HistoryExtra
type: channel
link: https://www.historyextra.com
description: The official website for BBC History Magazine
date: 2025-01-27T19:11:48.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Timeline: the rise and fall of the Third Reich
items: Do you know all the major periods in British history?
items: Napoleonic Wars timeline: the key dates you need to know
items: Countdown to disaster: a timeline of the last hours of Pompeii
items: Seven key moments in the history of Malta
items: Timeline: the pharaohs and dynasties that ruled ancient Egypt
items: WW2 timeline: 20 important dates and milestones you need to know
items: When did Titanic sink and how long did it take? A timeline of the disaster
items: 13 remarkable moments in the history of the Oscars
items: Timeline: a history of prisons in Britain

Timeline: the rise and fall of the Third Reich
type: item
date: 2025-01-27T16:45:18.000Z
creator: Roger Moorhouse
subject: Period
subject: Second World War
description: Historian Roger Moorhouse charts the rise and fall of Nazi Germany, from the end of the First World War to the Third Reich's collapse in 1945
encoded: 1918-1919: The end of the First World War and the birth of the Weimar Republic 9 November 1918: The German monarchy collapses as Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates and a new republic is established under the leadership of Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). 11 November 1918: Germany signs an armistice, effectively ending World War I. January 1919: The constitution of the new German republic is drafted, establishing a democratic parliamentary system, under a presidency. However, the new republic faces immediate challenges from extremist movements on both the left and right-wings, and due to unrest in Berlin, the constituent assembly for the new republic was held in the city of Weimar – thereby giving it its name. HistoryExtra Academy | Nazi Germany This six-part video course covers everything you need to know about Nazi Germany, guided by historian, author and broadcaster Laurence Rees Find out more 1919-1923: The Weimar Republic and economic instability January 1919: The German Workers' Party (DAP), is established in Munich by railway worker Anton Drexler. It would be the precursor to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), later known as the Nazi Party. June 1919: The Treaty of Versailles is signed, officially ending the war. It imposes harsh terms on Germany, including reparations, territorial losses and a controversial “war guilt” clause, fostering widespread resentment among the German populace. September 1919: Adolf Hitler joins the DAP after attending a party meeting. February 1920: Under Hitler’s growing influence, the NSDAP presents its manifesto – the “25-Point Program” - which includes demands for the abolition of the Treaty of Versailles, the expansion of Germany’s territory, and the establishment of an authoritarian regime. July 1921: Hitler assumes leadership of the NSDAP, becoming its most prominent figure. Autumn 1923: Hyperinflation, resulting from the printing of money to finance the war, begins to seriously undermin…

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Do you know all the major periods in British history?
type: item
date: 2024-10-09T07:00:44.000Z
creator: Lauren Good
subject: General History
subject: Period
subject: Evergreen
description: Journey through the ages of Britain, from prehistory through to modernity…
encoded: The history of Britain can be broken down into several distinct periods, each with their own role to play in the changes and impact on the character of the country we know today. Explore the history with this timeline: Prehistory (Before AD 43) Prehistory refers to the period of human existence before the development of written records. In Britain, that lasted until the Roman invasion. The Stone Age, beginning with the use of the earliest stone tools, saw humans transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers in the Palaeolithic, to the end of the Ice Age around 12,000 years ago when Britain was first inhabited, to settled agricultural communities during the Neolithic thousands of years later. Around 2500 BC, the Bronze Age emerged with the discovery of metalworking, which enabled the production of stronger tools and weapons, leading to the rise of early civilisations. This was followed by the Iron Age around 800 BC, when the mastery of iron inspired more advanced technologies and reshaped societies. This marked the transition toward recorded history. In the absence of written records, Britain’s prehistory is known through archaeological discoveries, from ancient cave paintings to monumental structures like Stonehenge. More from us on prehistory HistoryExtra members can explore this topic further with exclusive content from our archives Your guide to Britain’s prehistoric stone circles “Graves are like time capsules – little microcosms of prehistoric culture”: Alice Roberts on what bones and burials can tell us about early Britain Neanderthal in the mirror: our changing perceptions of these ancient humans What was life like in the Iron Age? Plus 6 places in Britain to explore Roman (AD 43–c410) At its peak, the Roman empire controlled nearly two million square miles of land and ruled over one in four people across the world. Following the conquest of Britain by Emperor Claudius, this superpower would govern for almost four centuries. They brought monumental changes to ever…

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Napoleonic Wars timeline: the key dates you need to know
type: item
date: 2023-10-17T06:22:27.000Z
subject: Georgian
subject: Period
subject: Evergreen
description: Jeremy Black charts Napoleon’s rise to power in Revolutionary France and the dramatic chain of events leading up to his final defeat at Waterloo
encoded: 20 April 1792 – Start of the French Revolutionary Wars Three years into the French Revolution, France’s Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria, fearing that it will launch an invasion in a bid to restore the absolute monarchy of Louis XVI. A Prussian-led coalition army attempts to march on Paris in September, but it is defeated at Valmy, around 108 miles from the capital. The first stage of the French Revolutionary Wars – commonly known as the War of the First Coalition – is now underway. 22 September 1792 – The French Republic is born Emboldened by the victory at Valmy, the revolutionaries abolish Louis XVI’s constitutional monarchy and proclaim the new French Republic. In November, General Charles François Dumouriez leads an army into the Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium) to prevent an invasion of France via the Low Countries, defeating the main Austrian force in the region at the battle of Jemappes. 21 January 1793 – Louis XVI is executed Having been convicted of high treason, Louis XVI is beheaded by guillotine in what is now Place de la Concorde, Paris. The execution sparks outrage among the monarchies of Europe. 1 June 1794 – Britain’s ‘Glorious First of June’ With Britain now part of the coalition of powers fighting France, a fleet led by Admiral Lord Howe attacks 26 French warships sent to escort an American grain convoy into Brest. The vital convoy does reach France, but superior British gunnery costs the French seven warships (six captured and one sunk) and 5,000 casualties. 14 February 1797 – Spain is defeated at Cape St Vincent With Spain now allied to the French Republic, Britain’s Admiral Sir John Jervis (pictured below) and 15 warships attack a Spanish fleet of 27 off southern Portugal. Thanks to a melee created by the then-commodore Horatio Nelson, British captains win several individual ship encounters. Their superior rate of fire has a deadly effect and four Spanish ships are captured. 21 July 1798 – Battle of the Pyramids A young general, N…

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Countdown to disaster: a timeline of the last hours of Pompeii
type: item
date: 2023-08-23T22:51:56.000Z
creator: Nige Tassell
subject: Period
subject: Roman
subject: Death
subject: Life in ancient Rome
description: Pompeii was a bustling Roman city, home to thousands of people living in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Nige Tassell charts the terrifying events of AD 79 that saw Pompeii, and nearby Herculaneum, transformed into an ash-covered hellscape of destruction and death
encoded: Four days before the eruption 11:00 Minor earth tremors gently shake Pompeii, but not enough for any of its citizens to stop going about their day-to day business in this bustling, prosperous city. Minor earthquakes are common here in the region of Campania; the residents barely notice. The collective opinion is that there’s nothing untoward about this morning’s seismic activity. This is despite the enormous and devastating earthquake that hit Pompeii in living memory. In AD 62 (sometimes recorded as AD 63), the city was severely damaged and a tenth of its 20,000-strong population killed. Almost all of its adult population will have lost at least one loved one or friend in that giant quake, but an air of possible complacency pervades its rebuilt streets. The markets are busy, the trade is brisk. Everything appears to be normal. View oEmbed on the source website First day of the eruption 10:00 Those minor tremors are still being felt across Pompeii, and have been for the last four days. Yet its citizens still appear to be unconcerned. No one is heeding what will later be interpreted as warning signs. The markets are still busy, the trade is still brisk. It’s another typical morning without note. But then comes lunchtime... 13:00 Shortly after noon, as residents are stopping to refuel, Mount Vesuvius roars into life. Inside the mountain, the pressure caused by molten rock – the origin of the tremors felt over the past few days – has grown to such a point that there’s no way back. It has to escape, and so Vesuvius erupts for the first time in several centuries. A huge column of volcanic rock and ash is sent soaring as high as 10 miles into the air. What had been a typically cloudless summer’s day is very quickly extinguished by a cloud of volcanic debris, spreading swiftly to block out the early afternoon sun. It is the darkest of clouds for what will be the darkest of days for Pompeii and its residents. The explosion is unfathomably violent, unfathomably large. Each a…

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Seven key moments in the history of Malta
type: item
date: 2023-03-20T12:47:02.000Z
creator: Kev Lochun
subject: General History
subject: Period
description: Once traded for a falcon, collectively awarded the George Cross, besieged and coveted by world powers the globe over – Malta’s history is full of fascinating stories. Here are seven key moments from the tiny Mediterranean nation’s tumultuous past…
encoded: Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean some 58 miles south of Sicily, the archipelago of Malta is small – it is the 10th smallest country in the world by area, in fact – yet nonetheless it has played an oversized role in history. A natural harbour, whoever holds Malta has easy access to Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East, something not lost on the powers of world history. Since the first people on the islands arrived around 5,900 BC, Malta has fallen under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, crusaders, French, British and others, before finally becoming an independent nation in 1964. It has witnessed wars and strife, vanishing cultures, and the possible shipwrecking of a saint. It was traded for a bird of prey, became a pilgrimage hotspot on the sea route to the Holy Land, and witnessed the creation of one of the first planned cities in Europe. It served as a sanctuary for the exiled Mehmed VI after the dissolution of the Ottoman empire and was lauded as the ‘Nurse of the Mediterranean’ for its part in treating soldiers injured at Gallipoli during the First World War. Malta’s past is chequered and complex. Here are seven key moments that have shaped the islands, and the world around them. The disappearance of the temple builders – 2500 BC Temple culture bloomed in Malta around 3600 BC. More than a millennium before the construction of the great pyramid of Giza or the raising of the trilithons of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, the ‘temple people’ built the first of a string of megalithic marvels that can be counted among the oldest free-standing structures in the world. Today, six of these complexes spread across Malta and Gozo – Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Ta' Ħaġrat, Skorba and Tarxien – are counted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Their purpose remains clouded, though collectively they point to the people of the period having a ritualistic culture, with one tantalising clue being the prevalence of statuett…

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Timeline: the pharaohs and dynasties that ruled ancient Egypt
type: item
date: 2022-10-31T05:51:18.000Z
creator: Charlotte Hodgman
subject: Ancient Egypt
subject: General ancient history
subject: Period
description: Charlotte Hodgman tracks 3,000 years of pharaonic rule – from the reigning dynasties, to key moments in ancient Egyptian history
encoded: Early dynastic period, c3000–2686 BC 1st Dynasty: c3000–2890 BC First pharaoh: Aha (c3000 BC–unknown) Last pharaoh: Qa‘a (unknown–2890 BC) 2nd Dynasty: 2890–2686 BC First pharaoh: Hetepsekhemwy (2890 BC–unknown) Last pharaoh: Khasekhemwy (unknown–2686 BC) Key information: The era directly following the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt in c3100 BC, the Early Dynastic Period sees a capital city established at Memphis. Old Kingdom, 2686–2160 BC 3rd Dynasty: 2686–2613 BC First pharaoh: Nebka (2686–2667 BC) Last pharaoh: Huni (2637–2613 BC) 4th Dynasty: 2613–2494 BC First pharaoh: Sneferu (2613–2589 BC) Last pharaoh: Shepseskaf (2503–2498 BC) 5th Dynasty: 2494–2345 BC First pharaoh: Userkaf (2494–2487 BC) Last pharaoh: Unas (2375–2345 BC) 6th Dynasty: 2345–2181 BC First pharaoh: Teti (2345–2323 BC) Last pharaoh: Nitiqret (2184–2181 BC) 7th and 8th Dynasties: 2181–2160 BC Several ephemeral kings ruled in the 7th Dynasty, most of whom took the name of Neferkara – probably in imitation of the throne name of Pepy II (6th Dynasty, 2278–2184 BC). The short-lived 8th Dynasty was equally unstable and saw the collapse of the Old Kingdom system of control. Key information: The first true, flat-sided pyramids are built during the reign of Sneferu (founder of the 4th Dynasty), in place of the step pyramids commonly found in the 3rd Dynasty. Sneferu’s son, Khufu (2589–2566 BC), builds the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the Great Sphinx follows, probably during the reign of Khafre (Khufu’s son and successor, 2558–2532 BC), together with a second pyramid. The third pyramid at Giza is probably built during the reign of Khafre’s successor, Menkaure (2532–2503 BC). Egypt splits into several political units after the 94-year reign of Pepy II (6th Dynasty). Ancient Egypt facts The land of the pharaohs is famous for its huge pyramids, its bandaged mummies and its golden treasures. But how much do you really know about ancient Egypt? Was the Great Pyramid built by slaves? How did mummificatio…

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WW2 timeline: 20 important dates and milestones you need to know
type: item
date: 2022-05-17T09:02:00.000Z
subject: 20th Century
subject: Period
subject: Second World War
subject: Evergreen
subject: Second World War battles
description: Lasting six years and one day, the Second World War started on 1 September 1939 with Hitler's invasion of Poland and ended with the Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945. Here, we trace the timeline of a conflict that engulfed the world, with expert insight from Professor Jeremy Black and the late Terry Charman on 20 key milestones…
encoded: The Second World War was the deadliest and most destructive global conflict in history, claiming the lives of more than 50 million people. Adolf Hitler started the war in 1939 when his German forces invaded Poland. When did WW2 start? 1 September 1939 When did WW2 end? 2 September 1945 | Read more about the end of WW2 Which countries were involved? WW2 involved almost every part of the world. But the key players were the Axis powers on one side (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and on the other side the Allies (France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and, to a lesser extent, China) How many people died? It has been estimated that 50 million soldiers and civilians died in WW2 Why did WW2 happen? We can now say without equivocation that this was Hitler’s war, say expert historians including Professor Richard Evans, Sir Ian Kershaw and Laurence Rees | Read more about why WW2 happened Read on for a timeline for a list of the most important dates and milestones of WW2… Clash near the Marco Polo Bridge, close to Beijing, 7 July 1937 The triggering of the full-scale war with China that lasted until 1945 began with an obscure clash involving a Japanese unit on night manoeuvres near the Marco Polo Bridge southwest of Beijing on the night of 7–8 July 1937. The Japanese felt the nation’s honour had been challenged and sent fresh forces to the region. Hardliners in the Japanese army used the incident to press for a settlement of China on their terms, while the Chinese nationalist leader, Jiang Jieshi, was unwilling to propriate Japan. As a result, an intractable struggle began that greatly weakened both sides. Large-scale conflict broke out toward the end of July, and Beijing was occupied on 29 July. By Professor Jeremy Black WW2 | The Big Questions Member exclusive | Historian and broadcaster Laurence Rees explains major moments of the global conflict in this five-part series. Listen to all episodes now The German invasion of Poland, 1 September 1939 The Second W…

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When did Titanic sink and how long did it take? A timeline of the disaster
type: item
date: 2022-04-13T09:49:10.000Z
subject: 20th Century
subject: Edwardian
subject: Period
description: As day turned to night on 14 April 1912, little did passengers and crew on board Titanic know of the horrors that lay ahead. Nige Tassell tracks a timeline of how the disaster unfolded…
encoded: When did Titanic make contact with the iceberg that caused the devastating sinking? How long did it take for the ship to go under? And how long before other ships arrived to aid the survivors? This timeline tracks the disaster, hour-by-hour… 14 April 1912 09:00 | Having left Southampton four days earlier on its maiden voyage, Titanic’s radio operators receive their first warning about drifting ice in the area to which the ship is heading. The message, delivered by RMS Caronia, tells of the presence of "bergs, growlers and field ice" (growlers being smaller, hard-to-spot bergs) a day or so’s sailing from Titanic’s current position. A little more than an hour later, a telegraph arrives in the hands of Titanic’s captain, the highly experienced Edward J Smith, a man with more than 40 years at sea under his belt and who had previously captained Titanic’s sister ship, Olympic. Smith thanks Caronia, part of the fleet of the rival Cunard Line, for the warning. Read more | Where & how was Titanic built? 11:00 | Due to high winds, Captain Smith decides to cancel Titanic’s first lifeboat drill. This will prove to be significant when the evacuation of the ship becomes frantic almost 13 hours later. 13:42 | Another warning comes Titanic’s way, this time from the Greek ship Athenai, relayed via RMS Baltic. It cautions the crew about "passing icebergs and large quantities of field ice" in the area. The chairman of the White Star Line, J Bruce Ismay, is on board Titanic; he always travels on the maiden voyages of his ships. Smith informs Ismay that a sharp lookout will be kept and that ice will be seen in time to avoid it, given the calm and clear weather conditions. Titanic keeps to the longer steamer track to New York, which is advised during the iceberg season. 19:20 | The radio operators pick up further reports, this time issued by SS Californian, of three large icebergs. This message is delivered to the bridge by radio operator Harold Bride, where it is posted on the notice bo…

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13 remarkable moments in the history of the Oscars
type: item
date: 2022-03-22T14:00:13.000Z
creator: Ellie Cawthorne
subject: 20th Century
subject: General Modern
subject: Period
subject: TV interest
description: When was the first Academy Awards? How many Oscars did Titanic (1998) win? Here's everything you needed to know about the history of the most notable event in the film industry...
encoded: When was the first Academy Awards? The Academy Awards were first held in 1929, and each year the film industry awards gold-plated statuettes – commonly called Oscars – in a glittering and star-studded ceremony. Who was Oscar – and why were the gold statuettes named after him? Officially the Academy Award of Merit, everyone knows the golden knight holding a sword and standing on a reel of film as Oscar. Cedric Gibbons, art director at movie studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, gets the credit for designing the statuette but not for naming it. There are three theories. Hollywood journalist Sidney Skolsky always maintained he thought it up as a less-grandiose antidote to the pretentiousness of the award ceremony. Meanwhile, actor Bette Davis claimed she once remarked the statuette’s backside resembled that of her husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson. The most likely winner, however, is Margaret Herrick, a librarian at the Academy, who said the knight (not just his bum) looked like her uncle Oscar. Who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award? Hattie MacDaniel won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as ‘Mammy’ in the 1939 Civil War epic Gone With the Wind. How many Oscars did Titanic (1998) win? With 14 nominations and 11 wins, the blockbuster epic Titanic (1997) dominated the Academy Awards in 1998. Which role has won Oscars while having two different actors playing the character? Vito Corleone – played by Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1973) – was the first character to have two different actors win Academy Awards for playing him. The Joker is another example of this occurrence; actors Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix both won Oscars for their portrayal of the unhinged Batman nemesis. The history of the Oscars: 13 key moments 1929 Academy Awards: The first ceremony takes place Founded by Louis B Mayer, head of MGM studios, in 1927, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was intended as …

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Timeline: a history of prisons in Britain
type: item
date: 2021-06-04T09:55:13.000Z
subject: 20th Century
subject: General Modern
subject: Georgian
subject: Industrial revolution
subject: Medieval
subject: Period
subject: Victorian
subject: Victorian crime and punishment
description: What are the key dates to know about in the development of prisons in Britain? Rosalind Crone shares 14 milestones in the evolution of imprisonment, from the Norman conquest to the Victorians…
encoded: In an episode of our ‘Everything you wanted to know’ podcast series, Rosalind Crone answered key questions on the history of prisons in Britain, from what life was like in Victorian prisons to the real state of the food. Listen to the full episode here and find out more about key milestones below… 1078 | The construction of the central keep of the Tower of London, built by William I following the Norman conquest of England. The Tower was first used as a prison for enemies of the king in about 1100. 1166 | The Assizes of Clarendon, a series of ordinances through which Henry II ordered sheriffs of every county to build gaols to keep in safe custody those accused of felonies (serious crimes) until they could be tried by the newly created itinerant royal judges (justices of the assize). From about the 12th century, the obligation to establish and maintain a gaol in order to keep the peace was included in royal charters granted to towns. These gaols were the responsibility of the towns’ corporations (or governing bodies). 1352 | Imprisonment for debt, previously confined to those who owed money to the crown, was extended to those who owed money to private individuals. Read more: What was it like to be a Prisoner of War during the Hundred Years’ War? 1556 | Bridewell Hospital in London became a ‘house of correction’ for idle apprentices, rogues and vagabonds, disorderly women and petty offenders. The idea of the bridewell or house of correction to manage social problems associated with poverty spread across England and Wales, so that be the early 1600s there were approximately 170 such institutions. Not only did the bridewell foster the use of sentences of imprisonment for petty offenders, but it also introduced the notion of ‘reform’, that imprisonment could be used not just to punish but to transform criminals or the socially deviant into more productive members of society. 1777 | The publication of John Howard’s State of the Prisons in England and Wales, which exposed …

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