› added 7 months ago

93

TIL: The East India Company's trade in Indian potassium nitre became a significant factor in its economic and military dominance, influencing global power dynamics.

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BrQ1k TIL that the phrase "Mad as a hatter" was born because men who worked in the hattery industry was suffering from mercury poisoning due the substance being used in the process of hat making.
pY0lp TIL Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin invented the beverage cart after refusing to play without cocktails.
VBnnG TIL about Poland Syndrome, a medical birth defect where part of the individual’s chest muscles are missing during birth.
WkLjY TIL Walt Disney World is 40 square miles, making it the same size as San Francisco and 2x the size of Manhattan.
wDjY TIL Phillip II of Macedon said to Sparta: “You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city.” The Spartans replied: “If”. Subsequently, both Philip and Alexander would avoid Sparta entirely.