Very few places on the planet are genuinely lawless, but for a long time, one of these rule-free enclaves existed within Kowloon City. Known as Kowloon Walled City, this place was not only free of governing bodies but was also thought by many to be the most densely populated place on earth. At its peak, […]
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The Crimean War, only a portion of which involved combat on the Crimean Peninsula, pitted Imperial Russia against the Ottoman Empire, Great Britain, and France. It eventually involved Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia as well. Led by Great Britain and France, they saw themselves as balancing the great Russian bear. The war ended in
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In the shadowy world of international espionage, few incidents have captured the public imagination quite like the Compromise of the Great Seal. What ensued was a high-stakes spying scandal featuring covert operations, international diplomacy, and technological innovation. The “Thing” has captivated those who have learned about it ever since. The Soviet Union’s brazen planting of
How the Soviet Union Managed to Spy on the U.S. Ambassador: The Great Seal Bug Read More »
During a time when slavery had been abolished in most of the world, human zoos remained a popular attraction for millions of Europeans and Americans. They flocked to exhibits showing groups of dark-skinned people from Africa, Asia, and North America surrounded by trappings that were supposed to represent their “natural environment.” Most of these cruel
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The incredible life of Robert Smalls is a story of courage and daring. Smalls was born into slavery in the South in the 1800s. He rose from humble beginnings to become a naval hero, a political pioneer, and a champion for civil rights. But it was his incredible escape from the chains of enslavement that
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World War II was a period of intense espionage and covert operations. Both the Allied and Axis powers employed thousands of spies to gather critical information, sabotage enemy efforts, and gain an advantage. The world of intelligence has always been shrouded in mystery and intrigue, and the stories of World War II spies are no
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One of the most legendary pitchers to ever throw a baseball would have rather spent his time fishing, and often did. Rube Waddell was an eccentric person, had an interesting and varied career, and pitched some of the most record-breaking games of baseball ever. A Rocky Start Waddell began his career in 1897 when the Louisville Colonels
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The League of Nations was a coalition of major countries. They came together to resolve crises that arose during and after the First World War. It was proposed by the victorious Allies. The Allies consisted of Great Britain, France, the Russian Empire, Portugal, Japan, and Italy. Their goal was to bring peace and equality to
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On July 27, 1794, the Jacobin leader Maximilian Robespierre was finally arrested. He led a Reign of Terror that resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. After months of marching suspected royalists to the guillotine, it would soon be his turn to face the same fate as so many others. At first, he managed
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When people talk about war, they immediately relate it to the use of guns and other available weapons at the time. While this is not necessarily incorrect, war is not limited to one type of physical violence. Guns and ammunition are just one element of war. It also involves complex political strategies and intricate tactical
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