History: Civilisations, Empires & Turning Points
Explore the people, events and decisions that shaped the past, from ancient civilisations and imperial expansion to conflict, industrial change and social upheaval. Our historical explainers examine causes, consequences and the evidence behind familiar narratives. Discover how historians interpret the past and why some questions remain contested.
The Cuban Missile Crisis: What If It Turned Hot?
The Cuban Missile Crisis: What If It Turned Hot?
The Cold War’s 8 Inflection Points: The Decisions That Nearly Ended the World
The Cold War’s 8 Inflection Points: The Decisions That Nearly Ended the World
Magna Carta to Parliament: How England Built Constraints on Power
Magna Carta to Parliament: How England Built Constraints on Power
The History of Money: Before Coins, Before Banks, And Whats Next?
The History of Money: Before Coins, Before Banks, And Whats Next?
Heisenberg vs Oppenheimer: The Atomic Bomb Race Was Decided by Capacity, Not Genius
Heisenberg vs Oppenheimer: The Atomic Bomb Race Was Decided by Capacity, Not Genius
Iran’s Unfinished Crisis: Why Protests Keep Returning and What Changes Next
Iran’s Unfinished Crisis: Why Protests Keep Returning and What Changes Next
Blitzkrieg: Why Nazi Germany’s “Lightning War” Worked (1939–41) and Why Modern Armies Still Chase It
Blitzkrieg: Why Nazi Germany’s “Lightning War” Worked (1939–41) and Why Modern Armies Still Chase It
Golden Globes History and Controversial Moments: From Hollywood Outsider Club to Industry Flashpoint
Golden Globes History and Controversial Moments: From Hollywood Outsider Club to Industry Flashpoint
What Caused the Iran Hostage Crisis—and How a Trump-Style Response Might Have Changed It (1979–1981)
What Caused the Iran Hostage Crisis—and How a Trump-Style Response Might Have Changed It (1979–1981)
Ancient DNA Britain Is Rewriting Early Britain—But Not the Way People Think
Ancient DNA Britain Is Rewriting Early Britain—But Not the Way People Think
Greenland Sovereignty: The History of Who Owns the Arctic’s Biggest Prize
Greenland Sovereignty: The History of Who Owns the Arctic’s Biggest Prize
Has the United States Ever Captured Another Country’s Leader? A Short History of U.S. Seizures of Foreign Rulers (1901–2026)
Has the United States Ever Captured Another Country’s Leader? A Short History of U.S. Seizures of Foreign Rulers (1901–2026)
Why the Titanic Sinking Was Such a Disaster—and the Causes Ranked
Why the Titanic Sinking Was Such a Disaster—and the Causes Ranked
If the Axis Won World War Two: Three Plausible Futures, Compared
If the Axis Won World War Two: Three Plausible Futures, Compared
JFK: The Evidence That Keeps the Conspiracies Alive
JFK Conspiracies: Evidence, Theories, and Unresolved Gaps
