12 History Facts Beyond Our Understanding
Warning
During the prohibition, grape juice mix was sold with the warning “After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it would turn into wine.”
Reason for divorce
In the 16th century France, women could charge their husbands with impotence as a reason for divorce. The convicted husbands would have to prove themselves in a public trial through successfully ejaculating.
She’s a Witch!
A 1770 bill proposed in the British Parliament suggested that any woman wearing make-up should be punished for witchcraft.
Old practice
In India and Nepal, the practice of widow burning (sati) occurred when women burned themselves alive on their husbands’ funeral pyres as a sign of devotion and love. It was meant to be a voluntary act, but occasionally women were drugged or pushed into the fire.
Windshield wiper
Mary Anderson invented the windshield wiper in 1903. In addition, women over the years have patented non-reflective glass, disposable diapers, white out, and industrial lathes, among many other innovations.
3600 B.C.
Evidence suggests domesticated cats have been around since 3600 B.C., 2,000 years before Egypt’s pharaohs.
Prohibition
The U.S. government poisoned alcohol during Prohibition in the 20s and 30s, killing over 10,000 people.
Trial by ordeal
In the Middle Ages, there was a thing called “trial by ordeal” in which the accused would stick his/her art in a pot of boiling water. If they didn’t get burned, it meant they were innocent.
Sweet Servants
Servants in Ancient Egypt were often covered in honey in order to keep flies away from the Pharaoh.
Unusual
Santa Anna, a Mexican General, once held an extremely elaborate funeral… for his amputated leg.
Endorsements from physicians
Up until the 60s, cigarette ads actually had endorsements from physicians suggesting that smoking was good for you.
Cruel punishment
In the 1800s, feeding lobsters to people were considered to be a cruel punishment.