The Entire History of the World Distilled Into a Single Gorgeous Chart (Allegedly)

(A slightly clearer copy of the Histomap can be found here.)

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

That's a lot of changes in just over 1,000 years of history. And only in Europe too...

The Map of Europe:
AD 1000 to the Present Day

A History of the World... in 2 minutes

History Today

The UK, GB or the British Isles?

Your questions answered.

She Wolves: England's Early Queens

Helen Castor explores the role of queens in medieval and Tudor England, analysing how they evolved from being the wives of kings to powerful figures in their own right - but faced great struggles to impose their authority in a male-dominated society.

She begins by recalling the life of Matilda, the daughter of Henry I, who waged war against her cousin Stephen in the mid-12th century in a bid to be recognised as her father's rightful successor. The historian also charts the turbulent life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the wife of Henry II, who played a major role in governing England during the latter half of the 12th century.

To find out more about this exciting new BBC4 series, click here.

Empress Matilda

(about to watch She Wolves on her iPad... I think)

Illuminations - a most enlightening experience

If you've not yet seen Illuminations: The Private Lives of Medieval Kings, written and presented by Dr Janina Ramirez, then you've missed a treat. Over three luxurious hours Dr Janina unlocks the secrets of illuminated manuscripts that were custom-made for kings and explores the medieval world they reveal.

And just like the marvellous manuscripts she studies, decoding the complex imagery hidden within every border decoration and illuminated letter, Dr Janina is a rare treasure herself. She is a born communicator, brimming with passion and enthusiasm for her subject. Her insightful ideas regarding what medieval manuscripts say about the people who commissioned them, as well as the times in which they were written, make this one of the most accessible and absorbing History programmes in years.

So don't delay, follow this link, and watch it today!

If you'd like to lock the series away in your own library of wonders, you'll be pleased to hear that the DVD is available now from the British Library online shop.

From the Children of the Middle Ages to the Private Lives of Medieval Kings

There have been some great history programmes on the BBC lately. First up there's Dr Stephen Baxter's Too Much, Too Young: Children of the Middle Ages.

And then there's Dr Janina Ramirez's Illuminations: The Private Lives of Medieval Kings.

If you have any interest in medieval history, or British history in general, you should check them both out.

And starting next Wednesday at 9.30pm on BBC2 are The Crusades, this time with Dr Thomas Asbridge.

One to watch... The Normans

The BBC's 'The Normans' series of programmes may have already begun, but it's worth playing catch up if you haven't been with the series since the start, if only because the wonderful Professor Robert Bartlett is back on our screens, with this.

Escape in Time

A new show for all you History buffs out there starts today on BBC2. It might be one to catch on iPlayer later or to set the Sky+ box to record as it's on at 4.30pm, but it looks intriguing.

Series presented by Ben Fogle in which families take up the challenge of becoming Victorian farmers on the Acton Scott Estate in Shropshire. For one week they step back in time to learn the traditional skills of our farming ancestors, competing against each other in daily and weekly challenges: from mucking out the pigs to making a perfect cottage loaf. A host of experts are on hand to judge their handiwork, and the family that wins the most challenges wins that day's prize.

Taking up the challenge are the Doige family from Essex - property developer Christian, office administrator Katherine, 15-year-old Olivia and 12-year-old Chloe - and the Mills family from Twickenham - catering consultant David, full-time mum Jo, 13-year-old Tilly and 10-year-old Jemima.

The children learn a vital part of Victorian farm life, keeping the pigs clean. The mums learn a Victorian bread recipe off by heart and the dads compete to see who can make the most clay bricks in 15 minutes.

You can find out more about the show here.

The Story of Science

Did you catch Michael Mosley's recent BBC 2 series The Story of Science: Power, Proof and Passion? In it, Mosley took an informative and ambitious televisual journey, exploring how the evolution of scientific understanding is intimately interwoven with society's historical path.


If you missed it you can catch it again here, on BBC iPlayer. I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in science, history, the world around us... basically anyone! There are six programmes in the series:

1) What is Out There?
2) What is the World Made of?
3) How Did We Get here?
4) Can We Have Unlimited Power?
5) What is the Secret of Life?
6) Who Are We?

Seven Ages of Britain - Age of Conquest

Starting tonight on BBC 1...

David Dimbleby tells the story of Britain through its art and treasure. The first part of the chronicle begins with the Roman invasion and ends with the Norman Conquest.

This may sound strangely familiar to readers of Match Wits with the Kids, as in the chapter on History I pick up from where David Dimbley will finish off tonight with '1066 And All That - From Conquest to Constitution (1066-1500)'.

It will be interesting to see what the second Age of Britain will be referred to as.

Anyway, if Seven Ages of Britain sounds like your kind of thing, it's on BBC 1 at 9.00pm tonight.

How should British history be taught?

The shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove has set the cat amongst the pigeons by attacking how history is taught. He believes that lessons should make pupils proud of our past, but the question is, is he right?

Well, in a multicultural society such as ours, this could be something of a challenge. There's plenty within the history of the British people that is horribly embarrassing or even downright shameful. However, equally, there have been some incredible moments and many glorious achievements.

This question has provoked the Independent newspaper to poll a number of well-known historians about what they consider to be the ten most important dates in British history. To see what the likes of Tristram Hunt, Dan Snow and Tracy Borman have to say on this matter, click here.

But what do you consider to be the 10 most important dates that children should know? Why not post your answer here, by replying to this post. And if you need reminding what sort of events could make your list, why not read the chapter on History in Match Wits with the Kids?