History Facts

    Random History Facts

    There are 163 History Facts!

    Vikings used the skulls of their enemies as drinking vessels.
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    Pirate Jean Lafitte Countered Governor's $500 Bounty for Him with a $5,000 Bounty for Governor
    When pirate Jean Lafitte saw the governor advertising a $500 reward for his capture, Lafitte offered $5,000 for the capture of the governor.
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    Chinese General With Only 100 Men Made An Army of 150,000 Retreat
    According to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Shu general Zhuge Liang had to defend a town with a mere 100 troops against an army of 150,000. He hid his men, flung open the gates, and sat on the walls playing a lute. The opposing general of Wei, Sima Yi, certain it was a trap, ordered a retreat.
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    The ancient Egyptians bought jewelry for their pet crocodiles.
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    India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
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    During the Black Plague, it was thought that bad smells were the cause of the plague. "Plague Doctors" therefore wore masks with long beak-like noses stuffed with flowers or smoke to hide the smells.
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    In ancient Greece, tossing an apple to a girl was a traditional proposal of marriage. Catching it meant that she accepted.
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    The first chocolate eggs were made in Germany in the 19th century and remain one of the most popular Easter candies today.
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