History
Discover facts about history. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
History
Americans experienced an absolutely massive toilet paper shortage in 1973 directly caused by a joke made by late-night television host Johnny Carson.
Americans experienced an absolutely massive toilet paper shortage in 1973 directly caused by a joke made by late-night television host Johnny Carson. Humor…
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Viking explorer Erik the Red discovered an incredibly bleak, ice-covered island in 982 and cynically named it Greenland simply as a deceptive marketing ploy to attract gullible settlers.
Viking explorer Erik the Red discovered an incredibly bleak, ice-covered island in 982 and cynically named it Greenland simply as a deceptive marketing ploy…
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Theodore Roosevelt was shot point-blank in the chest by an assassin in 1912 but casually decided to finish his ninety-minute campaign speech before seeking medical attention.
Theodore Roosevelt was shot point-blank in the chest by an assassin in 1912 but casually decided to finish his ninety-minute campaign speech before seeking…
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Two intensely mysterious children with completely green skin were allegedly discovered wandering near a wolf pit in a twelfth-century English village, baffling medieval historians for centuries.
Two intensely mysterious children with completely green skin were allegedly discovered wandering near a wolf pit in a twelfth-century English village,…
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University of Queensland scientists began the pitch drop experiment in 1927 to prove that highly viscous materials like pitch are actually liquids, not solids.
University of Queensland scientists began the pitch drop experiment in 1927 to prove that highly viscous materials like pitch are actually liquids, not…
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Byzantine emperor Basil II captured fifteen thousand Bulgarian soldiers at the Battle of Kleidion in 1014 and decided executing them was simply not dramatic enough for his personal brand.
Byzantine emperor Basil II captured fifteen thousand Bulgarian soldiers at the Battle of Kleidion in 1014 and decided executing them was simply not dramatic…
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Juan Pujol Garcia was a Spanish chicken farmer who hated fascism so much he became an independent spy, tricking the Nazis into believing he ran a network of twenty-seven rogue agents.
Juan Pujol Garcia was a Spanish chicken farmer who hated fascism so much he became an independent spy, tricking the Nazis into believing he ran a network of…
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Robert Dover founded the Cotswold Olimpick Games in England around 1612, featuring a wildly popular and deeply violent sport known as shin-kicking.
Robert Dover founded the Cotswold Olimpick Games in England around 1612, featuring a wildly popular and deeply violent sport known as shin-kicking. Two men…
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Edgar Allan Poe was briefly enlisted in the US Army under a fake name, but even more bizarrely, he was expelled from West Point after showing up to a public parade wearing nothing but his white belt and gloves.
Edgar Allan Poe was briefly enlisted in the US Army under a fake name, but even more bizarrely, he was expelled from West Point after showing up to a public…
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Charles Vance Millar was a wealthy Canadian lawyer and legendary prankster who died in 1928, leaving behind a wildly chaotic will that offered a massive fortune to whichever…
Charles Vance Millar was a wealthy Canadian lawyer and legendary prankster who died in 1928, leaving behind a wildly chaotic will that offered a massive…
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Tsutomu Yamaguchi holds the incredibly dark historical distinction of officially surviving both atomic bombings in Japan during World War II, basically making him the unluckiest lucky man alive.
Tsutomu Yamaguchi holds the incredibly dark historical distinction of officially surviving both atomic bombings in Japan during World War II, basically making…
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Polish spy Krystyna Skarbek managed to casually escape execution by the German Gestapo during World War II by deliberately biting her own tongue until it bled profusely and…
Polish spy Krystyna Skarbek managed to casually escape execution by the German Gestapo during World War II by deliberately biting her own tongue until it bled…
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Inventor Thomas Edison is widely credited with making the word 'hello' the standard telephone greeting, winning a weird linguistic turf war against Alexander Graham Bell.
Inventor Thomas Edison is widely credited with making the word 'hello' the standard telephone greeting, winning a weird linguistic turf war against Alexander…
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British forces dropped the very first allied bombs on the city of Berlin during World War II in 1940, but the initial payload completely failed to hit any strategic military targets.
British forces dropped the very first allied bombs on the city of Berlin during World War II in 1940, but the initial payload completely failed to hit any…
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New York City completely outlawed women from smoking in public places in 1908 after a deeply sexist alderman decided that seeing a lady with a cigarette was a massive threat to the moral fabric of society.
New York City completely outlawed women from smoking in public places in 1908 after a deeply sexist alderman decided that seeing a lady with a cigarette was a…
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British and German soldiers temporarily paused the horrifying carnage of World War I to celebrate Christmas together in 1914, singing carols and exchanging small gifts in the frozen mud of no man's land.
British and German soldiers temporarily paused the horrifying carnage of World War I to celebrate Christmas together in 1914, singing carols and exchanging…
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Qing Dynasty emperors successfully employed tens of thousands of castrated men known as eunuchs to meticulously manage every single boring detail of the massive imperial palace…
Qing Dynasty emperors successfully employed tens of thousands of castrated men known as eunuchs to meticulously manage every single boring detail of the…
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Victorian women were so utterly desperate to achieve the perfect fragile romantic look that they literally dripped toxic nightshade extract directly into their unprotected…
Victorian women were so utterly desperate to achieve the perfect fragile romantic look that they literally dripped toxic nightshade extract directly into…
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British intelligence agencies successfully executed Operation Mincemeat in 1943 by taking the corpse of a homeless Welsh man who died from ingesting rat poison, dressing him up…
British intelligence agencies successfully executed Operation Mincemeat in 1943 by taking the corpse of a homeless Welsh man who died from ingesting rat…
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Chinese prostitute Zheng Yi Sao managed to completely reinvent herself in the early 19th century, eventually rising to become the most successful and terrifying pirate commander…
Chinese prostitute Zheng Yi Sao managed to completely reinvent herself in the early 19th century, eventually rising to become the most successful and…
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Journalists completely fabricated the legendary Curse of the Pharaohs when Howard Carter discovered the intact tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922, desperate to sell newspapers with…
Journalists completely fabricated the legendary Curse of the Pharaohs when Howard Carter discovered the intact tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922, desperate to…
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Thomas Edison manufactured a line of talking dolls in 1890 that were complete commercial failures because they sounded like literal demons; eager to capitalize on his recently…
Thomas Edison manufactured a line of talking dolls in 1890 that were complete commercial failures because they sounded like literal demons; eager to…
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Oxford University actually predates the founding of the Aztec Empire by several hundred years, since teaching at the prestigious English academic institution officially began in…
Oxford University actually predates the founding of the Aztec Empire by several hundred years, since teaching at the prestigious English academic institution…
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Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt went for a casual swim at Cheviot Beach in 1967 and simply disappeared into the ocean, never to be seen again by his entire country.
Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt went for a casual swim at Cheviot Beach in 1967 and simply disappeared into the ocean, never to be seen again by his…
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