Beyond the Textbooks: History Facts You Probably Didn't Learn in School

History is often rich with brilliant stories that are overshadowed by more famous or more important events & figures, leading to some truly astonishing narratives flying under the radar. In this article, we'll delve into fourteen surprising historical facts that might just change the way you perceive the past.

1. Cleopatra lived closer to the moon landing than the construction of the Great Pyramids.

   
   

   Cleopatra VII, the last Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, lived around 30 BCE. The Great Pyramids' construction was completed around 2560 BCE, which means Cleopatra lived more than 2,500 years after the pyramids were built, but only roughly 2,000 before the moon landing took place in 1969.

2. Oxford University predates the Aztec Empire.

   
   

   Education at Oxford University began as early as the late 1000s, while the Aztec Empire is generally considered to have begun in 1428. This comparison highlights the long-standing educational traditions in Europe compared to the rise of significant civilizations elsewhere.

3. The Eiffel Tower Can Be 15 Centimeters Taller During the Summer.

   
   

   Because of the summer heat, the iron composure of the Eiffel Tower expands (thermal expansion), causing it to grow up to 6 inches taller during the warmer months. When the sun heats the tower, the iron atoms vibrate faster, spreading out and taking up more space. 

4. The shortest war in history lasted just 38 minutes.

   
   

   The Anglo-Zanzibar War was fought between the UK and the Sultanate of Zanzibar on August 27, 1896, lasting a mere 38 minutes, making it the briefest recorded war in history. The swift victory for the British was largely due to their overpowering naval forces.

5. "The Great Emu War."

   
   

   In 1932, Australia faced an unusual and bothersome enemy: emus. After World War I, many soldiers were given plots of land in Western Australia, which they struggled to farm because of the quick destruction of their crops. The culprits? The Emus. The situation grew so large that the military intervened, but despite their best efforts, the “war” against the emus was largely ineffective.

   
   

6. Before alarm clocks, people hired 'knocker-uppers'.

   
   

   In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before alarm clocks were commonplace, some people would hire "knocker-uppers" to knock on their windows with long sticks to wake them up in time for work or school.

7. The USA almost had a president named 'King'.

   
   

   In the presidential election of 1836, the Whig Party nominated William Henry Harrison and a candidate named "Davy Crockett," but there was also a candidate named "King" (Martin Van Buren's opponent). If Van Buren had lost, we could have had "President King."

8. Napoleon was once ambushed by bunnies.

   
   

   In 1807, during a rabbit hunt organized by Bonaparte himself, the bunnies that were supposed to be hunted began to hunt him. The tables of war had truly turned, and the 'attack of the bunnies' became a humorous and well-loved moment in history.

9. The Great Wall of China is not visible from space.

   
   

   Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall of China is not visible to the naked eye from outer space. The wall's color and materials blend in with the natural landscape, making it difficult to distinguish from space without the assistance of a telescope.

10. The first recorded recipe dates back to ancient Mesopotamia.

    
    

    The world's oldest known recipe was discovered scribbled on a clay tablet dating back to around 1700 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia. It outlines how to make beer using barley, showcasing that brewing dates back thousands of years.

11. The Olympic Games were once held 'in the nude'.

    
    

    Ancient Greek athletes often competed in the Olympic Games without any clothes. In fact, the word "gymnasium" is derived from the Greek word "gymnos," meaning naked; this practice was celebrated as a tribute to the human body and athletic prowess.

12. Shakespeare's influence is still present in our daily language.

    
    

    Many common expressions and phrases have either been coined or popularized by William Shakespeare. "Break the Ice," "Heart of Gold," and "The World's Your Oyster," were all traced back to Shakespeare's extensive body of work.

13. The first automobile accident in the US was a man.

    
    

    In 1891 Ohio, James Lambert was testing out his new gasoline-powered buggy. He eventually lost control of the vehicle while in town, hitting a tree stump and veering off to crash into a pole: men drivers, no survivors.

14. The oldest recorded 'your mom' joke dates back to Ancient Babylon.

    
    

    A tablet from Babylon dating back to 1500 BCE contains a crude "your mom" joke, a hilarious reminder that humor and insults have been a part of human interaction for millennia.

These surprising historical facts not only entertain but also provide insight into the complexities of human history. They remind us that our past is filled with intriguing narratives that contribute to our understanding of culture, language, and society. By exploring these lesser-known facts, we can appreciate the rich tapestry of human endeavor and creativity.