Social history

An architectural grotesque of a woman displaying her vulva

How naughty was the past? The hidden depths of the medieval church

Colin Jones tells the story of Maximilien Robespierre’s fall from power – a dramatic 24 hours that ended with the revolutionary titan facing the guillotine. (Image from Getty Images)

Robespierre’s brutal downfall

Following the horrors of the First World War, people around the world set out to create “perfect” societies – with mixed results. Anna Neima charts their efforts. (Image from Getty Images)

First World War

Building utopia after WW1

Sue Pritchard, curator of a new exhibition of royal portraits at the National Maritime Museum, discusses how wigs were used to convey royal power. (Image from Getty Images)

Portraits, power and royal wigs

John Zubryzcki shares the story of the party-loving royals of the House of Jaipur, who turned to politics following Indian independence. (Image from Getty Images)

The transformation of India’s glamorous golden couple

Women munition workers stacking a reserve of shell castings during WWI

First World War

Young guns: the women and children of WW1 munitions factories

Nick Hayes discusses the contested history of land ownership in England, from William the Conqueror to the Kinder trespass. (Image from Getty Images)

A hard-fought history of trespass

Kennel Special

The surprising history of Victorian dog shows

How was it administered and by whom was it carried out? (Image from Getty Images)

Q&A: What was the punishment of being ‘burnt in the hand’?

As the world’s best athletes congregate in Tokyo for the 29th Summer Games, David Goldblatt answers your questions on the history of the Olympics. (Image from Getty Images)

Olympic history: everything you wanted to know

Dr Freya Gowrley reveals how Georgian satirists used images of fatness to comment on the anxieties of the age (Image from Getty Images)

Why were the Georgians fixated with fatness?

Crown Prince Olav on his ice yacht (Getty Images)

From Hollywood to war heroes: 10 Olympians who were more famous outside sport

Jesse Owens sprinting on a track at the Berlin Olympics.

A history of unsporting conduct at the Olympics

Alex Renton shares the story of his own family’s involvement in the slave trade, and considers how best to deal with this unwanted inheritance. (Image from Getty Images)

The slave trade: a family history

Alex von Tunzelmann explores the stories behind some of the world’s most controversial statues – and gives her take on whether they should stand or fall. (Image by Getty Image)

Should they stand or fall? The great statue debate