History Today

A reflection of the life and work of the leading historian of British railways, who died in September 2000

The most gifted, vivid and extraordinary of the medieval Holy Roman Emperors died on December 13th, 1250.

The brilliant inventor and engineer William George Armstrong died on December 27th, 1900, aged ninety.

Joseph Needham, one of the twentieth century’s most remarkable scholars, was born on December 9th, 1900.

The ancient town of Zeugma, now flooded by the damned Euphrates

Alistair Bonnett identifies the ingredients that produced an 'identity crisis' for white people in the early 20th century. 

Martin Johnes and Iain McLean examine the political aftermath of the Aberfan disaster.

Asa Briggs completes our Portrait of Britain series with a survey of the islands at the beginning of the 20th century.

Charles Maechling argues that the Japanese attack, which took place on December 7th 1941, was partly a response to the country's limited energy resources.