Culture

Mosaic in the Roman villa of Casale, near Piazza Armerina, Sicily, Italy, showing women exercising. (Photo by Peter Thompson/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

7 things you (probably) didn’t know about Roman women

Ireland podcast

General Early Modern

Ireland’s past and present

First built in 1576, the Globe theatre burnt to the ground in 1613. During a performance of the play now known as 'Henry VIII', a set of stage cannons were fired and a piece of flaming material from one of the cannons landed on the theatre’s thatched roof, causing the fire. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

5 facts about Shakespeare’s Globe theatre

A view of the Globe Theatre, Bankside, London c1600. During a performance in 1613, a set of stage cannons were fired and a piece of flaming material from one of the cannons landed on the theatre’s thatched roof, causing a fire. (Photo by Epics/Getty Images)

The Globe theatre fire of 1613: when Shakespeare’s playhouse burned down

Chastity belt decorated with a flower design and a heart pierced with arrows. (SSPL/Getty Images)

13 weird historical facts

An illustration of a group of supposed witches being beaten in front of King James VI and I, the most notorious royal witch-hunter of all time, c1610. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

A brief history of witches by Suzannah Lipscomb

perry800-c5754de

Life of the Week: Fred Perry

An illustration of a group of supposed witches being beaten in front of King James VI and I, c1610. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Shakespeare’s Macbeth and King James’s witch hunts

The city of Bern, Switzerland. "I loved the pace of life in Bern, and the nature – the river, the alps, the great-quality dairy products," says Seán Williams. (Photo by Chinnaphong Mungsiri via Getty Images)

My favourite place: Bern, Switzerland

Prohibition protesters parade in a car emblazoned with signs and flags calling for the repeal of the 18th Amendment, which outlawed the production and consumption of alcohol in the United States. (Archive Photos/Getty Images)

“A great social experiment”: your guide to prohibition

A group of men wearing togas assault Julius Caesar in this painting depicting his assassination.

Violence, rebellion and sexual exploitation: the darker side of Ancient Rome

Bearded Victorian man. (Photo by Getty Images)

A brief history of beards

Freddie Mercury – born Farrokh Bulsara – on stage at Brondby Hallen, Denmark. (Photo by Jorgen Angel/Redferns/Getty Images)

My history hero: Freddie Mercury (1946–91)

From The Library

Old Wardour Castle

Britain’s 7 most amazing ruins