In the summer of 1858, the people of London were in for a nasty surprise. The stench of rotting garbage and human waste was so putrid that it made Parliament members vomit and faint. This smell, known as the Great Stink, lasted for weeks and drove many residents from their homes. So what caused this […]
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Every schoolchild is familiar with tales of the ferocious Vikings who terrorized Europe for over two centuries from their first raids on Britain in the final years of the eighth century. Striking against coastal targets in their longships and making off with riches and slaves, they were soon pillaging much of Western Europe and voyaging
What Was Life Like In A Viking Longhouse? Read More »
World War One began on July 28, 1914, with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. By the time it ended in 1918, it was one of the most brutal conflicts in history. How well do you know WWI history? Take our quiz to find out! If you enjoyed this quiz, you should try some of
What do you know about WWI? Test your knowledge with 10 questions Read More »
A famous saying attributed to Gorgo, the daughter of King Cleomenes I, a fifth-century BC king of Sparta. When asked by a woman from Attica, the region of eastern Greece dominated by the city of Athens, why Spartan women were the only ones in all of Greece who held such power within their polis or city-state, Gorgo
Why Were Spartan Women So Wealthy? Read More »
Military historians who have observed the Second World War have long observed that the turning point in the conflict in Europe was the decision by Nazi Germany to invade Soviet Russia in 1941. Before this, the Nazis had conquered all before them. But, when their armies stalled outside Moscow and Leningrad in the winter of
Why was the Italian Army so Ineffective During WW2? Read More »
Some people in history have been so strange and baffling that we may never know their story. For example, Tarrare was known for his extreme hunger and bizarre eating habits. Records indicate that he had an insatiable appetite and could eat more than 20 pounds in one day. What caused his insatiable hunger? To this
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WW2 was a global war lasting from 1939 to 1945. The majority of the world’s countries, including every great power, faced off in two opposing camps: the Axis and Allies. In the end, over 70,000,000 people were dead, and large chunks of Europe and Asia were left in ruins. Test your knowledge about this great
Quiz: Test your knowledge about WW2 Read More »
Only two things in life are certain, opined the great American statesman Benjamin Franklin, death and taxes. Yet these are two things that we often forget to ask ourselves about in past societies like ancient Greece and Rome. So this is not the forum for discussing how ancient taxes were levied and collected, but rather
What Were the Most Common Causes of Death in Ancient Greece and Rome? Read More »
Undoubtedly one of the things that the Romans were most famous for was their baths. Unlike nearly all earlier civilizations that the archaeological evidence suggests were not overly concerned with personal hygiene, the Romans gave over large spaces in every city and town they built to public spaces where people could go and clean themselves.
What Was Personal Hygiene Like in Ancient Rome? Read More »
The modern world is unusual compared to almost all other societies in its approach to drug use, intoxication, and altered states. Other than those that pharmaceutical companies utilize, most narcotics today are illegal in nearly all jurisdictions. Alcohol, one of the most dangerous narcotics known to humanity, is the only narcotic generally freely available in
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