Religion

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

Will Saunders asks whether one of the ‘villains’ of the English Reformation deserves his reputation.

Simon Lemieux explain why witch-hunting ended when so many Europeans supported it.

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.

Marius Ostrowski explains why the Church was so dominant in the Middle ages, but also sees traces of a growing secularism.

F.G. Stapleton seeks to understand why the Pontiff of 1939-58 has been called ‘Hitler’s Pope’.

While Hezbollah often hits the headlines, its history is less familiar. The emergence of Shia militancy in Lebanon was centuries in the making.

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

Graham Noble examines the origins and traces the consequences of the notorious Edict of 1492.

Christopher Tyerman explains why he believes the crusades were important in shaping the ideology and fiscal and political structures of the secular state.