List of History articles
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A monochrome image in shades of bright green. On the left, a large, detailed old coin shows an embossed figure in profile alongside texturing and historical lettering. In the center, the portrait section of a modern U.S. one-dollar bill is visible, showing a man's face looking forward within an oval frame, flanked by serial numbers and the text "FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE." On the right side, intricate, swirling patterns and geometric linework characteristic of paper currency. The Dollar Was—and Remains—an Accident
As a new book shows, the dollar isn’t really the United States’ currency, but a 500-year-old relic.
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A close-up, black-and-white portrait of an older man with a gray beard and mustache, looking off to the right. He wears a light-colored turban and a traditional draped garment with vertical stripes and a buttoned collar. What to Make of Morocco’s Most Famous Anti-Colonial Hero?
A century later, the meaning of Abd el-Karim and the Rif Rebellion is still up for grabs.
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Iranian women watch the Si-o-Se Pol bridge on the Zayandeh River in Isfahan, Iran, on July 13, 2002. The World Keeps Asking Iran the Wrong Question
Even before the Islamic Republic, the country has always wanted the same thing.
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A man pushes his bike through debris in Bucha, Ukraine, on April 6, 2022. War Is an International Crime. Why Does It Go Unpunished?
A sweeping legal history reveals how the international community failed to live up to the promises of Nuremberg.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacts as he prepares to leave the Élysée presidential palace in Paris on April 17, following an international summit on efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Why Keir Starmer Will Fall
The British prime minister’s timid reign will serve as a how-not-to guide in the exercise of power.
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A Vietnam Coast Guard ship (background) uses its water cannon as it simulates the extinguishing of a fire on a Philippine Coast Guard boat during a joint maritime exercise off Bataan, Philippines, in the disputed South China Sea on Aug. 9, 2024. Asia Isn’t as Peaceful as It Seems
Trouble is brewing as norms against war dissolve.
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A photo illustration shows a close-up shot of a red gift box topped with a large, shiny red satin bow. Attached to the ribbon is a white square gift tag featuring a black line-art icon of a globe within a rectangular frame. In the soft-focus, blurred background, the face of a smiling person is visible behind the gift. How to Choose a Gift for Trump
An expert in diplomatic gift-giving describes the use and abuse of official presents.
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A man in a dark suit speaks at a podium with two microphones, his right hand resting on the side of the lectern which features a circular seal. Standing slightly behind him and to the left, another man in a grey suit and tie watches with a serious expression. The background consists of dark blue curtains and dim lighting. When Rumors of a Drinking Problem Sunk a Cabinet Nomination
The so-called Tower fiasco took place in a very different Washington to today.
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A photo illustration of Elizabeth Bathory, a castle, and a butcher's knife. The Real Origin of the World’s Most Famous Female Serial Killer
A new book explores the geopolitical scheming that created the blood countess legend.
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Adam Scott as Ohm Bauman in Hokum. ‘Hokum’ Is Haunted by Ireland’s Dark History
A new horror film reckons with the country’s buried sins—and the women erased by them.
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A black and white photograph captures a somber gathering of people outdoors. In the center, a man in a military uniform and a peaked cap looks down while holding and reading from a small piece of paper. He wears a dark patch over his left eye. The Eulogy That Explains Israel’s Current Tragedy
Israel has forgotten the wisdom in an iconic funeral oration delivered 70 years ago.
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A sailor raises the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ensign on board the JS Ise, a Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer, as it docks at the international port in Manila, Philippines, on June 21, 2025. Japan and China Are Edging Dangerously Close to Conflict
Beijing is ready to take risks as Tokyo backs Taiwan.
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A photo illustration shows President Trump with joke glasses on his face Hoaxes Keep Escaping Containment
A delusional U.S. president is helping thin the line between fiction and reality.
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President Ronald Reagan speaks at the ceremony for freed American hostages returning from Iran at the White House in Washington on Jan. 27, 1981. How Iran Helped Bring Ronald Reagan to Power
The hostage crisis dominated headlines—and left a lasting impression on Donald Trump.
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Flanked by the Spanish and European Union flags, Sanchez is seen from the chest upward as he speaks at a podium. He wears a dark suit and tie and gestures with both hands as he talks. Spain Is the Friend That the United States Needs
In the Iran war and beyond, Madrid has often done a better job looking out for U.S. interests than Washington.
