All About History

SCAN TO GET OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER We spend a fair amount of time and space in this magazine talking about rulers. Those with power and control are often seen as the ones who shape history. That's not entirely true, but they can be helpful avatars for

In 1911 the Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, was stolen from the Louvre in Paris. The crime caused a media sensation as the police investigated. Two years after its disappearance, Italian museum worker Vincenzo Peruggia, who had worked at the

We explore the wide expanse of indigenous history in North America, from its pre-colonial years to the modern era ■

The Seven Years' War sees British and French forces battle each other to claim the area of the upper Ohio River Valley. Both sides are supported in their efforts by a number of Native American tribes. Eventually the British are the victors. The Shosh

Jingle dresses are worn by indigenous women when performing the historical jingle dance. The dance is said to have begun in the lands of the Anishinaabe and is considered to be a healing dance. It first originated around the turn of the 20th century.

The Iroquois is the name used to refer to indigenous American tribes that speak an Iroquoian language. These tribes included Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. They primarily occupied areas around what is now New York and sections of Penns

This striking wooden doll is one of a number of katsina dolls currently in the possession of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These dolls demonstrate the craftsmanship of the members of the Hopi tribe, but their importance goes beyond mere aesthetics.

The Mongols, under the brilliant, ruthless leadership of Genghis Khan, founded the world's biggest land empire. So you would assume the Mongols originated in Mongolia. Well, no. Long before Genghis rose to power, they were immigrants, moving westward

The bow was the most important weapon in the Mongols' arsenal. An ordinary bow, made of wood with a drawstring, was easy to construct, however, the Mongol bow was a completely different entity. Utilising a composite structure, with wood or bamboo, ho

Staying on trend with the latest fashion is not just a modern concern – we have been trying to look our best and beat the rest almost since time began. This obsession with the cutting edge of style, however, has often come at a cost. From broken bone

In the Greco-Roman world, forgotten cults enacted arcane rituals whose secrets historian Hugh Bowden reveals… Professor Hugh Bowden is head of classics at King's College London. He is the author of Mystery Cults of the Ancient World. In the time of t

On 19 April 1956, Lieutenant-Commander Lionel “Buster” Crabb vanished into the murky waters of Portsmouth Harbour, never to return. Crabb was a diver of some renown and had been investigating the Russian cruiser Ordzhonikidze on a secret spy mission

During World War II, Crabb earned the nickname ‘Buster' after the film star Buster Crabbe. The actor had become known for playing the space-adventurer Flash Gordon in a number of 1930s serials, as well as other pulp heroes including Buck Rogers and T

Once upon a time in medieval Paris, a man and a woman met and fell madly in love. Their names were Peter Abelard and Heloise: two intellectuals whose relationship, though ill-fated, has inspired and fascinated people through the ages. But how do we k

Christopher Columbus noted a strange historical coincidence in his diary. “In the same month in which their Majesties issued the edict that all Jews should be driven out of the kingdom and the territories, they gave me the order to undertake, with su

Of the 538 cases of witchcraft taken on by the Inquisition in the Americas, more than half of them were tried in Cartagena. The port city, founded in 1533 on top of a previous indigenous settlement named Calamari, was an important hub of Spanish trad

The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 was fought between the Russian Empire (more correctly, an Eastern Orthodox coalition led by Russia, which included Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro) and the Ottoman Empire. It was the last, and most important,

For centuries Japan had looked inward rather than out into the wider world. There had been relative peace, and a way of life that enabled a thriving population to feel comfortable in its culture and beliefs, untainted by Western influence. But in man

In the Georgian era, the dress of the royal court took on an exaggerated appearance. Dresses were bigger and wider, hair styles were taller, and jewellery and accessories were overstated and elaborately decorated. These styles were all influenced and

Christopher Nolan's latest history-themed blockbuster is an artistic triumph Certificate: 15 Director: Christopher Nolan Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon Released: Out now Genius is no guarantee of wisdom.” If there's a single line of di

Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty Country: USA Year: 1980 01 The script for the film autobiography of Jake LaMotta, the professional boxer played by De Niro in the film. As a result, it is thought to be lar

Check out THE ULTIMATE HISTORY COOKBOOK available now Did you know? The name appears to be derived from the Wampanoag word msíckquatash, which means boiled corn kernels. • Vegetable oil or lard • 2 cups of corn, tinned, frozen or fresh • 2 cups of li