Genghis Khan exempted the poor and clergy from taxes, encouraged literacy, and established free religion, leading many peoples to join his empire before they were even conquered.
28
During World War II, Uncle Ben's was the exclusive supplier of rice to the U.S. Armed Forces.
23
Beethoven, was told by a music teacher that he had no talent for music. In fact, this teacher once remarked, “As a composer he is hopeless.”
184
The average life span of a peasant during the medieval ages was 25 years.
68
During the Cold War, the US had planned to detonate a nuclear weapon on the moon.
25
Ancient Greeks believed that redheads turned into vampires after they died.
40
Scientists are excavating the ruins of a major civilization which pre-dates both the pyramids and Stonehenge by over 7,000 years. In 15 years, they have uncovered only about 5% of the site.
21
The flushing toilet was invented in 1596, not by Thomas Crapper as most people think, but by Sir John Harington.
98