TIME’s most-read history stories of 2020

From the history of pandemics to World War II |

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By Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer As 2020 comes to a close, here’s a look back at some of the year’s most popular history stories on TIME.com. Unsurprisingly, the most-read story in our section was about a past pandemic, “How Does a Pandemic End? Here’s What We Can Learn From the 1918 Flu.” In fact, the end is more in sight, as two COVID-19 vaccines received emergency approval from the FDA since we published that article on Oct. 6. World War II continues to be a popular topic, and during a year of a national reckoning over race relations in the U.S., histories of underrepresented groups in America also topped the charts. Happy New Year, and we look forward to bringing you more in 2021. Here’s the history that made news this year:

HISTORY ON TIME.COM How Does a Pandemic End? Here’s What We Can Learn From the 1918 Flu By Olivia B. Waxman Current scientific understanding is that only a vaccine will end this pandemic, but how we get there remains to be seen Read More » In Nazi-Occupied Norway, Glimpsing the World Hitler Wanted By Despina Stratigakos The story of occupied Norway has a great deal to tell us about how Hitler and his henchmen envisioned the world under the swastika, argues Despina Stratigakos Read More » The Civil War Wasn't America's Only War Involving Slavery By Phillip Goodrich More important, more direct and much less well-publicized was the impact of slavery in instigating the American Revolution Read More » How Methamphetamine Became Part of Nazi Military Strategy By Peter Andreas World War II was not only the most destructive war in human history but also the most pharmacologically enhanced. It was literally sped up by speed Read More » The Tribe That Fed the Pilgrims at the 'First Thanksgiving' Is Still Fighting for Its Land By Olivia B. Waxman Many Wampanoag hoped that the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing would be a galvanizing event to remind people that they still exist Read More » 2 Latinas Who Fought for Workers' Rights in U.S. History By Olivia B. Waxman and Video by Arpita Aneja Latinas were active in the labor movement nearly three decades earlier, and that work is not taught as often in schools Read More » ‘It’s a Struggle They Will Wage Alone.’ How Black Women Won the Right to Vote By Olivia B. Waxman The activism of Black women often predated that of famous white suffragists—and still informs debates over what history is worth remembering Read More » Was Martin Luther King Jr. a Republican or a Democrat? By Olivia B. Waxman Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece has said he was a Republican, but the civil-rights leader's party affiliation remains a mystery to scholars Read More » ‘You Must Wash Properly.’ Newspaper Ads From the 1918 Flu Pandemic Show Some Things Never Change By Suyin Haynes Medicine has advanced, but the core messages from a century ago are similar to today Read More » What the Freemasons Taught the World About Secrecy By John Dickie Who could resist the promise to join an élite in possession of occult truths? Read More »

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