late medieval wars taxation taxpayer consent Parliament Estates General

Medieval wars accidentally made parliaments stronger

Medieval kings needed enormous sums to fight wars. Raising that money often meant asking representatives of taxpayers to approve new taxes. Over time, these assemblies gained influence because rulers kept needing their cooperation. The same wars that strengthened monarchies also helped strengthen institutions capable of challenging royal power.

New antibiotic classes nearly stopped appearing

After a prolific period of antibiotic discovery from the 1950s through the 1970s, the development of entirely new classes nearly stopped. This happened while bacterial resistance continued to evolve and antibiotic misuse persisted.

Hands-free phone calls distract drivers too

Drivers perform worse while talking on a phone whether they hold it or use a hands-free system. This suggests that much of the danger comes from the mental work of having the conversation, not simply from holding the phone.

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late medieval wars taxation taxpayer consent Parliament Estates General

Medieval wars accidentally made parliaments stronger

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