1. Find an AMAZING fact from history, something that really surprises you, or somehig you can't quite wrap your mind around. Include a picture!
2. Find a PRIMARY source confirming the information you found from your popular/secondary source. In other words, fact-check your assertion.
My fun history fact:
The burial site of Genghis Khan, ruthless leader of the Mongol Empire, is unknown to the world. He died of an unknown cause but his funeral had many soldiers and over 2,00 civilians in attendance. However to make sure his body was at peace, the guards killed everyone in attendance and then they killed themselves. This is how his burial site has never been found to this day. (p.s. no primary source document exists since all the people who were there were killed.)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.history.com/news/ask-history/files/2012/11/ah-genghis-khan.jpg
1. How do we know this event occurred without primary sources?
Delete2. Could the guards have written down their intentions before self-execution?
Write a problem of knowledge using the terms: History, Death, Loyalty.
self mummification was practiced by Japanese monks! (#1)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/01/10-amazing-history-facts-part-4/
Devotion to avoiding desire is a serious practice! I forgot about this bizarre practice! Write a problem of knowledge about focus and sacrifice.
DeleteRoman Emperor Caligula waged war on Poseidon. He sent his soldiers to the beach and had them throw spears at the water and cut it with their swords.
ReplyDeletehttp://european-history.knoji.com/was-the-emperor-caligula-insane/
Is Caligula insane, or just a hedonist with too much power? Why do so many rulers seem to have such strange idiosyncrasies? Write a Problem of Knowledge about it.
DeleteApollo 11's astronauts were only each paid $8 a day for their journey
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/08/apollo-11s-astronauts-received-an-8-per-diem-for-the-mission-to-the-moon/261639/
to be fair, it works out to military officer salary in 2012 dollars (100,000 per year). Still, it was pretty low consider the substantial RISK they take in comparison to normal military personnel. Write a problem of knowledge about risk and worth.
DeleteThat the Spartans use to share this homosexuality in the military.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/greekeros.asp
http://www.soldiers-of-misfortune.com/history/gay-warriors.htm
certainly a controversial topic only in that most of the conversations about sexual identity are polarized into simple/convenient definitions and assume a modern outlook on love, institution, and obligation.
DeleteShould the homoerotic practices of the Spartans cited in the fordham essay be compared to the modern sexual identity of the LGBT community?
Make a problem of knowledge about it.
The Greek Revolutionary Army game ammunition to the Turks (their enemy) after they noticed that the Turks were taking apart the Parthenon and using the lead from it to make ammunition.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ahistoryofgreece.com/revolution.htm
*gave.
DeleteInteresting!
Make a problem of knowledge about resources, culture, value and war.
(Just collecting points at this point)
ReplyDeleteMercury used to be used by hat makers and rubbed onto the felt in order to give the hat a softer and refined feel. Before this, however, the alternative was actually urine, but it turned out mercury made softer felt.
This is the inspiration of Lewis Caroll's "Mad Hatter"
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Elements-Toxic/Mercury-mad-hatter.htm
"The Chicago Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908. This was back when there were still teams such as the Brooklyn Superbas and the Boston Doves. The Ottoman Empire, which was founded in the 13th century, also existed back then. Mehmed VI was the last sultan of the empire and his reign ended in 1922 when the sultanate was abolished and the Turkish government took governing control over the new republic -- 14 years after the Cubs last won the World Series."
ReplyDeletehttp://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/history/postseason_results.jsp
http://geography.about.com/od/historyofgeography/a/The-Ottoman-Empire.htm
This just shows how horrible the Cubs are.
And I may be more than a month late, but at least I'm doing it.
ReplyDeleteBefore the mid-19th century, dentures were commonly made with teeth pulled from the mouths of dead soldiers.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.katetattersall.com/?p=1851