Welcome to Calm History. I'm Harris, and this podcast is my quirky mix of education with sedation.

So go ahead, lean back, put up your feet, and settle into my time machine of tranquility.

I hope this episode distracts and relaxes your overactive brain squirrels.

This is part one of the history of pearls. To be open, I only intended this to be a one-episode

topic, but I kept finding interesting things about pearls. So get ready for a two-part pearlapalooza.

In this first part, I'll go back 500 million years ago

to explain the origins of pearls.

I'll tackle the hot topic.

Is a pearl a stone, a birthstone, a gemstone, a gem, some of these, all of these,

or none of these. I'll describe the origins of pearl diving and the odds of finding a pearl.

I'll tell you all about the world's oldest pearl necklace.

And I'll also tell you fascinating stories about pearls that include

Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Pliny the Elder, Aphrodite,

Botticelli, Christopher Columbus, Rupert the Pirate, and Elizabeth Taylor

The History of Pearls Part One

Around 500 million years ago, a new type of shellfish began to appear on the earth.

It had a hard shell that was somewhat similar to Welk, Nautilus, conk,

and snail shells. But this new shellfish had an important difference from these other shellfish.

Oh wait, you didn't know that all snails are shellfish?

Yeah, me neither.

I had to look it up.

Anyway, in contrast to conchs, whelks, and snails,

...