Historical Figures

Look beyond Europe for history! The "Arthashastra," written in the third century B.C.E., predated "The Prince." Maybe we should be saying Kautilyan, not Machiavellian.

By Laurie L. Dove

"Let them eat cake?" Not her phrase.

By Kathryn Whitbourne

Professional wrestling has had more than its share of giants, but none stood taller in the eyes of wrestling fans than the legendary Andre The Giant. During the 70's and 80's, Andre was legitimately the biggest wrestling star in the entire world, and his fame expanded outside the squared circle, even into the realm of […] The post 10 Fascinating Facts About The Life Of Andre The Giant appeared first on Goliath.

By Stephen Randle

Harriet Tubman won't be the first non-president whose face appears on the front of U.S. paper currency, but in 2020 hers will be the first black woman's to do so.

By Christopher Hassiotis

Ben Franklin was the kind of guy who couldn't help tinkering with everything he touched, whether it was eyeglasses, catheters or ... the alphabet.

By Bryan Young

He was a man who made good in the realm of popular culture before he tried his hand at politics. Like few before or after him, he reached the pinnacle of both "career” fields. Ronald Reagan was successful as an actor, and well respected in Hollywood during the golden age of cinema. He even served […] The post 15 Things You Didn't Know About Ronald Reagan appeared first on Goliath.

By James Sheldon

Star of a musical, cover boy for the $10 bill, shaper of the American economy - is there anything Founding Father Alexander Hamilton can't do?

By Clint Pumphrey

Simeon Ellerton walked the U.K. in search of the right materials to build his home. Was the centenarian merely eccentric? Or completely brilliant?

By Bryan Young

We've read about them in books and see them in movies all the time but is the the world of espionage and secret agents really as flashy and exciting as Ian Fleming would have us believe? Well, perhaps not in all respects, but many real-life spies have been tasked with missions that are just as […] The post 12 Unbelievably Daring Real-Life Spies appeared first on Goliath.

By Wes Walcott

Imagine the cast of the "Ocean's Eleven" trilogy in breeches and broad collars, and you have an inkling of this famous plot and why Fawkes' likeness lives on.

By Candace Gibson

It's a classic question, often asked at chill hangouts between friends, office parties and even in the classroom, on occasion: Which historical figure, if given the opportunity, would make for the most interesting dinner guest? It's an endlessly fascinating opinion, and one that's sure to gather a wide variety of answers from most every individual […] The post 10 Famous Figures Who Would Make Excellent Dinner Guests appeared first on Goliath.

By Jim Halden

It is generally assumed that most - if not all - serial killers are men; however, that isn't the least bit true. We have a list of women who are just as bad, if not worse, than many of the most famous male serial killers. We're not entirely sure what caused these ladies to go […] The post 7 Most Evil Women In History appeared first on Goliath.

By Cate Willikers

Insanity on the throne was more common than you might think. Navigating both royal whim and a complete lack of treatment for mental illnesses was also no easy task. See what happened to these 10 mad royals.

By Shanna Freeman

Judas. Brutus. Benedict Arnold. If someone calls you one of those names, that's not a good thing because they've all become synonymous with traitors. But is that deserved? Who else was considered a traitor?

By Laurie L. Dove

Yoko Ono broke up the Beatles. Bill Buckner lost the 1986 Series for the Red Sox. We humans are pretty good at pointing the finger, and these 10 scapegoats have shouldered more than their fair share of blame.

By John Perritano

American politician and inquisitor Joseph McCarthy (1908 - 1957) became famous for his 1950s investigations into supposed communist subversion. What brought about his downfall?

By Mark Larson

The "All for one, one for all" motto of Alexandre Dumas' musketeers may be one of the most famous phrases in fiction. But the story of musketeers -- real musketeers -- began long before they made their literary debut. What were these 17th century soldiers fighting for?

By John Kelly

When these men and women shared their lives with their equally famous other halves. They may be revered (or reviled) for the deeds that secured their presence in history books and pop culture, but they were also loved.

By Candace Keener

It's a grand old flag! The stars and stripes of the American flag symbolize a nation of united states that are devoted to the ideals of freedom and democracy. From its earliest incarnations to some far-off places it's been flown, we'll explore the genesis and the whereabouts of the American flag.

He was called the "Washington of the South," but Francis Marion's guerilla war tactics were less distinguished than Gen. George Washington's.

By Cristen Conger

Mary Mallon was an Irish immigrant working as a cook in New York. She was an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever, but was she really a ruthless murderer?

By Jane McGrath

Take a look at our collection of photographs and illustrations of the Civil War president, Abraham Lincoln.

The Inca empire spread across the entire western coast of South America before the arrival of the Spanish. Learn about Inca culture and celebrations in this image gallery.

The Maya civilizations were one of the greatest of pre-Columbian America. Their achievements included a full written language and complex mathematics. Take a look at the art and architecture of the ancient Mayans.

Whether you think of the first lady as the nation's hostess or an adviser to the U.S. president, the position has been evolving constantly for the last 200 years. Who defines her role if it lies outside the parameters of the Constitution?

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors