Mulan Might Actually Have Existed. Here's Why
Mùlán has served as inspiration in China for centuries, an example of self-sacrifice for the greater common good; of devotion to family; of bravery. Could she have actually existed?
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The Real Reason People Were Buried With Coins In Their Mouths
Long before people were tossing coins to ultra-buff witchers, they were placing them in the mouths of the dead. "Charon's Obol," as such coins have been dubbed, have been found in the graves of the once-living since the 5th century BCE, largely throughout Western European countries.
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The Unsolved Mystery Of Prince's Purple Rain
While certain bands are infamously secretive about their creations, pop legend Prince has typically been frank about the meaning behind his songs. Purple Rain is an exception.
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Here's How Alan Turing Helped Win World War II
It would be hyperbole to declare that mathematician Alan Turing saved England and won the war against the Axis in Europe during World War II. But there's no question the war would have had a very different outcome if Turing hadn't been there during the time Churchill called "the darkest hours."
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The Crazy True Story Behind Animal Magnetism
The year was 1774, and German physician Franz Anton Mesmer had done the impossible: he had cured Francisca Österlin's hysteria. Supposedly
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This Easter Egg Proves That Star Trek And Star Wars Take Place In The Same Universe
Too often in life, people are divided into socially reinforced groups, diametrically opposed to one another on principle. Jets versus Sharks. Montagues versus Capulets. Contemporary versus classical theater nerds. And, for a time, Star Wars fans were often pitted against Star Trek fans.
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The Truth About The Ancient Board Games You Never Knew About
One weird truth of ancient board games is that they offer a candid view into how people from a different age approached the game of life — like a quick 'n sneaky casual snapshot taken when the subjects weren't deliberately composing themselves to look good.
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The Truth About The Lost Army Of The Persian Empire
Archaeological digs can shed some light on long-held theories, even ancient ones. So when archaeologists discovered human bones in the Sahara desert, they thought they had finally found a Persian army lost to the sands centuries ago, ultimately solving an ancient mystery.
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Mythological Amazon Women Might Actually Have Existed. Here's Why
Story after story is told of the Amazons (a word which isn't Greek; it's probably from a Persian word for "warrior"), in many different cultures and societies. The stories are good. The history is better.
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The Messed Up Truth About The Reconstruction Era
Reconstruction after the Civil War was an attempt to reconstruct everything about Southern life and politics. But after an auspicious start, Reconstruction slowly collapsed under the weight of political reality and short-sighted decisions. Here's the messed-up truth about the Reconstruction era.
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Here's What Abraham Lincoln Initially Wanted Freed Slaves To Do
As Union forces captured Confederate territory, the slaves they encountered would be freed. Which raised the next question: If slavery is finally abolished everywhere, what happens to all of these thousands of people, formerly enslaved, but now free?
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Messed Up Things That Happened During The Iraq War
Like all wars, the Iraq War was filled with heroes, villains, and mistakes both harrying and hilarious. These are some messed up things that happened during the Iraq War.
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Shakespeare May Never Have Actually Existed. Here's Why
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who divide everyone into two groups, and those who don't. Another two kinds: Those who love Shakespeare, and those who would rather binge watch Friends -- again. But Shakespeare may have been even less real than friends.
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Was Elvis' Manager A Killer On The Run?
Colonel Tom Parker was a doughy human rabbit hole of shadowy weirdness. And he may even have been a murderer.
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The Man Who Was Successfully Turned Into A Zombie
Ah, zombies. The archetype of the shambling undead minion has left a meaty trail across the length and breadth of pop culture worldwide. But is zombification actually a thing? And if so, how does it happen?
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The Real Reason The Easter Island Civilization Collapsed
Human beings have been inhabiting Easter Island since somewhere around 400-700 CE. But something led to a collapse in its once balanced civilization.
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This Might Have Been The Cruelest Egyptian Pharaoh
The thing about ancient Egypt? If you're trying to figure out who the meanest ruler was, there's a lot of stiff competition.
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The Truth Behind John Dillinger's Death
Dillinger is one of those names that's become an archetype. Depression-era American criminal -- a gangster, a bank robber. Here's how he died.
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What Life Was Like For Women In Ancient China
Life in ancient China was not easy for women.
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What Netflix Didn't Tell You About The Cases In The Unsolved Mysteries Reboot
The original series gave everyone the opportunity to be a detective/forensic psychologist/UFOlogist. Even if you weren't alive for the original, the reboot gives you the chance to rewrite a bit of history. Are you up to the challenge?
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The Most Expensive Guitars In Rock History
Owning a guitar used by a famous rock musician is a way of owning a piece of history. Here are the most expensive guitars in rock history.
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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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