› added 9 years ago

317

TIL the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán was the largest city in the Americas with over 200,000 people. It was built on a man-made island in the middle of a lake - connected to shore by 3 causeways. It contained huge pyramids, floating gardens, aqueducts and canals. It was destroyed by the Spanish in 1521

VDpp TIL of Emmett Till, a black teenager who was murdered after allegedly whistling at a white woman. He was so badly disfigured that the only way he could be identified was through his ring. Years later, the woman in question admitted that she fabricated parts of her story.
5VYYp TIL that sportscaster Jack Whitaker was banned from The Masters for six years after referring to fans as a "mob". Spectators at The Masters are referred to as "patrons". Augusta president Clifford Roberts said "We don’t have mobs at Augusta" and demanded that CBS remove Whitaker from the broadcast.
y8GV TIL Hitler gave orders to destroy Paris on the eve of the allied liberation in 1944 but the Nazi General in command deliberately ignored the order
xgy1 TIL when the “affluenza teen” Ethan Couch was 13, he was allowed to drink and to drive himself to school. When the head of the school objected, Couch’s father threatened to buy the school.
9wN4r TIL The Nagant M1895 is one of the few revolvers that can successfully use a silencer. This is possible because the ammunition's casing extends over the projectile and the cylinder slides forward when cocked. When fired these elements create a gas seal that prevents gas from venting out the sides.