Moments in Time - A look at history to inform the present

World history is an archive of historical events, people and places around the globe.

The Battle of Gettysburg: A turning point in the American Civil War

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from 1 July to 3 July 1863, is one of the most significant battles in American history. This pivotal conflict marked a turning point in the Civil War, ending General …

Hitler and the Night of the Long Knives

The Night of the Long Knives, a series of political extrajudicial executions that took place in Nazi Germany from 30 June to 2 July 1934, was a pivotal moment in Adolf Hitler’s rise to absolute …

Franz Ferdinand: The assassination that shook Europe

Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este, was born on 18 December 1863 in Graz, Austria. As a member of the House of Habsburg, Franz Ferdinand held a significant position within the Austro-Hungarian …

George Armstrong Custer and his complex legacy

George Armstrong Custer is one of American history’s most controversial and enigmatic figures. His life, filled with dramatic highs and lows, left an indelible mark on the nation’s memory. …

Profile on Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell stands as one of the most complex and polarising figures in British history. As a military leader and later as Lord Protector, Cromwell’s influence during and after the English …

The Thiaroye Massacre

On a fateful day in December 1944, a tragic and often overlooked event unfolded in the town of Thiaroye, Senegal, leaving an indelible mark on the history of French West African veterans. Known as the …

The Norman Conquest

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 stands as one of the most significant events in medieval European history. It marked a profound shift in English society, governance, culture, and …

African Americans and the American Civil War

The American Civil War, which raged from 12 April 1861 to 9 April 1865, was a defining moment in United States history. This bloody conflict pitted the Northern states (the Union) against the Southern …

The Cuban Missile Crisis

In the records of Cold War history, few episodes are as gripping or as fraught with the spectre of global annihilation as the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. Over thirteen tense days, the world …

The Crimean War: A pivotal conflict in world history

The Crimean War (1853-1856), often overshadowed by the world wars that followed a half-century later, remains one of the most significant conflicts in history. It was a military engagement in which …

The Seven Years’ War: The catalysts of a global struggle

The Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), often dubbed the first “world war,” was a global conflict that extended far beyond its European roots. It involved major global powers and affected …

The My Lai Massacre

On a grim morning of 16 March 1968, in the small village of My Lai located in South Vietnam, an event unfolded that would forever mar the annals of military history. The My Lai Massacre, as it came to …