Amazing knowledge

Chapter 17 The world is so wonderful: There are so many stupid people, how to break it?
*Arabic numerals were invented by the Arabs?

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The circulation of Arabic numerals in the world is even wider than that of English. We have always talked about Arabic numerals, but is this series of magical numbers really invented by the Arabs?
Just as soy sauce is not oil and waterfalls are not cloth, Arabic numerals were not invented by the Arabs.

Arabic numerals were first invented by an Indian mathematician. The mathematician originally stayed in northern India to study mathematics honestly, but who knew that there was a catastrophe, and a group of Arabs took him away without any explanation.

The Arabs took him away because they wanted to learn advanced mathematics from India.Because India's achievements in mathematics are very enviable to Arabs, they also want to learn this advanced knowledge.

At that time, Arabia was the overlord of one party, and it was of course impossible for them to lower their proud heads, so the Arabs directly and roughly captured Indian mathematicians to Baghdad in Arabia.

After the mathematicians arrived in Baghdad, they have been forced to teach the locals to learn the mathematical symbols and systems from India.These simple and practical mathematical symbols quickly became popular in the local area, and even caravans traveling to and from various countries used Indian algorithms and mathematical symbols.

Of course gold will shine, and those who have been exposed to these mathematical symbols are full of praise, so these numbers gradually evolved into mathematical symbols that are universal in the world.Although Arabic numerals were not invented by the Arabs, it is thanks to the Arabs that people around the world can see these numbers.

The final word: Arabic numerals were invented by the Indians. The reason why they are called Arabic numerals is that these numerals can be widely circulated in the world, and more rely on the extensive trading network of the Arabs.

*Why do British judges and lawyers wear wigs?

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Interesting: ★★★★
In British courts, we can often see judges and lawyers wearing silver-white wigs.Why can't they show their original hair, but wear this white wig uniformly?

British lawyers wear wigs in court regardless of spring, summer, autumn and winter. This has a history of more than 400 years in the UK.

This kind of wig is actually a symbol of authority, representing the status and ability of judges and lawyers in the professional field.

There is a saying in the UK that the longer you wear a wig and the darker it is (in fact, the dirtier it is), the older you are in the industry.

In the legal world, seniority is definitely a good thing. If a law firm has a wig that is particularly dirty, no, it is a particularly dark color, then this law firm is absolutely reliable. At least people will have this perception: this law firm There is an "old Jianghu". In the legal profession, wigs are simply a golden signboard to attract business!
In fact, there is another saying about wigs, which says that after judges and lawyers put on wigs, they all look the same, which makes it more difficult for criminals or opponents to retaliate, and protects The lives of judges and lawyers are safe.

Whether life safety can be guaranteed is something to be discussed later, but if judges and lawyers are troubled by hair loss, wigs can provide very good protection.

The final word: Wigs in the legal profession have a long history in the UK and are an established tradition. The wigs of judges and lawyers represent their qualifications to a certain extent.

*Which country does not have "traffic lights"?
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Parents and teachers have taught us since childhood that we must pay attention to the traffic lights at intersections when walking on the road. Traffic lights guarantee traffic safety to a certain extent.But if a country has no traffic lights, how can traffic order be guaranteed?
There is a city in Europe called San Mano. There are no traffic lights here, but the traffic conditions here are very good, and there is no congestion at all.

Some people say that the place is small, there are few people and cars, and if there are no traffic lights, there will be no major traffic problems.But San Mano is located in the north of France, with a permanent population of more than 2 and as many as 5 cars.Even in this case, San Mano rarely has traffic accidents, and occasionally traffic jams can be restored in a short time.

In a city without traffic lights, it is indeed a miracle to be able to maintain such a harmonious traffic state.

The secret of San Mano is actually scientific highway design and traffic management.

The roads in San Mano are either one-way lanes or circular lanes. When reaching a crossroad, the driver also consciously abides by the principle of "the branch line avoids the main line, and the small road avoids the main road".So as long as the driver doesn't pull the car into the parking lot, then as long as he keeps driving on the road, there is always a possibility that he will eventually return to the same place.

At every intersection in San Mano, you will see very eye-catching signs with the words "STOP". All cars that want to merge into the main line through this road must stop first, check whether there are vehicles around, and confirm the surrounding environment You can continue driving only after it is safe.

Residents of San Mano keep such traffic rules in their hearts and obey them at all times, so even if there are no traffic lights in San Mano, traffic safety is always good.

The final word: Traffic safety depends more on whether the driver of the car always abides by the traffic rules. Traffic rules can only passively restrain people's behavior. It is human thought that can really play a leading role in human behavior.

*Why do you need a license to drink?
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As the saying goes: "Small drinking is good for you, but getting drunk is bad for you." Good wine has always been a favorite of many people. When you are in a good mood, you can drink a few glasses to cheer up the mood, and in a bad mood, you can also drink a few glasses to soothe your worries.But in some places, drinking is not something you can drink if you want to, and you have to have a license.

In fact, there are still many countries in the world where alcohol is banned.For example, Saudi Arabia is completely alcohol-free, and alcohol is not allowed to be produced, sold, or consumed. If someone violates this regulation and is caught, then waiting for him may be several months in prison.

Alcohol is also prohibited in Qatar in western Asia, but only the import of alcohol is prohibited. Alcohol can still be bought in some licensed bars or restaurants, but the way to buy it is more cumbersome - a license is required.

In Qatar, only foreigners who have a residence permit and a license to buy alcohol issued by the Ministry of the Interior can buy alcohol in officially authorized bars or restaurants, and these foreigners must not be Muslims.

Don't think that everything will be fine if you buy alcohol. If you get drunk in Qatar, you may go to jail if you are serious, and you will be deported immediately if the situation is better.

The final word: Some countries prohibit alcohol, and only foreigners with a government wholesale license can buy alcohol, depending on the national conditions.

*Why is Sri Lanka called the "Lion Country"?
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Interesting: ★★★

In the Indian Ocean, there is an island called "Lion Country". The strange thing is that there is not a single live lion on this island, so why is it called "Lion Country"?

The lion is the king of beasts, brave and mighty. Many countries in the world regard the lion as a national symbol, the most representative of which is Sri Lanka.Because there are lions almost everywhere in Sri Lanka, all kinds of lion sculptures and paintings, even their national flag and national emblem are lion images, but there are no live lions in Sri Lanka, not now, in ancient times nor.

Even so, Sri Lanka also claims to be the "Lion Country", in the final analysis because of a Sanskrit word Sinhala.According to Xuanzang's book "The Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty", we can know that this Sanskrit transliteration is Sangara Kingdom, which is translated as "Lion Country".

Sinhala first appeared in myths and legends. It is said that a businessman who claimed to be Sinhala went to Sri Lanka to do business and found that the island was full of banshees.The businessman and his entourage worked together to eliminate the banshee, and then lived and settled in Sri Lanka.In order to commemorate this ancestor, Sri Lankans call themselves Sinhala just like businessmen.

There is another saying that has something to do with Buddhism.It is said that in 483 B.C., a man named Vijaya established the Sinhalese Dynasty. After several generations of efforts, the Sinhalese built Sri Lanka into a civilized and developed country.Later, disciples of Buddhism preached Buddhism here, and people in Sri Lanka converted to Buddhism, and at the same time took the lion advocated by Buddhism as their totem.

The final word: No matter what the origin of the "Lion Country" is, people in Sri Lanka regard the lion as their symbol and the representative of their national culture, and they are proud of it.

*Why do Koreans like to give ribs as gifts?
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Interesting: ★

Fans of Korean dramas will find that they often give pork ribs as gifts when visiting people.Why would you give such a gift?Are ribs expensive in Korea?
Yes, in Korea, ribs and beef are relatively expensive gifts.South Korea has a small land area, but a relatively large population. There are more than 10 million permanent residents on a land of less than 5000 square kilometers.In terms of population density alone, South Korea is higher than China and more than three times the world average.

Due to the extremely high population density, it is really difficult to develop the livestock industry in South Korea because there are not enough land resources to raise livestock.Coupled with the fact that South Korea's land is dominated by mountains, and its citizens are mainly run by families, South Korea's animal husbandry industry is relatively weak, and Korean meat products have become a very scarce food in the country.

South Korea’s meat is generally imported, and South Korea has adopted certain protection measures for local agriculture. Under such circumstances, the price difference between imported meat and domestic meat is more than double. It has become a food that money can't buy, especially Korean beef. Because the growth cycle of cattle is relatively long, the price of Korean domestic beef is very expensive.

Therefore, it is naturally a very expensive gift for Koreans to give beef, especially beef ribs!
The final word: South Korea's national conditions make it difficult for the country's animal husbandry to develop, and the traditional concept of the people's "body and soil" makes them instinctively reject imported meat. Therefore, the price of Korean local meat remains high, and ribs naturally become a must. A gift that can be bought.

*Why do British cars drive on the left?
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In our country, cars drive on the right, and the driver's position is on the left, but the situation in the UK is completely opposite to ours. Why is this?

In fact, the oldest way of driving is to drive on the left as in Britain, which was established hundreds of years ago.

At that time, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and ancient Rome all used to drive on the left, because at that time people would wear swords on the right side of their bodies when traveling. In order to give a beautiful attack to the oncoming opponent, people spontaneously chose Drive on the left so that it is easier to draw your sword by yourself.

Later, in the 18th century, Britain encouraged people to drive on the left in the "Ordinary Highway Law" promulgated.The "Highway Law" promulgated later clearly stipulates that driving on the left is the first time in the UK that driving on the left is implemented in black and white throughout the country.

Later, Columbus discovered the New World, and Britain established a colony in the United States.After a long struggle, the United States regained its sovereignty from Britain. In order to draw a clear line with the past colonial years, the United States resolutely chose to drive on the right.

After the independence of the United States, the industry began to develop rapidly. At that time, more than half of the cars in the world were shipped from the United States.

Because the United States drives on the right, the vehicles they produce are of course left-hand drive.

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, China began to import a large number of American cars, and a large number of left-hand drive vehicles entered the Chinese market. Affected by this, China also turned to drive on the right.In fact, before the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, since most of China was within the sphere of influence of the United Kingdom, China basically drove on the left at that time.Driving on the right became popular only after the national government made explicit regulations in 1946.

The final word: on the matter of driving on the left and driving on the right, each country has its own habits, which are difficult to change for a while, but driving on the left has a longer history and driving on the right is more common.

*Who gave the Statue of Liberty in the United States?

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When mentioning the United States, people can't help but think of the Statue of Liberty standing on the coast of the United States. Anyone who enters or exits New York Harbor can see the Statue of Liberty.However, this American symbol representing the spirit of freedom was actually given to the United States by other countries. Which country gave it?
The Statue of Liberty, also known as "Liberty Shines the World", was a gift from France to the United States on the 100th anniversary of American independence.The designer of the Statue of Liberty is the famous French sculptor Bartholdi. Bartholdi spent 10 years designing and making this portrait.

The face of the Statue of Liberty is somewhat similar to Bartholdi's mother, because the appearance of the Statue of Liberty was originally designed with reference to Bartholdi's mother.The arm of the Statue of Liberty holding the torch was inspired by Bartholdi's wife.There are also seven rays of light on the head of the Statue of Liberty, which symbolize the seven continents and the four oceans.There are also fragments of iron chains at the feet of the goddess, symbolizing breaking away from tyranny and regaining freedom.

At that time, the Statue of Liberty was assembled in France before being shipped to the United States. Later, the Statue of Liberty was disassembled and shipped to the United States, where it was officially unveiled in October 1886.

The Statue of Liberty stands near New York Harbor, and New York Harbor is the largest port in the United States. Almost all tourists entering the United States will pass through here. Before people set foot on American soil, the first thing they see is the Statue of Liberty in the United States. Over time, the Statue of Liberty has become a landmark building in the United States, symbolizing the American ideals of pursuing freedom and democracy.

The final word: In order to commemorate the alliance between the United States and France in the War of Independence, France sent the Statue of Liberty to the United States, but it was not expected that the Statue of Liberty would become the most representative landmark in the United States.

*Why are the state lines in the United States horizontal and vertical?
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If you look at the map of our country, you will find that the boundaries between provinces are crooked, but if you look at the map of the United States, you will find that their state boundaries are horizontal and vertical, which is quite different from ours. ,Why is this?

State boundaries like the United States are rare. Most countries consider local customs and various historical issues when dividing regions, so most of the borders are irregular, but the United States seems to be completely irregular when dividing state boundaries. With these in mind, the states of the United States are divided like a square.

In fact, the United States did not consider these things when dividing state boundaries.After Columbus discovered the New World, colonists began to carve up the land.Taking Britain as an example, if the colonists want to manage the land, they must obtain the king's approval.But the king didn't bother to understand the customs of the United States. He directly divided the regions with longitude and latitude lines and distributed the colonies to the nobles.As long as these people pay their taxes on time, the king doesn't care what the land is like.

Later, the American War of Independence was victorious, and President Jefferson bought back American land one by one from the colonists.However, in terms of the division of state boundaries, Congress did not make any major changes. It still followed the previous practice, simply and crudely dividing by lines of latitude and longitude.

Later, the United States opened up the west, but still continued the style of its predecessors in the division of state boundaries, so the state boundaries in the United States were basically horizontal and vertical.

The state borders of the United States reflect the unfair treatment suffered by the United States when it was still a colony, especially the British and French colonies.But in the Spanish colony, that is, near California, the state borders there rarely have a straight line, because the Spaniards respected the territories of the natives more than the British and French colonists.

The final word: The state boundaries of the United States are directly related to the history of the colonies. The colonists did not respect the territories of the Native Americans and simply used the latitude and longitude lines to divide the state boundaries.

*Why is the Russian national emblem so similar to the Roman national emblem?

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I don’t know if you have noticed the national emblems of Russia and Rome. There are two-headed eagles on the national emblems of the two countries. Is this a coincidence?Or is there a story behind it?
There is a double-headed eagle on the east and west sides of Russia's national emblem. There are three crowns on the double-headed eagle's head. There are also golden balls and scepters symbolizing power on the national emblem.

The logo of the double-headed eagle did come from the Roman Empire at the earliest, and the emblem of Constantine I of the Roman Empire was the double-headed eagle designed by himself.But then the Eastern Roman Empire was destroyed by the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Constantine XI died in the battle. One of his younger brothers surrendered, and the other fled to Rome with his children.

Later, the Pope raised the three children.But the politicians in Rome decided to marry Sophia to Russia in order to be able to fight against the Ottoman Turkish Empire with the Russian Alliance.Sophia is the only girl among the three children raised by the Pope.

Sophia accepted the Roman politician's proposal, and she married Russia with the family's double-headed eagle emblem.With the help of Sophia, Ivan III gradually unified the territory of Russia.

In 1479, Ivan III announced that Moscow was the successor of Byzantium, and the emblem of the Byzantine Empire, the double-headed eagle, appeared for the first time on the Russian state seal.Later, in 1882, the Tsar established the double-headed eagle as the national emblem.It's just that the October Revolution broke out later, and the Soviet government abandoned the double-headed eagle national emblem.

However, in 1993, Russia once again used the national emblem of the double-headed eagle. At the end of the 20th century, the double-headed eagle became a symbol of Russia.

The final word: The origin of the double-headed eagle is indeed the Roman Empire. Ivan III used the double-headed eagle as the national emblem of Russia and declared that Russia is the continuation of the Byzantine Empire. Russia and the Roman Empire do have an inexplicable relationship.

(End of this chapter)