Evan Andrews Archives ‑ History.com

9 Blades that Forged History

For millennia, edged weapons such as swords, knives and daggers were the arms of choice for warriors around the globe. These razor‑sharp blades inspired fear and fascination and helped change the course of military campaigns. In some cases, individual weapons were even given names and became just as legendary as the people who wielded them. […]

Eight Unusual Good Luck Charms

“Luck,” the playwright Tennessee Williams once wrote, “is believing you’re lucky.” That may be true, but people around the world have always tried to boost their good fortunes with talismans, symbols and trinkets—including a few that may seem bizarre today. From phallic charms to chimney sweeps, discover eight of the most unusual good luck charms […]

Who Betrayed Anne Frank?

On August 4, 1944, police in Nazi‑occupied Amsterdam raided a warehouse and arrested eight Jews who were hiding in an annex disguised behind a bookcase. Among those captured was Anne Frank, a 15‑year‑old schoolgirl who had spent over two years living in the cramped safehouse with her parents and older sister. The diary Frank kept […]

The Floating White House: A Brief History of the Presidential Yacht

Before there was Air Force One, there was the presidential yacht. Dating back to the 19th century, America’s chief executives utilized navy ships and other vessels for recreation and entertaining foreign dignitaries. Nearly a dozen different ships acted as the “Floating White House” between 1880 and 1977, when the last vessel was sold at auction. […]

America’s Forgotten Swedish Colony

For nearly 20 years in the 17th century, Sweden had a little‑known colony that spanned parts of Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Why Moroccan Scholar Ibn Battuta May Be the Greatest Explorer of all Time

The title of “history’s most famous traveler” usually goes to Marco Polo, the great Venetian wayfarer who visited China in the 13th century. For sheer distance covered, however, Polo trails far behind the Muslim scholar Ibn Battuta. Though little known outside the Islamic world, Battuta spent half his life tramping across vast swaths of the […]

How Many U.S. Presidents Owned Enslaved People?

The United States may have been founded on the idea that all men are created equal, but during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, slaveholding was common among the statesmen who served as president. All told, at least 12 chief executives—over a quarter of all American presidents—enslaved people during their lifetimes. Of these, eight […]

These Legendary Fighters Wielded the Fiercest Swords in History

Master sword fighters are a recurring motif in fiction, but there were also several historical figures who were renowned for their ability to wield a blade with deadly precision. From soldiers and samurai to duelists and expert fencers, take a look back at the adventures of six legendary swordsmen. WATCH: The first three seasons of […]

Not Every First Lady Has Been Married to the President

The role of the United States’ first lady traditionally goes to the president’s spouse, but in instances where the chief executive was a bachelor or widower, it has occasionally fallen to children, sisters or other close family members. Over a dozen of these “first hostesses” have served in some capacity, including a few who made […]

The Bicycle’s Bumpy History

Who invented the bicycle? The answer is a little more complicated than you may think. A German baron named Karl von Drais made the first major development when he created a steerable, two‑wheeled contraption in 1817. Known by many names, including the “velocipede,” “hobby‑horse,” “draisine” and “running machine,” this early invention has made Drais widely […]

8 of History’s Most Catastrophic Floods

Floods were considered a blessing by certain civilizations—the Egyptians relied on the Nile’s yearly overflow for fertile soil—but they also stand as some of history’s most devastating natural disasters. Whether due to heavy rains, storm surges or busted dams, deluges have often claimed thousands of lives and left whole cities in ruin. In some cases, […]

10 Fashion Trends You Didn’t Know Were Started by World Leaders

Fashion has always played a role in politics. Monarchs and heads of state have used clothing to cultivate an image, and in some cases their styles became so iconic that they filtered into the mainstream. From Julius Caesar to Nelson Mandela, check out 10 of history’s most fashionable world leaders. 1. Julius Caesar had a […]