History
Discover facts about history. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
History
The Roman festival when servants yelled at masters
During a highly anticipated winter festival, the strict social hierarchy was temporarily flipped, allowing servants to aggressively yell at their bosses…
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Felix Mendelssohn accidentally popularized wedding marches
Nothing says eternal romance like a piece of music originally written for a play about people with donkey heads. Mendelssohn composed his famous wedding march…
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Group of Seven painted unforgiving wilderness
Because cozy domestic scenes are entirely overrated. A group of Canadian artists decided to hike out into freezing, mosquito-infested woods purely to paint…
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Tofu emerged from ancient Chinese soybean processing
Someone in Han dynasty China looked at a hard, unpleasant bean and decided to mash it, boil it, and curdle it into a jiggly white block. This exhaustive,…
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Boiling water was a massive daily chore that took hours
Without an electric kettle, just making a cup of hot water required building a fire from scratch, hauling heavy iron, and waiting half the morning.
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Ancient Greeks played with hula hoops too
Because awkwardly gyrating your hips to keep a ring afloat transcends all generations. Long before they were made of cheap brightly colored plastic, ancient…
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When mulberry trees became geopolitical assets
Because silkworms are incredibly picky eaters and will only consume mulberry leaves, the trees themselves became geopolitical assets. Authorities strictly…
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Why medieval choirs sang without instruments
Purely vocal hymns were strictly mandated because harps and flutes were basically considered instruments of sin. Devout clergymen strongly believed that loud…
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George Washington didn't die from old age. Modern doctors believe he was killed by what terrifying medical practice?
George Washington didn't die from old age. Modern doctors believe he was killed by what terrifying medical practice?
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We see it today at elementary school field days, but from 1900 to 1920, this intense activity was highly prestigious.
We see it today at elementary school field days, but from 1900 to 1920, this intense activity was highly prestigious.
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The secret to President John F. Kennedy's immense energy during highly stressful political moments was shockingly dark.
The secret to President John F. Kennedy's immense energy during highly stressful political moments was shockingly dark.
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You can buy chocolate for cheap today, but for the ancient Maya and Aztecs, cocoa beans held what incredible power?
You can buy chocolate for cheap today, but for the ancient Maya and Aztecs, cocoa beans held what incredible power?
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The massive billion-dollar industry of frozen TV dinners only exists today because of a huge corporate mistake.
The massive billion-dollar industry of frozen TV dinners only exists today because of a huge corporate mistake.
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One of the world's most popular snack foods was originally invented in 1853 purely out of what negative emotion?
One of the world's most popular snack foods was originally invented in 1853 purely out of what negative emotion?
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Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie made huge scientific leaps, but her legacy carries a lingering physical danger.
Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie made huge scientific leaps, but her legacy carries a lingering physical danger.
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Ancient Roman Emperor Vespasian literally taxed human urine from public toilets. What was it actually used for?
Ancient Roman Emperor Vespasian literally taxed human urine from public toilets. What was it actually used for?
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The inventor of the telephone desperately wanted us to answer calls with what specific word instead of 'Hello'?
The inventor of the telephone desperately wanted us to answer calls with what specific word instead of 'Hello'?
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When measuring pure speed, the American 'Pony Express' was surprisingly crushed by an ancient postal system run by who?
When measuring pure speed, the American 'Pony Express' was surprisingly crushed by an ancient postal system run by who?
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To walk across the original, historic 1830s London Bridge today, you must travel to what highly unexpected location?
To walk across the original, historic 1830s London Bridge today, you must travel to what highly unexpected location?
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The 50-star American flag flying today was designed by a high school student in 1958. What grade did he receive?
The 50-star American flag flying today was designed by a high school student in 1958. What grade did he receive?
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It ruins Halloween, but the origin of witches 'riding broomsticks' actually comes from medieval women doing what?
It ruins Halloween, but the origin of witches 'riding broomsticks' actually comes from medieval women doing what?
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In 1957, the first birth control pill was quietly approved, but doctors could only prescribe it for what condition?
In 1957, the first birth control pill was quietly approved, but doctors could only prescribe it for what condition?
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Medical history is full of horrors, but none quite like this: The man who invented the terrifying 'ice-pick lobotomy'...
Medical history is full of horrors, but none quite like this: The man who invented the terrifying 'ice-pick lobotomy'...
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Human discovery features some bizarre timelines. Which of these iconic subjects was NOT taught in Harvard's early days?
Human discovery features some bizarre timelines. Which of these iconic subjects was NOT taught in Harvard's early days?
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