Natural history: Did you mean...?

Between 1450 and 1750, new maritime technology allowed European states to reach the Americas, Africa, and Asia by sea for the first time, linking the Eastern and Western Hemispheres in...

In this gallery, we look at how humans have made their private homes through history. From Denisova caves to Kikuyu huts, we see through archaeological remains, reconstruction images and pottery models what is...

Many events can be said to have changed history, and not everyone might agree with all of those chosen for this collection, but – undeniably – these twelve would appear somewhere on...

Buddhism began in the region of modern-day India, founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha, l. c. 563-c. 483 BCE), and developed between c. 400-383 BCE before it spread to other regions through the efforts of the Mauryan king...

Winning battles and forging empires was not just about numbers but also the quality of the troops at any commander's disposal. The best-trained, best-equipped and most experienced fighters could be moulded into devastating...

The British East India Company (EIC) was founded as a trading company in 1600. Run by a board of directors in London, the company employed a private army, first to protect the trade it conducted in the Indian...

Many of the drinks we enjoy today such as wine, beer and tea have a very long history indeed and this collection examines some of those beverages and their cultural importance not just in daily life but also in rituals...

With industrialization, a small number of states gained the ability to project power across the globe. Steamships, railroads, machine guns, and anti-malaria drugs allowed European...

This map collection explores the geopolitical transformation of Europe between 1914 and 1949. From the First World War (1914-18) and the collapse of empires to the rise of fascism, communism, and totalitarian...

The Crusades were a series of military campaigns waged between Christians and Muslims, Christians and pagans (the Northern Crusades), and Christians against Christians (the Fourth Crusade and the Albigensian Crusade...