World History
The Stories Behind 5 Rulers Dubbed “the Great”
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Article
A handful of times in history, a ruler has come to power whose influence was so significant that they became known as “the Great.” This esteemed title is not bestowed upon leaders very often — of all the kings and queens to ever sit on the throne in England, for example, only one, King Alfred the Great, has ever earned the moniker. Indeed, to become known for all of history as “great” tends to require doing something singularly impactful — though not necessarily “good.” While some of these famed rulers presided over periods of peace ...Read More
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World HistoryArticle0Did Pirates Really Have Peg Legs?
The image of a pirate with a peg leg, an eye patch, and a parrot on the shoulder is deeply ingrained in popular culture, from classic literature to Hollywood movies.…
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World HistoryArticle0Why Were They Called the Wars of the Roses?
For three decades between 1455 and 1487, the House of Lancaster and the House of York vied for control of the English throne. Originating in a period of instability during…
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World HistoryFact27Wealthy Brits used to hire hermits to live on their estate grounds.
Here’s a job title you won’t see on LinkedIn: “ornamental hermit.” The position was part of a strange trend that lasted roughly 100 years and saw English landowners hiring people…
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World HistoryArticle24The Strangest Pets in History
People have kept pets for tens of thousands of years, though we can’t say exactly when the practice began or what the very first pets were. We do know that…
