BBC History Magazine

The online archive of articles from BBC History Magazine

A 15th-century map of the world illustrating a Latin edition of Ptolemy's the 'Geography'. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

General prehistory

12 alternative giant leaps for mankind – from carnivorism to Magna Carta

A cartoon showing a man in a suit of armour on the moon

Q&A Did NASA really pick the brains of the Tower of London armoury when designing the first space suits?

Illustration by Glen McBeth.

Q&A When did the leopards on the royal arms of England become the lions depicted today?

A portrait of 17th-century scholar John Wilkins

Ye final frontier: the 17th-century space race

Clash between the English Temeraire and the French Redoutable ships during the Battle of Trafalgar, October 21, 1805. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

The battle of Trafalgar

New issue Aug 19

August 2019 issue of BBC History Magazine out now!

Coming up in the next issue of BBC History Magazine…

Coming up in the September 2019 issue of BBC History Magazine

Margaret Hodge has been the MP for Barking since 1994. She held a number of ministerial positions during the 1997–2010 Labour administration, and was appointed DBE in 2015. (Photo by AP/REX/Shutterstock)

My history hero: Katharine Graham (1917–2001)

Illustrations by Ian Morris.

The Civil War cross-dressers: the women who swapped dresses for breeches

Professor Dame Janet L Nelson has published extensively on early medieval Europe. She is professor emeritus at King's College London, a fellow of the British Academy and a former president of the Royal Historical Society. Her previous books include 'Charles the Bald' (1992) and 'The Frankish World' (1996). (Photograph by Frank Monks)

Books interview with Janet Nelson: “The only way this huge regime could work was by Charlemagne trusting his own instincts”

Uncertain futures: Children of black American servicemen and white British women often spent time in case, such as this group photographed at Holnicote House in Somerset. (Photo by Lesley York – Author provided)

Mixed-race babies born after the Second World War

Winner takes all: A painting shows the French ship 'Redoutable' clashing with the British 'Temeraire'. "Regardless of the victory off Cape Trafalgar, it was another decade before Britain and her allies defeated Napoleon. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

Trafalgar, a futile victory? Why Nelson’s triumph didn’t turn the tide on Napoleon

Beloved son: Henry Fitzroy shown in a c1534 miniature. Henry VIII called his illegitimate son his "worldly jewel" and showered him with titles, much to Catherine of Aragon's displeasure. (Photo by Alamy)

5 ways in which Henry VIII’s “bastard son” rocked the Tudor court

High heaven: Lindisfarne Castle rises above the beach. It's a steep climb to the castle entrance. (Photo by Alamy)

History Explorer The Holy Island of Lindisfarne