All About History

SCAN TO GET OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER At the time of writing, we're inching our way closer to the coronation of Charles III here in the UK. I imagine a few of you, dear readers, were fortunate enough to witness our last coronation on TV. However, for mos

From ancient Egypt to your high-street bakery, we explore the history of the food upon which civilisations were built ■

The ancient legend of the Loch Ness Monster has fascinated people for centuries, with supposed sightings having been reported throughout history. In 1934 the first photograph of the Monster was allegedly taken by Robert Kenneth Wilson, a doctor from

John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, is playing cards and refuses to leave the table to eat. He asks for some roast beef to be placed between two slices of bread, inadvertently inventing what becomes known as the sandwich. The signature bread of F

Since ancient times, bread has been a vital staple of diets for people all over the world. Medieval Europe was no different. Both the rich and the poor relied on bread as an integral part of their nutrition and bakeries were a crucial aspect of peopl

This relatively small and unassuming object is a bread stamp that comes from the Byzantine Empire. This particular ceramic stamp would have been used to mark bread for use in religious ceremonies. Bread stamps have been used for a variety of purposes

The inheritor of the Poilâne bakery from his father, it was Lionel who saw it become a world famous bread-making empire. He began as an apprentice at aged 14 and although originally despondent, soon became inspired to see the beauty in bread-making.

After 338 years, another Charles is on the throne in England, so what better time to reflect on the reign of Charles II? The man who returned from exile in May 1660 to assume the reins of power after the failure of a republican coup was four days sho

The luxurious Hofbäckerei Edegger-Tax is one of Europe’s oldest bakeries. In fact, although a sign on the building’s lavish exterior suggests it first began operations in 1569, author Sarah Guy in Europe’s Best Bakeries states that it may have actual

The fire began in a baker's oven in Pudding (or Rother) Lane just north of the bridge. Driven by a stiff easterly wind it fanned out, reaching the waterfront on one side and up towards Lombard Street, Poultry and Cheapside on the other. By dawn on 3

In 1066, William I (the Conqeuror) was the first English monarch to be crowned at Westminster Abbey. 957 years later, Charles III is the 40th monarch to hold their coronation in the iconic Central London church – and not much about the ceremony will

Upon hearing the name Annie Oakley, your mind might conjure up an image of a rough and ready American gunslinger: the woman who defied the norm and became the epitome of the Wild West. This image has accompanied the memory of Oakley since her death a

You don’t need to practise Confucianism to know the teachings of Confucius. From gems like ‘Silence is a true friend who never betrays’ to ‘Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it’, you’ve likely come across a handful of his pearls of wisdom.

The Inca Empire was the largest of the ruling civilisations that existed before Christopher Columbus ushered in a period of Western colonisation in the region. Long before his arrival there was Manco Cápac: founder, son of the Sun and the guiding for

Aregal dictator calmly addresses a crowd during a New Year’s Eve celebration; he speaks with stoic poise, hoping to make a grand exit as low key as possible. As he departs, followed by confidants and staff in step, guests process the grim reality of

When the crooner landed in Havana on 11 February 1947, a newsreel team happened to be there too. A still frame shows (according to government agents at the time) Sinatra situated near Chicago gangsters Joe and Rocco Fischetti (a third Fischetti, Char

Over centuries of war, betrayal, family infighting, and political manoeuvring, the Islamic stronghold on the doorstep of Christian Europe had gradually eroded. For almost 800 years the rich and refined influence of Islamic culture, architecture, cust

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was a major naval engagement fought between 23-26 October 1944 across a wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean near the Philippine Islands. One of the decisive naval battles of World War II in the Pacific, it was actually a series

Certificate: 16+ Director: Matt Ruskin Cast: Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Alessandro Nivola Released: Out now on Disney+ Between 1962 and 1964 the city of Boston, Massachusetts was rocked by a series of vicious murders. Written and directed by Matt

The Islamic world is home to some of the most splendid artistic traditions in human history, and one of the greatest collections of Islamic art can be found at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. Now a new book, Museum of Islamic Art: The Colle

Price: £27.99 Released: Out now Demonic women have existed in myth and legend for millennia. In her new book Woman’s Lore: 4,000 Years of Sirens, Serpents and Succubi, historian and author Sarah Clegg explores the idea of the monstrous woman in mytho

Director: Jon Turteltaub Starring: Leon, Doug E Doug, John Candy Country: USA Year: 1993 01 Cool Runnings tells the story of the first Jamaican bobsleigh team to compete at the Winter Olympics, in Calgary, Canada, in 1988. It shows the team only comp

The dish was likely inspired by Jubilee Chicken, from George V’s Silver Jubilee in 1935 Check out THE ULTIMATE HISTORY COOKBOOK available now The origins of this recipe date back to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 when the culinary schoo