HISTORY

What do you think these Anglo-Saxon warriors are talking about?

20 Brilliant Anglo-Saxon Words We Should Bring Back

Old English had a rich array of inventive and intriguing words, many of which have either long since dropped out of use or were replaced.

Detainees at California's Manzanar War Relocation Center.

Researchers Have Published a List Honoring the More Than 125,000 Japanese Americans Incarcerated During WWII

The Irei Project and Ancestry have teamed up to publish the most comprehensive list ever assembled of the more than 125,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated on American soil during WWII.

D-Day: The scene of the Allied invasion on the Normandy beaches in June 1944.

13 Memorable Facts About D-Day

The Allied forces’ Normandy landings on June 6, 1944—an event better known as D-Day—became a pivotal moment in World War II .

Rawfords Mill near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, was a target of the Luddite movement.

The Luddite Movement’s Bloody Origins

The original Luddites were workers whose jobs were threatened by new technology—and who fought back.

The Most Common Last Name in Every Country, Mapped

The names were put into one of six different categories: ancestral, occupational, geographical, toponymic (or place name), personal characteristics, and patronage.

A 4000-year-old dog walks into a 4000-year-old bar ... / AevanStock, Master1307, and saoirse2013, via Shutterstock

9 of the World’s Oldest Jokes and Brainteasers

The oldest joke in recorded history is a fart joke that dates all the way back to 1900 BCE.

Mary and her little lamb, Humpty Dumpty mid-fall, and Little Jack Horner.

10 Interpretations of Popular Nursery Rhymes

You’ve probably grown up your entire life without putting much thought into the nursery rhymes drilled into your head. But there are tales behind each of them—some pretty dark.

Picasso Painting Breaks Auction Record At Christie's In New York

15 Things You Might Not Know About Pablo Picasso’s ‘Women of Algiers’

‘Les Femmes d’Alger’ (‘Women of Algiers’) isn’t a single artwork, but a series of 15 paintings—though one is more famous than the others.

We invented jewelry (such as this ancient Egyptian beaded necklace) before we invented the wheel.

11 Inventions That Came Before the Wheel

In the scope of human history, the wheel is actually a rather young creation. Beer, clothing, and jewelry are much older.

It can be tough to describe something most people have never seen.

Quiz: Can You Guess the Animal Based on an Early Description?

These descriptions are as wild as they animals they talk about. Can you figure out which creatures they refer to?

Military Slang Terms: 11 Examples, Explained

The close quarters of those serving together in war is a perfect Petri dish for slang. From ‘FUBAR’ to ‘fobbit,’ here are some military slang terms you should know (plus, why the military uses so many acronyms, anyway).

“Blackbird” Revisited: How The Beatles’ Civil Rights Anthem Has Been Inspiring Artists for More Than 50 Years

How Johann Sebastian Bach and the Little Rock Nine inspired one of The Beatles’ biggest hits—and one of the most covered songs ever recorded.

According to some depictions of her, Mother Goose isn't even a bird.

Who Even Is Mother Goose?

Many nursery rhymes are attributed to Mother Goose. But was Mother Goose even a real person?

We’re All Mispronouncing Mount Everest’s Name

George Everest gave his name, if not the pronunciation of it, to Mount Everest.

Rin Tin Tin and trainer Lee Duncan prepare to go before cameras in 1935.

14 of the Biggest Animal Stars in Hollywood History

Rin Tin Tin was found on a World War I battlefield in France before making his way to Hollywood, while poor Arnold the Pig was rumored to have been eaten after ‘Green Acres’ was canceled.

In the winter of 1861, former president Franklin Pierce found himself accused of treason.

The Bizarre Story Behind How Franklin Pierce Was Accused of Treason

An anonymous letter supposedly from a member of a secret society claimed that Franklin Pierce was involved in treasonous activities against the American government—an accusation that infuriated the former president.

'Flash in the pan' doesn't mean a literal fire in a pan. But good guess.

Why Do We Call Something a “Flash in the Pan”?

The phrase used to describe a has-been reality star or trend originated on the battlefield.

A replica of the Denisovan finger bone discovered in 2010.

9 Facts About the Denisovans, Our Mysterious Human Ancestor

The Denisovans went extinct around 30,000 years ago. Scientists are just beginning to unravel their genetic legacy.

50 of the Most Legendary Viking Names

Drawing from Norse mythology, these classic Viking names are associated with strength, war, valor and lots of weaponry.

The prime minister was no fan of his portrait.

‘Malignant’: Winston Churchill’s Most Hated Portraiture Is Headed to Auction

Winston Churchill so hated Graham Sutherland’s likeness of him that he had it set on fire.

Missouri Lawmaker Aims to Bring Back Dueling

The history of political dueling in the U.S. doesn’t end with Hamilton and Burr.

14 Surprising Facts About William Shakespeare

Despite his many contributions to English literature, surprisingly little is known about William Shakespeare's life. Here’s what we do know about the celebrated actor, poet, and playwright.

What the @%$!! is the oldest known curse word?

What‘s the Oldest Curse Word in English?

The four-letter words that still have the power to offend took a circuitous route out of our mouths and into our language.

This is no time to batten down the hatches.

16 Sailing Terms for Landlubbers

A handful of centuries-old sailing words remain known only to the saltiest of seamen, but some have become part of our everyday language.

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