In a recent book (D’hulst 2014), I argued for a history of translation that would be less preoccupied with its place at the heart of translation studies or on the edges of other disciplines ready to assign it a place (cultural history, social, scientific, philosophical, literary, linguistic history, etc.) than with the particular viewpoint and significance that derive from a historical approach to translations. Such a history will focus on defining its subject matter and methods, in full dialogue with other disciplines that gravitate towards it and also provide it with concepts and models. It will also highlight the meaning if not the importance of historical research into translations and translation studies with respect to other intellectual and social activities. Addressing those different challenges will be the goal of this contribution, which will base its case on examples from a range of domains, periods and cultural areas.