Historiography is dominated by those who prevail, and it also is commonly the writing of the bewildered or the partisan. Most of the things we studied in school are mere myths that have been reiterated to the extent that they became established as the truth. The past reality is usually quite different than the films; regarding the emperors heights all the way down to the ways of ancient constructors. These are ten historical facts that can simply transform your perspective of the past.
Napoleon Bonaparte was no short man.
One of the most popular caricatures in history is the image of the angry and short general. As a matter of fact, Napoleon was a bit taller or rather average in height to the average Frenchman of that period. These legends that he was short came up due to a disparity in the French and the British systems of measurements that the British press took to taunt him.
The Pyramids are not the work of slaves.
Archeological data reveal that the great pyramids were constructed by esteemed and well compensated workers and not slaves. These employees would consume quality meat and would have shifts in a prestigious national service in flood seasons. The concept of slaves constructing them is based on the ancient Greek historians who lived several thousand years after it was being constructed.
The Vikings did not wear horned helmets.
Historical evidence does not show that Viking helmets were ever fitted with horns on them as they would have been a disadvantage in battle. The image of the popularity belongs to the costume designers of opera in the 19 th century who wanted the characters to appear fierce and primitive. Actual Viking helmets consisted of just a simple cap of iron or leather that was made to protect against the blows.
The Salem Witches were Not Burnt at the Stake.
The Salem Witch Trials victims were never burned to death at stake since the punishment was a prerogative of heresy in Europe. English law that was applied in the colonies stipulated that the convicted witches were literally hanged. The concept of witch burning in America is the blend of various historical eras popularised by fiction.
The Medieval people did not believe that the world was a round surface.
The Middle Ages educated population was aware of the roundness of the Earth due to the fact that its roundness had been demonstrated by the ancient Greek scholars several centuries ago. Christopher Columbus was actually hard pressed to get the financing as he underestimated the extent of the ocean and not because people believed that he would run off the edge. His critics were right in saying that his supplies were insufficient to make the journey.
Nevertheless, Marie Antoinette did not say Let Them Eat Cake.
This is not the well-known sentence the French Queen ever uttered about the starving peasants. The quote itself was a typical literary cliche that was applied in describing out of touch princesses way before she stepped foot in France. The revolutionaries later claimed it to her in order to create hatred against the monarchy when there was severe shortage of food.
A Strict Control in the Wild West.
Some of the frontier towns, such as Tombstone and Dodge City, were in fact even more stringent in control laws than some American cities to this day. The rule of the day was that visitors had to place their weapons under the care of the local sheriff so that things could be stable and the visitors encouraged to invest in businesses. Shootouts that were popular in movies were not the daily norm, just an exception.
Black Pajamas were not worn by the ninjas.
Actual ninjas or shinobi would dress in ordinary garments so as to pass among the farmers and merchants as opposed to the black costumes that are used in movies. This concept of the black uniform is inspired by Japanese theater stagehands who were not supposed to be noticed by the viewer. A spy dressed in a special black suit would have been easily detected and taken to hold.
Einstein Did Not Fail Math
Albert Einstein has never failed math in school and in fact he had mastered the complex calculus at the age of fifteen. The myth began due to a misunderstanding of the grading scale at his school in Switzerland where the number ranking system was inverted with the rest. He was ever a high achiever who could only find it hard with the strictness of the school system.
Gladiators hardly ever fought to the death.
The majority of fights by gladiators did not result in death since the gladiators were costly assets that the owners desired to secure. Refereeing proceeded in similar ways to sports in the present day and matches ended once one of the fighters was either wounded or had to give up due to fear of his life. Murder of a gladiator was viewed as wastage of resources and money unless that was during a special execution.
