› added 12 years ago

81

TIL for centuries there was a class of slave-soldier called the Mamluks. They were so powerful, free men would sell themselves into slavery hoping to join them. Also, they were wiped out in a purge not unlike the Jedi.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

9MQG TIL In 1906 An irish Olympic silver medalist Peter O Connor climbed a 20 foot flag pole and waved the irish flag when made to compete for Britain, All while irish and irish-American athletes fought off guards at the end of the pole.
P1xxZ TIL that for a while in the 2010s, you could rent the country of Liechtenstein on Airbnb for $70,000 a night. This included hanging out with the monarch, temporary currency, the ability to rename streets and a key to country.
A497 TIL Caitlyn Jenner caused a car crash that killed a woman while towing a vehicle. The case was settled with no charges..
jNl9Q TIL that kids used to sleep in the freezing cold in Soviet kindergartens. Surprisingly, that was a common practice in the USSR. We can find numerous photos showing kids sleeping outside – in winter, as well as in summer.
4Xd7b TIL That the phrase “bleeding heart liberal” was created to be an insult to people who were against lynching.