The Friday Digest brings you the best of the week's history news gathered from the experts:
* This image of what today's countries looked like 300 million years ago as a 'supercontinent' called Pangea, is stunning. It is hard to imagine India and Antarctica being so close today though!
* If we were still part of one giant 'supercontinent', smuggling Timbuktu's ancient manuscripts to safety may have been slightly easier. When Islamist rebels started destroying 'idolatrous' texts earlier in the year it was feared that the manuscripts, which date back to the 16th century would be lost but many of the texts had already moved to safety in Bamako, the last government-controlled town in Mali. Luckily only a few hundred manuscripts are thought to have been destroyed.
* The salvage attempt to raise a unique World War II aircraft from the floor of the English Channel just off the Kent coast has been delayed due to high winds. The Dornier 17 aircraft is the last of its kind, and lies in 50 ft of water on the Goodwin Sands. Since the first announcement, the RAF Museum has raised an extra £100,000 to contribute to the bid.
* Museums play a huge role in preserving our history and heritage and The Independent argues that our museums must remain free at all costs. This idea of public national museums is still a relatively new one and it was on this day in 1753 when the British Museum became the first public national museum in the world. Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum reflects on the impact that this extraordinary decision has had.
Why not spark a lifelong interest in history and visit a museum this weekend?
* The debate surrounding the history curriculum continues to rumble on with Simon Schama, the historian who advised the Government on the new national curriculum, urging teachers to reject the final syllabus and its“ridiculous shopping list” of subjects.
What are your thoughts on the chronological focus of the curriculum? Is it as restrictive as Schama is claiming?
* Inspiring children can be a difficult job but the appointment of Malorie Blackman as the Children's Laureate is a fantastic start. Her most famous work is her 'Noughts and Crosses' trilogy which remain some of my favourite books to this day.
* Sunday 2 June marked the 60th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation which the Queen marked by attending a service at Westminster Abbey. Stunning pictures of the service can be seen here and you can watch the original broadcast of the coronation service with commentary by Richard Dimbleby on iPlayer
* These images of iconic London sights, as seen from the skies, were taken by photographer Jason Hawkes, who regularly flies over the capital in an AS355 helicopter. The photographs give a fresh perspective on some of the world's most iconic views.
* Why have Finnish babies been sleeping in cardboard boxes for 75 years? This video may help to explain...
* The longer summer evenings give you a lot more time to relax, but the tempatation to have a snooze in the sunshine can be hard to resist. If you are looking for some summer reading, this list of 10 classics that won't put you to sleep is a good place to start but which books do you think are missing off the list?
* An interesting look at the spectacles factory that hasn't changed since 1932.
* The British Government has promised that Kenyan Mau Mau torture victims are to receive compensation 60 years after the uprising occurred.
* This history is a little earlier than we would usually cover (!) but the discovery of a tiny Chinese Archicebus fossil, the oldest primate yet found is fascinating.
Which history and publishing stories have you enjoyed reading this week?