History Today

Kristian Ulrichsen believes that the politicians and planners behind the 2003 invasion ignored the lessons of the first British occupation of Iraq, which began with the capture of Baghdad from the Ottomans in 1917.

Penelope J. Corfield considers how catastrophic visions of the end of the world have recurred throughout history, in all societies and religions.

As a new exhibition on the history of camouflage opens at the Imperial War Museum this month, Tim Newark reveals the contribution made by English Surrealists to wartime defence schemes.

Andrew Ellis introduces a huge on-going project to publish a series of catalogues showing every oil painting in public ownership in the United Kingdom.

The ‘voice of history’ was heard loud and clear when the Historical Association, was awarded the prestigious Longman History Today Trustees Award early in January at a party hosted by History Today at the National Army Museum. Adam Tooze of Jesus College, Cambridge, won the Book of the Year Award for his wide-ranging economic history of the Nazi years in Germany, The Wages of Destruction at the same event.

Peter Marshall explains how a chance reference in an old local history book led him to reconstruct the story of a 17th-century church scandal, and its afterlife in literature, culture and politics.

The courthouse, built on the site of Newgate Prison, was formally opened on February 27th, 1907.

Richard Cavendish marks the anniversary of the events of February 15th, 1957.

Thomas Jefferson's former vice-president was held on February 19th, 1807.

Larry Gragg digs beneath the glitzy surface of America’s ‘sin city’ to find out how this extravagant home of gambling and glamour came into being.