10 Surprising History Facts That Will Warp Your Sense of Time

weather.com ^

[chessplayer]

1. Cleopatra lived closer in time to the moon landing than the construction of the pyramids.

[Yardstick]

Yep, here she is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maudie_Hopkins

Married an 86 year old Civil War pensioner in 1934 when she was 19. He was 16 when he enlisted in the Confederate army.

[Little Bill]

Anna Komnena spoke Byzantine Greek from her Nunnery after she tried to assinate her brother to put her husband on the Roman throne.

Her claim to fame was a bio of her father who was an out standing Basilius.

[MUDDOG]

They made a good comeback under the Comneni.

[21twelve]

I lived next to Harry in a row of three houses carved out from an old farm (probably for the families for that farm as they got married, had kids, etc.)

Was about a mile up the hill from the old ruins of the cement factory. Harry still had the empty burlap bags that he would keep stuff in.

Before I lived next to Harry I stayed in a cottage on a nearby farm. Used to be a resort, with perhaps 12 small cottages scattered about.

When I mentioned it to Harry he said “Resort? That’s a nice way to put it. It was a speak-easy and brothel during prohibition. I drove a cab back then. Every Friday night I would pick up the Mayor of Califon at 5:30 from his office. Would head up to the “Farm”. Homemade meal at the main house with some entertainment. Then the rest of the evening with the booze and the women in one of the cabins. Would go back and pick him up at 1 am. Boy - those were the days!”

[GOPJ]

Cool story - thanks for sharing.

[GOPJ]

Teaching had already begun at Oxford as early as 1096. By 1249, the University of Oxford had grown into a full-fledged university, complete with student housing at the school's three original halls of residence. The Aztec civilization as we know it began with the founding of Tenochtitlan in 1325.

This one's a surprise...

[AnAmericanMother]

The Sioux and Cheyenne had better rifles than the 7th Cav.

The trapdoor Springfield used by the U.S. troops was reliable and sturdy, but a single-shot. The Indians were carrying a wide variety of arms (including bows and arrows) but at least a quarter of them had modern Henry and Winchester repeating rifles.

[AnAmericanMother]

The 11th century was when the big medieval universities really got started. Bologna, Paris, Oxford, Modena, were the earliest ones. Most were loosely organized private schools long before they were chartered in the 12th c.

[Verginius Rufus]

The Aztecs or Mexica were newcomers from what is now the Southwestern US (there are several languages related to Nahuatl still spoken in the SW such as Papago). Civilization arose in Mexico much earlier but what the earliest group ("Olmecs") called themselves is unknown.

The Aztecs were like the Persians in the Middle East or the Aryans in India--relatively uncivilized people coming in and conquering long-civilized areas by virtue of their military superiority.

[GOPJ]

The Aztecs were like the Persians in the Middle East or the Aryans in India--relatively uncivilized people coming in and conquering long-civilized areas by virtue of their military superiority.

Interesting - thanks for sharing.

[GOPJ]

The 11th century was when the big medieval universities really got started. Bologna, Paris, Oxford, Modena, were the earliest ones. Most were loosely organized private schools long before they were chartered in the 12th c.

Just that Oxford seems to classically modern... those buildings are still standing...

[MrB]

So you’re saying she lived closer to the Bangles?

[MrB]

“I’m not saying it was aliens, but...”

[Telepathic Intruder]

Why else would they need pyramids if not to land pyramid-shaped ships on?

[MUDDOG]

When it comes to the Bangles, they did an outstanding cover of “Hazy Shade of Winter.” One of my all-time favorites.

[PLMerite]

Linky no take me there.