Social

From isolation to Great Power status: Richard Perren explains how a mania for Westernisation led to Japan's transformation at the turn of the century.

Nicholas James audits the societies and civilisations decimated by the arrival of Europeans - and tells how, against the odds, elements from them have survived.

Martin Evans looks at the aftermath of the struggle for Algerian independence from France.

What would have happened if the native Americans had been left to their own devices? Brian Fagan probes the rise and fall of Aztec and Mayan society and proffers some intriguing observations.

Dipesh Chakrabarty looks at the dialogue between nationalism and the inspiration of Marx in the formation of the world's largest democracy.

Leonore Davidoff on how women's history has been interwoven with debates on society and identity and its prospects for durability.

Judy Litoff and David C. Smith sift through the hopes and fears of America's home front in this selection and commentary of letters they have assembled from wives, mothers and sweethearts during the Second World War.

Damien Gregory reports on protests surrounding the explorer's quincentenary celebrations.

Julia Simpson on a new museum celebrating the clog shoe

Robin Blackburn describes how the message of liberte, egalite, fraternite, acted as crucial catalyst for race and class uprisings in Europe's Caribbean colonies.