Give the gift of great storytelling. Nat Geo History brings the past to life with vivid writing and stunning visuals—plus a Tote and Bookmark. | National Geographic

It's long been believed that modern humans followed a relatively straight path of evolutionary progress. But discoveries of new bone fragments and fossils around the world, alongside breakthroughs in DNA analysis, reveal a much more complex picture. Paleontologists now believe that early Homo sapiens shared the Earth and mated with a surprising variety of previously unknown human species. In this timelapse, paleoartist John Gurche meticulously constructs a model of a recently discovered hominin—

Ribbed vaults, pointed arches, and expansive stained glass define Paris's Basilica of Saint-Denis. In the 1100s, its rebuilding replaced an earlier Romanesque church and helped establish Gothic architecture—inspiring iconic cathedrals around Europe, including Notre-Dame. Now, almost 200 years after its north tower and spire were dismantled, a reconstruction effort is underway to return Saint-Denis to its former glory. Learn more about this seminal cathedral: https://on.natgeo.com/4kI6iSY | Natio