Religion

Pope Francis celebrates a priesthood ordination and mass in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP via Getty Images)

Sex and the (Vatican) City: a brief history of clerical celibacy

Henry III during the Second Barons' War

The barons’ crusade: why rebel lords waged holy war against Henry III

The perimeter fence of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz. (Photo by Getty Images)

Second World War

Auschwitz and the Holocaust: 5 podcasts to listen to

Podcast Website Large Steve Tomkins

Puritans and the Mayflower

Illustation of a pope

Holy smoke, antipopes and power struggles: a guide to popes and the papacy

An illumination depicts medieval women embroidering

Medieval misconceptions: 12 myths about life in the Middle Ages – busted

A monk and his mistress

Monks behaving badly

Pope John XVII

Q&A: Has there ever been a married Pope?

Three monarchs who stepped down through history: Kaiser Wilhem II; Anne of Cleves; and James VII and II. (Images by Getty)

Retiring royals: 9 rulers and royals who stepped down through history

Ayatollah Khomeini

General ancient history

A brief history of Iran

The weather was a matter of great concern to everyone during the Middle Ages, as society was dependent on agriculture and poor harvests could lead to real hardship. (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Jumping beans, throwing shoes and weather forecasting: medieval ways to look ahead to the New Year

Westminster Abbey, London

A brief history of Westminster Abbey

'The Last Supper', 1803. A copy of the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the 1490s. Some think the superstition about Friday 13th being unlucky is related to the Last Supper, when 13 people were present at the meal before Jesus's crucifixion on Good Friday. (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Q&A Why is Friday 13th considered unlucky?

A stained glass depiction of the nativity.

General ancient history

The history of the nativity: how much is known about the birth of Jesus?

(Illustration by Davide Bonazzi for BBC World Histories magazine)

Is the world still living in the shadow of the crusades?