Ancient Oddities
This Mesoamerican civilization valued chocolate so much that cacao beans were used as currency
Who were the Aztecs
After being kidnapped by pirates, this Roman leader insisted they raise his ransom because he believed he was worth more
Who was Julius Caesar
This European nation launched the Age of Exploration largely in search of spices to improve bland cuisine
What is Portugal
Often portrayed as tiny, this French emperor was actually average height for his era.
Who was Napoleon Bonaparte
This ancient civilization used sharpened shells as dental tools, proving that early dentistry was basically “good luck, buddy.”
What is ancient China
This Chinese emperor unified China and began construction of a very long wall that is not actually visible from space
Who was Qin Shi Huang
Though she ruled Egypt, this famous queen was actually of Macedonian Greek descent
Who was Cleopatra VII
This citrus fruit helped sailors prevent scurvy, giving British sailors their famous nickname
What are Limes
This ancient civilization used chocolate as currency — meaning you could literally drink your paycheck
Who were the Aztecs
This 17th‑century economic craze had people paying absurd prices for tulip bulbs, essentially making flowers the original NFTs
What is Tulip Mania
This medieval emperor drowned after refusing to remove his armor while crossing a river during the Third Crusade
Who was Frederick Barbarossa
This invention, credited to Johannes Gutenberg, was inspired by a desire to avoid copying texts by hand
What is the printing press
This American crop became so essential in Europe that its failure contributed to a major famine
What is the potato
This empire stretched across three continents and lasted over 600 years
What was the Ottoman Empire
This Viking “delicacy” is made by burying a shark and letting it rot until it smells like a dare gone wrong
What is hákarl
This ancient city-state trained dogs to deliver messages, proving mailmen have existed for a long time
What is Sparta
This iconic Paris landmark was originally intended to be temporary for the 1889 World’s Fair
What is the Eiffel Tower
This drink, once considered safer than water, fueled much of medieval Europe’s daily life
What is beer
This conqueror crossed the Alps with elephants, because subtlety was not his style
Who was Hannibal
This medieval medical treatment involved sticking leeches on people to “balance their humors,” which is medieval for “we have no idea what we’re doing.”
What is bloodletting
This Carthaginian general famously brought his favorite elephant, Surus, with him into battle
Who was Hannibal
These Norse warriors never wore horned helmets, despite popular myth
Who were the Vikings
This luxury spice was once so valuable that it was used as a form of rent payment in medieval Europe
What is pepper
This medieval punishment involved hanging someone in a cage outside for all to see
What is a gibbet
This Roman emperor was so eccentric he appointed his horse, Incitatus, as a priest — and may have planned to promote him again, because why not
Who was Caligula