Did you know…cats can travel up to 31 mph for a short distance?

Did you know…Sloths can fall 100 feet without injury?

Torsaker Witch Trials

The largest witch trials in Swedish history, in a single day in 1675, 71 people were killed. As Sweden did not have a separation between the Church and State, the state-employed Lutheran priests helped to spread the hysteria known as ‘stora ovasendet’, which began after the trial of Maret Jonsdotter in Dalarna, 1668.

The end result of the trial was that roughly one fifth of the women in the region were killed.

Cyrus the Great of Persia

Cyrus II of Persia founded the Achaemenid Empire (the First Persian Empire) in 550 BC. This spanned across all the previous civilized states of the ancient Near East, eventually expanding to contain most of Western and Central Asia. The Greeks called him Cyrus the Elder, possibly due to his thirty-year reign. 

Throughout his reign, Cyrus was well known for respecting the various customs and traditions of the lands he conquered, along with developing a central administration system. His Edict of Restoration (encouraging the Israelites return to Israel) is described in the Bible, along with his role in ending the Babylonian captivity, making him the only non-Jewish figure in the Bible to be called a messiah (Isaiah 45:1).

Did you know…the wooden porridge stirrer is called a spurtle?

The World Porridge-Making Championships takes place in Carrbridge, and the trophy is known as the Golden Spurtle.

The Great Plague of London

Running from 1665 to 1666 AD, this was the last major outbreak of the bubonic plague in England, and occurred during the Second Pandemic (a centuries-long period of intermittent bubonic plague epidemics originating in Central Asia in 1331 AD). This was also known as the Black Death, which was carried by rats on ships.

It is estimated that around 100,000 people died within the span of 18 months. Although not as many were killed compared to other, earlier, outbreaks, it was named the ‘great’ plague due to how widespread it was. However, it is possible that the plague would have continued for longer, if not for the Great Fire of London…

The Battle of Stamford Bridge

Occurring just before the Battle of Hastings, this battle is often overlooked, with people mostly focusing on the Norman invasion. However, this battle may have caused the Norman victory, as there was only three weeks between them.

The actual location of the battle is unknown, with sources mentioning Stamford Bridge, and the Derwent River. Naturally, the original wooden bridge no longer exists, along with any archaeological traces. It is thought that the battle might have taken place at a place called Battle Flats, but there is no real evidence to support this.

Salisbury Cathedral

Officially called the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this is a major tourist attraction.

The cathedral itself is one of the leading examples of Early English Gothic architecture, having been built mostly between 1220 and 1258. The spire, however, was built in 1320, before being enlarged to 123 meters, gaining the tallest church spire in the UK, in 1561.

Tourists can take a tour up the spire, as well as visiting the cloister, which is also the largest in Britain, along with the Cathedral Close, which measures in at 80 acres. Another point of interest, is the Magna Carta, which is one of only four surviving copies.

The Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus

Also known as the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, this was the more important temple in Rome. Located on Capitoline Hill (so it would be visible from a distance), the temple was surrounded by a precinct containing numerous shrines, altars, statues and trophies.

During its life, the temple suffered three fires, before finally getting pillaged in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. As such, only the foundations and podium survived, although it is not clear which version of the building they are from.

Nathan Hale, Volunteer Spy

Born in Connecticut in 1755, Nathan volunteered for a mission in New York during the American Revolutionary War. Sadly, the mission wasn’t a success, and he was captured and executed. Due to this, Nathan is considered an American hero, and the official designated state hero of Connecticut.