The life and legacy of confucius

How the Qin forged a great power from the fragments of the Warring States

Jonathan Clark links the decline of popular aphorisms to a disappearing shared moral code

Michael Bentley recalls Maurice Cowling, the Conservative commentator and historian whose books on a variety of topics influenced thought on the right of the party

Daniel Johnson worries that an illiberal America and a war-torn, world-weary Europe are failing to champion our Western civilisational values of liberty, democracy and the rule of law

I n 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. That, at least, is what the famous rhyme tells us. Memorising such dates is a common experience of being taught history – a cliché superbly lampooned by the w

Is there a special sorcery in Seoul? Cunning creativity in Canada? Preternatural pizzazz in Paris? Oh, why do so many great pianists come from this or that country? We even have some in Britain; is th