Jokes From History That Still Bring It Today
History textbooks would have you think the past was all swords, plagues, and endless kings bossing people around. But if you scratch beneath the marble statues and dusty portraits, you’ll find jokes that still land centuries later, sometimes shockingly well.
Ancient Romans scribbled bathroom graffiti, medieval monks doodled fart jokes in sacred texts, and Victorian pranksters weaponized puns with alarming enthusiasm and reckless joy. Humor didn’t just survive history; it actively helped shape it and connect people.
So if you assumed comedy was born with TV sitcoms, think again. These historic jokes prove laughter outlives empires, crowns, and even terrible hygiene forever.
Peter the Great – Beard Tax Comedy
Czar Peter I of Russia imposed a beard tax in 1698, forcing nobles to pay for their facial hair, leading to hilariously awkward enforcement.
Medieval Festival Fools – Feast of Laughs
Peasants and nobles alike joined in pranks, satire, and absurd antics, proving that status means nothing.
Roman Election Humor – Campaign Satires
Candidates were mocked in graffiti and posters, a political comedy that still resonates.
Renaissance Carnival – Costume Comedy
Masks, pranks, and absurd performances entertained crowds while poking fun at authority’s vanity.
Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard – Witty Wisdom
Proverbs included zingers like “A small leak will sink a great ship,” a timeless joke.
Victorian Newspapers – Sarcasm Alive
Satirical columns critiqued society while making readers snort tea through their noses in surprise.
Medieval Punny Tombstones – Deadly Humor
Some graves warned visitors with rhymes and puns, showing humor survived even after death.
Greek Anthology – Clever Insults
Epigrams from ancient Greece roasted friends and strangers alike, keeping insults surprisingly entertaining.
Jonathan Swift – Satirical Genius
Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” turned horrifying reality into dark, shocking satire.
Medieval Marginalia – Monkey Business
Monks doodled absurd creatures in manuscripts, sneaking fart jokes and pranks into sacred texts.
Ancient Babylonian Toilet Clay – Scatological Comedy
Clay tablets revealed toilet jokes about crude bodily functions that still shock today.
Court Jesters – Royally Funny
Jesters insulted kings under the guise of jokes, mastering humor as a power.
Mark Twain – Literary Mischief
Twain’s essays poked fun at social norms, school systems, and humans’ own foolishness, sparking laughter.
Napoleon Bonaparte – Tiny Emperor Humor
Despite his stature obsession, Napoleon’s staff circulated funny caricatures mocking his ego.
Victorian Postcards – Naughty Etiquette
Cards sent in 1800s Britain showed risqué humor, proving manners never killed cheeky jokes.
Benjamin Franklin’s Satirical Letters – Politically Sharp
Franklin wrote witty letters mocking politicians, turning revolutionary politics into pure entertainment.
Shakespeare – Pun Intended
The Bard peppered plays with clever wordplay, double meanings, and innuendo, keeping audiences snickering.
Greek Philosopher Zeno – Paradox Prank
Zeno’s paradoxes weren’t just mind-bending; students laughed at the impossible logic.
Ancient Egyptian Love Poems – Sassy Lines
Some Egyptian hieroglyphs contain flirty, cheeky poems teasing lovers about bodily functions and desires.
Benjamin Franklin – Lightning Laughs
Franklin once joked about electricity shocking aristocrats, blending science and humor for a shocking effect.
Roman Bathroom Graffiti – Classy Humor
Romans carved jokes about flatulence and sexual exploits into public bathrooms, proving even toilets witnessed pure comedy.
