Dickens in America

How a visit to America in 1842 became a turning-point in the career of Charles Dickens.

• 10 mins

Diane Blood

Winning the chance to conceive a child using sperm from her dead husband

• 10 mins

The Hama massacre

It is 30 years since thousands of Syrians were killed by their own army.

• 10 mins

Umm Kulthum

The great Egyptian singer was buried 37 years ago.

• 10 mins

Death of King George VI

How Britain mourned the death of King George VI in 1952.

• 10 mins

Drugs in Mexico

On 7 February 1985 a US drug enforcement agent was abducted in Guadalajara.

• 10 mins

Charonne Metro deaths

It is 50 years since nine French peace protestors died during a demonstration in Paris.

• 10 mins

50 years of Silicone Breast Implants

In 1962 Timmie Jean Lindsey became the first woman in the world to have the operation.

• 10 mins

Deep Blue versus Kasparov

It was the first time a computer had beaten a reigning world champion chess player.

• 10 mins

The Stolen Generation

Debra Hocking was taken from her indigenous Australian family as a baby.

• 9 mins

Sister Dorothy Stang

In February 2005 a Catholic nun working in the Amazon was murdered.

• 10 mins

The Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan

On 15 February 1989, the last Soviet soldiers rolled out of Afghanistan.

• 10 mins

The bombing of Darwin

In February 1942 Japan launched the largest ever attack against Australia.

• 10 mins

Japanese internment

In February 1942 all Japanese Americans were ordered to internment camps.

• 10 mins

Sucked out of a Plane

In February 1989, nine people were sucked out of a plane over the Pacific Ocean.

• 10 mins

Nixon in China

It is 40 years since the US President went to China and met Chairman Mao.

• 10 mins

Moose Murders

Nearly 30 years ago Moose Murders made history as the biggest flop ever on Broadway.

• 10 mins

The Damascus Spring

Twelve years ago Syria experienced a brief burst of political openness.

• 10 mins

From the silent screen to talkies

In the late 1920s Hollywood made the change from silent films to movies with soundtracks.

• 10 mins

Mary Quant and the miniskirt

A 2012 episode looks back at the work of the pioneering designer, who has died aged 93

• 10 mins

The killing of Olof Palme

On 28 February 1986, the Swedish Prime Minister was killed on a Stockholm street.

• 10 mins

The assassination of Georgi Markov

The Bulgarian dissident was attacked with a poisoned umbrella on his way to Bush House.

• 10 mins

Gujarat riots

It is 10 years since communal violence broke out in the Indian state.

• 10 mins

The first flight of Concorde

On 2 March 1969 the supersonic airliner took to the skies for the first time.

• 10 mins

The Home Brew Computer Club

Californian computer enthusiasts met to share ideas - including the founders of Apple

• 10 mins

The Zeebrugge disaster

It is 25 years since a car ferry capsized outside the Belgian port.

• 10 mins

The films of Andy Warhol

In the 1960s, the pop artist Andy Warhol, turned his attention to film-making.

• 10 mins

Discovery of Penicillin

How scientists turned penicillin into the world's first anti-biotic medicine.

• 10 mins

Stalin's Daughter

The daughter of the Soviet dictator, Svetlana defected to the West in 1967

• 10 mins

The Theremin

In 1929 a Russian inventor brought an electronic musical instrument to the USA.

• 10 mins