Section
History
This Week in History: Major Global Events 12-18 October
In October 1987, southern England was struck by the Great Storm, which caused extensive destruction and prompted a major emergency response due to its unprecedented…
The most important family in British history: The House of Cromwell
Thomas Cromwell served as a key adviser to Henry VIII, orchestrating the king’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon, while his descendant Oliver Cromwell led Parliamentary…
World War One hero’s Victoria Cross sold for £130,000
Second Lieutenant James Kirk was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic solo mission under heavy enemy fire near Ors, France, in the final…
Explanation of Helicopters Pushed Overboard During Fall of Saigon
During the final days of the Vietnam War in April 1975, U.S. Navy sailors pushed dozens of South Vietnamese helicopters overboard to clear space for…
Why Napoleon was truly the boss from hell
Between 1796 and 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte sent 457 detailed and often critical letters to Marshal Alexandre Berthier, reflecting his micromanaging and demanding leadership style. This…
Nathaniel Philbrick’s sweeping history of the California Gold Rush traces how fortune seekers, slavery, political ambition, and the railroad helped shape the modern nation
Nathaniel Philbrick’s new book provides an in-depth exploration of the California Gold Rush, detailing its impact on the state’s demographic, political, and economic transformation from…
How to Read a Castle: Understanding Medieval Fortress Features
Medieval castles across the UK combined natural terrain and engineered features like moats, arrowslits, crenellations, and portcullises to enhance defense and symbolize authority. These elements,…
Max Hastings Reflects on Final Years of World War II
Historian Max Hastings revises the narrative of World War II’s end in Europe, revealing that intense combat and high casualties persisted well beyond Hitler’s suicide…
Historic images reveal devastating impact of Dambusters raid
A new exhibition titled "After Me, The Flood" opens next week at the International Bomber Command Centre, showcasing previously unseen materials about the 1943 Dambusters…
The lasting impact of Britain’s slave trade on its progress
Historian William Pettigrew’s new research reveals that Britain’s economic and social development was deeply shaped by the transatlantic slave trade, linking slave-generated wealth to major…
House Speaker Moves Up 2 Seats at Official Dinners in Capital
President John F. Kennedy’s administration has restored the Speaker of the House to a higher rank in the official order of precedence, placing the Speaker…
Court Diary and the Role of Women in Tang Dynasty
The Old Book of Tang reveals that women in the Tang dynasty held significant roles in literature, politics, and the arts, with some appointed as…
The Qianling Mausoleum and Tang Dynasty Royal Afterlife
The Qianling Mausoleum in Shanxi province, dating back to the Tang dynasty, offers public access to several royal tombs, including that of Princess Yongtai, whose…
Glenn Curtiss’s 1910 Flight From Albany to New York City Marked Aviation Milestone
On May 29, 1910, Glenn Curtiss completed the longest flight in the U.S. at the time by flying approximately 150 miles from Albany to New…
How lucky we Jews were to have de Gaulle on our side
France is reevaluating its World War II history through new cultural works and enhanced memorials, such as a detailed museum at the former Pithiviers concentration…
Deep into the Sixties: Britain 1965-66 by David Kynaston Review
On May 17, 1966, Bob Dylan was heckled as a "Judas" at his Manchester concert for going electric, prompting him to respond with a bold…
Plunder: The Last of the War in Europe, 1945 - The Ugly Truths of the Allied Offensive
Historian Max Hastings provides a detailed and unvarnished account of the Allied crossing of the Rhine in 1945, highlighting both strategic successes and the moral…
Finding Britain’s Slave Traders Historical Documentary
Historian David Olusoga’s documentary series concludes by exploring how the Royal Navy transitioned from participating in the slave trade to actively enforcing the 1807 Abolition…
Finding Britain’s Slave Traders Series Conclusion
Historian David Olusoga revealed that the transatlantic slave trade in the 18th century expanded beyond the royal court to involve widespread networks across government, finance,…
Boer republic’s challenge to Rhodes’ great power gambit
Two short-lived Boer republics, Stellaland and Goshen, united in 1883 to form the United States of Stellaland, challenging British colonial ambitions in South Africa's North-West…
Wall offers window into origins of Paris
Archaeologists uncovered a 22-meter-long Gallic wall dating to the late Iron Age during construction at Hôtel Dieu hospital on Paris’s Île de la Cité, supporting…
A ruff guide to Tudor England
A leading Tudor historian has shared insights from her work on the genealogy series "Who Do You Think You Are?" and introduced her new interactive…
Unearthed medieval church sheds light on Greenland’s Viking past
Archaeologists discovered a 13th-century medieval church near Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland, revealing details about the organization and religious practices of Viking settlers. This finding highlights…
Finding Britain’s Slave Traders with David Olusoga
David Olusoga’s new historical series examines Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, focusing on key figures like John Hawkins and royal involvement, as well…
Did Jefferson Have Children With Hemings? New Tests Say Yes
A new genetic study led by Douglas W. Kurin confirms with high certainty that Thomas Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings by sequencing Jefferson’s genome…
Slave trade reality
A letter to the editor contests the depiction of Britain as broadly engaged in the slave trade by citing that only about 0.2 percent of…
Civil War Documents Tell Story of Man Accused of Being a Confederate Spy
A collection of 19 Civil War-era documents related to Baltimore steamship agent John Williams, accused of spying for the Confederacy, has been put up for…
Ancient Rome’s biggest fresco and mosaic open
Authorities in Rome have unveiled the largest known ancient Roman fresco and mosaic ensemble, dating to the first century A.D., located within the Baths of…
Ex-Armed Forces Minister Al Carns Makes Arnhem Memorial Jump
Former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns joined a commemorative parachute jump over Arnhem to mark the 65th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, replicating the historic…
Analysis of Virginia Slave Owner’s Family History
Historian Alan Taylor’s new book "Tower Hill" uses extensive family archives to expose the brutal realities and lasting legacies of slavery on the Blow plantation…