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Book Cover
E-book
Author Patrick, Bethanne Kelly

Title An uncommon history of common things / [Bethanne Patrick and John Thompson]
Published Washington, D.C. : National Geographic, ©2009

Copies

Description 1 online resource (303 pages) : illustrations (chiefly color)
Contents Food & drink : Daily fare -- On the side -- Beverages -- Snacks -- Sweets -- Utensils & containers
Seasons & holidays : Spring -- Summer -- Fall -- Winter
Ceremony & customs : Courtesies -- Weddings -- Babies -- Funerals -- All-American
Symbols & markings : Gestures -- Signs -- Superstitions -- Tributes -- Hair & body markings
Hearth & home : Buildings -- Houses -- Rooms -- Elements -- Appliances -- Backyard
Garments & accessories : Clothing -- Underwear -- Headwear -- Footwear -- Fasteners -- Accessories -- Laundry
Medications & potions : Hygiene -- Beautification -- Health -- First aid
Toys & games : Old-fashioned fun -- Classic games -- Sports -- Classic toys -- Other pastimes
Tools & innovations : Tools -- Communication -- Transportation -- Observation -- Weapons -- Medicine -- Economy
Summary From hand tools to holidays to weapons to washing machines, "An Uncommon History of Common Things" features hundreds of colorful illustrations, timelines, sidebars, and more as it explores just about every subject under the sun. Who knew that indoor plumbing has been around for 4,600 years, but punctuation, capital letters, and the handy spaces between written words only date back to the Dark Ages? Or that ancient soldiers baked a kind of pizza on their shields--when they weren't busy flying kites to frighten their foes? Every page of this quirky compendium catalogs something fascinating, surprising, or serendipitous. A lively, incomparably browsable read for history buffs, pop culture lovers, and anyone who relishes the odd and extraordinary details hidden in the everyday, it will inform, amuse, astonish--and alter the way you think about the clever creatures we call humans
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (page 290) and index
Notes Print version record
Subject Civilization -- Miscellanea
Civilization -- Chronology
Inventions -- Miscellanea
Technological innovations -- Miscellanea
Curiosities and wonders.
HISTORY -- United States -- State & Local -- General.
Civilization
Curiosities and wonders
Inventions
Technological innovations
SUBJECT United States -- Civilization -- Miscellanea
United States -- Civilization -- Chronology
Subject United States
Genre/Form chronologies (lists)
Chronologies
Trivia and miscellanea
Chronologies.
Chronologies.
Form Electronic book
Author Thompson, John M. (John Milliken), 1959-
ISBN 9781426212277
1426212275