The dramatic rise of the fork
The global journey of tea
The protective power of umbrellas
YOUR GOAL
Master of Everyday things with wild histories
misslily The protective power of umbrellas
Dodging the trash, / holding my shield, / no cab today!
misslily A lone Londoner braved decades of public ridicule to make umbrellas acceptable for men in Britain.
misslily Ancient Chinese inventors created the first waterproof umbrellas by coating paper parasols with wax and lacquer.
misslily Sort umbrellas, tea, and forks by era to discover their wild historical origins.
Umbrella martial arts: In 1899, Londoners learned Bartitsu, a self-defense system that taught gentlemen how to fight off attackers using their sturdy umbrellas.
A portable canopy on a folding frame used for protection against rain or sun. Jonas Hanway popularized the accessory in 1750s London, using it to shield himself from the rain.
Which dynasty in China saw the widespread development of waterproof oil-paper umbrellas?
Why did London coachmen and carriage drivers aggressively mock early umbrella users?
In ancient Egypt around 1200 BCE, who was exclusively permitted to use sun-shielding parasols?
Who was the first London man to carry an umbrella daily in the 1750s despite public mockery?