Find out the facts behinds ten history events that you may have learnt or thought a different version was true.
1. Cleopatra’s Origins Myth:
Cleopatra was Egyptian Reality: She was of Greek Macedonian descent, tracing back to Ptolemy I, a general of Alexander the Great
2. Viking Helmets Myth:
Vikings wore horned helmets in battle Reality: No historical evidence exists for horned helmets. This was an invention of Wagner’s costume designer in the 1870s which has now been widely used by Hollywood.
3. Einstein’s Academic Performance Myth:
Einstein failed math in school Reality: He excelled in math but failed his college entrance exam due to poor performance in language, botany, and zoology sections (because the exam was in French which he wasn't fluent in)
4. Life in Medieval Times Myth:
People died young (age 30-40) in medieval times Reality: Adults regularly lived into their 60s. The low average life expectancy was due to high infant mortality rates. If you lived past age 5, your chances of turning 60 were actually good.
5. George Washington's Teeth Myth:
George Washington had wooden teeth Fact: When he took the oath of office, he had just one original tooth in his mouth. Perhaps even more disturbing than having wooden teeth—Washington wore dentures made with teeth from animals and humans
6. Pre-Contact Americas Myth:
The Americas were sparsely populated wilderness before Europeans Reality: The continents were densely populated, but the Europeans' diseases spread faster than the explorers did, killing up to 95% of natives before direct contact
7. Shah Jahan and Taj Mahal Myth:
The emperor mutilated the architects to prevent them from building anything as beautiful Reality: There’s no historical evidence of any such action - the architects continued their work normally
8. Titanic’s Marketing Myth:
The ship was advertised as “unsinkable” Reality: This myth emerged after the sinking, primarily through movies and moralizing preachers trying to frame the disaster as punishment for human arrogance
9. Census Data Myth:
Historical census data provides exact population counts Reality: Early census data often excluded women, children, slaves, or certain social classes, leading to significant undercounts
10. Cryogenic Walt Disney Myth:
His body was cryogenically frozen after death Reality: He was cremated, as confirmed by his death certificate and family records
