Chess was invented in India
The game began as chaturanga in India around the 6th century, spread to Persia as shatranj, and reached Europe through the Arab world.
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See all →The Eiffel Tower grows in summer
Its iron expands in the heat, so the tower can be up to 15 cm taller on a hot day than on a cold one.
Read the fact →The shortest war in history lasted about 38 minutes
The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 27 August 1896 began at 9:02 am and was over by around 9:40 am, after British ships bombarded the sultan’s palace.
Read the fact →Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire
Teaching at Oxford was under way by 1096. The Aztec capital Tenochtitlan was founded in 1325 — more than two centuries later.
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