BBC History Magazine

BBC History Magazine aims to shed new light on the past to help you make more sense of the world today. Fascinating stories from contributors are the leading experts in their fields, so whether they're exploring Ancient Egypt, Tudor England or the Second World War, you'll be reading the latest, most thought-provoking historical research. BBC History Magazine brings history to life with informative, lively and entertaining features written by the world's leading historians and journalists and is a captivating read for anyone who's interested in the past.

WELCOME CHRISTMAS 2024

THREE THINGS I'VE LEARNED THIS MONTH

THIS ISSUE'S CONTRIBUTORS

ANNIVERSARIES • DANNY BIRD highlights events that took place around Christmas in history

Should Britain be proud of its past? • Are Britons right to celebrate their national story? Or are the nation's historical misdeeds a cause for shame? Should we even be posing this question? We asked four historians to offer their perspectives

MICHAEL WOOD ON… • A PIONEERING MEDIEVAL HISTORIAN

HIDDEN HISTORIES • KAVITA PURI on how an artificial hill in Berlin played a key role in the Cold War

Phoney war

BBC History Magazine

Why sex was a sin • Celibacy barely merits a mention in the Bible. Yet, by the early Middle Ages, it was being celebrated as a shortcut to a seat next to God. Diarmaid MacCulloch explores Christianity's long love affair with sexual abstinence

LESS SEX, MORE POWER? • How celibacy helped early Christian women find their voices

BLACK AMERICA ON BRITISH AIRWAVES • Sixty years ago, inspired by the tumultuous civil rights struggle in the US, BBC Radio aired a groundbreaking series of documentaries, music and drama exploring black culture. David Hendy explains how African-American voices were beamed into British living rooms

Q&A • A selection of historical conundrums answered by experts

THE FATHER FROM HELL • Cleopatra's fate has long overshadowed the story of her predecessor, Ptolemy XII. But, as Diana T Nikolova explains, it's impossible to understand the daughter's downfall without exploring the father's hapless reign

FROM ALEXANDER TO CLEOPATRA • A timeline of the Ptolemies

the history of dogs • Chris Pearson reveals surprising facts about humanity's evolving relationship with its canine companions over the centuries

STILL THE GREATEST? • On the 150th anniversary of Winston Churchill's birth, David Reynolds ponders whether the wartime leader remains top dog in the pantheon of British history

Keep smiling • What can history teach us about how to find joy? Katie Barclay shares five lessons from the past about the pursuit of happiness

Who killed James III? • A portentous witch, a sinister cleric, a blood-soaked shirt – Gordon McKelvie delves into the mysterious murder of a Scots king who had legions of enemies eager to see him dead

2024 BOOKS OF THE YEAR • It's been a superb year for history writing, with a plethora of books that enable us to rethink the past and make sense of the present. Here, a panel of historians recommend the titles they've most enjoyed, from the glories of ancient India to the dark days of World War Two

ENCOUNTERS

EXHIBITIONS

Young lions

HISTORY COOKBOOK

Delhi in five places • The modern capital of India was preceded by seven cities founded by successive powers and conquerors. CHANDRIKA KAUL picks five landmarks from its history

CHRISTMAS QUIZ 2024 • ‘Tis the season to test your knowledge of all things historical with our fiendish festive quiz

PRIZE CROSSWORD

A festive bundle of brilliant new history books worth over £200 • Enter our crossword competition for the chance to win a stack of...