Where Does the Pirate Accent Come From? [Video]

The seafaring criminals known as pirates have existed for thousands of years. But because of the portrayals found in literature – or seen in films, TV shows, or on stage – much of what the general public thinks about pirates is likely historically inaccurate. Take for instance the pirate accent. Many believe the origin of […]

Important Discoveries That Were Brought to Light by Accident

Accidental discoveries and inventions have often turned out to be some of the most important to human history. While it might seem intuitive to think that all archaeological finds were discovered by archaeologists or that all scientific discoveries were purposely made by scientists, that just isn’t always the case. Sometimes, discoveries are made by ordinary […]

Emperor Baby Boots [Comic]

For those who do not know, Emperor “Caligula” was not his real name. His actual name was Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. From History.com: Think of it as the ancient equivalent of miniature Nikes and tuxedo-imprinted onesies: Even in Roman times, parents liked to proudly dress their progeny in tiny versions of grownup gear. And […]

Tolkien Explained: The Complete History of the Shire

Nerd of the Rings is a popular YouTuber known for his in-depth analysis and commentary on the world of Middle-earth as depicted in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. In one of his recent videos, Nerd of the Rings gives a comprehensive history of the Shire, the idyllic homeland of the hobbits. Be […]

Only the Richest Ancient Athenians Paid Taxes – And They Bragged About It

In ancient Athens, only the richest people paid taxes on wealth, and they were happy to do it. Twospoonfuls via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA Thomas Martin, College of the Holy Cross In ancient Athens, only the very wealthiest people paid direct taxes, and these went to fund the city-state’s most important national expenses – the […]

The Christmas tree is a tradition older than Christmas

Public Christmas trees, like Rockefeller Center’s famous tree, didn’t start appearing in the U.S. until the 20th century. Nicholas Hunt/WireImage via Getty Images Troy Bickham, Texas A&M University Why, every Christmas, do so many people endure the mess of dried pine needles, the risk of a fire hazard and impossibly tangled strings of lights? Strapping […]