Sport and leisure

Spartacus is now associated with political upheaval, as in the 1919 Spartacist uprising.

Who were the gladiators of ancient Rome? Plus Spartacus, Crixus and 8 more fighters you should know

American athlete Jesse Owens and German long-jumper Carl Ludwig 'Luz' Long.

5 acts of kindness that changed history

Men play kemari ball game

Q&A Who played the sport of kemari?

The card game cribbage

General Early Modern

Q&A Why do we say ‘level pegging’?

The Ashes urn, a cricketing trophy

In pictures: The Ashes through history

Wrestlers in ancient Greece

Q&A How did ancient athletes prepare for the Olympics?

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An Indian cricket team in imperial Britain. (Photo by Elliott & Fry/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

An Indian cricket team in imperial Britain . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

WM Woodfull of Australia ducks to avoid a rising ball from Harold Larwood of England during the Fourth Test match at Brisbane on the infamous 'Bodyline' Tour of Australia. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

4 historical cricketing curiosities

England Women's World Cup squad, Mexico, 1971

The 1971 Women’s World Cup: game changers?

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The Lord's pavilion

Lord’s cricket ground: the mecca of the sport . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Arthur Ashe in action at Wimbledon, where he won the men's singles title in 1975. (Photo by Ed Lacey / Popperfoto / Getty Images)

My history hero Tracy Austin chooses Arthur Ashe . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The Scotland women’s team, featuring international star Rose Reilly (centre, pictured playing in a French league), played their first official international match in 1972. (Photo by Daily Record/Mirropix/Getty Images)

A history of women’s football in Scotland

(Image by Bettmann/Getty)

10 photographs that made history

Charlton Hetson races a chariot in Ben-Hur

Wacky races: 10 weird and wonderful contests through history

A portrait of Fridtjof Nansen, taken after his daring expedition across Greenland. (Image by Alamy)

My history hero Paul Rose chooses Fridtjof Nansen