Is there any basis to the legend of Atlantis? No, there is no basis to the legend of Atlantis. It was invented by Plato to serve a purpose in his writings and was not based on anything. There was an event that could have been an inspiration for Atlantis, but there is no direct connection. […]
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When was the compass invented? The compass was invented in China in the 4th century BC. However, it wasn’t used for navigation until over a thousand years later, also in China. A compass works because our planet has a magnetic field. The magnetic field is generated by the spinning ball of iron at the center
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When was the first postal service? There have been postal services for thousands of years, but they took on a very different form to the modern postal service. The concept behind the modern postal service started in the 19th century. Since people have been able to write, there has been a need to send and
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When did people start playing board games? The first board games were played in Egypt roughly 5,500 years ago. We have probably all played board games at some time in our lives. Christmas isn’t really Christmas without a game of Pictionary or Monopoly. Incidentally, Monopoly is considered the best-selling board game of all time, but
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Why was Genghis Khan so effective? Genghis Khan was effective because of his military strategy, but also because he could take advantage of the natural abilities of the Mongols he commanded and of the weaknesses of the enemies he faced. Genghis Khan was born in 1162. His birth name was Temūjin, and he was the
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Why do churches have stained glass windows? The stained glass windows in churches were used to display religious stories to educate the congregation. They were also used because plate glass windows were not possible at such a large scale. And they were possibly used to show off the wealth and the power of the church.
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Did the spice trade change the world? The spice trade changed the world because it not only allowed people to flavor bland or not quite fresh food, but it also allowed for the exchange of wealth and ideas and encouraged exploration. It was the first step on the path to globalization. When you are cooking
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Why does the year start on January 1st? The year starts on January 1st because of the Romans and then Pope Gregory XIII. Although, for most of the history of civilization, the year did not start on January 1st,, and for a lot of cultures, it still doesn’t. In fact, for the 1.4 Chinese people
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What caused the US dust bowl? The dust bowl was caused by a combination of factors including bad farming practices, drought, high winds, and the economy. The dust bowl was named in 1935 by a reporter called Robert Geiger, but it was a phenomenon that had started in 1930, with causes going back long before
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Why are there only the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal? There are only the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal because they are at the two points in the world where shipping distances can be greatly reduced. No other canal would make enough of a difference to be worth the price of building it.
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