Roman

A portrait of the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer (c1340-1400), who modern literary scholars credit for turning Valentine into the patron of love. Chaucer was a major influencer in his day – after him, everyone began calling their beloved “Valentine” and writing love poems on 14 February, says Lisa Bitel. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

A brief history of Valentine’s Day – from the patron saint of epilepsy to Chaucer’s love tales

Detail of the processional frieze Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome. (Photo by Alamy)

Politics, Roman style

A statue of the Roman emperor Augustus in Augsburg, Germany

After the empire: the fall of Roman Britain

Roman toilet

Tales of the toilet: a historical A–Z

Charles I's great weakness was that he made a strict distinction between his role as king, in which he could not compromise, and his personal role, which was entirely pleasant and courteous, says Sean Lang. (Photo by Imagno/Getty Images)

8 of the nicest kings in history

Despite popular belief, Gladiatorial fighting was not the most popular entertainment in Ancient Rome. (Photo by Alamy)

10 things you (probably) didn’t know about the Romans

Daisy Dunn.

The destruction of Pompeii

An open Bible on an altar

General ancient history

A history of the Bible: who wrote it and when?

A young girl in an ancient Roman fresco

Q&A Were girls educated in ancient Rome?

The engine houses of Botallack mine in Cornwall

A visit to Botallack Mine, Cornwall

Marble bust of Emperor Caligula. (DEA / A. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini/Getty Images)

The 8 bloodiest Roman emperors in history

Emperor Nero and the fire in Rome

Q&A Did Emperor Nero really play the fiddle while Rome burned?

One of the earliest and most famous examples of extremism comes from ancient Rome. Starting in 264 BC and continuing for more than a century, Rome engaged in a series of wars with neighbouring Carthage. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

A brief history of extremism – from ancient Rome to al Qaeda

Winchester Cathedral

From King Alfred to Jane Austen: a historical tour of Winchester

The ancient Greek physician Dioscorides

General ancient history

Happy plants and laughing weeds: how people of the ancient world used – and abused – drugs