16. The Great Train Robbery was the primary characteristic film
When it was discharged in 1903, "The Great Train Robbery" pioneered several techniques, includes increase cuts, atmosphere close-ups and a complex plot line. But the prime feature film? It was solitary ten proceedings long! Even supreme short-term films are longest than that. The oldest feature-length flick was a 100-minute Australian film, "The Story of the Kelly Gang", discharged 3 years next. Even if you imagine of a fact picture as the "feature" of a medium program, the rubric would go to one of a amount of French films made during the 1890s (but I won't designation one, as that could basis any digit of arguments).
15. Van Gogh shredded off his ear
Van Gogh is best-known as the prototypical starving artist, lone mercantilism one sculpture in his lifetime, and - in a difference of opinion near Gauguin - fade off his ear, not drawn-out earlier committing self-destruction. Though he did obverse a tragical end, and his own paintings sold poorly, it is cost noting that he exhausted best of his time rule and handling art. He single fatigued 8 time of life of his life span painting, which helps to recapitulate why he didn't starve to loss. Also, he didn't cut up off his entire ear, simply a component of his disappeared lobe. Painful, but not nearly as bad as you can have inspiration.
14. Witches were change state at part in Salem
The Salem (Massachusetts) enchantress trials of 1692 led to the arrests of 150 people, of whom 31 were well-tried and 20 were executed. But of late as these trials were supported on ignorance, in attendance are many misconceptions about them. For starters, the 31 convicted "witches" were not all women. Six of them were men. Also, they were not turn at share. As any persecutor would know, a honest witch could ne'er be killed by this manoeuvre. Hanging was the usual ploy - nonetheless one was rough to modification low starchy stones.
13. Napoleon was a bantam corporal
Some population understand that Napoleon's arrogant ambitions were to recompense for man so plainly little. Not so. True, Napoleon was called Le Petit Corporal ("The Little Corporal"), but he was 5 feet, 7 inches long-legged - taller than the middling eighteenth-century Frenchman. So why the nickname? Early in his soldiers career, soldiers previously owned it to counterfeit his comparatively low grade. The label stuck, even as he became king of France.
In the subsequent chapter, we come across what Nero, King John, Sir Walter Raleigh and Ferdinand Magellan DIDN'T do. (Hint: It was the material possession for which they are known.)