During the Punic Wars, the Romans realized they had no clue how to build ships. They decided to rent row boats, run aground a Carthaginian ship, and plagiarize the designs. The entire first fleet of their new Navy was based off this ship, but learning to row proved more challenging.
Julius Caesar would personally…
Julius Caesar would personally conduct espionage on his enemies. Once, he even dressed up as a Gaul and snuck behind enemy lines. When his soldiers failed to sneak him back, he boarded a Gaul ship blockading the Romans and sailed back into Roman territory without anyone noticing.
For the production of ‘Maste….
For the production of ‘Master and Commander’, Russell Crowe personally bought the violin his character plays in the film as the budget couldn’t spare the expense. He later then sold the violin at auction in 2018 for $104,000.
The first SMS text message ever…
The first SMS text message ever sent was on December 3, 1992. It was sent by a 22 year old test engineer from his computer to a phone. The message simply read “Merry Christmas”.
C.S. Lewis nominated J.R.R….
C.S. Lewis nominated J.R.R. Tolkien for the 1961 Nobel Prize for Literature. He was rejected on the grounds that his writing “has not in any way measured up to storytelling of the highest quality.”
Jose Mujica, the president of…
Jose Mujica, the president of Uruguay from 2010-2015, was known as the “the world’s humblest head of state” as he gave away around 90% of his $12,000 monthly salary to charity. He also led an austere lifestyle; he lived on a farm than in the presidential palace and drove a 1987 VW beetle.
A scientist from the Mars…
A scientist from the Mars Viking mission believes we found life on Mars over 40 years ago. It was dismissed at the time despite strong signals that the tests were positive, and since then there’s been no attempt to repeat the experiment.
Former Liberian President, Charles D. B. King…
Former Liberian President, Charles D. B. King, earned himself a spot in the Guinness Book of Records for the most fraudulent election reported in history, having won the 1927 election with 2,43,000 votes in a country with 15,000 registered voters.
Ben Franklin was a slaveowner…
Ben Franklin was a slaveowner for much of his life, but after a friend took him to visit a school for black children. He wrote that African ignorance was not inherently natural but come from lack of education, slavery and negative environments. And he petitioned Congress to end slavery.
Over 60 old police cars were purchased…
Over 60 old police cars were purchased for the making of the 1980 movie Blues Brothers‘ chase scenes, and none of them survived.