History Facts

    Random History Facts

    There are 163 History Facts!

    Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.
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    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.
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    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.
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    In Ancient Greece, if a woman watched even one Olympic event, she was executed.
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    The University of Oxford (teaching since 1096) predates the Aztec empire (1428 - 1521).
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    During World War 1, Harry Houdini took 1 year off performing to help sell war bonds and teach american soldiers how to escape from German handcuffs.
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    Winston Churchill's Letter of Apology for Escaping from Prison
    Before escaping prison, Winston Churchill left a letter of apology on his bed. The letter began: "I have the honour to inform you that as I do not consider that your Government have any right to detain me as a military prisoner, I have decided to escape from your custody."
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    Leonardo da Vinci was dyslexic, and he often wrote backwards.
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