Our story sometimes seems well known to everyone, but many of its facts often remain in the shadows and, moreover, sound rather alarming. Did you know that women had to fight for their right to smoke in public, or that medicines for children contained morphine?
We decided to collect some interesting facts from history that will allow you to look at our past from a different perspective.
Women had to fight for the right to smoke in public places
Women were not always able to smoke in public. In fact, in the early twentieth century, the anti-tobacco movement was directed primarily at women and children. Smoking was considered a dirty habit, and women who smoked were seriously condemned by society.
Over time, women have also pursued equality. The suffrage movement focused not only on gaining the right to vote, but on women's rights in general.
Despite fierce opposition to the movement, it succeeded and gave many women rights and a sense of freedom, and the tobacco industry seized the opportunity. Tobacco companies began advertising cigarettes targeting women during the heyday of the feminist movement in the 1920s.
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In the past, aristocrats used the bidet prototype
Surprisingly, in the past there was a prototype of the modern bidet - an invention of French furniture manufacturers, which was made in the 17th century. It is known that Maria Carolina of Austria and the Queen of Naples and Sicily used bidets in their rooms in the royal palace.
The bidet, along with the chamber pots that were right in the bedroom, were almost the only way to maintain personal hygiene. But the word "hygiene" is hardly appropriate in this case, as full pots remained in the bedroom throughout the night. Nobody really cared about that smell. But worst of all, their contents were often poured out onto the street directly from the window.
In public baths, women remained in robes
Bathrobes, as they were then called, were used in public baths at the end of the 18th century, which at the time were the most common personal hygiene method. In fact, public baths resembled 4-wheeled carriages located in the water so that bathers could hide from prying eyes.
Infant syrup contains morphine
Mrs. Winslow Soothing Syrup was a popular medicine, believed to have been invented by Mrs. Charlotte N. Winslow. The most interesting thing is that it mainly consisted of morphine. The syrup was believed to be effective in soothing any person or even an animal, but it was also often used for babies during teething. It was widely distributed in the UK and USA.
In 1911, the American Medical Association published an article on the dangers of syrup, but the product remained on sale until 1930.
Arabic numerals were invented by Indians
Arabic numerals, also known today as Hindu Arabic numerals, are the most common symbolic representation of numbers in the world. Despite the name, they were created by Indian mathematicians around 500 AD. e.
However, this system was soon adopted by Arab mathematicians in Baghdad, who passed it on to the Arabs further west. Later, the use of Arabic numerals spread throughout the world through trade with Europe, colonialism and through books.
In the Middle Ages, animals could be judged
In the Middle Ages, animals could be tried in many parts of Europe. The earliest evidence of an animal trial is the execution of a pig in 1266 at Fontenay-aux-Roses. Surprisingly, these types of courts remained part of many legal systems until the 18th century.
The accused animals appeared before the ecclesiastical and secular courts. During the trial, judges often heard human witnesses, and lawyers could represent the interests of the animals in church courts. The condemned animal was usually executed or expelled from the city. But there were also cases of justification. For example, in 1750, a female donkey was acquitted of charges of bestiality. She was saved by testimony and good behavior. At the same time, her accuser was sentenced to death.
Wigs were infested with lice
It is not surprising that the wigs worn by people of high social status were often infested with lice. In addition, animal fat was used to maintain their shape, so they smelled bad and often ignited.
Medieval streets were really dirty
Until the 18th century, there was even no talk of street cleaning. This is why most of the medieval streets that are considered charming and beautiful these days were covered in feces (of both humans and animals), urine, animal carcasses, and rotting food. It remains only to imagine how fetid this smell was.
The swastika has always been a symbol of good
The swastika has a 3,000-year history, during which it actually usually symbolized kindness and peace before the Nazis in Germany gave it a different meaning. Many ancient cultures around the world, including early Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and even Native Americans, have used different interpretations of this symbol.
Caligula made his horse a senator
The Roman emperor Gaius Caesar, known as Caligula, used unrestricted power to make his beloved horse a senator. This horse was called Incitat, which is translated from Latin as "swift", "greyhound". That is why the word "incitat" has remained an allegorical figure for many centuries, a kind of hint of political futility.
However, historians believe that the decision to make the horse a senator was just a prank, with which Caligula wanted to provoke the Senate and at the same time show his love for the animal. It is possible that he wanted to prove that even a horse can perform the duties of a senator.
Kim Jong Il was a creative person
Former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was fond of music and even composed about 6 operas during his reign. Moreover, he wrote On the Art of Cinema, which is considered the most authoritative work on North Korean filmmaking. He is also the author of many other literary books.
In ancient times, dentures were made from the teeth of dead soldiers
In ancient times, dentistry was really not very good, but what is interesting is that, until the middle of the 19th century, dentures were completely made from teeth pulled from the mouths of dead soldiers.
Anna Pismenna