Random History Facts

    107 facts tagged with History Facts

    When Charles Darwin first discovered the Galapagos Tortoises, he tried to ride them!
    18
    In 1799, a boy found a 17lb. rock in a creek in North Carolina and used it as a doorstop. It was actually gold.
    34
    The University of Oxford (teaching since 1096) predates the Aztec empire (1428 - 1521).
    14
    Vegetarian Gladiators
    Vegetarian Gladiators
    Ancient gladiators were mostly vegetarians whose diet consisted mainly of grains, beans, and dried fruit, washed down with a vinegar and plant ash tonic.
    294
    Sergeant Stubby was the only war dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat in WWI. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and even once caught a German spy by the seat of his pants, holding him there until American Soldiers found him.
    16
    There’s a Swedish power metal band called “Sabaton” who teach history through their music, including an album devoted to teaching about World War Two.
    30
    Yucatán Name
    Yucatán Name
    The Mexican state of Yucatán was named so after a misunderstanding when the Spaniards arrived and asked the locals what they called the place. The locals replied "Yucatan" which means "I don’t understand you" in their native tongue.
    35
    The word 'mile' is derived from the Latin word for 1,000 - the number of paces it took the average Roman!
    6