The Tragic Annals of Haiti
Devastating earthquakes have been chronicled on the island of Hispaniola for the past 500 years, writes Jean-François Mouhot.
History Matters
Thoughts, opinions and commentary on all things historical.
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Did the Romans Invent Christmas?
Did the first Christian Roman emperor appropriate the pagan festival of Saturnalia to celebrate the birth of Christ? Matt Salusbury weighs the evidence.
Gladiators Were Vegetarians
Plant-based diets high in carbohydrates made the Roman ‘barley men’ appear more spectacular.
Bursting Bubbles: Economic Crises in History
In the wake of the credit crunch, Dan Jones looks at past episodes of runaway greed and the moral lessons learnt.
The Fall of the Roman Empire
As the Roman Empire declined its leaders became interested more in personal survival than good governance. Adrian Goldsworthy draws comparisons with current crises.
Aldeburgh’s First Lady
On November 9th, 1908, Aldeburgh unanimously elected as their leader Mrs Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, who became Britain’s first female mayor.
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.
The Gunpowder Plot
Pauline Croft explains the origins of Bonfire Night.