Saartjie Baartman, known in her time as the "Hottentot Venus," was a South African Khoekhoen woman who was taken from her home and exhibited in 19th-century European freakshows. Exploited for her buttocks and African features, Saartjie Baartman became a victim of racialized scientific study.
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The Royal Library of Alexandria was a wonder of the ancient world, built to house all knowledge. Nevertheless, tragedy struck the Great Library and all of its invaluable manuscripts were lost. But how could such a thing happen? Read on for the tragic fate of the Library of Alexandria.
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The Pawn Stars have had some very rare and expensive items come and go through their historic shop in Las Vegas, and some of their most valuable commodities have come in the form of band memorabilia. Here's some of the most expensive band memorabilia seen on Pawn Stars.
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For centuries, keeping track of time didn't come naturally. Ancient Rome's road to the Julian calendar was especially rocky, and due to the craziness, their effort to reform the calendar ended up resulting in the longest year in human history. This is why 46 B.C. was the longest year ever.
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Sally Ride entered the history books on June 18, 1983 when, as part of the crew of Space Shuttle STS-7, she became the first American woman in space. Ride was celebrated as a heroine and a pioneer. But Ride was more than an impressive resume in a space suit. Here's the untold truth of Sally Ride.
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Ah, the enigma that is Jared Leto. Some think of him fondly as teen stud Jordan Catalano on the popular '90s TV show My So-Called Life. Others are fans of his band, Thirty Seconds to Mars. More recently, he starred as the Joker. But his real life hasn't been easy. Here's Jared Leto's story.
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During the 20th century, Jesse Jackson became a prominent civil rights activist, political figure, and Baptist minister. Known for working alongside Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson went on to run for president twice and launched the social justice program Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
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Even today, historians and archaeologists can't quite agree on who the Phoenicians were. What is clear, however, is that they were mighty. They established cities described in the Bible, created impressive artworks, and maybe even sailed as far as the British Isles.
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The most infamous buccaneer of the Golden Age of Piracy, Blackbeard, got his start as a privateer during Queen Anne's War. This is how the fearsome Blackbeard commandeered his notorious ship, built a reputation based purely on appearance, and evaded capture until his 1718 beheading.
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Edmund Hillary made history in 1953 when he scaled Everest for the first time with Nepali climber Tenzing Norgay, but that was hardly his only achievement. Here's a look inside Sir Edmund Hillary's fascinating life of adventure.
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The written word is a powerful thing. You never know when something as simple as a letter is going to spark an idea, a feeling, or a determination to do something that's going to change the world, and literally? That can happen at any time. These are letters that changed the course of history.
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Yes, the Wild West was awesome, but that's not to say it was as awesome as video games, television, and film make it out to be.
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Larry King was simply an American institution, known for his tough, direct, and fair interviews with just about anyone. Here's the real story of Larry King.
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Auschwitz. There are few places that conjure up more images of death and horror than the Nazi's most infamous concentration camp. But it was worse than you ever learned, because there are some places history classes just won't go. Here's what your history class didn't teach you about Auschwitz.
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The Sistine Chapel is a major tourist attraction that's also packed with over five centuries of art history, most notably works by Michelangelo, who may have left more than a few subtle clues in his art. Here are the mysteries of the Sistine Chapel revealed.
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You can actually learn something from Drunk History, be it a about forgotten war hero or how one shouldn't mix tequila with wine. This is the untold truth of Drunk History.
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Freemasonry has a murky history, but it's several centuries old, and it claims to be even older than that. Here's what life is really like as a Freemason.
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Charles Dickens was one of the greatest writers the English language has ever seen, but few know the man behind the writing. This is the troubled story of Charles Dickens.
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The Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center's history is as notorious as the history of psychiatric care itself. Here's what really went on behind closed doors there.
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Compared to some televangelists, Joel Osteen has kept himself relatively free of scandals. But he's not squeaky clean. Osteen has plenty of critics, who are quick to point out that the powerful preacher man is not without his controversies. Let's look at the troubled history of Joel Osteen.
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In June of 2001, a soft-spoken old white guy hit the soft-spoken old white guy lottery when he brought his grandmother's old Navajo blanket to an Antiques Roadshow taping and discovered that it had more than just sentimental value. It was worth big time money.
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Throughout history, explorers ventured into uncharted territories to source a body of water that could turn back biological clocks, but how seriously did they take their quests for curing waters? Here is the perplexing, sometimes tragic history of the search for the Fountain of Youth.
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Feuding artists can behave like reasonable adults, but some pretty big names in art history have been involved in some incredibly petty disputes. Here are some art rivalries that took things too far.
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Science has had rivalries like any other field, but sometimes, dueling smart people take things too far. People get hurt, careers are ended, and occasionally, the onward march of science is actually hampered by competition instead of bolstered. The following science rivalries took things too far.
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The Shroud of Turin is arguably the most famous Christian relic in the world. Devotees claim that it shows the authentic Holy Face of Jesus, while skeptics claim that it's nothing but an impressive and puzzling forgery. Read on for some mysteries and secrets of the Shroud of Turin.
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Whitney Houston's life was filled with tragedy, including struggles with addiction and grappling with the downsides of fame. She dealt with heartbreak and personal issues while also fighting roadblocks in her career. This is the tragic real-life story of Whitney Houston.
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Sonny and Cher brought love, laughter, and light to people. But fans would also languish over Sonny and Cher as their public life included much tragedy.
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