History Today

Irene Coltman Brown argues that Lord Acton foresaw that the course of modern nationalism, no longer subject to moral law, 'will be marked with material as well as moral ruin'.

Neither the Greeks nor the Romans paid much attention to the achievements or customs of the peoples that they conquered. As Jenny Morris shows here, in the case of their Jewish subjects this indifference caused problems that had both religious and political repercussions.

A.A. Powell on a new exhibition and publication from the British Library.

Charles Mordaunt, Third Earl of Peterborough, 1658-1735, is probably best remembered as the captor of Barcelona in 1705. Aram Bakshian Jr. shows that, in addition to being a soldier, he was also 'a sailor, courtier, conspirator, diplomat, wit and rake'.

Ian Kershaw on an English translation of a German history of Nazi government

Though the real inspirations are obvious, James Clavell’s Shogun ‘exaggerates and often distorts the historical reality’ of feudal Japan.

Maggie Black continues her seasonal history of food and popular culture with a look at this period of autumnal celebration at Harvest End.

J.L. Pimlott looks at Military Administration and the Historian.

Taking the waters became a Victorian passion and spa towns flourished. In this article the first prize winner in History Today's Essay Competition Pamela Steen, a student at the Open University, describes the pleasure and the pains of this fashion.

Irene Coltman Brown provides an insight into Tocqueville, who, reflecting on the history of revolutionary France, thought that liberty alone was capable of struggling successfully against revolution.