Ethiopian children watching a play

Africa

Female warriors from Benin

Q&AHas there ever been a women-only army?

Bet Giorgis, Ethiopia

My favourite place: Northern Ethiopia

A portrait of greek scientist Claudius Ptolemy

Books interview with Steven Weinberg: "The history of science can prevent us from making the mistakes of the past"

How to lead like Saladin

Cover of the Voyages Extraordinaires series by the French science fiction writer Jules Verne.

The phantom menace: 10 milestones in science fiction

Photo of bees

First World War

Q&AWhat was the Battle of the Bees?

One of the statues of Ramesses II at Luxor temple, which is "a wonderful place to spend a few hours". (Getty)

My favourite place: Luxor, Egypt

Pliny the Elder depicted in a mid-12th century miniature, writing and giving his book to Roman emperor Vespasian. (Photo by Photo12/UIG/Getty Images)

My history heroPliny the Elder (AD 23–79)

A painting in the cave of Altamira, Spain

The rise of Homo sapiens

The step pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara

Q&AHow many pyramid tombs are there in Egypt?

What did people eat in Ancient Egypt?

Bust of Emperor Alexander Severus

The LibraryAncient Rome in crisis

Archaeologist Howard Carter opens the coffin of Tutankhamun. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

How did Tutankhamun die?

Portrait of Hendrik Witbooi

My history hero: Hendrik Witbooi (born c1830)

Nelson Mandela and wife Winnie Mandela upon his release from prison. (Photo by Allan Tannenbaum/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)

My history heroNelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Ye olde travel guide: Goree, 1782

Napoleon in exile

Q&AWhy was Napoleon exiled to St Helena?

Illustration of the Zodiac Man

General ancient history

Q&AWhy did physicians ‘bleed’ their patients?

Portrait of Miranda Kaufmann. (Image by Jeni Nott)

History explorer: Africans in Tudor and Stuart Britain

African history special

An Egyptian mummy receiving a CT scan

Looking inside ancient Egyptian mummies

Tasmanian aborigines and the historic importance of the River Nile

Photo of Lincoln Cathedral

Q&AWhat overtook the Great Pyramid of Giza as the tallest manmade structure?

Journalist Ruth First, pictured right, at Anti-Apartheid Movement's freedom day rally in Trafalgar Square, London in 1965. Also pictured are actor Patrick Wymark (left) and Bishop Reeves (middle). (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

My history hero: Ruth First (1925-82)

Discovering Tutankhamun

Historian at the Movies: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom reviewed

Ed Morrison with Nelson Mandela. (Image: Ed Morrison)

When I met Mandela: 1995 Rugby World Cup final

Nelson Mandela special

Nelson and Winnie Mandela days after his release, 1990. (Photo by Gideon Mendel/Corbis)

Nelson Mandela: “a symbol of the struggle against racism”

Self-portraits: How people took selfies in the past