History Facts

    Random History Facts

    There are 163 History Facts!

    Knocker-Up
    Knocker-Up
    Until the 1920s, there was a profession called 'knocker-up', which involved going from client to client and tapping on their windows (or banging on their doors) with long sticks until they woke up.
    46
    During the 1600's, boys and girls in England wore dresses until they were about seven years old.
    63
    In 1518, a "dancing plague" struck Strasbourg, Alsace, whereby hundreds of people danced fervently in the streets over the period of a month. Some suffered heart attacks or strokes, and many others died from sheer exhaustion. It remains unexplained.
    19
    No one knows who designed the first American Flag.
    45
    Fire Hydrant Patent
    Fire Hydrant Patent
    No one really knows who invented the fire hydrant, because its patent was burned in a fire.
    86
    A baboon called Jackie became a private in the South African army in World War I.
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    Modern humans first appeared about 200,000 years ago, but record keeping didn't begin until about 6,000 years ago. That means about 97% of human history is lost.
    21
    The oldest stone tools found are dated from 2.7 - 2.9 million years ago. The species that made these tools is unknown.
    13