historians

American historian Timothy Snyder argues that no amount of support for Russia can end the war in Ukraine, since Russia is the criminal aggressor. In contrast, he says even a modest increase in support for Ukraine could end the fighting by making it impossible for Russia to continue, calling it a choice the West should find easy.

Historian Timothy Snyder joined educator Sharon McMahon for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of American democracy, the rise of what he calls modern fascism, and the collapse of shared truth. Snyder argued that ordinary Americans can push back through what he terms small courage — everyday acts of integrity and honesty. Their discussion touched on how authoritarian tactics evolve and why individual choices matter for democracy's survival.

A presidential historian spoke with CNN about the tradition of 'October surprises' ahead of the US midterm elections. The discussion focused on how late-breaking events or revelations can reshape campaigns in their final weeks and influence how voters head to the polls. The exchange comes as both parties watch for unexpected developments that could shift momentum before election day.

In July 1518, a woman in Strasbourg began dancing and could not stop. Within weeks, hundreds of residents had joined her, and city authorities initially hired musicians to keep people dancing, believing they would recover, before reversing course and banning the dancing. Historian John Waller has argued the outbreak was a case of mass psychogenic illness, and the episode is being widely shared online as a striking piece of medical history.

Japanese history commentary is revisiting Asahi-hime, the younger sister of Toyotomi Hideyoshi whose political marriage to Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1586 cemented their alliance. Historian Ichihashi Akio argues the Tensho earthquake of that year disrupted Hideyoshi's planned campaign against Ieyasu, making the marriage a crucial fallback that reshaped the road to unification.

Historian and commentator Timothy Garton Ash argues in the Guardian that Europe must increase its support for Ukraine in direct response to Russia's escalating attacks on the continent. He contends that every act of Russian aggression should strengthen, not weaken, European resolve to back Kyiv militarily and politically.

Historian Heather Cox Richardson presented a Politics Chat dated October 20, 2026, offering commentary on current American political developments. The discussion drew hundreds of thousands of reactions, with audiences widely sharing her analysis of the day's events as part of her ongoing series breaking down US politics for a general readership and viewership.

A wave of new radiocarbon dates is forcing historians to revise the timeline of the Inca Empire. The findings suggest the empire's rapid expansion across the Andes unfolded differently than long assumed, overturning established chronologies built on sparse earlier evidence. Researchers say the revised dating changes how scholars understand the pace and sequence of Inca conquest and state formation.

Jacob Israël de Haan, a Dutch lawyer, poet and journalist, was shot dead in Jerusalem on June 30, 1924, by a member of the Zionist paramilitary group Haganah. Historians widely regard the killing as the first political assassination of the British Mandate period in Palestine. De Haan had become a controversial figure for his opposition to Zionist political aims, and his death remains a point of historical debate and reflection.

An essay by historian Catharine Edwards argues that Cicero's ideal of Roman manly virtue centred on the performance of self-control and bravery, rather than boastful egotism and domination. Readers of classical history and philosophy are sharing the piece, which draws on Cicero's writings to show how Roman ideas of masculinity were tied to public conduct and political virtue.

New genetic and archaeological research is changing how historians understand early medieval Europe, challenging long-held accounts of migration, population mixing, and cultural change during the Middle Ages. Medievalists.net highlights how DNA analysis of ancient burial remains is offering fresh evidence about who lived where and how societies formed after the fall of Rome. The findings are drawing attention among historians, archaeologists, and readers interested in how science reshapes traditional historical narratives.

New analysis of uranium from World War II is shedding light on how far Nazi Germany's nuclear program progressed before the war ended. Researchers studying the material report findings on how close the Nazis were to developing an atomic bomb, a long-debated question among historians of science.

A hip-hop historian is exploring what it means for the genre to grow old as it enters its sixth decade, tracing how artists and audiences confront aging in a culture built on youth. The work looks at how pioneers of the 1970s and 1980s are navigating legacy, relevance and longevity as hip-hop becomes one of the dominant cultural forces worldwide.

The case of Feodor Vassilyev's first wife, reportedly the mother of 69 children in 18th-century Russia, is being revisited. She is said to have given birth to 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets between 1725 and 1765, which would make her the most prolific mother ever recorded. Historians remain divided, as the claim was never medically verified.

A final score from August 29, 1927 has drawn attention on MLB's official Gameday listings, showing the American Giants defeating the Black Barons 5-3. The result comes from the Negro Leagues, whose records were formally incorporated into Major League Baseball's historical statistics after the league announced in 2020 that it would recognize the Negro Leagues as major leagues. Fans and historians continue to revisit these games as the data becomes integrated into MLB's official record.

Sports writer and Olympic historian Miller has died, according to World Athletics. He was known for his decades of coverage of athletics and his expertise on Olympic history, making him a respected figure among journalists and sports historians. Tributes and reflections on his contribution to athletics journalism are expected from across the sporting world.

The Church News reports the release of a new Joseph Smith Papers e-book focusing on the Prophet's financial records. The volume offers a documented look at the business and money matters of the founder of the Latter-day Saint movement, adding to the ongoing scholarly publishing project that makes Smith's papers publicly accessible.

Historian and journalist Paolo Mieli is a trending search topic in Italy, ranking among the country's most discussed names. Mieli, a former Corriere della Sera editor-in-chief and prominent commentator on Italian history and politics, remains a frequent figure in public debate. The specific event prompting the spike is unclear, and search activity remains modest at around 200 queries.

A new report in Artforum claims that Edward Hopper's early oil paintings were copied from works by other artists, challenging the long-held image of the American realist as an original painter from the start of his career. The finding is prompting debate among art historians about attribution, influence and how Hopper's celebrated style took shape.

A final score from August 16, 1945 shows the Detroit Tigers defeating the Washington Senators 9-2 in an MLB game. The result, published on MLB's Gameday archive, recalls the 1945 season in which Detroit went on to win the World Series. Historic box scores like this continue to draw interest from baseball fans and historians exploring the league's wartime-era records.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that the Financial Records series of the Joseph Smith Papers project is now available as an ebook. The series compiles historical financial documents related to church founder Joseph Smith. The announcement was made via the church's official newsroom, drawing attention from members and historians of the faith.

The Henry Luce Foundation and the American Council of Learned Societies have announced the 2026 Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art. The program supports doctoral students completing dissertations on the history of American art, providing funding and recognition at a key stage of their research. The announcement is being circulated among art historians and graduate programs as the application cycle opens.

Igor Czernecki is being introduced as a doctor of philosophy and historian of ideas, a graduate of Columbia University, the London School of Economics and the University of Warsaw. He works on political philosophy and the philosophy of education, and is the author of a book on the meaning of religion for democracy in Alexis de Tocqueville's thought.

Hatching is the heraldic system of indicating a coat of arms' colours using engraved lines and dots, since traditional printing could not reproduce colour. Different patterns of horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines each stand for a specific tincture, letting readers identify arms on printed pages, maps and engravings. The system, developed in the 17th century, remains a niche point of curiosity for designers and historians.

The 50th anniversary of the Church Committee report is being marked with a discussion featuring historians Matthew Guariglia and Brian Hochman. The 1975-76 congressional investigation exposed CIA assassination plots, NSA surveillance, FBI burglary programs, and mind-control experiments, leading to intelligence oversight reforms. Commenters are reflecting on how its findings on government secrecy and abuse of power remain relevant to current debates over surveillance and executive authority.

On October 17, 1950, a zinc mine strike began in Silver City, New Mexico, lasting 14 months. The walkout went on to inspire the film "Salt of the Earth," which was blacklisted during the Red Scare and became notable as one of the first movies to portray a feminist political struggle. Anniversary posts marking the strike and its legacy are circulating among labor history enthusiasts.

A historian gave a talk in Middleboro, Massachusetts, examining the evidence in the Lizzie Borden case, the infamous 1892 axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River. Lizzie Borden was acquitted but the case remains one of America's most debated true crime mysteries, and local audiences continue to attend lectures revisiting the forensic and testimony details.