Ancient Civilizations
Why Did Some Societies Ban Physical Greetings?
Fear of Disease—How Plagues Changed Social Etiquette Throughout history, the fear of disease has profoundly shaped human interaction, including the ...
What Were the Most Unusual Greetings in History?
Nose Kissing—The Traditional Hongi of the Māori People The hongi is a deeply symbolic Māori greeting from New Zealand, in ...
What Are the Origins of Handshaking?
Ancient Greece—A Gesture to Show You Weren’t Armed In ancient Greece, the handshake was more than just a polite greeting—it ...
How Did People Cut Their Hair Before Scissors Were Invented?
The Use of Sharp Stones and Shells in Prehistoric Haircuts Long before the invention of metal scissors, early humans devised ...
How Did Builders Measure and Align Structures Before Laser Tools?
The Use of Plumb Bobs to Ensure Vertical Alignment Long before the advent of laser levels and digital measuring tools, ...
What Was the Strangest Way People Paid Taxes in History?
The Window Tax—Why People Bricked Up Their Own Windows In 1696, England introduced one of its most peculiar taxes: the ...
What Was the Most Uncomfortable Fashion Trend Ever?
Corsets—The Painful Pursuit of an Hourglass Figure The corset is perhaps the most infamous example of fashion at odds with ...
What Was the First Recorded Underwater Mission?
Ancient Divers—Early Attempts at Underwater Exploration The history of underwater exploration dates back thousands of years, when early civilizations relied ...
Who Invented the First Submarine—And How Did It Work?
The Earliest Concepts of Underwater Travel in Ancient Times The idea of exploring the depths of the ocean is far ...
What Was the First New Year’s Celebration in History?
The Ancient Babylonians—Creators of the First Recorded New Year Festival The first recorded New Year’s celebration dates back to around ...
