Books of the Year 2022
Our year in reading covers the year’s major anniversaries such as Partition, Stalingrad and the March on Rome as well as space travel, English law and, of course, the Tudors.
History Today
Are ‘Dark Ages’ Inevitable?
We know less about some periods than others, but the meaning of ‘Dark Age’ is multifarious and often loaded.
On the Spot: Jessey J.C. Choo
‘History is an illusion, as with everything that changes.’
How Has the Ancient World Been Appropriated in Modernity?
Nobody owns the past, but many have sought to use it to their own ends. The use, and abuse, of ancient history has been ever-present.
On the Spot: Amanda H. Podany
‘I’d like to have met Baranamtara, the Queen of Lagash in the early 24th century BC.’
What Influence has the BBC had on History?
Founded as the British Broadcasting Company in October 1922, the BBC has sought to ‘inform, educate and entertain’ for a century. Facing an uncertain future, what impact has it had on the past?
Mapping It
From the rare to the extraordinary: maps from across the globe.
Has a War on Drugs Ever Been Won?
Society’s battle against what Richard Nixon called ‘public enemy number one’ is an ancient one. Is there any sense in fighting?
On the Spot: Hakim Adi
‘It is not the rich and seemingly powerful that make history, but the majority of humans.’
On the Spot: Malgorzata Fidelis
‘Looking at my native country from outside opened completely new ways of thinking.’