Stuff you Missed in History Class
Did Nero really play the fiddle while Rome burned?
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What's Mutual Assured Destruction?
During the Cold War, both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. ...
During the Cold War, both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. stockpiled weapons, eventually holding enough power to destroy the world several times over. Yet neither side actually used these weapons. Learn more about M.A.D. in our article on HowStuffWorks.
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Why was tax evasion the only thing pinned on Al Capone?
Al Capone was a king among criminals, and 'kept his ...
Al Capone was a king among criminals, and 'kept his hands clean,' maintaining plausible deniability by avoiding direct connections to illegal activity. He never paid taxes -- and this came back to haunt him. Learn more in our article on HowStuffWorks.
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Why did England and Spain fight over an ear?
When the Spanish Coast Guard caught English Captain Jenkins smuggling, ...
When the Spanish Coast Guard caught English Captain Jenkins smuggling, they cut off his ear as punishment. Could this insult have sent two countries to war? Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn whether this is fact or fiction.
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Did Nero really play the fiddle while Rome burned?
In A.D. 64, a great fire consumed Rome for six ...
In A.D. 64, a great fire consumed Rome for six days and seven nights. Some rumors speculated that Nero set the fire, and even played a fiddle as the city burned. Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn if this is fact or fiction.
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Why was Davy Crockett king of the wild frontier?
Davy Crockett is one of America's great real-life legends. With ...
Davy Crockett is one of America's great real-life legends. With a little help from Walt Disney, Crockett experienced a resurgence in popularity more than 100 years after his death. Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn if this is fact or fiction.
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What was the Christmas Truce?
Amid the bloodshed of World War I, the Pope pled ...
Amid the bloodshed of World War I, the Pope pled for a truce on Christmas Day. The commanding powers refused the truce, but soldiers across Europe crossed battle lines to spend Christmas the enemy. Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn more.
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How the First Olympics Worked
The first Olympics took place in the sixth century in ...
The first Olympics took place in the sixth century in order to build diplomacy across the Greek world. Learn more about the history of the first Olympics in this HowStuffWorks.com podcast.
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What was in Peter the Great's cabinet of curiosities?
Peter the Great was a feared leader but also an ...
Peter the Great was a feared leader but also an intellectual. Learn about Peter the Great and Peter the Great's love of academia and collectibles in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com!
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The Cursed Tomb of King Tut
An inscription above King Tutankhamen's burial chamber reads: 'Death will ...
An inscription above King Tutankhamen's burial chamber reads: 'Death will come on swift pinions to those who disturb the rest of the Pharaoh.' This was known as the mummy's curse -- but was it fact, or fiction? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to lear
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Ergot and the Salem Witchtrials
Some researchers allege that ergot poisoning may have been responsible ...
Some researchers allege that ergot poisoning may have been responsible for triggering the Salem witchcraft trials -- but is this fact, or fiction? Learn more about ergot and the Salem witch trials in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
