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TIL it was theorized through the 19th century that the Arctic Ocean got warmer as it got closer to the North Pole. The “Open Polar Sea” could provide trade routes through an equator-like temperate climate to Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It was disproven by dozens of failed expeditions.

by whatilearned June 22, 2022, 6:21 pm

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TIL about Srivijaya, a lost 14th century city that ruled Indonesia and much of Southeast Asia for over 600 years but which disappeared without a trace. Its location was recently uncovered when fisherman on the River Musi discovered golden artefacts from the city caught in their nets.

by whatilearned June 16, 2022, 3:26 pm

11 Points
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TIL that Khazar, a Turkic language from Central Asia which became extinct by the 13th century, has the smallest known body of literature of any language: only one written Khazar word, meaning “I have read”, has been found.

by whatilearned June 5, 2022, 5:55 pm

12 Points
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TIL about the battle of talas. A battle where the forces of the Abbasid caliphate and the allied Tibetian empire fought against the Tang Dynasty of China for control of sry darya region of Central Asia. The battle ended with a Abbasid victory that marked the end of the Tang westward expansion.

by whatilearned June 5, 2022, 12:29 pm

12 Points
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TIL despite being the largest religion in the world, Christianity is only the 6th largest religion in Asia, the most populous continent in the world

by whatilearned June 4, 2022, 10:26 am

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TIL during the monsoon season, the Mekong River swells so much it forces the Tonle Sap River to flow backwards, away from the sea, filling Tonle Sap Lake, temporarily making it the largest freshwater lake in SE Asia. It’s the only river in the world that changes direction seasonally.

by whatilearned May 24, 2022, 3:56 pm

12 Points
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TIL in Asia, honeybees smear their hive entrances with animal poop to ward off Murder Hornets. One of the few observable times insects have used tools.

by whatilearned May 21, 2022, 4:33 pm

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TIL in 2017, a Pittsburgh restaurant hosted an event with French-Canadian chefs serving horse tartare. The event sparked public outrage, USDA investigation, and a petition to ban horse meat in Pennsylvania. Horse meat is a delicacy and staple throughout much of French-Canada, Europe, and Asia.

by whatilearned May 7, 2022, 2:37 am

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TIL East Timor (also known as Timor-Leste) is the only country in Asia that is located entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.

by whatilearned April 22, 2022, 12:08 am

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TIL An Lushan, a 8th century Tang dynasty general who rebelled against the dynasty, was a Caucasian guy with colored hair and eyes (Persian nomadic ethnicity in central Asia). 13 million people died as an aftermath of the rebellion and war

by whatilearned April 8, 2022, 6:30 pm

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TIL The Mesopotamian shekel – the first known form of currency – emerged nearly 5,000 years ago. The earliest known mints date to 650 and 600 B.C. in Asia Minor, where the elites of Lydia and Ionia used stamped silver and gold coins to pay armies.

by whatilearned April 4, 2022, 1:39 am

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TIL Buddhist rock-cut cave architecture (grottoes) started in India and later spread to the Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, Korea and Japan

by whatilearned March 2, 2022, 10:26 am

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