Period

The tomb of Pharaoh Djoser, built at Saqqara

Timeline: the evolution of ancient empires

As seen in this early 19th-century depiction of an initiation, Masons have long used secrecy to

A history of Freemasonry: from Enlightenment ideals to satanic conspiracy stories

Old Norse sages describe Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir as 'the loveliest of women and nobel in every trait'. But this far-travelled Icelandic woman was eulogised largely not for her beauty and charm but as a strong-willed survivor who married three times and bore a son, Snorri, in Vinland (North America) during on of her intrepid voyages (Illustration by Lynn Hatzius)

The amazing life of a great female Viking explorer

Premium

Pectoral ornament in the form of a double headed serpent, Aztec/ Mixtec, c 1400/1521 (Photo by Getty Images)

The Aztecs: everything you wanted to know . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Premium

Dominic Sandbrook

Exclusive podcast Dominic Sandbrook on the 1980s . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Battle of Bosworth, 22 August 1485

10 things you need to know about the battle of Bosworth

Richard III. (Photo by Getty Images)

Have we completely misinterpreted Shakespeare’s Richard III?

Premium

A meeting of early 19th century Freemasons in which the an apprentice or candidate is introduced to the lodge (Photo by Alamy)

The story of the Freemasons . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain as dictator from 1939 to 1975, raises his arm in salute

Francisco Franco: is it accurate to call the Spanish dictator a fascist?

People gather around the Mona Lisa painting after its return in January 1914

Mona Lisa heist: how do you steal the world’s most famous painting?

The pilgrim fathers

Your guide to the Pilgrim Fathers, plus 6 interesting facts

Print of Hannibal ferrying his elephants over the Rhone on rafts during the Second Punic War

Your guide to... the Punic Wars

Edward the Confessor, depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry

Edward the Confessor: 9 fascinating facts

Premium

Afua Hirsch with the Samburu people, Kenya

Africa’s cultural liberation . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan: the Mongol warlord who almost conquered the world