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?
In ancient Sparta, marriage ceremonies included ritual bride kidnapping.
The bride would be kidnapped as part of the wedding ceremony, and the marriage was consummated before she...
Did You Know?
Medieval Japanese samurai would practice meditation while sitting under cold waterfalls.
This practice, called takigyo, was believed to purify the spirit and strengthen resolve. Practitioners would sit under freezing...
Did You Know?
In ancient Sparta, unmarried men were banned from watching sporting events.
Bachelor men faced various social penalties, including being barred from certain public events. They were also required to...