History
Discover facts about history. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
History
Iceland’s witch trials mostly targeted men
While mainland Europe was ruthlessly persecuting women, the witch hunts in Iceland predominantly targeted strange, eccentric men. If an Icelandic man was…
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Puritans wore bright colors—and drank beer
Despite their painfully bleak modern reputation, Puritans frequently wore bright reds and deep blues, and consumed massive amounts of beer and cider since…
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Losing centuries of knowledge by burning down a library
The tragic destruction of an ancient massive library essentially set back human progression by hundreds of years. Countless irreplaceable scrolls detailing…
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When three popes excommunicated one another
During a wildly dramatic period in medieval times, three separate men claimed to be the ultimate religious authority. They spent all their time furiously…
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When Puritans banned Christmas
Early settlers found the festive holiday singing and feasting completely inappropriate, legally outlawing the celebration entirely.
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The noble who chose to drown in wine
A treasonous noble was sentenced to a brutal public execution but was granted the bizarre privilege of choosing how he would meet his end. He decided to be…
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Medieval knights rode horses no bigger than ponies
The majestic steeds depicted in epic cinematic battles were actually the size of modern ponies. Clunky armored warriors were basically riding large galloping…
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Why teenage boys were fired as telephone operators
Before women took over the switchboards, companies hired young lads to connect calls. They were quickly fired because they spent the entire day aggressively…
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Early dictionary writers slipped opinions into definitions
Lexicographers spent decades compiling definitions by hand, frequently inserting their own bitter personal opinions into the pages.
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When voters choose an animal for public office
Disillusioned citizens have occasionally placed a popular local goat or dog into positions of civic authority. Unsurprisingly, the quadruped politicians often…
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Signing absurd treaties that effectively gave away entire massive peninsulas for practically nothing
In a stunning display of geographical ignorance, diplomats routinely traded vast tracts of wilderness for completely useless trinkets. These spectacularly…
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The strange appeal of royal spoons
Acquiring overly decorated utensils that serve absolutely no practical purpose besides gathering dust on a shelf. The entire value relies on the ridiculous…
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Storing ice in giant insulated boxes to pretend modern appliances are totally useless
Relying on massive blocks of frozen water delivered manually to keep items cold feels incredibly archaic now. The sheer effort required to prevent everything…
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The platform shoes that required walking assistants
Chopines were towering platform shoes worn by prominent figures to demonstrate their immense status. Moving by foot became so immensely difficult that merely…
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Ancient builders constructing monumental tombs just to deter petty tomb raiders.
Pharaohs poured absolutely astronomical wealth into constructing massive stone monuments, firmly believing that clever architecture could outsmart highly…
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Why old maps were filled with sea monsters
If you did not know what was in a particular ocean, you simply drew a giant octopus eating a ship. It was a fantastic way to hide total geographical ignorance.
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The smog that brought a capital to a standstill
Industrial expansion once caused a fog so incredibly thick that residents could not see their own boots. The lethal atmospheric soup shut down an entire major…
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The machines that promised to shake your fat away
Vintage weight loss fads featured terrifying mechanical belts that violently vibrated your midsection while you just stood there passively. The completely…
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An emperor ruled for just 20 minutes
Ascending to the absolute highest position of imperial power only to abdicate before finishing a cup of tea is a truly legendary speedrun of leadership. It…
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The famous brain that spent decades in a cider box
Removing and casually walking away with the central organ of the brightest mind of a generation without permission is breathtakingly brazen. The perpetrator…
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How tight-laced fashion made breathing dangerous
In a desperate attempt to achieve a highly fashionable silhouette, high society women wore tightly laced garments that literally prevented them from breathing…
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When medieval courts put objects on trial
When an unfortunate accident occurred involving a falling branch or a cart, local magistrates would sometimes hold a very serious judicial trial for the…
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Old diaries prove people have always been petty
While their handwriting was beautifully elegant, their complaints were entirely focused on avoiding annoying neighbors and silently judging ugly outfits.…
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When people bought ordinary rocks as pets
Decades ago, millions of sane individuals purchased completely ordinary rocks packaged in little carrying cases with breathing holes and instruction manuals.
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