Most of us remember playing the telephone as a kid; what you end up with at the end barely resembles the original message. And a lot of what we think we know about history has gone through the telephone game too. Yes, our history reels & pop culture have twisted a few facts. Let’s straighten out twelve of the most common ones.
Napoleon Was Short
Here’s a tall tale for you. Napoleon Bonaparte wasn’t short but about 5’7; that was quite standard for a Frenchman back then. Most people saw him with his Imperial Guards who were quite tall, making him look a lot shorter by comparison. British propaganda also showed him as “Little Boney,” a tiny & temperamental man.
The Great Wall of China Is Visible from Space
The idea that you can see a lot of man-made structures from space is another lie. Multiple astronauts have confirmed you can’t see the Great Wall of China from there because it lends too well to its surroundings. It’s also not distinct enough from that far away. While it might be a cool myth, it’s just that; a myth.
Witches Were Burned at the Stake in Salem
The image of witches burning at the stake is pretty haunting but it didn’t happen in Salem. During the Salem Witch Trials, the accused were mostly hanged or jailed. The idea of burning comes from European witch hunts. Salem was a bit different; not a single “witch” was burned at the stake.
Marie Antoinette Said ‘Let Them Eat Cake’
“Let them eat cake!” is one of the most famous misquotes in history. There’s no record of Marie Antoinette ever saying this in response to her people starving. In fact, she was named as the speaker decades after her execution.
It was likely done to paint her as out of touch with the common people. She certainly was but she definitely didn’t have a pastry-based solution to poverty.
Vikings Wore Horned Helmets
Even though horned helmets on Vikings look menacing in movies, there’s zero historical evidence to support that they ever wore such things in battle. Instead, this misconception came about during the 19th century. Artists let their imaginations run wild to make the Norse warriors look more barbaric, including by lying.
Columbus Discovered America
Ask any American who discovered our nation and they’ll say it was Christopher Columbus in 1492. But that’s untrue. Not only were indigenous people already thriving here, Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer, made it to Newfoundland centuries before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Columbus definitely wasn’t the first to arrive.
Albert Einstein Failed Mathematics
Ever heard the one about Albert Einstein failing math? It’s completely untrue. Einstein was brilliant at mathematics when he was young which makes a lot of sense. He wouldn’t be able to come up with the theory of relativity if he wasn’t a good student. Don’t let that stop you from being inspired, though.
The Iron Maiden Was a Medieval Torture Device
The Iron Maiden certainly is creepy; it’s a spike-lined sarcophagus after all. But it wasn’t a medieval invention at all. It emerged in the 18th century as a phony piece of torture equipment. Why? To make the past look even more brutal & make the museums more interesting. It definitely does that.
Benjamin Franklin Wanted the Turkey as the U.S. National Bird
Benjamin Franklin did say that he found the turkey to be more respectable than the bald eagle. He thought the latter was a bird of bad moral character. However, he never seriously proposed the turkey as a symbol for the United States. In fact his love for the fowl was part of a private letter to his daughter.
The Wild West Was Full of Gunfights
When you hear “the Wild West,” you probably imagine lawlessness & shootouts on every corner. After all they’re why Western films are still so popular. The truth is that most towns had strict gun control laws and actual shootouts were rare. Daily life involved more farming & ranching than quickdraws.
Lady Godiva Rode Naked to Lower Taxes
The tale of Lady Godiva riding naked through Coventry to force her husband to lower taxes is one that has lasted many years. Sadly, many historians believe that this story was a romantic exaggeration that came long after the supposed ride occurred. That doesn’t make it any less of a memorable story though.
Thomas Edison Invented the Lightbulb
Most people believe Thomas Edison was the inventor of the lightbulb but he was more of an improver than an inventor. In fact, the lightbulb itself had been around before Edison got to it; he just made significant improvements that made it more commercial. Aside from the lightbulb, Edison actually stole a lot of ideas and patented them as his own.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
