Did You Know?
The Aztecs used chocolate as currency.
Cacao beans were so valuable that they were used as money throughout the Aztec empire. A turkey could be purchased for 100 cacao beans, and counterfeit beans made from clay were a common problem. This practice shows how everyday items can become currency.
Did You Know?
The Chinese Emperor would have concubines wear perfume made from boiled exotic animals.
Different ranks of concubines were required to wear specific scents made from various animals. This helped the emperor...
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Ancient Chinese nobles would grow their fingernails so long they needed gold sheaths.
Long fingernails were a status symbol indicating that one didn't need to perform manual labor. Some nobles would...
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Medieval European aristocrats would wear live animals as fashion accessories.
Small animals like squirrels and ferrets would be kept as living jewelry, often adorned with precious metals. This...