1) The Tour de France, first held in 1903, is one of the most prestigious and grueling cycling races, covering over 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) in three weeks.

2) The world's longest traffic jam occurred in China in 2010 and lasted for 12 days, stretching over 60 miles (97 km).

3) The first bank in the world, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, was established in Italy in 1472 and is still in operation today.

4) The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, divided the newly discovered lands outside of Europe between Spain and Portugal, leading to the colonization of the Americas.