Pineapples were such a status symbol in 18th century England that you could rent one for the evening to take to a party.
25
Rio de Janeiro was once capital of Portugal, making it the only European capital outside of Europe.
9
Daniel Webster, who ran for president and lost three times, declined the Vice Presidency twice, thinking it a worthless office. Both presidents who offered it later died in office, meaning that if he had accepted, he would’ve become president after all.
11
Leonardo Da Vinci predicted the mass use of solar energy as long ago as 1447.
153
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
