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Christina, Queen of Sweden

General History

LGBTQ people who changed the world

Mosaic of Neptune, Roman god of the sea carrying his trident and riding in a chariot pulled by horses with dolphin tails

General History

Water gods and sea goddesses: 17 water deities from world history

Statue of William Wallace in Aberdeen

General History

Traitor or FaithfulBritish history's most notorious treason cases

Strange and surprising pastimes of the Regency Ton

Alice Mitchell stabs her lover, Freda Ward, to death, shown in a contemporary illustration. A court declared that the killing was an act of insanity.

Victorian murder scandalsWhat six killings tell us about women's lives in the 19th century.

Ladies in Tudor costume in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. (Photo by Steve Vidler via Alamy)

7 things you (probably) didn't know about Tudor fashion

Archimedes heat ray sets fire to Roman ship

Archimedes’ greatest inventions and discoveries

Portrait of Elizabeth Linley

8 scandals that shocked Georgian Britain

A formal portrait of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig on horseback at Poperinghe. Haig was Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front, 1915 - 1918, 12 September 1917.

First World War

10 WW1 generals you should know about

St Andrew, in St Andrew chapel, depicted at his crucifixion displayed in the manner known as the Saltire cross

St Andrew’s Day: 11 things you might not know about Scotland’s patron saint

Both adults and children were required to attend church – candle in hand – on the festival of Candlemas. (Image by Getty Images)

Medieval church calendarA guide to the holy days

A medieval illustration showing a doctor bleeding a patient

General History

A history of medicine14 surprising facts

Statue of Ramesses II, at Luxor Temple. He ruled Egypt for 66 years, and left more statues than any other pharaoh (Photo by Michelle McMahon / Getty Images)

5 of the most powerful pharaohs to rule ancient Egypt

President Reagan laughs following a joke by Queen Elizabeth, who commented on the lousy California weather she had experienced since her arrival to the States. The British Queen is delivering a brief address during a state dinner held at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. (Picture by Bettmann/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth's relationships with US presidents

Elizabeth II poses for a portrait in Buckingham Palace in December 1958

Queen Elizabeth II50+ facts about her life and reign

A portrait of silversmith Paul Revere, with his head resting on his hand.

19 key figures of the American Revolution, from royals to revolutionaries

General History

The history rich list: the 10 wealthiest people ever

A young woman sat in front of a mirror applies lipstick, 1967

The price of beauty: the dangerous cosmetics used until the 20th century

Amelia Earhart, Princess Diana, Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks and Marie Curie. (Photo by Getty Images)

20 inspirational quotes from women through history

Mary Stuart, shown here in a painting after Nicholas Hilliard, might have been a good queen, says Kate Williams, but the odds were stacked against her. (Image by Superstock)

Who betrayed Mary, Queen Of Scots?

Captain Edward Teach, better known as 'Blackbeard', a pirate who plundered the coasts of the West Indies, North Carolina and Virginia. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The most famous and despicable pirates from history

General History

7 real moments in history you might think are made up

Winston Churchill delivering his famous 'iron curtain' speech at Westminster College

Second World War

8 of Churchill’s greatest speeches

A 12th century tapestry showing, on the left, one eyed Odin carrying an axe, with a representation of the tree from which he hung; in the centre, Thor, carrying his symbolic hammer in his right hand; and on the right the fertility god Frey holding an ear of corn

10 incredible Viking stories from Norse mythology

Viking sailors make the long voyage across the Atlantic between Europe and America, in order to bring back timber, circa 1350. The Vikings are thought to have discovered America in around 1000 AD, but never attempted full colonization of the new land, due to the hostile natives. Painting by NC Wyeth. (Image by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

"Vikings didn't wear horned helmets," plus 7 more Viking myths busted

Colourful illustration of 12 historical figures's heads (Winston Churchill, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Thomas Cromwell, Richard III, Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Anne Boleyn, William Marshal, Jane Austen, Hatshepsut, Gandhi and Catherine the Great) shown in a grid pattern.

Top historical figures: 100+ of the most famous people through history – in chronological order

First World War

10 surprising facts about First World War uniforms

A mother receives her newborn baby in a c1490 text written for Henry VII. Childbirth in the Middle Ages exposed both mother and child to great peril but, writes Elma Brenner, midwives had the expertise to intervene when complications arose. (Photo by Bridgeman)

The medieval childbirth guide: 6 tips for pregnant mothers in the Middle Ages

8 historical reasons behind Anne Boleyn’s appearance in Princess Diana film Spencer

A mosaic that shows two Roman women exercising, one holds a flower and another holds a leaf

7 things you (probably) didn’t know about Roman women