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

ALL ABOUT SWORDS • Cutting-edge history of the evolution of the blade and some of its most celebrated practitioners

Key Events

MEDIEVAL SWORDSMITH • Europe C.1066 – 1500

SAMURAI WARRIOR • Japan 12th – 19th century

THE SWORD OF GOUJIAN • This copper sword was owned by a legendary Chinese king China, C.496 – 465 BCE

GREAT SWORD FIGHTERS • Some duelled for entertainment and others to the death – here are ten of history’s superior swordsmen and women

EVOLUTION OF THE LONGSWORD • Historian Neil Grant explains how two-handed swords became important weapons on medieval battlefields

CUTTING-EDGE MUSEUMS • The museums and armouries around the world for sword enthusiasts

MARY VS ELIZABETH • How the battle between the queens reshaped the English monarchy

MARY I TIMELINE • Key events in the life of Henry VIII’s eldest child

MARRIAGE MATERIAL • The prospective betrothals that Mary and Elizabeth avoided

BURIED TOGETHER • The sisters now lie together at Westminster Abbey

WHY DID STALINGRAD MATTER? • On the eve of the battle’s anniversary, historian Iain MacGregor discusses one of the most important engagements of World War II and why it matters today

THE LIGHTHOUSE OF STALINGRAD • The focus of his new book, Iain MacGregor explains the importance of one building in particular, codenamed The Lighthouse

NO RETREAT • NO MERCY • The Stalin order that saw the Red Army shoot its own men

REVENGE OF THE 47 RŌNIN • In 1703, after a century of peace, a band of samurai shocked Japan with a suicidal mission to avenge their disgraced lord

RISE OF THE CHUSHINGURA • Suppressed at first, the story of the 47 rōnin has become one of Japan’s most iconic tales

THE MORAL QUESTION • The revenge of the 47 rōnin raised some serious questions about the samurai warrior code

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT KYIVAN RUS • A quick guide to a lost European nation that once dominated the east

HUMAN SACRIFICE THROUGHOUT HISTORY • Professor Laerke Recht guides us through the evolution of ritual killings and why they were done

RELYING ON EVIDENCE • Why we need to be careful when trying to understand human sacrifice

RUTHLESS ROMANS • The Romans may have disapproved of human sacrifice but they were still a bloodthirsty civilisation

KING OF CONMEN HE SOLD THE EIFFEL TOWER • Victor Lustig stands out in criminal history as a swindler supreme who successfully ‘sold’ the Eiffel Tower – then had the audacity to try exactly the same con again

A TOWERING TEMPTATION • Today, the notion of conning someone into buying this globally renowned landmark would be ridiculous

LUSTIG’S TEN COMMANDMENTS • These rules that all conmen should follow are attributed to Lustig, though this is unconfirmed

BATTLE OF PLATAEA • DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE, 23 MAY – 17 AUG 1480

GREEK ALLIES

PERSIAN ARMY

ROBERT F KENNEDY HAD BECOME PRESIDENT • His message of unity promised hope to a divided nation, but was it a promise he would be able to keep?

THE PAST

THE POSSIBILITY

EXPLORING THE MIDDLE AGES • The new and improved Musée de Cluny in Paris once again showcases the best examples of medieval art to the public

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