimed at children. 

Since at least the 18th century, the traditional English summer sport has inspired cartoonists, as Mark Bryant demonstrates.

Disillusionment with Iran’s secular king brought the Islamists to power in 1979. Will the population now oust the ruling theocracy, asks Baqer Moin?

Catherine Merridale examines competing versions of Russia's troubled past in the light of present politics.

In 1759 a British army under General James Wolfe won a momentous battle on the Plains of Abraham. A neglected ingredient in Wolfe’s dramatic victory was the professionalism of the army he had helped to create.

The tactics adopted by the Gallic leader Vercingetorix to resist Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul played into Roman hands.