Fact of the Day: "Vikings reached North America before Columbus"
Nearly 500 years before Columbus, Viking explorer Leif Erikson reached North America around 1000 A.D., landing in what is now Newfoundland, Canada. According to Norse sagas, he called the land Vinland due to its wild grapes. In 1960, archaeologists discovered a Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows, confirming their presence. However, conflicts with Indigenous peoples, harsh winters, and lack of support from Greenland led the Norse to abandon the area. Though short-lived, this Viking exploration proves that Europeans reached the Americas centuries before Columbus.
Quick bites
Ancient Romans used urine for laundry
Napoleon wasn't actually short
The Eiffel Tower grows 6 inches in summer
Did you know?
The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 was the shortest war in history, lasting no more than 45 minutes. It occurred as part of British colonial rule during the Scramble for Africa. The conflict began when Sultan Khalid bin Barghash took the throne of Zanzibar without British approval, violating a treaty that required British consent for any new sultan. When he refused to step down, Britain assembled a naval force to remove him. Despite having modern machine guns and cannons, Khalid’s forces were outgunned by British warships and troops. When he ignored a British ultimatum, the Royal Navy bombarded his palace, forcing his surrender in just 40 minutes. Khalid fled to the German consulate and sought asylum, while the British installed a puppet Sultan. The war left Zanzibar under British control, with little resistance due to the overwhelming firepower. Even the Sultan’s yacht, HHS Glasgow, was quickly sunk. The conflict, though brief, was a striking example of colonial dominance in the late 19th century.
Debunking Myths:
Medieval armor was too heavy
One of the most common misconceptions about the Middle Ages is that knights in full plate armor were slow, clumsy, and barely able to move. Popular media often portrays them as struggling under the weight of their metal suits, but historical evidence tells a very different story. A well-crafted suit of plate armor typically weighed between 50-60 pounds (23-27 kg)—about the same as the gear carried by modern soldiers. Unlike the bulky and rigid designs seen in movies, real medieval armor was carefully designed for mobility and flexibility. The weight was evenly distributed across the body, allowing knights to run, jump, roll, and even mount horses without assistance. In fact, historical accounts and modern reenactments show that skilled knights could …
Then vs...
In the 17th century, high heels were a symbol of power and masculinity, worn by aristocrats and warriors to showcase their status. Persian soldiers used them for practical purposes in horseback warfare, while European kings, like Louis XIV of France, embraced extravagant heels as a sign of nobility. The higher the heel, the greater the prestige.
Now
High heels are now almost exclusively associated with women’s fashion, symbolizing elegance and sophistication rather than power and status. While men’s fashion has largely abandoned heels, remnants of their past remain in formal dress shoes, and the idea that height conveys authority persists in modern society.