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History / World History

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Tea’s Time

The ancient drink makes a comeback

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The Past Informs the Present

In this Q & A, Caroline Alexander, author of “Faces of War,” discusses robotic faces and the timelessness of war stories

Samuel Johnson

Doctor Feelgood

Stricken by “vile melancholy,” the 18th-century critic and raconteur Samuel Johnson pioneered a modern therapy

In San Sebastián (where condos dot the beach), a real-estate boom reflects a region betting on long-term stability.

Peace at Last?

Though political tensions linger, terrorists agreed to a cease-fire this past March. Will it mean peace at last?

A group of men dressed as the communist militia from 1980s walk in Warsaw during the 24th anniversary of martial law, in 2005.

Poland’s War

Remembering martial law 25 years later

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What’s Up

Paper dolls, Josephine Baker and the Seven Years’ War

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Iraq Beyond the Headlines

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Tumult in the Philippines

A timeline of the country’s conflicts

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Soft Power

Some promising endeavors on Pacific islands

Though concerned about terrorism, Amirah Ali Lidasan (in Cotabato City) of the Moro-Christian People's Alliance, opposes U.S. aid, saying it undercuts Philippine sovereignty.

Waging Peace in the Philippines

With innovative tactics, U.S. forces make headway in the “war on terror”

These whale-oil lamps were found in the Arabia, along with bullwhips, doorknobs, pickles and more.

Time Capsule

A riverboat’s telltale contents included 133-year-old pickles. Want one?

After his son David located the Arabia under 30 feet of mud, Bob Hawley (pictured) dug in.

Pay Dirt

When self-taught archaeologists dug up an 1850s steamboat, they brought to light a slice of American life

Preservationists (including Allimam Achahi, far left, and Abdel Kader Haidara) are trying to rescue the city's rare manuscripts from centuries of neglect. "They must be protected," says Haidara.

The Treasures of Timbuktu

Scholars in the fabled African city, once a great center of learning and trade, are racing to save a still emerging cache of ancient manuscripts

Election flyer/poster distributed on behalf of Richard Nixon's campaign for Congress, 1946

An Interview with William E. Leuchtenburg, author of “New Faces of 1946”

William E. Leuchtenburg discusses the 1946 elections and how politics have changed

Federal wildlife biologists announce on November 6, 1981, that a black-footed ferret, a mammal feared extinct, has been discovered alive and well and living in Wyoming. The 2 1/4-pound male, found at home in a prairie dog burrow, is fitted with a radio collar and released. By 2006, captive breeding and reintroduction helps the wild population rebound to some 700 animals in five Western states.

November Anniversaries

Momentous or Merely Memorable

The ship slipped beneath the waves in just 36 minutes.

R.I.P., Mighty O

A fabled aircraft carrier sunk deliberately off the coast of Florida is the world’s largest artificial reef

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October Anniversaries

Momentous or merely memorable

Hatshepsut is depicted in the clothing of a male king though with a feminine form. Inscriptions on the statue call her "Lady of the Two Lands."

The Queen Who Would Be King

A scheming stepmother or a strong and effective ruler? History’s view of the pharaoh Hatshepsut changed over time

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Interview with Elizabeth Wilson, Author of “The Queen Who Would Be King”

Wilson discusses what drew her to study the pharaoh, and Hatshepsut’s enduring allure

The entrance to the new found tomb was hidden for more than 3,000 years beneath the remains of ancient workmen's huts.

A Mystery Fit For A Pharaoh

The first tomb to be discovered in the Valley of the Kings since King Tut’s is raising questions for archaeologists about ancient Egypt’s burial practices

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