Adolphe Sax’s Brass Wars
A battle of wills between Adolphe Sax and musical instrument makers in 19th-century France saw an unprecedented legal contest unfold.
History Today
The Firebombing of Tokyo
American air raids on Japan’s capital burned the city in March 1945, killing 80,000 people in one night alone. ‘Had to be done’, said the general who ordered it.
Diocletian’s Great Persecution
On 23 February 303 Roman emperor Diocletian embarked on his Great Persecution of the empire’s Christians. Why?
The Great German Peasants’ War
More than 100,000 people took up arms across the Holy Roman Empire in the spring of 1525. What drove them? And why were they ultimately crushed?
Searching for the Soul of the Beaver
Are beavers beasts or fish? For medieval philosophers, this was an important question with implications for the dining table.
‘The Crowd in the Early Middle Ages’ by Shane Bobrycki review
A tool for tyrants... or their undoing? The Crowd in the Early Middle Ages by Shane Bobrycki crafts a history for the medieval mob.
On the Spot: Geoffrey Parker
‘What historical topic have I changed my mind on? I underestimated the role of women.’
‘The Brothers Grimm: A Biography’ by Ann Schmiesing review
The Brothers Grimm: A Biography by Ann Schmiesing brings folklore’s most famous double act out of the shadowy realm of legend.
Doing Business with Russia
Russia’s entry into the global economy was met with glee by international firms in the early 1990s. The exodus has been just as sudden.
The Englishman Who Cried ‘Let Ireland Go’
In 1920 the English writer Jerome K. Jerome set out the arguments in favour of Irish home rule.