13 Mythbusting Moments Necessary Because of History Books
![13 Mythbusting Moments Necessary Because of History Books](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/4/4/899344_320x180.jpg)
Ah, the mysteries of history. And the mysteries of education. It seems like no matter how much we learn, there are still so many misconceptions and inaccuracies that persist. From Napoleon’s height to the Declaration of Independence, there are so many stories that have been spun and twisted over time; from the Great Pyramids of Giza to the Salem Witch Trials, it’s often hard to separate fact from fiction. But that’s what we’re here to do today. In this list, we’ll be debunking 13 widely believed yet totally inaccurate historical facts.
From the idea that slaves built the Great Pyramids, to the misconception that knights were born into their title, to the myth that Napoleon was short, to the widely accepted notion that Marie-Antoinette said "Let them eat cake," these are some of the most common and enduring historical inaccuracies. So, if you’re ready to set the record and your history teacher straight, let’s dive in and explore these 13 widely believed yet totally inaccurate historical facts.
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Witches: Not burned at the stake.
![Women-were-burned- at the stake in the Salem-Witch-Trials- No one who was accused of being a witch during the Salem Witch Trials was burned alive. Now, they were killed, in several different ways ... but not by burning CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/5/8/899358.jpg)
Brightly-painted Greek statues: Who knew?
![CRACKED Ancient Greek- statues-were-white. Ancient Greek statues weren't just white marble. They were actually painted in bright colors and designs, which just vanished over time.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/5/7/899357.jpg)
Romans didn’t have vomitoriums. Just entrances and exits.
![CRACKED Romans had a special place to vomit. People often think that the Romans had special rooms for throwing up after eating a lot, but that's not true. The word vomitorium was actually used to describe the entrances and exits of stadiums and theaters.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/5/6/899356.jpg)
Napoleon: Not So Short After All.
![CRACKED Napoleon was short. Napoleon was actually the same height as most Frenchmen during his time, which was a bit over 5'5. This misunderstanding probably comes from British artist James Gillray's cartoons, which made fun of Napoleon by making him look small and mean.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/5/2/899352.jpg)
Paid workers, not slaves.
![CRACKED The Pyramids of Giza were built by slaves. It's not true that slaves built the Great Pyramids of Giza. Archaeological research has shown that the people who constructed them were paid workers, not slaves.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/5/5/899355.jpg)
"Let them eat cake" - not said by Marie-Antoinette.
![Marie-Antoinette-said, Letthem-eat-cake. The famous phrase Let them eat cake is often attributed to Marie-Antoinette, but it's actually believed to have come from a similar story in Germany from the 1600s, way before her time. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/4/8/899348.jpg)
![CRACKED Old people used to be rare. Contrary to popular belief, people in the past could live to be quite old. Archaeological evidence and records show that humans have been able to reach their 70s, 80s, and even 90s for the past 160,000 years.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/5/3/899353.jpg)
Iron maidens: not so medieval.
![CRACKED Iron-maidens were-used in the Middle Ages. People in the Middle Ages weren't as barbaric as people think. The idea that they used iron maidens was made up in the 18th century.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/5/4/899354.jpg)
No dragons anywhere.
![CRACKED Medieval-mapmakers usedHere be dragonsas-alabel. People used to think that medieval mapmakers wrote Here Be Dragons on maps of unknown parts of the world, but that's not true. There's only one map ever found with that written on it.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/4/7/899347.jpg)
Knighthood: Not Just for Nobles.
![CRACKED You-had-to be borna knight. It's a common misconception that knights were born into their title. In reality, knighthood was a privilege that was earned through brave acts or service, and could even be bought or granted as a reward.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/4/6/899346.jpg)
Declaration of Independence: Signed ... eventually.
![CRACKED The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4. It's commonly thought that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, but it wasn't. Congress gave the go-ahead on that day, but the actual signing didn't happen until August 2.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/5/0/899350.jpg)
Flat Earth: debunked.
![Christopher Columbus proved the Earth wasn't flat. People have long believed that people at Christopher Columbus' time thought the Earth was flat, but this isn't true. They actually knew the Earth was round. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/4/9/899349.jpg)
Elena Schweitzer/Shutterstock,
Sebastiano del Piombo/Wiki Commons
Lincoln’s hard work paid off.
![CRACKED The Gettysburg Address was scribbled down in a rush. Abraham Lincoln took a lot of time to write the Gettysburg Address, talking it over with people he knew. There are five copies of the speech still around, and none of them are written on envelopes.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/5/1/899351.jpg)