Reviews of School Motivation and Learning Strategies Inventory
When you await back at all the lessons you learned in history class, you typically find that many of the stories provide a adequately G-rated version of history. Unfortunately, the truth is often far less flattering.
Allow's uncover the truth about some of the exaggerated tales, common misconceptions and flat out historical lies you were taught in schoolhouse. From the totally ridiculous to the pleasantly surprising, many historical events didn't go down exactly the mode you call back they did.
The Egyptian Pyramids Were Built by Slaves
You probably believe slaves toiled abroad to build the pyramids for a heartless string of pharaohs. Mod Egyptologists, notwithstanding, believe information technology's incredibly unlikely that the builders of the ancient pyramids included whatsoever slaves at all. Archaeological evidence actually suggests they were more than likely paid laborers who were highly respected for their work.
Although some may have come from poor backgrounds, their skills and labor were so appreciated that if they died on the job, they were buried almost the sacred burial sites of their pharaohs. This was considered a huge honor and never would have realistically been an option for a slave.
Medieval Peasants Had It Worse Than Modern People
You may be nether the impression that medieval peasants spent their days working around the clock all year long, only that wasn't exactly the case. In fact, author and scholar Juliet B. Schor recently revealed that the average American today really works more hours and enjoys less vacation time each twelvemonth than the average medieval peasant.
Although a peasant's work was probably much harder than the boilerplate American's job, the average peasant enjoyed anywhere from viii weeks to half a yr off annually. They were given frequent breaks and holidays to ensure there were every bit few revolts among the lower class as possible.
Nero Played the Fiddle as Rome Burned to the Footing
Legend says that when Rome burned downwardly in July of 64 Advertising, the heartless Emperor Nero was and so unconcerned that he simply sat and played the fiddle while it happened. This tale tin can easily exist debunked for several reasons.
First, according to the ancient historian Tacitus, Nero wasn't actually in Rome at the time but in a town chosen Antium nearly thirty miles away. Second, information technology wouldn't have been possible for the emperor to indulge in a fiddle session, no matter how cold and steely his personality may have been. When Rome burned in 64 AD, the dabble didn't fifty-fifty exist withal. It wasn't invented until 1500, nearly a millennium and a half afterwards.
Einstein Flunked Math as a Kid
Over the years, many a discouraged kid has been told that even Einstein failed math when he was a child. This is completely untrue. In fact, historians believe little Einstein was a kid prodigy who studied higher-level physics by age 11. It's safe to say he didn't fail simple math.
The fake stories may accept started due to the grading arrangement at Einstein's Swiss school. Students originally received grades on a scale of 1 (highest) to 6 (lowest), but they subsequently inexplicably switched the system so that 6 became the best score. At that betoken, Einstein started scoring 6's on his exams, which may have fabricated information technology appear to some that he was failing, even though he was nailing it.
Columbus Proved the World Was Round
Most kids in schoolhouse were told that Christopher Columbus discovered the Earth was circular. In reality, near everyone already knew the Earth was round and roughly 8,000 miles in diameter earlier 1492.
Instead, Columbus' whole argument was that it was really only four,000 miles in bore, which explains why he was so sure he could get to India past sailing around it. His whole theory was really completely wrong, although he thought he had proven information technology when he thought his landing site in the Due west Indies was India. This is the reason Native Americans were first known as "Indians."
Witches Were Burned at the Stake in Salem
Yous already know things got completely out of paw in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. The citizens of Salem suddenly became irrational and convicted random men and women of witchcraft and sentenced them to decease. As the story goes, convicted "witches" met a grisly terminate by existence burned at the pale.
Although parts of the night history of Salem are true — 150 people were arrested, and twenty were put to expiry — nobody was actually burned at the stake. Amongst the convicted, 19 people were hanged, and one was crushed to expiry beneath heavy stones.
Napoleon Was Super Short
If you have e'er heard someone say a temperamental brusque guy has a "Napoleon complex," it'southward based on the assumption that Napoleon Bonaparte felt a fierce demand to prove his manhood through armed services conquest because of his curt height. In truth, Napoleon was actually around 5 feet, 7 inches tall, which was the average meridian for a man of his fourth dimension.
The defoliation probably comes from the fact that French inches were longer than British inches at the fourth dimension. When the British recorded his height as 5 anxiety, 2 inches, they failed to make the right conversion between the two systems, which left the impression he was much shorter than he really was.
Pilgrims Wore Blackness and White Clothes with Large Buckles
Equally information technology turns out, the staunch, stereotypical Pilgrim wear with monochromatic dye and wooden buckles isn't exactly historically accurate. Information technology's known from old records that Pilgrims actually wore a broad variety of brightly dyed fabrics in a broad range of colors.
Much like men's suits today, black and white was reserved for special occasions and Sundays. Their everyday wear was based on the styles of the Elizabethan era and didn't include large buckles of whatsoever sort. Large buckles were really created in the 19th century and were considered "quaint," inspiring some artists to portray Pilgrims wearing them.
A Moo-cow Kicked a Lantern and Started the Great Chicago Fire
When the Bang-up Chicago Fire consumed the city in 1871, newspapers claimed that it began when Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern while she was milking information technology. The story never bothered to explain why she didn't put the fire out or get help if she was sitting right there.
The fire may have started in her befouled, merely Mrs. O'Leary isn't to arraign, despite the false reports. To her expiry, she maintained that she — and the rest of her family, for that thing — was asleep inside the house when the blaze broke out. It wasn't until 1893 that the reporter who published the story in the Chicago Republican admitted he made the story up. This merely might be the earliest case of simulated news.
George Washington Confessed to Chopping Down His Dad's Cherry Tree
Y'all were undoubtedly lectured on the tale of immature George Washington chopping downwardly his dad's blood-red tree. When confronted about it, picayune George reportedly confessed after announcing, "I cannot tell a lie."
While the story of a morally ethical vi-year-quondam makes a swell legend, the tale is nothing more than a long-standing myth. The whole incident was actually the creation of Mason Locke Weems, a biographer who wrote about Washington's life in 1806. The author subsequently explained that he was attempting to position Washington equally a role model for immature Americans — ironically, by telling a lie himself.
Paul Revere Rode Effectually Screaming, "The British Are Coming!"
Offset, Paul Revere was indeed ordered to ride to Lexington to warning Samuel Adams and John Hancock, simply he never would take used the phrase "The British are coming!" At the time, the patriots were however British citizens themselves. Additionally, the sentry on guard was bellyaching that he was then noisy because the whole performance was supposed to be covert.
Further angering the scout, Revere replied, "Racket! Y'all'll take noise long enough before. The regulars are coming out!" Additionally, Revere was initially joined past ii riders that eventually blossomed into well-nigh 40 other riders proclaiming the news. And so much for being covert!
The Proclamation of Independence Was Signed on the 4th of July
Although we celebrate independence on July 4, the official timeline is a fiddling more complicated than that. The process actually began on July 1 and July ii, when colonial representatives canonical a movement to declare the United States an independent country.
After spending the next two days revising the Declaration of Independence, the representatives were finally ready to formally ratify it on July iv, 1776. Nevertheless, members of the Second Continental Congress didn't actually sign the document until August 2, and news didn't officially accomplish Rex George that America had revolted until Baronial 10.
"Ane Small Pace for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind"
When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969, he uttered a phrase that became one of the most famous quotes of all time. Ironically, his original quote is actually misquoted without one tiny keyword. Armstrong really said, "One small step for a man, one behemothic leap for mankind."
The word "a" may exist modest, only the judgement really makes a lot more sense when it'due south included. If you say "for human being," it substantially ways the same affair as "for mankind." The reason for the cut was probably due to a gap in radio transmission. Afterward all, the world was listening to a guy who was continuing on the moon.
Marie Antoinette Said, "Let Them Eat Cake"
As the old story goes, the lavish French monarch Marie Antoinette was told effectually 1789 that her subjects were starving due to a shortage of bread. In response, she supposedly callously and flippantly said, "Let them eat cake." Although her response is possibly 1 of the most famous quotes in history, it'southward unlikely she ever said it at all.
The quote can actually exist traced back to a story told by philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in which he attributed the quote to a totally dissimilar monarch. Fifty-fifty and then, there was no cake involved, as the original quote was, "Permit them consume brioche." Doesn't accept quite the same band to it, does it?
Deep Pharynx Leaked Information That Brought Down Nixon
The credit for ratting out corrupt President Nixon has largely been given to a shadowy figure known equally "Deep Throat." His attraction was furthered by the Hollywood movie All the President's Men, in which he supplies reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein with hole-and-corner Watergate intelligence.
Deep Pharynx — later revealed to be an FBI informant named William Mark Felt Sr. — doubtless played a big office in Watergate, simply it wasn't as big a office as everyone originally idea. As Bernstein subsequently explained, "Deep Throat largely confirmed information we had already gotten from other sources." Somehow, it's a bit disappointing to downgrade his mysterious role to fill-in informant.
"Call back the Alamo!"
Many Americans recall the boxing at the Alamo was some heroic effort to free Texas from an oppressive Mexican government, but things weren't then simple. Mexico had actually historically allowed Americans to live in the territory revenue enhancement free.
The problem occurred because in that location were more than Americans than they could handle, so Mexico decided to cut down on the catamenia of American immigrants. The settlers didn't appreciate the brake and decided to claim Texas every bit their own. Reports of their initial defeat at the Alamo infuriated the settlers, and they began killing every Mexican they could find, whether they were soldiers or not.
Galileo First Suggested the Lord's day Was the Center of the Universe
In history course, Galileo is given a great deal of credit for insisting the sun, rather than the Earth, is at the centre of the solar system. In reality, he was far from the first person to come upward with the idea.
That honor actually goes to a Greek scientist and astronomer named Aristarchus of Samos, who lived from 310 BC to 230 BC. In Galileo'southward own time, Nicolaus Copernicus as well championed the theory to the extent that it's now known as the "Copernican Revolution." Galileo mistakenly gets credit for the theory just because he was the first person with the technology to actually testify it was true.
Shakespeare Was the Original Creator of His Works
Today, William Shakespeare is highly regarded as one of the most talented writers in the history of the English language. Therefore, information technology seems crazy to recollect he'southward not the actual mastermind behind the famous plots and characters in each of his iconic plays.
Ironically, Shakespeare was a plagiarizer — at least in terms of crafting story ideas. He actually got the plots and characters for nearly of his plays from sometime stories created by other writers. Earlier you judge him as well harshly, yet, it wasn't a hole-and-corner. He wasn't known in his own time for his ability to arts and crafts original tales. He was known for his power to tell the stories far more than beautifully and with far more flair than other writers.
Jesus Was Born on December 25
Yes, the world celebrates Christmas on December 25 each yr, only history has proven information technology'south not the actual date that Jesus was born. Additionally, Christ'southward birthday wasn't celebrated at all until three centuries afterwards his expiry.
When the Roman church decided to celebrate Jesus' birth, they found there was no tape of when it actually occurred. They selected December 25 because it was already the date of several heathen festivals that honored Roman gods like Saturn. This increased the likelihood the celebration would exist accepted past pagans, making the transition easier for those who wanted to convert.
Vikings Wore Horned Helmets
For a very foreign reason, Vikings always seem to be stereotypically portrayed in cartoons and other media as huge guys wearing horned wooden helmets. If you've ever watched The History Aqueduct bear witness Vikings, you've probably noticed the marked absence of such bizarre headgear.
Co-ordinate to history, there's absolutely no show that Vikings ever wore such helmets during their own time. The horned helmet motif actually originated with a costume designer on an 1876 opera production of Der Ring des Nibelungen. From there, the horned Viking helmet managed to stick in the public's minds and imagination.
Ninjas Always Sneak Around Shrouded in Black
Was the head to toe black compatible actually the perpetual uniform of ninjas in feudal Nihon? Due to their legendary stealth, ninjas have made it challenging to verify the truth or uncover the lie. A bit of common sense suggests they probably didn't dress like that all the fourth dimension.
Ninjas were sort of similar covert agents or assassins in their time, so they would take attempted to blend in as much as possible. A solid blackness uniform may accept made sense for certain night missions, just the odds are good that ninjas dressed merely like everyone else in normal daytime environments in hopes of going unnoticed.
Henry Ford Invented the Car
Although Henry Ford definitely transformed the world of automobiles, he didn't actually invent the offset automobile or even the offset assembly line, for that matter. Ford'southward name is so synonymous with early on automobiles because he was the first to produce a auto that most centre-class people could actually afford.
The history of automobiles goes dorsum far longer than many people realize, with one of the earliest "cars" existence a steam-powered automobile designed by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot in 1769. When it comes to the start gas-powered car, however, the credit goes to Karl Benz, the famous German Engineer backside today'southward Mercedes-Benz.
Thomas Edison Invented the Light Seedling
Lite bulbs had actually been around for years before Thomas Edison ever took information technology upon himself to brand his ain version. The problem with pre-Edison bulbs was that they didn't terminal long enough to be very useful.
Due to the light bulb's obvious potential, about 20 other inventors were also attempting to perfect the light bulb during Edison'south time. Some rumors even accuse him of stealing some of his rival inventors' ideas in the race to create the get-go long-lasting low-cal bulb. Regardless, his existent claim to fame is perfecting a useful light bulb, not inventing it altogether.
The Quango of Nicaea Decided Which Books to Include in the Bible
Today, the Christian Bible consists of 66 books Quondam and New Testament books, just far more than books were circulated during the early days of the church. One common misconception is that the Council of Nicaea (325 Advertizement) met to make up one's mind which books would brand the cut and exist included in an official version.
The council actually met to come to an understanding on whether Christ was always divine or achieved divinity. In 367 AD, a church father named Athanasius provided the first list of the 66 books establish in Biblical catechism today, based on the books that had become universally accepted every bit truth.
Suicide Rates Shot Up After the 1929 Stock Market Crash
On Oct 24, 1929 — the infamous "Black Thursday" — rumors began rapidly circulating that a number of stockbrokers were so distraught over the crash that they leapt to their deaths from the windows or roofs of their office skyscrapers. As the rumors connected to spread, the stories grew to include skyrocketing suicide rates in the wake of the financial disaster.
In this instance, the truth isn't actually as bad. In truth, suicide rates really decreased following the crash, and the rumored roof-jumping deaths were only limited to two instances. Even more ironically, neither of those deaths took identify until November, weeks after the crash.
Everything Yous Know About the Get-go Thanksgiving
Whatever the outset Thanksgiving was, it probably wasn't the lovefest between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims that you read most in textbooks. Some historians believe the first "Thanksgiving" actually took place in 1637, when the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony proclaimed a solar day of thanks.
The whole thing was meant to be a celebration of the safe return of the colony'due south men. Returning from where, y'all ask? They were coming home after helping massacre more than 700 men, women and children in the Pequot Native American tribe. To this day, many Native Americans run across Thanksgiving as a mean solar day of mourning rather than a celebratory vacation. That certainly puts a different spin on the holiday.
Walt Disney Created Mickey Mouse
Although Walt Disney was indeed the voice and one of the creators behind Mickey, he tin can't take sole credit for drafting everyone'south favorite mouse. The truth is Mickey was really drawn past Walt'southward favorite animator, Ub Iwerks. It was Iwerks who came upward with Mickey's trademark red shorts and gigantic ears.
Iwerks and Disney initially met while working every bit illustrators in Kansas City, and they went on to become lifelong friends. The two created Mickey in a joint try to supplant an initial character named Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Still, over time, Iwerks' proper noun somehow faded from the register of Disney history.
Ben Franklin Discovered Electricity During His Kite Experiment
Nosotros've all heard the story. Ben Franklin rushes out into a thunderstorm to fly a kite with a key attached to the string and discovers electricity. Merely did he actually? By the time Franklin conducted his kite experiment, scientists all over the world already knew nearly the existence of electricity.
His experiment had more to do with proving lightning was a form of flowing electricity and that it could exist directed away from houses with a metallic rod. Ironically, due to the fact that he had written to a friend about his proposed experiment, some other scientist had already conducted information technology a month before he did. Patently, you lot tin can't trust anyone when it comes to big ideas.
Everybody Wore Cowboy Hats in the Wild West
Westerns are certainly full of people strutting around in cowboy hats, only history would take looked a bit different in person. The now-famous Stetson wasn't fifty-fifty invented until 1865 and didn't really skyrocket to popularity until most the stop of the 19th century.
If you look carefully at photos of Wild West outlaws and other figures, the cowboy chapeau is few and far betwixt when it comes to their headgear. Most men at the time wore either derby hats, wool caps, Civil war-mode hats or Mexican sombreros. Fifty-fifty the get-go Stetson looked more than similar a traditional Amish hat than a modern cowboy chapeau.
Jesse Owens Was Snubbed past Hitler at the 1936 Olympics
When famous African American athlete Jesse Owens went to the 1936 Olympics in Germany, rumors flew that Hitler had snubbed him considering he was black. Equally Owens later explained, notwithstanding, the truth was far more disturbing.
"Hitler didn't snub me. Information technology was our president who snubbed me. The president didn't even send me a telegram," Owens later on explained. Racism was so rampant in America at the fourth dimension that Owens was actually treated with more respect in Deutschland than he was when he returned home to the United states of america. Apparently, it was President Franklin Roosevelt who snubbed him, rather than the world's most evil man.
Source: https://www.simpli.com/history/common-historical-myths-learned-school?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740008%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex