In a country with 50 separate territories with unique cultural backgrounds, laws, and social practices, it’s unsurprising that citizens of each state in the US find pride in the unique histories of their home residency. Still, while we may boast about our own states and believe that we have a […]
What do Tilda Swinton, Christopher Plummer, and King Princess have in common? They’re all celebrities with famous ancestors. All of the celebs on this list aren’t distantly related to notable historical figures – these individuals can actually claim direct descent from at least one historically significant ancestor. Celebrity ancestors include […]
We may have our differences, but everyone likes the idea of a good meal. Whether the goal was to show off the most intricate and expensive dishes or keep house guests too occupied to stage a revolt, history is full of elaborate banquets. Hosts held nothing back when trying to […]
King Henry VIII has gone down as being one of the greatest medieval villains – a man with a tyrannical attitude and penchant for killing people he disagreed with (executing approximately 57,000 people in his time on the throne). However, it’s possible that his inhumane ways may have stemmed from […]
Was Excalibur the actual Sword in the Stone? Was Arthur Pendragon real? Who was Merlin? Legends and theories abound about the figures related to King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. The stories range from heroic to decidedly not. Real or mythological, the Arthurian lore holds our interest […]
Genghis Khan has a legacy that few historical figures have outmatched. He set the foundation for the largest contiguous empire in human history, evoking fear and respect along the way. Genghis Khan and his descendants reshaped political and social institutions across multiple continents, but they also had a massive influence […]
Laws should keep us safe, but human silliness and petty bureaucracy often derail the best intentions. For instance, the strangest small-town laws in America prove regulations don’t always have to make sense. From protecting elephants in the Deep South to regulating the height of weeds in the Rockies, America’s most […]
The outlandish ideas of one era can eventually become predictions that come true at a later date. Something that was seen as unfathomable, implausible, or even ludicrous at one point can end up as a part of everyday life over the years. Inventors, scientists, and writers of yesterday have weirdly […]
Mary, Queen of Scots (AKA Mary Stuart) is one of history’s most disastrous queens. From the time she became an infant monarch to her tragic demise, Mary attracted attention. And she still does. For centuries, novels, television shows (see the CW’s Reign for an example), and even songs have reviled […]
The Holodomor was a Soviet state-induced famine in Ukraine between 1932 and 1933. For nearly two years, Joseph Stalin starved Ukraine in the name of feeding the Soviet Union. Literal tons of food went to waste, and millions of Ukrainians died as a result. The Holodomor, or “death by hunger,” […]
