‘Pirate’ and ‘privateer’ sound very similar, but they are two different terms with unique meanings. Knowing the difference between these two terms can make all the difference in understanding maritime law and history. Pirates are criminals who rob ships for their gain, while the government authorizes privateers to attack the ships of their enemies in …
The Editors of Give Me History
In olden times, while pirates roamed the high seas in search of treasure, they needed a drink that would help them stay alert and in control during battle. But what did these rough and tough pirates drink? Contrary to popular belief, pirates didn’t just drink rum. They drank a variety of different beverages depending on …
Throughout history, pirates have been portrayed as rugged and wild seafarers that pillaged their way through the seas with a black patch on one eye – an iconic element of pirate culture that has often confused people. So why did they wear eye patches? It’s easy to assume it had something to do with hiding …
Even though much of their time was spent raiding ships, searching for buried treasure chests, or exploring new treasure islands, pirate crews still made room for leisure activities and entertainment. Pirates indulged in gambling, pranks, music, dancing, and various board games to pass the time between voyages. Golden-age pirates experienced the thrills of seafaring life …
Early versions of the musket, particularly the smoothbore muskets, were not very accurate at all, even at close range, nor did they have a very long range. Future versions of the smoothbore musket that were used closer to the end of the 18th century were far more accurate and somewhat similar to modern handguns, and …
Historians differ on what they consider ‘the last use.’ Some are of the opinion that only instances where a weapon is used in a real war count as ‘last use,’ while others believe that even if the weapon is kept by an army or a division of the army, and it isn’t part of the …
Pizza originates from Naples, Italy. It has a long and interesting history, and today it is firmly set in American culture as well. Variations of this food can be found in almost every country. Pizza, just one item in the fast food category, is a $30 billion industry per year [1]. It is extremely common …
Most experts agree that the first company to produce a car (according to the modern understanding of a ‘company’ and a ‘car’) is Mercedes Benz. Karl Benz, the founder, developed the first prototype in 1885 (the Benz patent motorwagen) and had the patent for his design registered in 1886 [1]. However, at the time, Karl …
Sir William Wallace, also known as the Guardian of Scotland, was a Scottish knight best known for leading the Scottish resistance against King Edward I in the late 13th century. He was born around 1270 in the village of Elderslie, Renfrewshire, Scotland. It’s believed that Jack Short (William Wallace’s servant) betrayed the Guardian of Scotland …
Also known as Attila the Scourge of God and the sacker of cities, Attila the Hun was born in the early 5th century AD, north of the Danube River. He made the Huns the most ferocious force, considered the direst enemy of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire. During his reign, the Hunnic empire stretched …
There are many Sumerian poems that tell the epic tale of Gilgamesh, depicting him as a powerful protagonist. The most popular of these poems is the Epic of Gilgamesh. This oldest existing version of the Babylonian epic poem was written around 2,000 BC [1]. It predates Homer’s work by over 1,200 years and is considered …
Emperor Napoleon, a French military and political leader was exiled because he was seen as a threat to the stability of Europe. After his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the victorious powers of Europe (Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia) agreed to exile him to the island of Saint Helena. But before that, …
Several ancient Egyptian deities, such as Sekhmet, Bastet, and Mafdet (representing power, fertility, and justice, respectively), were sculptured and depicted with cat-like heads. Archeologists used to believe cats were domesticated in ancient Egypt in the eras of pharaohs. However, a 9,500 years old joint burial of a human and cat was found on the island …
There are only a few periods in history that have had a bigger impact on the history of humankind than ancient Rome. From the modern-day alphabet and political system to the calendar and architecture, you can find the remnants of ancient Rome everywhere. When talking about Roman history, it’s not possible to skip one of …
Moors is a broad term that Europeans generally used to describe the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa during the Middle Ages. From 711 to 1492 AD, Muslims from Africa ruled the Iberian Peninsula, which is the area that covers modern-day Portugal and Spain. The Moors were a diverse group of people who …
While steel may seem like a modern material, it dates back to 2100-1950 B.C. In 2009, archeologists found a metal artifact from a Turkish archeological site. This metal artifact was made of steel, and it’s believed to be at least 4,000 years old [1], making it the oldest known item made of steel in the …
Glass windows are an important part of many homes and buildings. They allow light to pass through while still providing a barrier against environmental elements, such as dust and bugs. In addition, they also provide insulation to help keep buildings warm. They also allowed people to see the outside more easily, providing a sense of …
You might already have seen those strange-looking letters that appear half-Greek and half-Latin, commonly used in Russia and its neighboring countries. It’s the Cyrillic alphabet, the third official alphabet in the European Union, after Latin and Greek. The first Slavic alphabet, created in the 9th century by two brothers, led scholars and authors to develop …
Cursive writing is a style of penmanship in which the letters are written in a flowing manner, connecting together in a continuous stroke. The word “cursive” comes from the Latin word “cursivus” [1], which means running. This handwriting style is used to make the text look more elegant and to make it easier to write …
Written language is nothing but the physical manifestation of spoken language. It’s believed that homo sapiens developed their first language about 50,000 years ago[1]. Humans have found paintings of Cro-Magnons in caves, showing concepts of daily life. Many of these paintings seem to tell a story, such as a hunting expedition, instead of simple drawings …
The Vikings were often associated with ruthless battles and ferocious raids at the beginning of the Middle Ages. However, they did not spend all their time in bloody combat – they were also well-versed in farming and hunting techniques to sustain themselves. Although they depended on a simple diet for sustenance, they sporadically indulged in …