History Matters

Thoughts, opinions and commentary on all things historical.

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The Last Big Meltdown

Our prehistoric ancestors survived rapid climate change and rising temperatures as extreme as those we face today, says Kate Prendergast. What can they tell us about global warming?

A History of Tiananmen Square

For centuries Tiananmen Square has been at the heart of China. Named for the Tiananmen – the Gate of Heavenly Peace – its history has been anything but.

The First Christmas Tree

Contrary to myth, it wasn’t Prince Albert but another German royal transplant who introduced the Christmas tree to Britain.

New Light on Eddystone

Alison Barnes reveals a new discovery about the Eddystone lighthouse: the first of its kind to be built on rocks in the sea.