The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece, and featured only a single footrace.

The Reformation reshaped religious life across Europe.

At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens was publicly congratulated by Hitler's rival Adolf Hitler — contrary to the popular myth.

Archery was the first sport to be included in the Olympics after its original ancient form disappeared from the games.

Haiku poetry traditionally captures a moment in time, contrasting a seasonal reference (kigo) with a cutting word (kireji).

High jumpers use the Fosbury Flop — jumping backwards over the bar — introduced by Dick Fosbury at the 1968 Olympics.

The gig economy has grown dramatically — in the US, over 36% of workers participate in some form of freelance or gig work.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

The tradition of the white wedding dress was popularized by Queen Victoria in 1840 — before that, brides wore any color.