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A miniature from "Le secret de l'histoire naturelle contenant les merveilles et choses mémorables du monde", depicting snail houses. Fol. 60v, from France, ca. 1480-1485 CE, now housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris

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A miniature from "Le secret de l'histoire naturelle contenant les merveilles et choses mémorables du monde", depicting snail houses. Fol. 60v, from France, ca. 1480-1485 CE, now housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris

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Pages from the 13th century CE sketchbook of the French artist villard de honnecourt. Now housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris

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Pages from the 13th century CE sketchbook of the French artist villard de honnecourt. Now housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris

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Detail of a miniature from the Morgan Bible, depicting the slaughter of the Amalekites. Fol. 34v, 13th century CE, from France, now housed at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City

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Detail of a miniature from the Morgan Bible, depicting the slaughter of the Amalekites. Fol. 34v, 13th century CE, from France, now housed at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City

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A medieval illumination from De proprietatibus rerum , depicting astronomers observing the earth. 15th century CE, now housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France

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A medieval illumination from De proprietatibus rerum , depicting astronomers observing the earth. 15th century CE, now housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France

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“Mazda-worshipping Shapur, king of kings of Iran”, garnet intaglio, Iran, 3rd–4th century CE, now housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris

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“Mazda-worshipping Shapur, king of kings of Iran”, garnet intaglio, Iran, 3rd–4th century CE, now housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris

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A pre-Columbian or colonial obsidian mirror now housed at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. Documentary investigations revealed that the lens was sent in 1737 from Quito, Ecuador, to France by members of the Godin–La Condamine geodesic expedition

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A pre-Columbian or colonial obsidian mirror now housed at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. Documentary investigations revealed that the lens was sent in 1737 from Quito, Ecuador, to France by members of the Godin–La Condamine geodesic expedition

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The God Quetzalcoatl in feathered serpent form devouring a man as depicted in the 16th Century Aztec Codex Telleriano-Remensi. Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris.

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The God Quetzalcoatl in feathered serpent form devouring a man as depicted in the 16th Century Aztec Codex Telleriano-Remensi. Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris.

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In the 18th century, Choctaw Native Americans were able to use these bear paw moccasins to skillfully deceive their enemies: the animal prints left on the ground concealed their movements. From the Mississippi Valley, now housed at the bibliothèque municipale de Versailles in France

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In the 18th century, Choctaw Native Americans were able to use these bear paw moccasins to skillfully deceive their enemies: the animal prints left on the ground concealed their movements. From the Mississippi Valley, now housed at the bibliothèque municipale de Versailles in France

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Humor Gospel Illumination depicting St Stephen the Great of Moldova . Illuminated in 1473 by monks from Putna Monastery in a mix of Byzantine and Gothic features, now housed at the Suceava History Museum in Romania.

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Humor Gospel Illumination depicting St Stephen the Great of Moldova . Illuminated in 1473 by monks from Putna Monastery in a mix of Byzantine and Gothic features, now housed at the Suceava History Museum in Romania.

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A miniature from the fol. 82v of the Book of Hours, depicting a hedgehog with grapes on its quills. It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children. From Paris, ca. 1420-1425 CE, now housed at the Morgan Library

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A miniature from the fol. 82v of the Book of Hours, depicting a hedgehog with grapes on its quills. It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children. From Paris, ca. 1420-1425 CE, now housed at the Morgan Library

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Humor Gospel Illumination depicting St Stephen the Great of Moldova . Illuminated in 1473 by monks from Putna Monastery in a mix of Byzantine and Gothic features, now housed at the Suceava History Museum in RO.

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Humor Gospel Illumination depicting St Stephen the Great of Moldova . Illuminated in 1473 by monks from Putna Monastery in a mix of Byzantine and Gothic features, now housed at the Suceava History Museum in RO.

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Muhammad leading Jesus, Moses, and Abraham in prayer. Miniature from a medieval Persian book created in Shiraz, housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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Muhammad leading Jesus, Moses, and Abraham in prayer. Miniature from a medieval Persian book created in Shiraz, housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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A 15,000-year-old baton made from a reindeer antler, and depicts a leaping horse. Found at the Bruniquel Cave, and is now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Saint-Germain en Laye, France

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A 15,000-year-old baton made from a reindeer antler, and depicts a leaping horse. Found at the Bruniquel Cave, and is now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Saint-Germain en Laye, France

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An engraved bone pendant from the Abri de Raymonden, in France, depicting a butchering scene. 18,000-10,000 BCE, now housed at the Musée d’art et d’archéologie du Périgord

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An engraved bone pendant from the Abri de Raymonden, in France, depicting a butchering scene. 18,000-10,000 BCE, now housed at the Musée d’art et d’archéologie du Périgord

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Seven tools of rock crystal made by the Neanderthals, found at the Abri des Merveilles in France. Middle Paleolithic, Mousterian culture, c. 160,000–40,000 Before Present. Now housed at the National Archaeological Museum of France

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Seven tools of rock crystal made by the Neanderthals, found at the Abri des Merveilles in France. Middle Paleolithic, Mousterian culture, c. 160,000–40,000 Before Present. Now housed at the National Archaeological Museum of France

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A 13th century CE terracotta vessel, from Ecuador, depicting two men performing oral sex in the 69 position. Now housed at the Museo Nacional del Banco Central in Quito, Ecuador

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A 13th century CE terracotta vessel, from Ecuador, depicting two men performing oral sex in the 69 position. Now housed at the Museo Nacional del Banco Central in Quito, Ecuador

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A pagoda scroll comprised of characters from the Lotus Sutra, written by Li Zhen in 1617 CE. Ming dynasty, from China, now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

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A pagoda scroll comprised of characters from the Lotus Sutra, written by Li Zhen in 1617 CE. Ming dynasty, from China, now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

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The Qabr Hiram mosaic is a Byzantine mosaic from the second half of the 6th century CE, excavated in 1861 from the Saint Christopher church in Lebanon. Now housed at the Louvre Museum in Paris

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The Qabr Hiram mosaic is a Byzantine mosaic from the second half of the 6th century CE, excavated in 1861 from the Saint Christopher church in Lebanon. Now housed at the Louvre Museum in Paris

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A 1st century BCE gold earring from Taxila, in Pakistan. Now housed at the National Museum in New Delhi

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A 1st century BCE gold earring from Taxila, in Pakistan. Now housed at the National Museum in New Delhi

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Marble sculpture of Prudence, one of the 4 cardinal virtues depicted at the corners of the tomb of Francis II, Duke of Brittany. 1507 CE, now housed at the Nantes Cathedral in France

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Marble sculpture of Prudence, one of the 4 cardinal virtues depicted at the corners of the tomb of Francis II, Duke of Brittany. 1507 CE, now housed at the Nantes Cathedral in France

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