The Origins of Things by Jack MeinhardtMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Was North always on the top of maps? Why are there 360 degrees in a circle or 60 minutes in an hour? How was pi originally calculated and how? When were pills developed and why were they coated in gold or silver? Just a few of the questions answered in this small, interesting book. Longitude? Latitude? Is that why Columbus went the wrong way to reach China--hmmmm--maybe!
We think the Greeks and Romans gave us all the answers--uh, nope--those Mesopotamians and Babylonians were no smucks, either!! Fun book filled with interesting facts such as the one about the competition that led an early ruler to ban exports of papyrus, resulting in the use of parchment for writings. How about interest charged for loans and universal clean slate rules to get the economy balance restored? Hammurabi's code had four of those debt forgiving rules. Games? Dice has been around a long time--chess is comparatively a modern game. Oh, could go on forever--but read it for yourself.
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