Sex, Scandal and the Supernatural
Peter Marshall explains how a chance reference in an old local history book led him to reconstruct the story of a 17th-century church scandal, and its afterlife in literature, culture and politics.
Religion
The Church in the Middle Ages
Marius Ostrowski explains why the Church was so dominant in the Middle ages, but also sees traces of a growing secularism.
Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust
F.G. Stapleton seeks to understand why the Pontiff of 1939-58 has been called ‘Hitler’s Pope’.
Hezbollah’s Long March out of the Shadows
While Hezbollah often hits the headlines, its history is less familiar. The emergence of Shia militancy in Lebanon was centuries in the making.
The First Christmas Tree
Contrary to popular myth, it wasn't Prince Albert but another German royal transplant who introduced the Christmas tree to Britain: Queen Charlotte.
The Expulsion of the Jews of Spain
Graham Noble examines the origins and traces the consequences of the notorious Edict of 1492.
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.
Death of St Ignatius Loyola
The founder of the Society of Jesus died on July 31st, 1556.
Caliph Uthman Murdered
Richard Cavendish describes how Caliph Uthman was murdered on 17 June 656.