The Expulsion of the Jews of Spain
Graham Noble examines the origins and traces the consequences of the notorious Edict of 1492.
Medieval
The Cross and the State
Christopher Tyerman explains why he believes the crusades were important in shaping the ideology and fiscal and political structures of the secular state.
Was Leonardo a Christian?
The beliefs of the man who painted some of the most famous Christian images are shrouded in mystery. Alex Keller coaxes Leonardo da Vinci’s thoughts out of some little-known personal writings.
Universal Projects for the Universal Man
The artist, scientist, botanist, anatomist, engineer, inventor and all-round genius Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) used paper in a unique way.
The Crusades of St Louis
Simon Lloyd assess the achievements and legacy of France's idealised royal crusader.
Caliph Uthman Murdered
Richard Cavendish describes how Caliph Uthman was murdered on 17 June 656.
What Did Medieval Schools Do For Us?
Nicholas Orme returns to the classroom to find out how boys, and girls, were educated from the Anglo-Saxons to the Tudors; and finds that the foundations of our education system were laid during this period.
The Fall of Constantinople
The final moments of Byzantine control of the imperial capital.
The Vanishing Vision: Late Medieval Crusading
Nigel Saul discusses attempts to revive the crusading zeal in late medieval Europe and explains why they failed to rekindle the fervour of the earlier movement.
Saints or Sinners? The Knights Templar in Medieval Europe
What did medieval contemporaries think of military orders such as the Knights Hospitaller and Teutonic Knights? Helen Nicholson investigates.