Incredible Facts About History That Will Astound You!
History is packed with intriguing, unexpected, and downright bizarre facts that leave historians and enthusiasts alike stunned. These lesser-known tidbits about the past shed light on the incredible journey of human civilization. Without further ado, let’s dive into some astonishing historical facts that will leave you wondering just how much more there is to learn about our past.
1. Sunsken Cities:
The lost city of Heracleion, once a prominent Greek port near the Canopic mouth of the Nile, remained undiscovered until 2000. It was believed to be developed around 2,700 years ago but disappeared beneath the waves. The city was submerged due to climate changes and geological events.
2. The Great Pyramid’s Water Descender:
The Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 2600 B.C.E, contains a device called the ‘Grand Gallery’. This long shaft features a 15-centimeter tall, spirually plumb drainage channel known as the ‘Grand Gallery’. This unique feature suggests that either the Pyramid was constructed with water or demonstrates early architectural engineering.
3. Against All Odds:
The Rosetta Stone, a key linguistic discovery that enabled us to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, was found by a French soldier during Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign in 1799. Without this find, understanding ancient Egyptian history would have been a much more insurmountable challenge.
4. The Tiny Nation That Shook the British Empire:
During the late 1800s, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, a city-state on the Swahili Coast, stood toe-to-toe with the mighty British Empire. The unification and subsequent independence of India and Pakistan had significant implications on this East African region, which was once a major hub in the global slave trade.
5. Stubborn Statues:
In the ancient city of Ephesus, Greece, an enormous statue of the Greek god Artemis stood tall. However, Emperor Theodosius I ordered its destruction during his campaign to eradicate pagan worship. Despite his best efforts, a toddler saw the king’s soldiers and tugged their robes, causing them to stumble and accidentally destroy the statue.
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FAQs:
Here are some common questions people might have after reading this article.
- What is the significance of the Rosetta Stone?
The Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799, is a stone slab inscribed with a decree in three languages: Greek, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Demotic script. The Greek inscription played a crucial role in deciphering the hieroglyphs, which had been a mystery for centuries.
- How did the British Empire respond to the resistance of the Sultanate of Zanzibar?
After a diplomatic standoff, the Bombay-Tanganyika Boundary Commission was set up to mediate a settlement for the border dispute. Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini Al-Busaidi acquiesced to the British demands, effectively cementing the unofficial British Empire’s control over Zanzibar.
- What caused the sinking of the city of Heracleion?
Estimated to be around 1200 BCE, Heracleion was submerged due to the rise in sea level and geological events. Rising levels of the Eustatic Sea in the Mediterranean, combined with two large earthquakes around 800/810 BCE, led to the city’s demise.
Embark on a journey through time with these incredible historical facts, shedding light on the fascinating history of our world.
