Hundreds of years ago, the Aztecs of Mexico and the people of Nicaragua believed gods lived in volcanoes. They would sacrifice beautiful young girls to these powerful gods.
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The University of Oxford (teaching since 1096) predates the Aztec empire (1428 - 1521).
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Traces of cocaine were found on 99% of UK bank notes in a survey in London in 2000.
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There was a bear called Wojtek who was adopted by Polish soldiers during WW2. It carried ammunition, wrestled with soldiers, and drank beer.
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India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
59
Pierre Jaquet-Droz, a watchmaker, 240 years ago invented a robot that could write, and the parts could be interchanged to say whatever you want.
13
Because metal was scarce; the Oscars given out during World War II were made of plaster.
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The handbook issued to US soldiers in Britain during WW2 included the line "The British don't know how to make a good cup of coffee. You don't know how to make a good cup of tea. It's an even swap."
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