Death

The murder of Thomas Becket

Q&A: What happened to the assassins who killed Thomas Becket?

An 18th-century public execution and crowd

Q&AWhen did people stop attending public executions in Britain?

One of the earliest and most famous examples of extremism comes from ancient Rome. Starting in 264 BC and continuing for more than a century, Rome engaged in a series of wars with neighbouring Carthage. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

A brief history of extremism – from ancient Rome to al Qaeda

Peasants in the Middle Ages at a cattle market. Cows appear to have been difficult to manage in the medieval period, and caused several deaths. (Photo by INTERFOTO /Alamy)

5 strange causes of death in the medieval period

Funeral of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme

Who killed Olof Palme?

"For those of noble birth who were condemned to die, execution by beheading (which was considered the least brutal method of execution) was used until the 18th century," says criminologist and historian Lizzie Seal. This illustration depicts the execution of Charles I in January 1649. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

A brief history of capital punishment in Britain

Queen Victoria pictured c1862 during her period of mourning

Prince Albert: the death that rocked the monarchy

Dramatic view of the sun setting over a megalithic tomb and stone circle. (Dreamstime)

Egypt’s lost tombs. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An Aztec priest performing the sacrificial offering of a living human's heart to the war god Huitzilopochtli. (Photo by Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images)

General ancient history

Q&AHow many people did the Aztecs sacrifice?

A 14th-century Flemish illustration depicting the burying of plague victims in coffins in Tournai in 1349. (Photo by Granger Historical Picture Archive/Alamy Stock Photo)

Black Death: “Oh father, why have you abandoned me?”. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The execution of Charles I. (Photo by Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

Murder, conspiracy and execution: six centuries of scandalous royal deaths

The death of Stalin. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Seeking eternity: 5,000 years of ancient Egyptian burial

“I’ve been close to death nine times”: John Simpson on life as a foreign correspondent

Illustration of electric chair

Q&AWho invented the electric chair?

16th century engraving depicting a man with leprosy

Q&AHow did doctors treat leprosy?

(Photo by Getty Images)

Q&AHow did ancient Egyptians mummify a body?

Henry VIII. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Q&AHow many executions was Henry VIII responsible for?

The step pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara

Q&AHow many pyramid tombs are there in Egypt?

Picture of Chrysippus of Soli

Q&AHas anyone ever died of laughter?

Archaeologist Howard Carter opens the coffin of Tutankhamun. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Mansell/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

How did Tutankhamun die?

Q&AWhy do we say 'saved by the bell'?

Victorian burials and the history of psychology. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

BBC History Magazine

Top 10 bizarre photo galleries

"People in the Middle Ages coped better with death than we do"

What are the origins of the ‘mutes’ that attended Victorian funerals?

When did the practice of funeral rings begin/end and how widespread was it?