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Articles by Peter Preskar
Vikings and Sex Slavery
In 10th century, Arab diplomat Ahmad ibn Fadlan travelled from Baghdad to central Russia where he met Vikings. He wrote about Viking sex slaves: “They place their beds in the center of their tents and copulate with their slave girls in front of everyone… and when they finish, they say to the buyer: ‘She’s for sale.’” Vikings became Vikings because of lack of women Viking age lasted from 750 till 1050 CE.
Musa of Parthia a.k.a. Ancient Roman Cinderella Story
The story of Musa of Parthia is an ancient Roman Cinderella story of a sexy beautiful slave working her way to the throne of one of the most powerful empires in the world at that time. It all began with legionary standards In 20 BC, Emperor Augustus (27 BC-14 AD) was looking to arrange for the return of lost legionary standards captured by the Parthians 33 years earlier after catastrophic defeat of Romans at Carrhae.
The Most Expensive Party That Brought Ayatollahs to Power in Iran
“2,500-year celebration of the Persian Empire cost $700 million and was one of the reasons for the Iranian revolution In 1971, kings and princes, presidents and prime ministers, arrived from all over the world in the desert in Iran. The host was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran. The party was held to commemorate 2,500 years of Persian history (Persia was the predecessor of Iran). The lavish party could easily be a scene from a James Bond movie or a story from One Thousand and One Nights.
The 3 Most Amazing Castles in Slovakia
Bojnice Castle, Trencin Castle, and Spis Castle Iam passionate about history, and one of my favorite topics to explore is castles. Every vacation, I visit as many castles as I can. This time, I traveled to Slovakia to see as many of its castles as possible. The three most fascinating ones I visited were Spiš, Trenčín, and Bojnice. Spiš Castle is located in the eastern part of Slovakia. It is the largest castle in the country.
Why Church Bells Ring at Noon
Have you ever asked yourself for whom the bell tolls every day at noon at Christian churches? Although many interpret it this way, it’s not a call for lunch. To understand why church bells ring at noon, we must go back 600 years… Mehmet II, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire leading conquest of Constantinople in 1456 (Image:islamicchronicles.com) The 15th century saw the rise of a new formidable power in the east — the Ottoman Empire, ruled by the Ottoman Turks.
The Gladius - The Brutally Efficient Roman Sword
The sword that conquered the ancient world Stabbing, not slashing, is what created the Roman Empire. The most important weapon of the legendary Roman legionary was the gladius. The gladius was the weapon of choice for the Romans on their quest to create one of the greatest empires in human history. The gladius was such an important weapon that the word itself became a synonym for a sword in the Latin language. Romans learned early that slashing was inefficient.
Did the Egyptians Circumvent Africa 2,600 Years Ago?
Pharaoh Necho II hired Phoenician sailors to do the unimaginable Peter Preskar · Follow Published in Teatime History · 6 min read · -- Ancient Egyptians/Phoenicians circumvented Africa 2,600 years ago (Image: khanacademy.org) In 1497, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama sailed from Europe to India, around Africa. His voyage is known as the first circumnavigation of Africa.
How Did Wheat, Corn, and Rice Change Humanity?
For better or worse Twelve thousand years ago, our ancestors discovered agriculture. Before that, we were hunter-gatherers. As hunter-gatherers, we moved from one place to another in search of food. Men hunted and women foraged the camp surroundings for berries, roots, and seeds. After a few hours of work, we had enough food to return to camp to eat, talk, dance, and enjoy life. When there weren’t enough berries to pick or wild animals to hunt, the band moved to another location.
How Does the “Century of Humiliation” Influence Chinese Attitude Towards West
Understanding history enables you to understand present and future From 1850 until 1950, Western powers Great Britain, France, the United States, Germany, and Russia controlled (and abused) China. The Chinese call the era of Western abuse that lasted from 1850 until 1950 the Century of Hummiliation. It has a profound impact on Chinese foreign and economical policies.
Our Prehistoric Ancestors Worked for Only 2 Hours a Day
Only a few people on this planet can say they work for only two hours a day and have everything they need. It’s a dream for 90% of the Western world. The remaining 10% actually like their jobs. In the rest of the world, people would love to work, but it’s difficult to find it. Before the invention of agriculture, humans survived as hunter-gatherers. This meant that men went out of the camp every day to search for animals, mostly small ones like rabbits and deer. Mammoths were just too big to catch.
The Insatiable Love Life of Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, had a ferocious sexual appetite. He had sex with his wife nine times on their wedding night, seduced his own son's lover, and managed to sleep with 200 women in the space of just two years. Hugo's private life was as enticing as his writing. The guy was an absolute legend during his lifetime. Among others, the street in Paris, where he lived was renamed Avenue Victor-Hugo.
The 7 Juicy Facts About the Love Life of Casanova
By Peter Preskar The legendary womanizer had sex also with men Giacomo Casanova (Image: henkbovekerk.nl) Giacomo Casanova (1725-1783) was an Italian adventurer, polymath, and lover. His surname is a synonym for a man who has success with the ladies. Born in 18th-century Venice, Italy, Casanova traveled across Europe from one adventure to another seducing women along the way.
The 9 STRANGE Facts about Winston Churchill
From drinking a whole day to walking around naked Winston Churchill is one of the historical personalities who needs no introduction. Everyone knows who the man was. Besides being prime minister of the British Empire during World War II, Churchill became famous for his odd behaviors and routines. Let’s have a look at 9 strange facts about Winston Churchill Churchill was not ashamed of being nude. His staff reported that they often saw him walking around naked.
Skanderbeg - The Legendary Albanian Hero, the Destroyer of Turks
History of war Skanderbeg — The Legendary Albanian Hero, the Destroyer of Turks For 25 years, the tiny country (Albania) fought against the empire (Ottoman Empire) Artistic depiction of Skanderbeg, a legendary lord of war from Albania (Image: Pinterest) Most likely, you have never heard of Albania, let alone Skanderbeg.
The Peanut Hole, Pollock, and the (Very) Upset Russians
The Peanut Hole, Pollock, and the (Very) Upset Russians No man's land in the middle of the Sea of Ohotsk led to the robbery of the Russian pollocks The notorious Peanut Hole (Image: Wikimedia Commons) In 1982, the United Nations defined exclusive economic zones (EEZ). EEZ is the area of the sea where a state has exclusive rights to use marine resources (fishing, oil drilling, wind and water energy). An EEZ stretches…
Leonard Bernstein - The Closeted Love Life of Music Genius
Bernstein was a gay married to a woman Leonard Bernstein (1919-1990) was a larger-than-life musician in American history. He was a wonderboy of the American classical music scene. In 1943, at the age of 25, at Carnegie Hall without a rehearsal. By the end of the concert, the initially skeptical audience went into a frenzy from excitement. Suddenly, Bernstein became an international celebrity. Felicia Montealegre (1922-1978) was a beautiful actress from Costa Rica.
The Embarrassing Burial of William I the Conqueror
The Embarrassing Burial of William I the Conqueror William’s dead body exploded during the burial William I the Conqueror and a thigh bone (the only remaining part of his body) (Image of William: Wikimedia Commons, image of thigh bone:turbosquid.com) William I the Conqueror (1028-1087), also known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard, made history when he invaded England in 1066 and won the Battle of Hastings, thus conquering England.
The Hope Diamond - The $350M Cursed Diamond Sent Via Mail
Hope Diamond is the most famous diamond on the planet. Contrary to its name, the diamond is accused of bringing bad luck to its owner The Hope Diamond is a beautiful 45.52-carat diamond worth an astonishing $350 million. Its current owner is the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, where you can see the diamond on permanent display. The Hope Diamond was . It was much larger at that time, measuring a whopping 115.28 carats.
The 5 Facts You Didn’t Know About The Second Flag Raised On Iwo Jima
The legendary photo of Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima has a vivid history of its own The island of Iwo Jima lies 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) south of Tokyo. During World War II, the island’s location offered secure airfields for bombing the Japanese home islands; therefore, Americans decided to conquer it. However, the Japanese built systems of bunkers and tunnels and were resolved to fight to the very last soldier.
How the Roman Army Lost A Battle Because of Honey
All is fair in love and war In 75 BC, the mighty Kingdom of Pontus launched a massive attack involving 300,000 soldiers against the Roman provinces in eastern Turkey starting the Third Mithridatic War (75-63 BC). The Kingdom of Pontus was led by the legendary King Mithridates VI the Great(120-63 BC), a formidable and competent leader who was nicknamed “Second Hannibal” for his determination and military success against the Romans.
The Poison King a.k.a. Mithridates VI, the Roman Republic’s Mighty Adversary
Mithridates VI became immune to every poison known to humankind The Romans nicknamed him “Second Hannibal” since he was a military genius and a sworn enemy of the Romans. For twenty years, the Romans sent their best generals, such as Sulla and Pompey the Great, to destroy him, but he kept defeating their legions. Even when he was defeated, he considered it only a strategic retreat. Each time he returned with an even more formidable army.
The Nazi Campervans Nicknamed the “Soul Killers”
When the gas was released, victims screamed and knocked on the van’s walls, begging for their lives… It was the time of World War II and the Nazis began executing the horrific plan — the total extermination of Jews, gypsies, and the disabled. Millions of innocent people were murdered in gas chambers, especially in the Auschwitz concentration camp. However, before there were gas chambers, there were gas vans. Nazis killed around 700,000 people using gas vans.
The Dark Side of Coco Chanel, the Iconic Fashion Designer
Coco Chanel was a fashion designer, who gave us a little black suit, a quilted handbag, and the perfume Chanel №5 that Marilyn Monroe wore to bed. Her luxury fashion house “Chanel” is today worth billions of US dollars. However, Coco Chanel had a dark side… Coco, born Gabrielle Chanel (1883-1971), grew up in an orphanage after her mother had died from pneumonia and her father had abandoned 11-year-old Coco and her 4 siblings.
The Australian Plan To “Import” 9,000 “Nazi” Children From Norway
Sound like a made-up story, but unfortunately, it isn’t In 1945, World War II ended, but Norway faced a morally tricky dilemma: what to do with 12,000 children fathered by German soldiers with Norwegian women. They were called “war children” (nice term), Kraut children, or German children. The Norwegians didn’t want these war children. The Germans didn’t want these children. The neighboring Swedes didn’t want these children.
The Untold Horror of How German POWs Had to Clear Mines After WWII
After Hitler’s suicide and the unconditional surrender of the German armed forces in 1945, it was time for revenge. If you think that it was only in Soviet captivity that German soldiers suffered, you are very wrong. Also, other Allies made the Germans pay the price. Among others, the French, the Danes, the Norwegians, and the Dutch forced the German POWs to clear the minefields. Captured German soldiers had to remove mines using their bare hands.
How Columbus Started the Biggest Mass Killings in History
From 145 million to 7 million people in a mere 200 years By far the largest genocide committed by one group of humans against the other was the genocide of natives of the Americas! Between 1492 and 1700, Europeans decreased population of indigenious Americans by 95% — from 145 million to 7 million! 138 million people were killed in the Americas in only two centuries! How did the Europeans carry out the most gruesome, the most deadly genocide in the history of our planet?
What Happened to The French Women Who Had Sex With The Nazis?
The French used the euphemism Collaboration horizontale (in French Horizontal Collaboration) to describe French women who had sex with the Germans during the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. After the war, the French counted around 80,000 babies fathered by the German soldiers. The idea of their women having sex with the Germans ignited the French resistance During the period of Nazi occupation from 1940 to 1944, France experienced a spectrum of responses from its people.
What Happened to “The Shaved Woman of Chartres”?
After the liberation of France in 1944, 23-year-old Simone Touseau underwent the harrowing experience of having her hair shaved, her forehead branded with a swastika, and being paraded through the streets of Chartres. What was her alleged crime, and what became of her in later life? “Collaboration horizontale” (in French “Horizontal Collaboration”) was an euphemism for French women who had sex with Nazis during World War II.
The History of Syphilis - The Not-So-Sexy Facts About "Love Disease"
In 1495, Europe was hit by a new plague. It was deadly, it resulted in dementia, personality changes, delusions, seizures, and psychosis. The mysterious disease attacked those who had lively sex lives and were well-traveled. Christopher Columbus brought syphilis from America to Europe where it became known as French disease. In 1495, the French army under Charles VIII(1470-1498) entered Naples. Soon an outbreak of a mysterious disease broke out.
What Do Barbecue, Hammock, and Tobacco Have In Common?
What Do Barbecue, the Hammock, and Tobacco Have In Common? Every English-speaking person knows the words barbecue, hammock, and tobacco. But not everyone knows where they originated from. On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus after sailing for two and a half months spotted a new continent — America. To be precise, Columbus discovered Caribbean islands such as San Salvador and Hispaniola. The Caribbean islands were home to Taíno tribes, natives who lived in peace and harmony.
The Ohka - The Rocket-Powdered Suicide Airplane of Imperial Japan
Ohka pilots were essentially rocket-powered human bombs Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka was a rocket-powered suicide attack aircraft. Ohka pilots were part of an organized suicide attack program, better known as kamikaze. The program hoped to alt the American invasion of Japan at the end of World War II. Imagine being seated in a claustrophobic cockpit within a tiny aircraft, merely 6 meters (6.6 yards) long, laden with a massive 1,200 kilograms (2,600 pounds) of explosives.
Phyrne - The Greek Prostitute Whose Body Is Mesmerizing Men for 2300 Years
Phyrne posed for the sexy statue of Aphrodite of Knidos, the most copied statue of antiquity In the 4th century BC, a young man was caught trying to have sex with a statue of naked Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Upon being discovered he threw himself off the cliff to avoid shame. The statue that could arouse men sexually was called the Aphrodite of Knidos.
The Dirty History of Sacred Prostitution
Would you have sex with a stranger in the name of your god? Sacred prostitution was practiced in ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, and India. Sacred prostitution was believed as a gesture to honor a deity and thus ensure fertility. Sacred prostitutes were obedient servants of deities who were notorious for their racy sex lives, such as: Inanna known also as Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of sex and love was officially depicted as a whore.
The Short History of the World’s Shortest Border
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is 85 meters long border between Spain and Marocco Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is a tiny peninsula on the coast of Morocco, situated in the Mediterranean Sea. It used to be an island, but an earthquake in 1930 changed it into a peninsula. Today, the peninsula is not particularly significant apart from being the location of the shortest international border. It is owned by Spain, and its border with Morocco spans only 85 meters (93 yards).
The Flirty Fishing a.k.a. Spreading Christianity Through Sex
Children of God, also known as The Family, is a infamous Christian cult founded in California in 1968 by preacher David Berg(1919-1994). Besides believing in the imminent end of the world, the chilling cult became notorious for practicing The Flirty Fishing and The Law of Love. In 1974, Berg introduced "Flirty Fishing", also called "FFing". He regularly sent letters, titled "Mo Letters" (David Berg's pseudonym being Mosed David) to his followers with detailed instructions on "Flirty Fishing".
The Elite Prostitutes of Ancient Greece
The rich men of ancient Greece certainly knew how to enjoy life. They had wives to produce heirs, concubines to have sex with, and hetairai (courtesans) to have fun with! Today, a symposium is a consensual meeting to discuss a particular topic. In ancient Greece, a symposium was a private drinking party that developed into an orgy with hetairai. The hetairai were the only women allowed to attend the Greek version of the symposium. The Greeks had many different kinds of prostitutes.
The Crazy Sex Lives of the Egyptian Pharaohs
The Egyptian pharaohs were the absolute rulers of ancient Egypt. They were considered to be living gods. As such, they could have as much sex as they wanted, with whomever they wanted. Let's have a look at the three craziest facts about the sex lives of Egyptian pharaohs.
Why Nobody Knows About These Two Cruel Slave Traders From America?
The duo slave traders were described as extremely successful businessmen with visionary leadership skills. They moved in top-tier social circles and their dinner parties were famous for the best liquors. Isaac Franklin and John Armfield were slave trading tycoons. They had money and they had connections.
The American Fancy Girl
Artistic depiction of Sally Hemmings, who was a fancy girl owned by Thomas Jefferson (Image: sites.lsa.umich.edu) The slave market in the United States was crazy for light-skinned black young girls a.k.a. "fancy girls". Some of these black slave girls were only 13 years old when they were sold as sex toys to white men. White men paid $2,000 for a fancy girl in the 1800s. Adjusted for inflation, this amount would be worth almost $80,000 today.
The Predatory Sex Between Elite White Women And Black Slaves
Abuse of enslaved men at the hands of white women goes against the traditional views of sexual assault. However, wives and daughters of slave owners in the Antebellum South were taking advantage of the system for their own pleasure. The daughters of the white slave owners had to adhere to strict social rules. They were to remain chaste until getting married. The white girls saw their fathers and brothers having sex with their female slaves - either in their family home or outside on the plantation.
The Buck Breaking a.k.a. Raping of African Male Slaves by White Owners
"Black Buck" was a racial slur in the United States which described a black man, who was muscular, sexually attracted to white women, violent, and hot-tempered. Most importantly the "Black Buck" was believed to defy white will. The defiant slave was brought in front of the whole slave community. The slave's wife and children were forced to watch from the first row. The slave was bent over a tree stump and his britches were removed. The enslaved man was flogged severely in order to weaken him.
The Curious Case of Oscar
Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, is a retirement home for patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other terminal illnesses. They are pet pet-friendly institution and regularly adopt cats. Oscar lived on the third floor, where patients with the most severe cases of dementia lived. He was not a very social cat, often hissing when someone attempted to cuddle him.
"Help, Defend, Heal"
You have heard about the Crusades. You've read about the Knights Templar and Knight Hospitallers fighting the Muslim Saracens under the scorching sun of Holly Land. But did you know that there was a military order of monks fighting against the pagans in the ice and snow of the Baltic North? The order was called the Teutonic Order and its core members were the Teutonic Knights. The Teutonic Knights were formidable warrior monks.
The True Story 32 Men Fighting Over a Single Woman on a Remote Island
At the end of World War II, a young woman found herself stranded with 32 young men, full of testosterone, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. As you can imagine, there were numerous fights among the men, all vying for her attention. Periodically, the woman would shift her affection to a different man, after which that man would end up murdered. On the secluded tropical island, the only woman on the island became a source of passion, love, intrigue, hatred, and murder.
The 7 Startling Facts About Sex in the Wild West
Cross-dressing was very common among women and men (Image: Minnesota Historical Society) In the Wild West, everything was wild and raw, including sex. This era, known for the United States' expansion to the southwest (1865-1912), was a time when one could either get rich, get killed, or experience both. Now, let's delve into the intriguing world of sex life in the Wild West: The Wild West had lots of men and few women; therefore, prostitution became the solution.
The 6 Wild Facts About Wild Prostitution in the Wild West
Miners and soldiers of the Wild West sought solace and sexual gratification with prostitutes. Young men left their families in search of income at the American frontiers and took jobs as miners, soldiers, laborers, or cowboys. As soon as silver or gold was found somewhere, the towns flourished like mushrooms after rain. The towns were full of men and scarce of women. The men were far away from the watchful eyes of their families, and they longed for female companionship.
The 7 Truly Bizarre Pieces of Advice on Sexuality From the Middle Ages
Lack of scientific knowledge and blind obedience to religion led to very strange sexual practices. Medieval times in Europe (476-1450) were dominated by the Catholic Church. The church tried to control every aspect of the person's life from birth to death and even beyond. Let's have a look at 7 pieces of advice on sexuality you would have received in medieval Europe. Medieval Europeans used potions in matters of love.
The 5 Salacious Stories From Medieval Nunneries
Celibacy is not a natural condition for humans. We need sex! Among others, medieval nunneries served as a way for rich families to get rid of their unwanted daughters and thus preserve family wealth from partition (dowries). Nunneries welcomed these girls in exchange for large donations from their families. This meant that young girls were put into convents against their will.
The 8 Kinky Facts About the Sex Lives Of Inuits/Eskimos
Eskimo sexual practices have disappeared under the influence of Christianity. The unique sexual customs you are about to read about are no longer observed, which is unfortunate, except for the practice of infanticide, which was truly reprehensible and it's a relief that it's no longer practiced. Wife swapping meant children were often not fathered by the official father (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Eskimos (or Inuit) used to practice wife-sharing among their friends.
The Woman Who Became the Most Successful Pirate In History
For comparison, the most , commanded a meager number of four ships and 300 pirates. Eventually, Ching Shih and her pirates ran out of luck. A series of devastating defeats by the Portuguese navy, which was docked in the Portuguese colony of Macao, and a treacherous attack by one of the pirate groups, the Black Flag pirate fleet, forced the pirates to negotiate with the Chinese government.
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