Mayan Tear Gas - HISTORY

Attempts to weaponize food, as in the case of tear gas, show that sometimes the most primitive of weapons can be the most effective.

FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

RELATED CONTENT

Ancient Mayan structures have lasted thousands of years, and their designs continue to influence modern architecture.

Ancient Mayans studied the skies thousands of years before modern astronomical observatories.

Two shipwrecked Spaniards are taken in by the Mayans and learn their way of life. One rejects it, but the other takes a more surprising path.

The growth of the great Mayan civilization is as much a mystery as its disappearance.

Find out how Andrew Jackson's controversial Indian Removal Act paved the way for The Trail of Tears.

As the Cold War wore on, the American government became increasingly concerned about a potential Soviet strike on the U.S. mainland. In this footage from the early 1960's, children are used to test the effectiveness of gas masks.