20 Massive Historical Myths and Misconceptions
History is full of stories that sound believable but turn out to be completely wrong. These myths sneak into our classrooms, movies, and conversations so often that we accept them as facts. Whether it is the idea that people in the Middle Ages thought the Earth was flat or that Vikings wore horned helmets, many popular beliefs just do not hold up. This list will take you on a fun ride through some of the biggest historical misconceptions that fool generations. Get ready to have your mind blown and impress your friends at the next family dinner party tonight.
Gladiators fought to the death every time
Many fights ended without death; gladiators were valuable and often spared.
The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th
Most delegates signed it weeks or even months after July 4th.
The “Lost City of Atlantis” was a real place
Atlantis is most likely a myth created by Plato to illustrate ideas.
Shakespeare wrote all his plays alone
Some plays were likely collaborations or written by others attributed to Shakespeare.
Medieval people believed leeches cured everything
Leeches were used, but medieval medicine was much more complex than that.
The Berlin Wall fell overnight
Its fall was a process with months of protests and political changes.
The Wright brothers were the first to fly
There were other pioneers before them, but the Wrights made the first controlled flight.
Pilgrims wore black and white clothes with buckles
Buckles on hats and shoes came much later and were not part of Pilgrim fashion.
The Middle Ages were a dark and stupid time
The medieval period was full of innovation and cultural growth, not just ignorance.
Columbus discovered America
Native Americans had lived here for thousands of years before Columbus ever arrived.
The Trojan Horse was a wooden horse
The story of a giant wooden horse is likely a metaphor for a military trick.
The Salem witches were burned at the stake
None of the accused witches in Salem were burned; most were hanged or jailed.
Einstein failed math as a student
Einstein was excellent in math and science throughout his schooling.
The Boston Tea Party was just about tea
It was a protest against taxation without representation, much bigger than just tea.
Marie Antoinette said, “Let them eat cake”
There’s no proof she ever said this phrase; it was likely propaganda against her.
The Great Wall of China is visible from space
Despite popular belief, the wall is not easily visible to the naked eye from orbit.
People in the past thought the sun revolved around the Earth
Many scientists before Copernicus suspected a heliocentric solar system long before it was proven.
Napoleon was extremely short
Napoleon was about average height for his time, not the tiny man many think he was.
Vikings wore horned helmets
There is no evidence Vikings ever sported horned helmets; that image comes from 19th-century operas.
The Earth was flat in the Middle Ages
Most people knew the Earth was round long before Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
