Volume 31 Issue 1 January 1981

Ian Bradley looks at the history of a topical political issue

Mark Jones looks at the cultural power of messages on medals.

Michael Crowder looks back over 30 years of history publishing

The invasion of Poland by Tsar Alexis of Russia in May, 1654, marked the emergence of his country as a major European power. As Philip Longworth argues here, it was also to inaugurate, albeit indirectly, a decisive stage in the Westernisation of Russia.

Renee and Raj Isar look at this Mughal site at Agra, India.

Maggie Black looks at the political uses of dining in 18th century England

Thurstan Shaw presents a special feature on human attempts to manipulate and control natural resources

Japan had two great infatuations with the West: in the 1870s and during the American occupation of 1945-52. Forsaking traditional isolationism, Japan welcomed Western ideas and customs with open arms, and according to Jean-Pierre Lehmann, what resulted was not an ersatz Western culture but one that retained a distinct national identity