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 FEBRUARY 2024

THREE THINGS I'VE LEARNED THIS MONTH

THIS ISSUE'S CONTRIBUTORS

ANNIVERSARIES • DANNY BIRD highlights events that took place in February in history

“Whatever you want to say about Kissinger, he had consequence” • Henry Kissinger, who died in November at the age of 100, was one of the most significant, and controversial, figures of the 20th century. RANA MITTER spoke to Matt Elton about the American diplomat's life and legacy

MICHAEL WOOD ON… • THE RISE OF BRITAIN'S UNIVERSITIES

HIDDEN HISTORIES • KAVITA PURI on the price China paid in the Second World War

Enthralled by Egypt

BBC History Magazine

WONDER LUST • The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were daring and dazzling constructions that have burned bright in the human imagination right up to the modern day. Bettany Hughes follows in the footsteps of the ancients to tell their remarkable stories

Death on the canal • Today, Britain's canals are the ideal places to enjoy a leisurely cruise – but in the 19th century, they had a vastly different reputation. Susan Law reveals how these waterways once served as the settings for brutal acts of alcohol-fuelled violence

FAKE NEWS • Victorian newspapers often stretched the truth when reporting on violent crime

An act of love • What does the history of breastfeeding tell us about medieval society? Hannah Skoda discovers stories of miracle cures, bizarre beliefs and caring communities

FIVE THINGS YOU (PROBABLY) DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT… Regency Britain • Lizzie Rogers, who, from 8 January, will be teaching the first of our new HistoryExtra Academy courses, shares some of the most surprising facts about British life during the early decades of the 19th century

300TH ISSUE BUMPER HISTORY QUIZ • It's our 300th issue! To celebrate, we asked some of our favourite historians to pose a series of tricky quiz questions reflecting the breadth and diversity of history – and we set some of our own, too. From pioneering firsts to some surprising last words, from science and sport to art and animals, there's plenty to pit your wits against. Turn the page to get started – and head to page 84 for the answers. Good luck…

THE WAR ON SQUIRRELS • The grey squirrel's domination of Britain's woodland over the past 150 years has enraged everyone from gamekeepers to prime ministers. Peter Coates discovers how the ‘American tree rat’ became the furry mammal that Britons loved to hate

RED TERROR • The native squirrel hasn't always been the object of Britons’ affections

“Europeans have been obsessed with the east's spiritual depths since Alexander the Great” • CHRISTOPHER HARDING talks to Matt Elton about his book exploring the west's enduring fascination with the wisdom, wealth – and perceived strangeness – of India, China and Japan

Ukraine's defiant history • UILLEAM BLACKER praises a study of a nation that, over the course of a millennium, has shown astonishing resilience in the face of terror, famines and, of course, invasions

A mosaic of conflict • NIGEL JONES is impressed by a poignant 360-degree study of a month that rendered Nazi Germany's ultimate destruction inevitable

World in...