In 1237, King Henry III of England and Alexander II of Scotland met in York to sign one of history's most enduring border agreements. The treaty was witnessed by papal legate Otho of Tonengo and marked a crucial moment in medieval diplomacy between the two brother-in-law monarchs.

The agreement established the Anglo-Scottish border in a form that remains almost unchanged after 800 years. Running all the way from the Solway Firth in the west to the River Tweed in the east, only minor modifications around Berwick-upon-Tweed have occurred since. This created one of the world's oldest surviving international borders.

Alexander II made significant concessions to secure lasting peace. He surrendered Scotland's hereditary claims to the English counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland, plus 15,000 marks of silver previously paid to England. This officially ended Scotland's centuries-long attempts to expand its territory southward into northern England.

Despite its lasting impact, historians largely ignored this treaty for centuries. The agreement that created a border still recognized today received little scholarly attention, with major historical works either mentioning it briefly or ignoring it completely. Yet this medieval diplomatic achievement proves that some international agreements can achieve remarkable permanence.

In 1957, nine African American teenagers finally entered Central High School under protection of the U.S. Army's elite 101st Airborne Division. Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls, Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray, Thelma Mothershed, and Melba Pattillo had been carefully selected for their excellent grades and determination to integrate the all-white school.

President Eisenhower took unprecedented federal action after Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus defied court orders. Three weeks earlier, Faubus had surrounded the school with National Guard troops to prevent court-ordered integration. When violent mobs of over 1,000 protesters forced the students out on September 23rd, Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard and deployed 1,000 paratroopers.

The students endured incredible hostility despite military protection. Elizabeth Eckford had been surrounded by a mob threatening to lynch her during earlier attempts. The teenagers required armed escorts between every class and faced constant harassment, with some having acid thrown at them and being pushed down stairs.

This moment tested the 1954 Brown v. Board decision that declared school segregation unconstitutional. The courage of the Little Rock Nine, protected by federal bayonets, proved the U.S. government would enforce civil rights against violent state resistance, marking a crucial victory in the struggle for educational equality.

Morbid Wallpaper🔪
Ancient Assyrians would skin enemies alive and use their hides to decorate city walls. These brutal warriors would flay conquered rulers alive, then nail their skin to city gates as decoration and psychological warfare - imagine approaching a city and seeing the previous king's skin hanging like wallpaper.

War of Jenkins’ Ear👂
The War of Jenkins' Ear was started because a Spanish captain cut off a British sailor's ear. In 1731, Spanish coast guards severed Robert Jenkins' ear, and when he presented the dried ear to Parliament years later, Britain declared war on Spain - an actual war fought over one guy's missing ear.

Unicorn Cure🦄
Medieval Europeans believed unicorn horns could cure poison and paid fortunes for narwhal tusks. European royalty spent the equivalent of millions buying "unicorn horns" (actually narwhal tusks) from Arctic traders, believing they could neutralize any poison - medieval fake medicine at astronomical prices.

Goddess of Sewage🚽
Ancient Romans had a god of sewers named Cloacina who they prayed to while using the bathroom. Romans took their bathroom goddess so seriously they built temples to her and offered prayers while taking a poop - they literally worshipped toilet deities and had religious ceremonies in sewers.

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