The Truth About The Secret Code Used By The Vikings
Vikings, being just like us, really, though usually carrying more cutlery than we do, also delighted in codes. And we have proof.
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Here's How Hannibal Almost Conquered Rome
When the sun rose on August 3rd, 216 BCE, the future of the Roman Empire seemed in mortal peril.
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What Life Was Like For Women In The Aztec Empire
The Aztec Empire was relatively short-lived. What was like for its women?
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The Strange Connection Between The Donner Party And Abraham Lincoln
Had things gone as planned, we wouldn't have heard of the Donner Party, a pioneer group who attempted to migrate to California in 1846-1847. Out of the 87 members of the original wagon train, only 48 survived by resorting to survival cannibalism. And one of them was almost Abraham Lincoln.
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This Is How The Ancient Egyptians Built The Pyramids Of Giza
If you were to believe some of the more unusual things aired by the History Channel, the only explanation for the architectural abilities of ancient, usually non-European civilizations is... aliens. The historical record disagrees.
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What Life Was Like For Women In The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire was one of the most longstanding and powerful empires in history. What was life like for its women?
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What You Need To Know About The Hope Diamond's Curse
One of the most famous jewels in the world is the Hope Diamond. While most people think the Hope Diamond is the same one in Titanic, it's not — it's actually famous in its own right, primarily because of a supposed curse that befalls those who dare own it.
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The Real Reason Viking Longships Were So Effective
Vikings, hailing from what's now Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, had developed the one thing that made them not only a military power, but a commercial power. And that thing was sea power. Their go to vessel? The longship.
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This Is What The Ancient Aztecs Thought The World Looked Like
It's tough to get an entire society's beliefs nailed down. Even now, saying "modern-day Americans believe that the Earth is round" isn't an accurate blanket statement. Somehow. So it gets even trickier, as you might imagine, putting your finger on the pulse of an ancient culture's worldview.
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Werewolves Might Actually Have Existed. Here's Why
Good old werewolves. They don't usually top the list of anyone's biggest fears -- but what if we told you they may, just possibly, have existed?
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What You Need To Know Before The Second Half Of Vikings Season 6
Here's what you need to know before the second half of Vikings season 6.
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The Real Reason The Mayan Civilization Was Destroyed
Centered in the heart of present-day Guatemala, the Mayan Empire flourished for close to two and a half millennia, only to abruptly disappear around 900 CE. What happened?
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The Truth About The World's First Robots
Here's a working definition: a robot is pure machine. A cyborg is a human with machine parts (or, perhaps, a machine with human parts. It depends on where you're standing). An android is a machine built to look and function like a human being.
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What You Need To Know About The Iceman's Curse
High in the Ötztal Alps of Southern Austria, a muscular and heavily-tattooed man lay down in the snow, finally ready to die. Fifty-three centuries later, some believe Otzi, "the Iceman," curses those who get involved with him.
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The True Story Of The American Indian Movement
The American Indian Movement, most known for the 1973 standoff at Wounded Knee, galvanized a generation of Native youth. This is the true story of the movement.
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What You Didn't See In The Walking Dead's First Episode
Sure, there are plenty of easy answers here. After all, you know what you didn't you see in the first episode of The Walking Dead? Optimism ... or, for that matter, anything you hadn't already seen in 28 Days Later.
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The Plot Hole In Vikings Season One That Fans Still Can't Stand
So what did get fans upset about Vikings Season One? It all boils down to deadly snakes ...
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What Life Was Really Like For Slaves In America
The anodyne thing to do would be to pretend this article exists in a vacuum, but out of respect for your intelligence as a reader, the moment at hand should be acknowledged.
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The Tragic Real-Life Story Behind The Making Of A Rolling Stones Classic
Merry Clayton has one of those voices you've heard -- repeatedly -- but probably didn't know the name that went with it. Her most famous work? The Rolling Stones' 'Gimme Shelter.'
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False Things You Believe About The Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the most important document in our country, so it's surprising how many myths and outright falsehoods surround our foundational document. Here are false things you believe about the Constitution.
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Whatever Happened To Queen Bassist John Deacon?
Even though a band called "Queen" has continued after Freddie Mercury's death in 1991, Queen had effectively ended with his passing. Or, at least, that's how John Deacon, Queen's bassist, felt. But where is he now?
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We Had Flying Cars In The 1930s, Here's Why They're Not Around Today
Good news, everyone: we already have flying cars. Chances are, we had them well before you were even born. And in a passive aggressive twist of the historical knife, they're not around today because folks just refuse to support local business. Also, you know. They were death traps.
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This Village From Vikings Is A Lie
In Vikings, Kattegat serves as the seat of Ragnar Lothbrok, the series' protagonist, and as a mirror for his rise in power, growing from a market town to the seat of the kingdom's power. It is a central point in the story, but is it real?
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The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk is an icon, the first non-incumbent openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. Here's the tragic story of Harvey Milk.
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What Life Was Like For Prospectors In The Wild West
1865 saw the first Wild West showdown, in which gambler Davis Tutt bet on himself to beat "Wild Bill" Hickok and lost his life. But for prospectors, the West was plenty wild long before Hickok busted a cap in Tutt's butt.
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The Real Meaning Behind Blue Oyster Cult's 'Don't Fear The Reaper'
We can all be grateful to Blue Öyster Cult for a couple of things. Umlauts and cowbell. But when it comes to their timeless classic "Don't Fear the Reaper", what does the song actually mean?
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The Real Reason The Queen Can't Stand Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger is a lot of things. As the singer of the Rolling Stones, he is the voice of legendary hits like "Sympathy for the Devil," "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and "Gimme Shelter." He's also reportedly ... an enemy of the Queen?
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