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This replica painting from the Cave of Altamira in northern Spain recreates some of the remarkable Upper Palaeolithic images created by early humans between 35,000 and 14,000 years ago. Celebrated for their vivid depictions of animals and handprints, Altamira’s cave paintings are among the earliest known examples of human artistic expression.

General prehistory

Think men were always the hunters? Stone Age women took down mammoths too – and that's not all

This 1st-century BC mosaic from the House of the Faun in Pompeii depicts a tragic dramatic mask, a powerful symbol of Roman theatrical culture. Masks like this were central to performances, allowing actors to embody gods, heroes, and emotions on stage.

Ancient Roman theatre was a powerful weapon of empire, so why were actors' lives so tragic?

Isabel Allende and Inés Suárez

My history heroIsabel Allende chooses Inés Suárez

General History

Quiz of the weekWhat was the real name of the author who used the pen name James Herriot?

Rob Brydon and Rita Forrester

History TV and radio in the UK: what's on our screens this week?

A painting shows a topless woman sitting up in bed, holding her hand against the face of the man leaning over her

What did the Tudors think was ‘good’ sex? These tips and tricks were key to relationships in the 16th century

HistoryExtra AcademyTudor life, with Ruth Goodman

Ask the Tudor expert! Join our live Q&A with historian Ruth Goodman

Four small terracotta masks in a line. The two in the middle have black hair and beards, one with a white face and the other with an orange face. The ones on either end are plain beige faces.

The making of Rome's monster

Members of the Vanderbilt family return to Miami Beach aboard the yacht Alva, c.1930. Descended from one of America’s wealthiest dynasties, the Vanderbilts continued to symbolise privilege and opulence into the 20th century — long after the height of their Gilded Age power.

Could you survive in the vicious Gilded Age? Here are the original influencer's secrets to success

Two men stand next to each other holding large guns. They are dressed in black suits and ties with sunglasses and are standing against a blue and black background. Above them, the words "MIB: MEN IN BLACK" are written

Gray Barker: UFO conspiracy theorist

Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919), the Scottish-American industrialist who built a steel empire in the late 19th century, speaks with colleagues in this photograph. Renowned for both his business success and later philanthropy, Carnegie championed education, libraries, and scientific advancement as part of his belief in the philanthropy. (Photo by Getty Images)

History’s smallest billionaire? Meet the tiny titan who was, briefly, the richest man alive

An illustration depicting five stone hands piled on top of one another, on a small patch of grass, against a pink background

Let’s get things done together, like the builders of Stonehenge did

A black and white photograph of three men in military uniform. The man in the middle, is holding his arm out pointing to something in the distance and to his left, is a man using binoculars

The Stalingrad of Africa: the story of the battle for Tunis

This bust represents Hannibal, the famed general who led Carthaginian forces against Rome during the Second Punic War. As a descendant of Phoenician settlers, Hannibal embodied the military might and maritime legacy of Carthage.

General ancient history

The overshadowed ancient empire that rivalled Rome with maritime might and an iron fist

New issue November BBC History Magazine

November 2025 issue of BBC History Magazine out now!

Coming up in the next issue of BBC History Magazine…

Coming up in the December 2025 issue of BBC History Magazine

This illustration depicts Viking ships arriving in Britain. Though produced centuries after the earliest raids, it reflects how the impact of Norse invasions remained vivid in medieval memory and manuscript culture.

Forget the longships: this is the overlooked story of how the Vikings dominated eastern Europe

Author/veterinarian Dr. James Alfred Wight (pen name James Herriot) holding up a black cat that he is examining at his veterinary surgery. (Photo by Ian Cook/Getty Images)

Who was the real James Herriot?The true story behind All Creatures Great and Small

This 16th-century portrait depicts Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler (1431–1476), a Wallachian prince infamous for his brutal rule and defence against the Ottoman Empire.

Vlad the Impaler was medieval Europe's bloodiest warlord, but is the scale of his murder just a myth?

This 6th-century matrix from Torslunda, Sweden, was used to create helmet plaques depicting armed figures — likely berserkers — wearing horned helmets with bird motifs and animal masks. Such imagery evokes the warrior culture later embraced by Viking champions like Thorkell the Tall, a famed Jomsviking commander known for his fierce loyalty and shifting allegiances during the early 11th century.

Who was Thorkell the Tall? The pragmatic Viking warrior who fought for (and against) all sides

On 27 January 1943, ARP wardens attend the funeral of victims killed in a daylight bombing raid — including several children and teachers. Such scenes were tragically common during the Second World War, as civilian areas remained vulnerable to Luftwaffe attacks despite improved air defences.

Second World War

Why were these British Second World War burials draped with Nazi flags?

The real Edward Guinness, Earl of Iveagh (right), played by Louis Partridge (left)

Who was the real Edward Guinness of House of Guinness?

Arthur Edward Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, played by Anthony Boyle

Who was the real Arthur Guinness of House of Guinness, and what happened to him?

The characters of Ellen Cochrane (right) and her brother Patrick seem to take inspiration from some real figures within the Fenian cause (left shows an illustration of a Fenian demonstration in Hyde Park in the 1860s)

What was the Fenian Brotherhood? And was Ellen Cochrane real?

Anthony Boyle and Louis Partridge star as Arthur and Edward Guinness

Is House of Guinness a true story? Here’s the real history behind the Netflix drama

This 1896 portrait shows Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-American steel magnate whose fortune helped build libraries, universities, and cultural institutions across the English-speaking world.

Skip the office and give your money away: a Victorian billionaire’s guide to financial triumph

History Extra subscriptions with Tesco

On 31 August 1939, children from Chelsea line up with their belongings, ready to be evacuated from London as war looms. Part of a nationwide effort to move civilians — especially children — to safety, the evacuation began just days before Britain entered the Second World War.

Second World War

The biggest misconceptions about WW2 evacuees? This historian has the answers

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