Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires are most of the classic gemstones adorning royal jewels. But they used to be accompanied by a stone that nowadays is most often found in museum gift shops: Amethyst. Here's the story of...

The ancient Egyptians were masters of embalming the dead, but they left no record of the ingredients in their balms and perfumes. Luckily, modern chemistry is unlocking those secrets. And it's telling us a lot more about their culture...

This week on Crash Course Literature, John Green is continuing to talk about Shakespeare's dark, bloody, Scottish play, Macbeth. This time around, we're looking at the play's characters operate, how the play deals with gender, and the...

The Sound! The Fury! Today, we're talking about Shakespeare's Scottish play, Macbeth. So, was Macbeth really predestined to do all the murdering and bad kinging and other terrible stuff? That's the big question in Macbeth, and it's one...

You're the chief advisor to an eccentric king who needs to declare his successor. He wants his heir to be good at arithmetic, lucky, and above all else, honest. So he's devised a competition to test his children, and ordered you to...

The Queen's funeral has seen thousands line the streets to pay their condolences to the Royal Family and to pay their respects to Britain's longest-reigning monarch. On The Mall, as the Queen's coffin made its final procession through...

Gout is no longer just for royalty – the disease has spread to the massesSource: Various

Welcome to the enchanting Loire Valley, often referred to as the “Garden of France”! In this video, we’ll explore the stunning landscapes, historic castles, and world-class vineyards that make this region a must-visit destination. From...

In this video, Priya and Prio, two peacocks from Sri Lanka, join the show to discuss the importance of courtesy. They explain that while politeness is learned, courtesy comes naturally and involves caring about others' comfort. They...

Nefertiti is one of the best-known queens of ancient Egypt but no one had discovered her mummy. When Dr Fletcher announced the discovery of Nefertiti without consulting Egyptian authorities she was controversially banned from the country...

A monarchy is a form of government where a monarch, such as a king or queen, functions as the head of state. (~3273 BCE) Narmer became the first Pharaoh, or king, of Egypt after unifying upper and lower Egypt; establishing the First...

Discover the captivating story of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to bicycle around the world. From challenging societal norms to embarking on a global adventure, Annie's journey inspires generations. Separate fact from fiction as her...

Discover the captivating story of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to bicycle around the world. From challenging societal norms to embarking on a global adventure, Annie's journey inspires generations. Separate fact from fiction as her...

Actor and singer Josephine Baker spent her life resisting racial discrimination at home and abroad. During World War II, she bravely used her fame to fight back against the Nazis.

Pyramids and the Great Wall identifies given human characteristics of three different regions.

What was daily life like for a king or queen during the Middle Ages? Contrary to what you might imagine, it didn't involve lounging in robes of silk and satin and indulging in lots of feasting. In reality, the life of medieval royals...

In which John Green completes his introduction to the history of the French Revolution, discussing the rise of the Committee of Public Safety, Maxmillien Robespierre, the reign of terror, the guillotine, the death of Marie Antoinette,...

The Middle Ages in Europe, a period of history between approximately 500 and 1500 CE, was comprised of a class system where people were divided into three distinct levels. This program looks at how the upper class, the middle class and...

Learn about Queen Aelfthryth's path to becoming England's first Crown Queen consort, alongside King Edgar in 973. Explore some myths and historical facts about Aelfthryth (aka Elfrida)'s life and family, including her possible...

Learn what happened to the family members and associates who planned and carried out the assassination of Ramesses III. Explore how modern science has allowed us to answer many of the mysteries surrounding Ramesses III's death and the...

This video tells the fascinating story of these thousand years of history, from around 500 A.D. to 1400 A.D. The Middle Ages are an incredibly dynamic period of history. So much of what we are familiar with today, from states to...

On Midsummer's Day in 1509 a 17 year old was crowned king of England. He would go on to transform his realm over almost four decades on the throne. He would revolutionise its religion, reforge its politics and its relations with...

Learn more about the life of Charles III.

Macbeth tells the story of a good man gone bad, driven to murder by ugly ambition and fueled by a power-hungry wife. Macbeth has Banquo killed for fear his children will become kings of Scotland. Macbeth goes to visit the witches once...