Weird history facts all gathered right here under our history category. Once you have had your fill of history facts head over to our random fact generator to learn more random factoids!
The wheel was not man’s first significant invention. Others predate the wheel by thousands of years including sewing needles, woven cloth, rope, basket weaving, boats and even the flute. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-salute-to-the-wheel-31805121/
Blue jeans originated in Genoa, Italy some 500 years ago. ‘Bleu de Genes’ were worn by fishermen and navy sailors because they could roll them up to prevent them getting wet and because they were easy to remove if they ever fell overboard. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.italymagazine.com/italy/liguria/genoa-girds-battle-over-jeans
The failure of the 1986 film “Howard the Duck” meant George Lucas had to sell some assets of Lucasfilm, including a computer-animated company Graphics Group to Steve Jobs. That company would go on to become Pixar. – WTF Fun Facts
In Ancient Rome, the punishment for killing one’s father (parricide) was poena cullei or “penalty of the sack.” This death penalty consisted of being sewn up in a sack along with a viper, a dog, and a cock, which was then thrown into water. – WTF Fun Facts
Ancient Egyptians attempted to cure blindness by mixing mashed up pig’s eyes, red clay, and honey which they then poured in the patient’s ear. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1600-0420.1997.tb00792.x
The Czech language was saved from extinction by puppet shows. In the 17th century, Catholic Ferdinand II forced the Protestant Czech’s to speak in German and banned the Czech language. Puppets were the only thing with the right to speak Czech in public places. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180820-why-czechs-dont-speak-german
During WW2, it was illegal in Britain to give cats a saucer of milk, dogs a biscuit, or bread to pigeons. – WTF Fun Facts
In 1907, French waiters went on strike for the right to have mustaches. In France prior to 1907, mustaches were a symbol of class and stature, while waiters were seen as lower class and therefore not mustache-worthy. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/french-mustache-strike
The World’s first recorded labor strike was held during the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The workers did not get their ration of garlic for the day and stopped working. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: http://www.dulcerodrigues.info/historia/uk/historia_first_strike_uk.html
During the 7th century B.C., ancient Roman ‘vestal virgins’ were required to keep their hymens intact as proof of virginity until age 30 or they would be buried alive.– WTF Fun Facts
The US was a signator of the Partial Test Ban Treaty, which prohibited all nuclear testing in the atmosphere, underwater and in outer space. However, in 1964 they conducted two underground nuclear tests in Mississippi which caused the earth to rise and roil in waves. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://mashable.com/2016/11/06/mississippi-nuclear-test
In WW2, there was a secret 1100-man US Army unit dubbed the ‘Ghost Army’, which was made up of artists, creatives & engineers. Their job was to create deceptions – from inflatable tanks to scripted bar conversations, their work led to big Allied wins. – WTF Fun Facts
In the 1840’s, London’s bus drivers had straps attached to their arms which ran alongside the bus that you tugged when you wanted to alert them to stop so you could alight. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/research-guide-no-14-horse-buses-in-london.pdf
During the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, the American Frederick Lorz was the first to reach the finish line of the marathon race. It turned out, however, that he had covered about half the distance by car. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1904_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men%27s_marathon
In 1900, the Chinatown in Honolulu was intentionally burned down to prevent the further spread of the bubonic plague. Four months after, Honolulu was deemed plague-free. – WTF Fun Facts
The World’s first and ancient university was established in Takshashila in 700 BC in India (modern day Pakistan). More than 10500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects.– WTF Fun Facts
Source: http://veda.wikidot.com/tip:world-first-university-takshila
It is illegal under German law to deny the holocaust occurred and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_against_Holocaust_denial#Germany
Ice cream originated in China, as early as 3000 BC. The original recipe consisted of milk, rice and snow. King Tang of Shang, had 94 ice men who helped to make the dish of buffalo milk, flour and camphor. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodicecream.html