Italy

Vivid experiences: a self-portrait of Artemisia Gentileschi, the Italian Baroque artist whose brilliant renderings of biblical and classical scenes earned her commissions from some of the most powerful figures in 17th century Europe. (Photo by Araldo de Luca/Corbis via Getty Images)

Artemisia Gentileschi: how pain powered the great 17th-century artist

People gather around the Mona Lisa painting after its return in January 1914

Mona Lisa heist: how do you steal the world’s most famous painting?

Roman republic

Your guide to the Roman Republic

Marble relief depicting the Praetorian Guard, legionnaires and elite soldiers. In the Louvre, Paris, France. (Photo by Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images)

The Praetorian Guard: the emperors’ fatal servants

Pompeii,Italy

What was life like in ancient Pompeii? Mary Beard shares an A-Z guide

Marble bust of Nero

Emperor Nero: the tyrant of Rome

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Protesters demonstrate against a US military base at Santo Stefano in 2005

Sardinia: the legacy of the notorious shepherd-bandits of the mountains . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Portrait of Isabella d'Este in Red by Pieter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). (Photo by Getty Images)

Rethinking the Renaissance . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Black and white image of the Victorian memorial statue of Florence Nightingale 1820-1910 in London, England, UK who was an English nurse known as 'the lady with the lamp, who cared for wounded soldiers in the Crimean War

Why Florence Nightingale was so much more than the ‘Lady with the Lamp’

Postcards from the past competition

Postcards from the past: Aged between 6–13? Enter our exciting lockdown competition

Spartacus is now associated with political upheaval, as in the 1919 Spartacist uprising.

Who were the gladiators of ancient Rome? Plus Spartacus, Crixus and 8 more fighters you should know

Engraving of emperor Commodus's death

Cheese, angry gods and shoddy surgeons: the unlikely deaths of Roman emperors

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Self portrait by Artemisia Gentileschi as a lute player (Photo by Getty Images)

The genius of Artemisia . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Pompeii wall painting depicting an erotic satyr and nymph

In bed with the Romans: a brief history of sex in Ancient Rome

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Illustration of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19). (Photo by Alamy)

Coronavirus: what might we learn from pandemics in the past? . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.