Q&A

'The Last Supper', 1803. A copy of the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the 1490s. Some think the superstition about Friday 13th being unlucky is related to the Last Supper, when 13 people were present at the meal before Jesus's crucifixion on Good Friday. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Q&A Why is Friday 13th considered unlucky?

c1955: A child pulls toilet paper from a roll. But what did humans do before toilet paper was invented? (Photo by Mac Gramlich/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

General ancient history

When was toilet paper invented and what did people use before?

Engraving depicting the assassination of Julius Caesar

Q&A What are the Ides of March?

(Illustration by Glen McBeth for BBC History Magazine)

Q&A What sort of relationship did Mary Tudor have with Thomas Cromwell?

Welsh flag, featuring a dragon. The red dragon of Wales dates back to Roman times. (Photo by Getty Images)

Q&A Why does the Welsh flag feature a red dragon?

c1900: Relief depicting Roman officials and praetorians.

Q&A Did Roman men dodge their military service?

A postcard showing for women hunting for a man with guns and dogs.

Why do women propose in a leap year?

Pope John XVII

Q&A: Has there ever been a married Pope?

Crystal Palace

The Crystal Palace was constructed of iron and glass – so how and why did it burn down?

Marshal Foch and his accompaniment leaving Compiègne in order to inform the French government in Paris about the Armistice agreement with Germany. (Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

First World War

Where was the Armistice signed?

Portrait of Henry V

Q&A Why is Henry V's portrait in profile?

Photo of a gramophone

Q&A Who do we say 'put a sock in it'?

The Lockheed U-2 shares little in common with a flying saucer. (Image by Alamy)

Q&A How did Area 51 become associated with aliens?

The capture of the pirate Blackbeard, 1718. Painting by JLG Ferris. One of history’s most notorious pirates, Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Teach almost certainly had a West Country twang because he was born in Bristol in around 1680. (Photo by Bettmann via Getty Images)

Q&A Did most English pirates really talk with a West Country accent?

Baked loves of bread

Q&A Why are there 13 items in a Baker’s Dozen?