Ottoman Empire 2.0?
Across the Balkans, relics of Ottoman glory and decline, such as mosques, bridges and hamams, exist in various states of disrepair. Can they be brought back to life?
Volume 69 Issue 3 March 2019
The Dream of Constantine
A mythical turning point in the history of Europe.
Smith, Kant and de Gaulle
The relationship between France, Germany and Britain is at the heart of the European story. Three historical figures embody it.
‘Globalization in Prehistory’ by Nicole Boivin and Michael D. Frachetti review
The origins of globalisation can be found in the deep past.
The Riot Police who Revolt France
France’s elite police unit is being compared to the SS – not for the first time.
A Short History of Sushi
The ancient origin of sushi, the Japanese dish of humble beginnings that conquered the world.
‘Imperial Boredom’ by Jeffrey A. Auerbach review
The promise of exotic thrills in distant lands built up expectations which inevitably collided with a mundane reality in the British Empire.
On the Spot: Daisy Dunn
‘I’d be disappointed if I didn’t meet Emperor Claudius in the afterlife.’
K Syndrome: The Disease that Saved Lives
During the Holocaust, one Italian hospital’s invented disease helped save Jews and anti-fascists from the occupying Nazis.
Marshall Myths
Britain received more Marshall aid than Germany, but spent much of it propping up a delusion.