Issue 15

Articles from Issue 15 (April/May 2019) of BBC World Histories Magazine

A 15th-century manuscript depicts soldiers using crossbows during the Battle of Crecy in 1346

A short history of long-distance warfare

US secretary of state William Seward (seated left) signs the agreement to buy Alaska from Russia in 1867

America’s hidden empire: the USA’s forgotten imperial expansion

Representations of digits from the ninth century, 11th century and the present day

Digital revolution: the evolution of Hindu-Arabic numerals

Bust of Germanicus, Roman General

In the footsteps of Germanicus – a Roman General’s journey to Egypt

Illustration by Davide Bonazzi

The big question Should museums return their treasures?

Premium

The beautiful courtyard of the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and university, founded in the 850's (Izzet Keribar/Getty Images)

Explore Fès, Morocco: Morocco’s spiritual capital . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Nationalist troops escort captured Republican militia during the Spanish Civil War. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

The Spanish Civil War: an avoidable tragedy