4 Things School Didn't Teach You About Ancient Civilization

Uncover the untold stories of ancient civilizations! From Chinese inventions predating Gutenberg to the incredible Inca road system and Greek robots, explore history beyond textbooks. Discover the secrets they didn't teach you in school!

[JSCRocketScientist]

Hero of Alexandria was a great engineer. One of my daughters was in college with two majors: Classics (Latin & Greek) and engineering. To settle how she would do her senior project, her two department heads got together and suggested that she translate some Latin or Greek engineering tomes and build something. From the writings of Hero of Alexandria, she translated instructions to build a torsion catapult and built a scale model. She was extremely popular at the demonstration where she shot bean bags with horse’s heads appliquéd on them across the campus lawn.

[greybeardedgamer]

I bet Catullus had a collection of "Yo mama" insults that were pure gold.

[abstract]

People always talk about paper and the compass whenever talking about Chinese inventions, but few laymen realize China also invented guns and cannons (not just gunpowder), the bristle toothbrush, the banknote (paper currency), playing cards, equal temperament (part of music theory) and, most importantly, inoculation (specifically a method called variolation, which paved the way for vaccination). These are far more important in the grand scheme of history.

[j.a.weishaupt]

I think it’s time for a rapper to pick up the name Catullus 16 and continue the important work our ancient friend started

[Sillyboy]

It's sad to think about all the history that has literally crumbled away never be learned.

[longlivroc]

You forgot Heron's most awesome invention; the aeolipile, which was not only the world's first functioning steam engine, but also the world's first steam turbine engine. Mf was about 2000 years ahead of his time

[Im-Not-a-Dog]

So....as for that translation....
Lord Yub-Tub will censor the comment if I write it out verbatim, but essentially, it starts with the author telling two guys to take a, or rather _his, _ bell end in both ends and calls one of them a "bottom"(literally) and calls the other one a very old fashioned word with a definition somewhere between Twink, Lolita, and Escort.

[claywest]

The Greek notion of a fembot can also be in the myth about Galatea.
The Roman notion that a poet can be so angry at contemporaries that it can be censored two thousand years later can be found in Cattalus 16.

[Shaneq]

and just like that i'm sitting here at work tracking down Catullus' greatest hits :)

[Ivan_Ooze]

the ancient chinese dont get enough credit for just how much they innovated

[siobhanomalley]

Omg 😂 I just looked up Catellus 16. Legend has it that Aurelius and Furius are still applying ice to that burn, to this day...

[Bubbaist]

You know, the Phoenicians gave us the Phonetic alphabet, and they wrote on papyrus like the Egyptians. Unlike Egypt, Lebanon is a humid climate, so the papyri all rotted. That’s why we don’t have any writings from the people who gave us our alphabet.

[xorngoh]

Ancient Chinese invented gunpowder too, and also silk and the loom. Crossbows and arbalests were also invented at around the Three Kingdoms era by Yue Ying, the lesser known wife of the famous strategist Zhuge Liang.

[stefiz]

I decided to study mandarin during pandemic, I loved it. I’m addicted to ancient Chinese dramas now🤩

[KhaoticKalm]

Catullus… I’m going to need to speak to your mother young man 😑

[jordanwalker]

Catullus over there with the earliest of dis-tracks...

[wilsonicsnet]

Catulus 16, now that’s one of those things you just can’t unsee 😅 Totally worth the read.

[BartOppeel]

Pēdīcābō ego vōs et irrumābō.
Youtube does not allow the translated version ;)

[christiancook]

This video got Googles search history looking REAL suspect the last 12 hours.

[masonhawes]

Was very disappointed that no one had posted the first line in English yet so I found the translation. Now I know why.