Tag: Society

In the closing years of the 16th century, Japan, a remarkable figure rose through the ranks of society to become the first black samurai in history. Yasuke, a man of African origin, embarked on an extraordinary journey that saw him forge a lasting place in Japanese lore. His remarkable odyssey, which started in Africa and culminated in Japan, defied racial and societal norms, etching his name on the annals of Japan's feudal past.

The clamor of hooves pounding dirt fills the summer air as two riders in glinting armor charge forward, wooden lances tilted. At the moment of impact, cheers erupt from the crowd as splinters explode in a thrilling burst. While this scene may seem fit for a Renaissance fair, it plays out every year at Maryland jousting tournaments that uphold a centuries-old tradition.

You reach for your phone and keys as you grab your bag and jacket to dash off a flight. In the shuffle, a few errant coins slip out from your pocket, rolling under the seat as you rush away. Multiply those forgotten pennies and quarters by millions of airline passengers each year, and you have a financial phenomenon - the millions of dollars in loose change left annually on commercial flights.

Celebrity weddings — Long before Kim and Kanye or Harry and Meghan, America was fixated on another over-the-top celebrity wedding. Back in 1863, little person superstars Charles Stratton and Lavinia Warren tied the knot in an extravagant New York City affair that attracted crowds in the thousands.

Beer is as old as history — and by some counts, even older. Many experts assert that the emergence of Sumerian cuneiform in the fourth millennium BCE marks...

On February 14, 1400, King Charles VI of France established the High Court of Love, also known as "a cour amoureuse." The court was designed to...