The post Top 5 Facts That Prove Neanderthals Were a Lot Smarter Than We Think appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>While Neanderthals are now extinct, they were around for quite a while. It is estimated that Neanderthals roamed the Earth for 250,000 years while dealing with some of the most difficult climate conditions and nature challenges of all archaic humans. For comparison, modern humans are only around for the last 100,000 years.
Neanderthals were familiar with the concept of tools and weapons. They would shape stones and bones into tools while also using the same material to create weapons.
Neanderthals were capable of feeling compassion and seemed to care about members of their group. One great example of this is that they buried their dead, which also shuts down the myth about them being extremely primitive.
Researchers found out that Neanderthals used fire like modern humans. They used fire to cook, burn things, and even for crafting. Estimations are that Neanderthals may have started using fire 400,000 years ago.
Neanderthals were the original artists. The earliest cave art, a red hand stencil in Maltravieso cave, Cáceres, Spain, was created 64,000 ago and attributed to Neanderthals.
The post Top 5 Facts That Prove Neanderthals Were a Lot Smarter Than We Think appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Teams With the Most FIFA World Cup Victories appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The Azzuri have been a regular fixture in World Cups, winning their first trophy in 1934; the second-ever edition of soccer’s greatest showcase. The Italians successfully defended their crown in 1938, however, they had to wait until 1982 to get their hands on the trophy once again. In 2006, Italy won their fourth World Cup, defeating France in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
Winning their first World Cup in 1954 as West Germany, the Bavarians won again in 1974 and 1990. In 2014, they won the tournament for the first time as a united Germany, scoring late in extra time to beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.
Brazil remains the greatest footballing nation on earth, with five World Cup trophies to their name. With their most recent victory coming in 2002, it’s been a while since the Seleção has been bathed in glory, however, the heroics of Pele in the victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970 will forever be cherished.
The post Teams With the Most FIFA World Cup Victories appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post There’s More to the Samurais Than You Think appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Samurais were the military nobility of medieval and early-modern Japan. Originally, they were provincial warriors or guards of the territories that were under the rule of a feudal lord. Over time, they evolved into one of the most well-recognized social castes in Japanese history. Samurais were known for their strict adherence to the bushido code.
Bushido, which literally means “the way of the warrior,” was the ethical code of the samurais. It was not written into a single document but rather evolved over time through the moral values and conduct of the samurais themselves. Key aspects of bushido include righteousness, polite courtesy, heroic courage, honor, and loyal duty.
The samurai class underwent significant changes in the 19th century. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to the abolition of feudalism and the samurai class. Many samurais became leaders in government and business. And while the samurai as a social class no longer exists, their legacy lives on in modern Japanese culture.
The post There’s More to the Samurais Than You Think appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Top 3 Longest Winning Streaks in NBA History appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Winning Streak: 24 Games
The Golden State Warriors entered the 2015-16 NBA season after winning the NBA championship the season before and just continued with their winning ways. The Warriors ended up winning the first 24 games of the season, which was the best start in NBA history, before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks on December 12, 2015. Golden State ended the season with an all-time best 73-9 record and advanced to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Winning Streak: 27 Games
Fresh from their 2012 NBA Finals win, the Miami Heat were once again the best team in the NBA in the 2012–13 season, fronted by stars LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. After a 100–85 win over the Toronto Raptors on February 3, 2013, the Heat would go on to win another 26 consecutive games before their winning streak ended with a 97–101 loss to the Chicago Bulls on March 27, 2013. The Heat would go on to win their second straight NBA title that season.
Winning Streak: 33 Games
The 1971–72 season was a special one for the Los Angeles Lakers for multiple reasons. The first reason was that they managed to win 33 games between November 5, 1971, and January 9, 1972, setting a record for the longest winning streak in NBA history that remains untouched to date. The second one was that the Lakers ended the season by winning an NBA championship, which was their first since the franchise relocated from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
The post Top 3 Longest Winning Streaks in NBA History appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Surprising Countries You May Not Realize the Vikings Raided appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>After sacking Bourdeaux, France in 844, the Vikings weren’t quite ready to head home just yet. Instead, they journeyed into Spain, laying siege to its coastal villages. It took the intervention of King Ramiro I of Asturias in the northwestern region of Galicia to put a stop to the Viking onslaught.
One group of Vikings traveling east made it all the way to the grand Turkish city of Constantinople. Craving the gold and riches that lay in the regal city, the Vikings were never actually able to breach the walls of the heavily fortified city. Instead, in 987, 6,000 Viking mercenaries would enjoy Constantinople’s treasures by choosing to defend the city, not sack it. This is because they were recruited by Byzantine Emperor Basil II to quell an internal uprising.
Centuries before the expedition westward led by Christopher Columbus, Vikings from Greenland arrived in the United States, establishing a trade route centered on the export of timber to Scandinavia. When they encountered Native Americans, whom they called “Skraelings” due to their screaming battle cries, the Vikings decided against settling in North America due to the difficulty in communicating with the locals and being vastly outnumbered.
The post Surprising Countries You May Not Realize the Vikings Raided appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post 4 Interesting Facts About Benjamin Franklin appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>While growing up, Benjamin Franklin attended a year of grammar school and received a year of education from a private teacher. He finished his formal education at the age of 10 after those two years. However, that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the brightest minds of his time.
When Benjamin Franklin was 15, his brother James founded the newspaper New England Courant. Franklin wanted to write for the newspaper, but James refused. This prompted Franklin to start submitting letters as a middle-aged widow, Silence Dogood, which were published and became quite popular among readers. After Dogood received more than a few marriage proposals, Franklin revealed his true identity.
Benjamin Franklin had a keen interest in music. After attending a concert and being captivated by the sound of rubbing fingers around the rim of a glass, he set on to create a musical instrument based on the same principle and ended up inventing a glass harmonica. The instrument became so popular that famous composers like Beethoven and Mozart composed musical pieces for it.
After building a successful printing and publishing business, Benjamin Franklin achieved great wealth that allowed him to retire at the age of 42. He devoted the rest of his life to science and representing the United States as a statesman and diplomat.
The post 4 Interesting Facts About Benjamin Franklin appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Balmoral Castle is Opened to the Public for the First Time appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, purchased the Balmoral estate and a small castle in 1852. Shortly after, the castle was deemed too small for the requirements of the Royal Family, prompting Prince Albert to commission a new castle designed by famous Scottish architect William Smith.
Smith designed the new castle, which was completed in 1856, in the style of Scottish baronial architecture with Prince Albert having a large input with ideas and suggestions. While the castle’s look was considered outdated for the time, it is renowned for contributing to the revival of the Highland culture.
Balmoral Castle Gardens were opened to the public for the first time in 1931 and are now accessible from April to July. Still, the only room inside the castle that visitors could see was the ballroom. Now, they will be able to view much more and enjoy afternoon tea at a price between £100 and £150 per ticket.
“Learn about Balmoral’s history and heritage, led by our experienced guides through several of the exquisite rooms within Balmoral Castle,” the tour description states. “Travel through time from the purchase of the Balmoral Estate by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, through to the present day, where you can see a selection of rooms within the Castle that are used by Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
The post Balmoral Castle is Opened to the Public for the First Time appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post 3 Things You May Not Have Known About Prince appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>While a flamboyant and outlandish popstar, Prince was surprisingly quite traditional in many ways. Baptized in 2001, Prince became a dedicated Jehova’s Witness, even going door-to-door to preach his religion. In fact, a woman living in Eden Prairie, Minnesota recalled how in October 2003, Prince and bassist Larry Graham came knocking on her door, preaching about their faith.
Despite being known for his impressive vocal ability, Prince was also a budding songwriter, who managed to compose some groundbreaking songs for a range of top singers. His works include “Nothing Compares 2 U” performed by Sinéad O’Connor, and “I Feel For You” for Chaka Khan.
After Prince passed away in 2016, global color authority Pantone decided to honor the late singer by creating a royal shade of purple in the singer’s honor called Love Symbol #2. This shade was inspired by the singer’s Yamaha piano that he actually planned on taking with him on tour.
The post 3 Things You May Not Have Known About Prince appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post 4 Facts About Ninjas That Will Surprise You appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Ninjas are usually portrayed dressed in black uniforms with masks on their faces and a long sword on their hip. But this is inaccurate based on historical records. Ninjas were all about blending in with the masses and their surroundings so they wore what was best for that and used small weapons that could be easily concealed.
Samurai were not fond of the ninjas because they deemed their tactics dishonorable. Also, ninjas were usually from the lower class while samurai were members of the upper class. Still, this didn’t stop samurai from hiring ninjas for various tasks that they deemed below their dignity.
Ninjas paid a lot of attention to the food they ate, but it was more due to practicality than health. They avoided any food that had a strong odor in fear that their enemies might smell it and discover their position.
Female ninjas were considered much more dangerous and efficient compared to their male counterparts. Enemies didn’t expect a woman to be a ninja, so female ninjas had an added element of surprise working to their advantage.
The post 4 Facts About Ninjas That Will Surprise You appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Mindboggling Facts About Albert Einstein’s Life appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Although known for his brilliant mind, fashion certainly wasn’t something that naturally came to Einstein. In fact, quite the opposite. The physicist would often walk around with messy hair and would never wear socks. He didn’t even wear socks when he met President F.D. Roosevelt at the White House.
When he wasn’t formulating life-changing theories, Einstein enjoyed music. He began music lessons at the age of five and loved playing his violin, which he affectionately nicknamed “Lina”.
Einstein was so highly respected that even those outside the world of physics craved his knowledge. In fact, he was once offered the opportunity to become the President of Israel by its prime minister. Einstein declined, however, insisting that he was not qualified for the role.
Naturally, incest is something that is broadly looked down upon. While not such close relatives, Einstein once became romantically involved with his cousin Elsa, who ultimately became his gatekeeper.
The post Mindboggling Facts About Albert Einstein’s Life appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Top 5 Facts That Prove Neanderthals Were a Lot Smarter Than We Think appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>While Neanderthals are now extinct, they were around for quite a while. It is estimated that Neanderthals roamed the Earth for 250,000 years while dealing with some of the most difficult climate conditions and nature challenges of all archaic humans. For comparison, modern humans are only around for the last 100,000 years.
Neanderthals were familiar with the concept of tools and weapons. They would shape stones and bones into tools while also using the same material to create weapons.
Neanderthals were capable of feeling compassion and seemed to care about members of their group. One great example of this is that they buried their dead, which also shuts down the myth about them being extremely primitive.
Researchers found out that Neanderthals used fire like modern humans. They used fire to cook, burn things, and even for crafting. Estimations are that Neanderthals may have started using fire 400,000 years ago.
Neanderthals were the original artists. The earliest cave art, a red hand stencil in Maltravieso cave, Cáceres, Spain, was created 64,000 ago and attributed to Neanderthals.
The post Top 5 Facts That Prove Neanderthals Were a Lot Smarter Than We Think appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Teams With the Most FIFA World Cup Victories appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The Azzuri have been a regular fixture in World Cups, winning their first trophy in 1934; the second-ever edition of soccer’s greatest showcase. The Italians successfully defended their crown in 1938, however, they had to wait until 1982 to get their hands on the trophy once again. In 2006, Italy won their fourth World Cup, defeating France in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
Winning their first World Cup in 1954 as West Germany, the Bavarians won again in 1974 and 1990. In 2014, they won the tournament for the first time as a united Germany, scoring late in extra time to beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.
Brazil remains the greatest footballing nation on earth, with five World Cup trophies to their name. With their most recent victory coming in 2002, it’s been a while since the Seleção has been bathed in glory, however, the heroics of Pele in the victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970 will forever be cherished.
The post Teams With the Most FIFA World Cup Victories appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post There’s More to the Samurais Than You Think appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Samurais were the military nobility of medieval and early-modern Japan. Originally, they were provincial warriors or guards of the territories that were under the rule of a feudal lord. Over time, they evolved into one of the most well-recognized social castes in Japanese history. Samurais were known for their strict adherence to the bushido code.
Bushido, which literally means “the way of the warrior,” was the ethical code of the samurais. It was not written into a single document but rather evolved over time through the moral values and conduct of the samurais themselves. Key aspects of bushido include righteousness, polite courtesy, heroic courage, honor, and loyal duty.
The samurai class underwent significant changes in the 19th century. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to the abolition of feudalism and the samurai class. Many samurais became leaders in government and business. And while the samurai as a social class no longer exists, their legacy lives on in modern Japanese culture.
The post There’s More to the Samurais Than You Think appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Top 3 Longest Winning Streaks in NBA History appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Winning Streak: 24 Games
The Golden State Warriors entered the 2015-16 NBA season after winning the NBA championship the season before and just continued with their winning ways. The Warriors ended up winning the first 24 games of the season, which was the best start in NBA history, before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks on December 12, 2015. Golden State ended the season with an all-time best 73-9 record and advanced to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Winning Streak: 27 Games
Fresh from their 2012 NBA Finals win, the Miami Heat were once again the best team in the NBA in the 2012–13 season, fronted by stars LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. After a 100–85 win over the Toronto Raptors on February 3, 2013, the Heat would go on to win another 26 consecutive games before their winning streak ended with a 97–101 loss to the Chicago Bulls on March 27, 2013. The Heat would go on to win their second straight NBA title that season.
Winning Streak: 33 Games
The 1971–72 season was a special one for the Los Angeles Lakers for multiple reasons. The first reason was that they managed to win 33 games between November 5, 1971, and January 9, 1972, setting a record for the longest winning streak in NBA history that remains untouched to date. The second one was that the Lakers ended the season by winning an NBA championship, which was their first since the franchise relocated from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
The post Top 3 Longest Winning Streaks in NBA History appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Surprising Countries You May Not Realize the Vikings Raided appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>After sacking Bourdeaux, France in 844, the Vikings weren’t quite ready to head home just yet. Instead, they journeyed into Spain, laying siege to its coastal villages. It took the intervention of King Ramiro I of Asturias in the northwestern region of Galicia to put a stop to the Viking onslaught.
One group of Vikings traveling east made it all the way to the grand Turkish city of Constantinople. Craving the gold and riches that lay in the regal city, the Vikings were never actually able to breach the walls of the heavily fortified city. Instead, in 987, 6,000 Viking mercenaries would enjoy Constantinople’s treasures by choosing to defend the city, not sack it. This is because they were recruited by Byzantine Emperor Basil II to quell an internal uprising.
Centuries before the expedition westward led by Christopher Columbus, Vikings from Greenland arrived in the United States, establishing a trade route centered on the export of timber to Scandinavia. When they encountered Native Americans, whom they called “Skraelings” due to their screaming battle cries, the Vikings decided against settling in North America due to the difficulty in communicating with the locals and being vastly outnumbered.
The post Surprising Countries You May Not Realize the Vikings Raided appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post 4 Interesting Facts About Benjamin Franklin appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>While growing up, Benjamin Franklin attended a year of grammar school and received a year of education from a private teacher. He finished his formal education at the age of 10 after those two years. However, that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the brightest minds of his time.
When Benjamin Franklin was 15, his brother James founded the newspaper New England Courant. Franklin wanted to write for the newspaper, but James refused. This prompted Franklin to start submitting letters as a middle-aged widow, Silence Dogood, which were published and became quite popular among readers. After Dogood received more than a few marriage proposals, Franklin revealed his true identity.
Benjamin Franklin had a keen interest in music. After attending a concert and being captivated by the sound of rubbing fingers around the rim of a glass, he set on to create a musical instrument based on the same principle and ended up inventing a glass harmonica. The instrument became so popular that famous composers like Beethoven and Mozart composed musical pieces for it.
After building a successful printing and publishing business, Benjamin Franklin achieved great wealth that allowed him to retire at the age of 42. He devoted the rest of his life to science and representing the United States as a statesman and diplomat.
The post 4 Interesting Facts About Benjamin Franklin appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Balmoral Castle is Opened to the Public for the First Time appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, purchased the Balmoral estate and a small castle in 1852. Shortly after, the castle was deemed too small for the requirements of the Royal Family, prompting Prince Albert to commission a new castle designed by famous Scottish architect William Smith.
Smith designed the new castle, which was completed in 1856, in the style of Scottish baronial architecture with Prince Albert having a large input with ideas and suggestions. While the castle’s look was considered outdated for the time, it is renowned for contributing to the revival of the Highland culture.
Balmoral Castle Gardens were opened to the public for the first time in 1931 and are now accessible from April to July. Still, the only room inside the castle that visitors could see was the ballroom. Now, they will be able to view much more and enjoy afternoon tea at a price between £100 and £150 per ticket.
“Learn about Balmoral’s history and heritage, led by our experienced guides through several of the exquisite rooms within Balmoral Castle,” the tour description states. “Travel through time from the purchase of the Balmoral Estate by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, through to the present day, where you can see a selection of rooms within the Castle that are used by Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
The post Balmoral Castle is Opened to the Public for the First Time appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post 3 Things You May Not Have Known About Prince appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>While a flamboyant and outlandish popstar, Prince was surprisingly quite traditional in many ways. Baptized in 2001, Prince became a dedicated Jehova’s Witness, even going door-to-door to preach his religion. In fact, a woman living in Eden Prairie, Minnesota recalled how in October 2003, Prince and bassist Larry Graham came knocking on her door, preaching about their faith.
Despite being known for his impressive vocal ability, Prince was also a budding songwriter, who managed to compose some groundbreaking songs for a range of top singers. His works include “Nothing Compares 2 U” performed by Sinéad O’Connor, and “I Feel For You” for Chaka Khan.
After Prince passed away in 2016, global color authority Pantone decided to honor the late singer by creating a royal shade of purple in the singer’s honor called Love Symbol #2. This shade was inspired by the singer’s Yamaha piano that he actually planned on taking with him on tour.
The post 3 Things You May Not Have Known About Prince appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post 4 Facts About Ninjas That Will Surprise You appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Ninjas are usually portrayed dressed in black uniforms with masks on their faces and a long sword on their hip. But this is inaccurate based on historical records. Ninjas were all about blending in with the masses and their surroundings so they wore what was best for that and used small weapons that could be easily concealed.
Samurai were not fond of the ninjas because they deemed their tactics dishonorable. Also, ninjas were usually from the lower class while samurai were members of the upper class. Still, this didn’t stop samurai from hiring ninjas for various tasks that they deemed below their dignity.
Ninjas paid a lot of attention to the food they ate, but it was more due to practicality than health. They avoided any food that had a strong odor in fear that their enemies might smell it and discover their position.
Female ninjas were considered much more dangerous and efficient compared to their male counterparts. Enemies didn’t expect a woman to be a ninja, so female ninjas had an added element of surprise working to their advantage.
The post 4 Facts About Ninjas That Will Surprise You appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Mindboggling Facts About Albert Einstein’s Life appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Although known for his brilliant mind, fashion certainly wasn’t something that naturally came to Einstein. In fact, quite the opposite. The physicist would often walk around with messy hair and would never wear socks. He didn’t even wear socks when he met President F.D. Roosevelt at the White House.
When he wasn’t formulating life-changing theories, Einstein enjoyed music. He began music lessons at the age of five and loved playing his violin, which he affectionately nicknamed “Lina”.
Einstein was so highly respected that even those outside the world of physics craved his knowledge. In fact, he was once offered the opportunity to become the President of Israel by its prime minister. Einstein declined, however, insisting that he was not qualified for the role.
Naturally, incest is something that is broadly looked down upon. While not such close relatives, Einstein once became romantically involved with his cousin Elsa, who ultimately became his gatekeeper.
The post Mindboggling Facts About Albert Einstein’s Life appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>