Why Princess Diana’s 1995 BBC Interview Shocked the WorldThe interview, in which Princess Diana talked about her struggles with mental health and her marriage, rocked the royal family and generated empathy among the public.Read more
‘Annus Horribilis’: Why Queen Elizabeth II Called 1992 a Horrible YearEnded marriages for three out of her four children, humiliating press, a racy book and a fire at Windsor Castle all added to the year’s misery.Read more
5 Objects Used in British Royal Ceremonies and Their SymbolismRoyal objects appearing in Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the future coronation of King Charles III are imbued with history.Read more
7 Mysterious Mass Illnesses That Defied ExplanationFrom a dancing plague to a laughing epidemic, the symptoms were clear—but the culprit was not.Read more
Henry Kissinger’s Controversial Role in the Vietnam WarAs Nixon’s Secretary of State, Kissinger both escalated the war—and tried to end it.Read more
Famous Amos: The Rise and Fall of a Cookie EmpireWally Amos parlayed his aunt’s chocolate chip cookie recipe into a gourmet snack food juggernaut.Read more
4 Myths About When Montezuma Met CortésThe encounter between the Spanish explorer and Aztec king changed the course of history. But the story has long been told from one side.Read more
Why Did the Gilded Age End?Robber barons amassed vast fortunes during the age that began at the start of the Civil War—and ended with a crash.Read more
When West Coast Cities Tried to Drive Out Their ChinatownsIn the 1880s, mobs in Tacoma and Seattle forcibly expelled Chinese residents. In Tacoma, town officials organized the action months in advance.Read more
What Caused the Korean War and Why Did the U.S. Get Involved?The Cold War conflict was a civil war that became a proxy battle between the superpowers as they clashed over communism and democracy.Read more
9 Unexpected Things Navy SEALs Discovered in Osama bin Laden’s CompoundFrom al Qaeda emails to Disney films to pornography, the terrorist leader had a wide array of diversions in his Pakistan hideout.Read more