All About History

All About History is the stunningly realised new magazine from the makers of How It Works and All About Space. Featuring beautiful illustrations, photos and graphics depicting everything from ancient civilisations to the Cold War, All About History is accessible and entertaining to all and makes history fun for the whole family.

Welcome

ALL ABOUT HISTORY

Defining Moments

Key Events

AN ONSEN • Japan 6th century CE – Present

NEEDLE SHOWER • Britain 19th – 20th century

THE HEAD OF SULIS MINERVA • This statue of the goddess sheds new light on Roman Britain Bath, 60-70 CE

BIGWIGS OF BATHING • From mythical bathhouse spirits to famous bathers and those who changed bathing forever

MEDIEVAL HYGIENE • Dr Katherine Harvey reveals whether medieval people were really as dirty and smelly as we assume

ANCIENT BATHHOUSES • Find out where civilisations past cleaned off the dirt after a long, hard day

ISABELLA • Did the French queen really usurp Edward II to claim England as her own?

FORMIDABLE ROYALS • Isabella was not the only medieval queen to fight for her rights

THE PATH TO WAR • Isabella continued to influence English politics for decades to come

ISABELLA THE MYTH • Cultural depictions of the queen have shaped her enduring legacy

HOW TO BEAT THE ROMANS • If you’re fighting the Romans the odds are against you, but there are some things you can do to tilt the balance in your favour

IAN FLEMING WHERE JAMES BOND BEGAN • From top-secret operations during World War II to creating the world’s most famous spy, we uncover the author’s extraordinary life

BENSON AND BOND • From 1997 to 2003 Raymond Benson wrote nine James Bond novels. He spoke to All About History about the influence of Ian Fleming, his favourite books and how he came to write Bond

JAMES BOND: THE BOOKS

THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR • Cultivated over centuries, the samurai developed a philosophy where honour, loyalty, discipline and a noble death were more important than life itself

BUSHIDŌ TODAY • After World War II, Japan disavowed war for pacifism; disbanding its army and creating the Self-Defence Force

HANS HOLBEIN MORE THAN A TUDOR ARTIST • The favourite painter of Henry VIII was a wonder in his time and gave us a time capsule to the 16th century

DECODING THE AMBASSADORS • The hidden elements of Holbein’s masterpiece

IMPORTANT WORKS • Stories behind some of Holbein’s greatest pieces

CAN WE TRUST HERODOTUS? • Often considered to be the ‘Father of History’, many questions remain around the Greek writer’s life and work

SIEGE OF PLEVNA • BULGARIA, 20 JULY – 10 DECEMBER 1877

Siege of Plevna

JUL-DEC 1877

THE RAF LOST THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN? • The possible consequences of Britain’s aerial defeat in 1940 have fascinated historians and perplexed military strategists for decades

THE PAST

THE POSSIBILITY

TITAN OF TANKS • Uncover the history and legend of the Sovet Union’s most famous tank, the T-34

REVIEWS • The books, TV shows and films causing a stir in the history world this month

A BRIDGE TOO FAR • This star-studded WWII blockbuster was a big hit in 1977, but does it sacrifice facts for fame?

TOMATO SOUP CAKE • A RETRO FAVOURITE, UNITED STATES, c.1920s – PRESENT