History Facts

    Random History Facts

    There are 163 History Facts!

    The flushing toilet was invented in 1596, not by Thomas Crapper as most people think, but by Sir John Harington.
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    In Ancient Egypt, some people paid their taxes in honey.
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    During the Cold War, the US had planned to detonate a nuclear weapon on the moon.
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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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    Tablecloths were originally meant to serve as towels with which guests could wipe their hands and faces after dinner.
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    Only eight men were killed in the battle of lexington!
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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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    Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: spades - King David, clubs - Alexander the Great, hearts - Charlemagne, and diamonds - Julius Caesar.
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