On April 15, 1621, Dutch lawyer and philosopher Hugo Grotius pulled off one of the slickest prison breaks in history — and he didn’t need a sword or a rope ladder. All he needed was a giant wooden box full of books and a little help from his wife.

Grotius had been locked up for two years in Loevestein Castle after getting on the bad side of the Dutch government during a messy religious and political fight. But here’s the thing — the guy wasn’t a violent criminal. He was a nerd. A smart one. And the guards let him read and write all day, delivering big chests of books in and out of his cell.

That’s when Grotius and his wife Maria came up with the ultimate “hide in plain sight” plan. One day, he climbed into the empty book chest, curled up, and let the guards carry him right out of the heavily guarded castle without even realizing it. Maria stayed behind, pretending everything was normal until Grotius was long gone down the river.

Grotius escaped to France, where he went back to writing books that changed the world. He became known as the “father of international law” — a title that probably wouldn’t have happened if he wasn’t flexible enough to cram himself into a box.

On April 15, 1910, President William Howard Taft showed up at a Washington Senators baseball game and started one of America’s weirdest political traditions — throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Taft wasn’t exactly Babe Ruth. The guy was 300+ pounds, loved steak and potatoes, and was more famous for getting stuck in a bathtub than for athletic feats. But he loved baseball, and when he attended the game against the Philadelphia Athletics at Griffith Stadium, the crowd loved him right back.

Instead of throwing from the mound like modern presidents, Taft just stood up from his front-row seat and tossed the ball to the pitcher, Walter Johnson — who, by the way, is still considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.

The Senators won that day, and a new tradition was born. Ever since, nearly every president has thrown a first pitch at some point — some with style, others with awkward bounces that live forever on YouTube. But Taft did it first, proving that even if you’re built like a linebacker who loves a nap, you can still leave your mark on the game.

Ancient Egypts Moldy Bread🥖
Long before penicillin was officially discovered, the Ancient Egyptians were already using a version of it — straight from their breadbox. Medical papyri dating back to around 1500 BCE show that Egyptian healers applied moldy bread to infected wounds and skin injuries. They didn’t know about bacteria (or penicillin), but they did notice that mold seemed to help fight off infection and promote healing. Modern science later figured out why: certain molds — like the Penicillium species — produce natural antibiotics, which slow or kill harmful bacteria. In other words: Ancient Egyptians = DIY antibiotic pioneers. They didn’t need a lab coat — just a loaf of bread past its prime. 🍞➡️⚕️➡️🦠

Ancient Clay Tablet Library📚
Long before Kindle, scrolls, or even parchment, there was the Library of Ashurbanipal — one of the earliest and most impressive libraries in human history. Located in Nineveh (modern-day Iraq), this 7th-century BCE library belonged to King Ashurbanipal, ruler of the Assyrian Empire and a rare king who could actually read and write. His library housed over 30,000 clay tablets, covering topics like history, science, literature, law, medicine, and magic. Among its most famous finds? The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the world’s oldest known works of literature. The texts were written in cuneiform, the wedge-shaped writing of the time, and carefully organized — basically an ancient Dewey Decimal System carved in stone. It’s thanks to this library (and some baked clay durability) that much of Mesopotamian knowledge survived the fall of empires and the sands of time🧱📖🐪

Death By Doorway🚪
In one of history’s more anti-climactic royal exits, King Charles VIII of France met his end not in battle, but by smacking his head on a doorway. It happened in 1498, at the Château d'Amboise. Charles was heading to watch a game of tennis (very 15th century), when he walked into a low doorway, hit his head on the stone lintel, and collapsed shortly after. He died within hours — most likely from internal bleeding or a brain injury. He was only 27 years old, and left no heir, which kicked off a royal succession crisis and eventually helped spark the Italian Wars. So, lesson learned: even kings need to watch their heads. 👑🚪💥

Medieval Jousting Ransom💰
Sure, medieval tournaments were flashy spectacles — jousts, lances, shiny armor, and cheering crowds — but beneath the pageantry was a very practical goal: making money. Knights didn’t just fight for honor. They fought to capture opponents, because doing so meant you could demand ransom for their safe return. And if your opponent was rich or noble? Jackpot. This meant tournaments were part sporting event, part business venture, and occasionally, full-on chaos. Knights sometimes traveled tournament circuits like early pro athletes — racking up prizes, prestige, and the occasional broken bone. It wasn’t just about who had the shiniest armor. It was about who could win, profit, and walk away upright. 🏇💸⚔️

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