Butter May Have Been Invented by Eurasian Nomads on Horseback
The origin of butter might be traced back to Eurasian nomads who carried mare's milk in skin bags during long journeys. The repeated…
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48 facts
Genghis Khan United the Mongol Tribes at Age 40 After Decades of Warfare
Born as Temujin around 1162, Genghis Khan spent nearly three decades fighting rival tribes before finally unifying all Mongol tribes in…
Genghis Khan Has Over 16 Million Living Male Descendants Today
Genetic studies suggest that approximately 8 percent of men living in the former Mongol Empire territory carry Genghis Khan Y chromosome,…
Mongol Women Held Significant Political Power and Rights
Unlike many contemporary societies, Mongol women enjoyed considerable rights and influence. They could own property, divorce their…
The Mongol Empire Practiced Religious Tolerance Centuries Before Others
Genghis Khan granted religious freedom to all subjects within his empire, allowing Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and others to practice…
The First Olympic Drug Testing Occurred at the 1968 Winter Games
The first Olympic drug testing took place at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. The IOC began testing for narcotics and…
Anabolic Steroids Were First Synthesized in the 1930s for Medical Use
The first synthetic anabolic steroids were developed in the 1930s by German scientists. They were initially created to treat hypogonadism…
Genghis Khan Never Allowed Anyone to Paint His Portrait
During his lifetime, Genghis Khan forbade anyone from creating images of him. No paintings, sculptures, or coins bearing his likeness were…
The Mongol Empire Was the Largest Contiguous Land Empire in History
At its peak in the late 13th century, the Mongol Empire covered approximately 9 million square miles, making it the largest contiguous land…
The Australian Shepherd Is Actually an American Breed
Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd was developed entirely in the United States. The breed got its name from the Basque shepherds who…
The Labrador Retriever Is Originally From Newfoundland Not Labrador
Despite its confusing name, the Labrador Retriever did not originate in Labrador but rather in Newfoundland. The breed was developed by…
The Saluki Is One of the Oldest Dog Breeds Dating Back Thousands of Years
The elegant Saluki is among the world oldest dog breeds, with a history stretching back at least 7000 years. These graceful hounds were…
The Longest NBA Game Lasted 78 Minutes With Six Overtimes
On January 6, 1951, the Indianapolis Olympians defeated the Rochester Royals 75-73 in a game that lasted 78 minutes and required six…
Dribbling Was Not Originally Allowed in Basketball
In the early days of basketball, players could not dribble. They had to throw the ball from the spot where they caught it. The first…
The First Basketballs Were Brown, Not Orange
Basketballs were originally brown, but in 1957, Coach Tony Hinkle of Butler University introduced the orange ball to make it more visible…
Basketball's Original Rules Sold for $4.3 Million at Auction
In 2010, James Naismith's original 1891 typewritten rules of basketball sold at Sotheby's for $4.3 million, setting a record for the most…
The NCAA Banned Slam Dunks for Nearly a Decade
From 1967 to 1976, slam dunks were illegal in NCAA basketball. The ban was nicknamed the Lew Alcindor Rule after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's…
Basketball Was Invented With Peach Baskets and a Soccer Ball
In 1891, James Naismith invented basketball using peach baskets as hoops and a soccer ball. After each basket, someone had to climb a…