Cussing at Camelot: Medieval Insults to Use on Your Peasant Friends
Insults never die they just evolve. Medieval insults were surprisingly creative and some are still relevant to frustrations we face in modern life.
When Were Mirrors Invented?
Polished obsidian, bronze, and copper were used as mirrors for thousands of years until Justus von Liebig invented the modern mirror in 1835.
The Danse Macabre: The Waltz of The Dead
For centuries, Europeans participated in a celebratory Dance of The Dead. The Danse Macabre is believed to be the precursor to the celebration of Halloween.
536 AD: The Worst Year Ever
In 536 AD a volcanic eruption coated the Northern hemisphere with ash and produced a fog that plunged Europe into darkness.
Let’s Settle This: How Tall Was Napoleon?
Napoleon is widely believed to have been a bit short. Could propaganda or even a different system of measurement hold the key to uncovering his true height?
The Extraordinary Evolution of the Dunce Cap
Since its creation by John Duns Scotus in the 13 century, the Dunce Cap has represented the extremes of high intellectualism, evil, and stupidity.
Wojtek the Bear: The Syrian Brown Bear Who Inspired an Army
Read the amazing story of Wojtek, the bear. There are memorials to this bear in two major cities in Europe. He left an impression on all who met him.
What does SOS mean? How Morse Code Confused the World
What does SOS mean? Many believe that it means Save our Souls or Save this Ship, but it is an offshoot of the system of Morse code. Read this history
The Bundling Bag: Controlling 17th Century Teenage Hormones
The custom of the bundling bag has existed within Western Europe and later North America for over half a millennia. It is allegedly still practiced by some religious New England communities.
George Everest: The Man-Mountain
George Everest was a British surveyor and geographer, he is most famous for having the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, named after him, despite the fact he never really had anything to do with the discovery.
