General ancient history

The Fountain of Arethusa on Ortygia, the historical heart of Syracuse, separated from the main city by a small channel. (Photo by Alamy)

General ancient history

My favourite place: Syracuse, Sicily

The history of birthday presents dates back to the Roman period. (Photo by Lambert/Fototrove/Getty Images Plus)

Q&AWhen did people start giving birthday presents?

A view of a calander showing the date, Friday the 13th. (Photo by William C. Shrout/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

10 historical superstitions we carry on today

With its huge bell and five-storey pagoda, Sensoji Temple is one of Tokyo's most popular –and venerable – landmarks. (Photo by Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

My favourite place: Tokyo, Japan

Spies through the ages podcast

Spies through the ages. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The history of today. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Husband and wife Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling (Madame Chiang), pictured at their wedding in 1928. The pair “dominated Chinese politics for two decades [and] were among the most prominent non-westerners on the planet throughout the 1930s and 1940s”, says Rana Mitter. (Photo by Granger Historical Picture Archive/Alamy Stock Photo)

Six lives that shaped China

The Sultanahmet district in Istanbul, Turkey, which is classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. (Photo by DOZIER Marc via Getty Images)

A new civilisation rises

An engraving from Ulrich Molitor’s ‘On witches and female soothsayers’, depicting witches bringing down the rain. Germany, 15th century. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

A spell-binding history of witches

Chinese terracotta soldiers

Terracotta Army: secrets from the grave

A combo picture of two images taken 13 August 2002 at Cairo Museum shows a foot of a mummy missing its big toe and beside it a prosthetic toe of leather and wood to replace the amputated real one. (Photo by Marwan Naamani/AFP/Getty Images)

Q&AHow long have people used prosthetic limbs?

16th century engraving depicting a man with leprosy

Q&AHow did doctors treat leprosy?

Clay soldier statues of the Chinese Qin dynasty. (Photo by Getty Images)

The six ages of China

Making of Blodeuwedd, the false flower-woman of Welsh myth. (Photo by Ivy Close Images/Alamy)

Celtic myths: the tales that might have inspired Star Wars and Harry Potter

White horse of Uffington

Who were the Celts?

19th-century men in traditional dress, Marken Island, Netherlands.

General ancient history

Q&AWhen were trousers first worn?

Photo of ancient public toilets

General ancient history

Q&AHow old is the toilet seat?

Photo of Derinkuyu Underground City

Q&AHave people ever lived underground?

The many lives of India

The stretch of the Great Wall at Mutianyu, China

General ancient history

My favourite place: The Great Wall of China

Photo of pipe and tobacco

Q&ADid people smoke anything before tobacco was discovered?

Engraving of a brewery

General ancient history

Q&AWho made the first booze?

Photo of archaeologist revealing a skull

General ancient history

Q&AWho was the first archaeologist?

Photo of a salt cellar

Q&AWho do we say 'with a pinch of salt'?

Q&AWere the pagan English gods the same as the Viking gods?

Illustration of the Zodiac Man

General ancient history

Q&AWhy did physicians ‘bleed’ their patients?

A noisy history of the world

The call for the First Crusade was initially made by Pope Urban (pictured) in 1095. (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

Britain and Islam: a matter of faith

Ye olde travel guide: Aksum AD 537. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Ptolemy World map. Artist: Germanus, Donnus Nicolaus (ca. 1420-ca. 1490)

Ptolemy's maps: the father of modern Geography