General Modern

An engraving depicting London's Piccadilly Circus heaving with crowds on their way to The Great Exhibition of 1851. A banner reading 'God save the Queen and Prince Albert' has been strung across the street. Within the Crystal Palace some 100,000 objects were displayed – taking up ten miles of space – the work of 15,000 contributors. (Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images)

From the Great Exhibition to the Festival of Britain: the decline and fall of the British empire

Mary, Queen of Scots

9 of the worst monarchs in history

Richard Nixon resigns

A brief history of presidential impeachment

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie in profile: facts about her life

Elizabeth I preferred thoughtful new year gifts suited to her own tastes such as cloth, personal jewellery and trinkets. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Sobriety, royal presents and Victorian-era musings on failure: an unexpected history of New Year

HistoryExtra Christmas quiz 2020

Our 2020 Christmas quiz

A Victorian Christmas card

HistoryExtra’s Christmas history quiz 2020

The British poster for 'Mary, Queen of Scots' (2018). Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth I and Saoirse Ronan as Mary Stuart. (© Focus Features / courtesy Everett Collection)

The best historical TV shows and films to stream right now

Chris Harding gives a lecture on Japan’s attempts to carve out a place for itself in a world dominated by western power and culture

Japan and the west

Richard III, Queen Victoria and Henry VIII. (Photos by Getty Images)

Monarchy history quiz: test your knowledge of these kings and queens

Alfred Nobel (Bettmann/Getty Images)

The history of the Nobel Prizes

Robert Colls discusses the importance of sport to English society over the past 200 years. (Image by Getty Images)

England’s sporting obsession

Even the ancient Egyptian played board games – this fresco from the tomb of Nefertari shows the queen playing Senet

8 of the best historical board games for history lovers

'Merry Christmas' Victorian illustration of Santa Claus holding toys and blowing on a trumpet, chromolithograph, 1915. (Illustration by GraphicaArtis/Getty Images)

Father Christmas and Santa Claus: a brief history of two Christmas champions

A2YTPA St Nicolas In Holland 2

Zwarte Piet: the history behind the Christmas controversy