The term "special services" arose not so long ago, but the phenomenon itself is as old as the world. The publication of the work of I. B. Linder and S. A. Churkin "Special services of the world for 500 years" helps to shed light on many secrets over which the best minds of mankind fought. From the 16th to the 20th centuries, the participation that the special services of the world took in fateful events, trying to influence the course of history, was traced. The book tells about the most high-profile cases and operations of the special services; the "secret springs" of many historical processes are exposed.