The Birth of Science in a Darkened Room
The father of modern optics could not have succeeded had he not feigned madness.
History Today
‘The Vietnam War Reexamined’ and ‘Vietnam’s American War’ review
A look at the Vietnam War from two contrasting perspectives.
Return of the Ayatollah: Iran’s Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became a lightning rod for the mass protests which overthrew the Shah of Iran in 1979, but the causes of the Iranian Revolution lay elsewhere.
Mothers of the Mongol Empire
Women may be largely absent from traditional accounts of the Mongol conquests, but they played a crucial role in creating the largest of all land empires.
New York’s Forgotten Subway
Problems with public transport are almost as old as New York itself. One proposed solution was nothing but hot air.
The Dream of Constantine
A mythical turning point in the history of Europe.
Do all revolutions end badly?
Four historians consider the desirability of profound political change and the methods used to attain it.
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Mythical tales of giants are rooted in geological realities.
Men of Music, Art, Letters and Law
The late-medieval papal chapel was a powerful jewel in the papal tiara.
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.