Random historial facts

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
http://www.weird-websites.com/...weird/weirdhistory.htm

Strange Historic Facts

In 200 BC, when the Greek city of Sparta was at the height of its power there were 20 slaves for every citizen.

The first-known contraceptive was crocodile dung and was used by the Egyptians in 2000 BC.

The Hundred Year War actually lasted for 116 years ? from 1337 to 1453.

The shortest war there has ever been was between Britain and Zanzibar during 1896. It lasted for a pathetic 38 minutes.

Everyone in the Middle Ages believed -- as Aristotle had -- that the heart was the seat of intelligence.

Fourteenth century physicians didn't know what caused the plague, but they knew it was contagious. As a result they wore an early kind of bioprotective suit which included a large beaked head piece. The beak of the head piece, which made them look like large birds, was filled with vinegar, sweet oils and other strong smelling compounds to counteract the stench of the dead and dying plague victims.

In England and the American colonies they year 1752 only had 354 days. In that year, the type of calendar was changed, and 11 days were lost.

The condom was invented in the early 1500's, and was originally made of linen.

In the Great Fire of London in 1666 half of London was burnt down but only 6 people were injured.

It has been calculated that in the last 3,500 years, there have only been 230 years of peace throughout the civilized world.

At the height of inflation in Germany in the early 1920s, one U.S. dollar was equal to 4 quintillion German marks.

In 1778, fashionable women of Paris never went out in blustery weather without a lightning rod attached to their hats.

During the time of Peter the Great, any Russian man who wore a beard was required to pay a special tax.

In 1892, Italy raised the minimum age for marriage for girls to 12.

Ancient Egyptians shaved off their eyebrows to mourn the death of their cats.

In ancient Rome, a runaway slave was considered a criminal because he had stolen himself (i.e. the property of his master)!

Roman women especially enjoyed when their husbands went to war against Germany because the naturally-blond hair of Germans captured in battle would be used to make wigs!

According to Juvenal, the streets of Rome were so noisy that people living near them would die from lack of sleep! (Hyperbolically speaking, of course)

The punishment of a Vestal Virgin who broke her oath of chastity was to be buried alive!

In early Rome, a father could legally execute any member of his household!

In May 1948, Mt Ruapehu and Mt Ngauruhoe, both in New Zealand, erupted simultaneously.

Enjoy
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Simultaneous eruptions are fairly common. Kilauea and Mauna Loa erupted together in the early 80s, IIRC.
 

Arcadio

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2007
5,637
24
81
Wow. Reps to OP for such an awesome list.

My favorite is the one about runaway slaves, or the 38-minute war.



 

DomS

Banned
Jul 15, 2008
1,678
0
0
No one in 1492 believed the Earth was flat. Jules Vern started this myth in one of his books.
 

venkman

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2007
4,950
11
81
Originally posted by: DomS
No one in 1492 believed the Earth was flat. Jules Vern started this myth in one of his books.

Wasn't 1492 the year that THE GLOBE was invented?

;)
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
<ATOT Nerds>: There is something technically wrong with each and every thing you posted. I will now research every point you listed on Wikipedia and any MySpace/About.com website I can find to show my intellectual superiority.