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5 Historical Myths We Still BelieveWhat if the history you learned in school wasn’t quite the full story?1. Medieval People Believed the Earth Was Flat
Contrary to popular belief, educated people in the Middle Ages knew the Earth was round. Ancient Greek scholars like Pythagoras and Aristotle had already proven it centuries earlier, and medieval texts often referenced a spherical Earth. The flat Earth myth became widespread only in the 19th century, thanks to fictionalized retellings of Columbus.2. Vikings Wore Horned HelmetsT
here’s no archaeological evidence that Vikings wore horned helmets in battle. The image was popularized by 19th-century opera costumes — not Norse reality. Real Viking helmets were practical and conical, designed for protection, not flair.3. Napoleon Was Extremely Short
Napoleon Bonaparte was around 5’6” or 5’7” — average height for his time. The myth of his short stature likely came from British propaganda and confusion between French and British measuring systems.4. Nero Fiddled While Rome Burned
The great fire of Rome happened in AD 64, but the violin wasn’t invented for another 1,500 years. While Nero may not have acted quickly or compassionately, the image of him fiddling is pure fiction — possibly created to paint him as cruel and detached.5. The Middle Ages Were a 'Dark Age'
While Europe faced instability after Rome’s fall, the idea of a stagnant, ignorant "Dark Age" ignores major advances in science, philosophy, and architecture — especially in the Islamic world and Byzantium. The term was coined by Renaissance thinkers trying to make their own era look superior.King Arthur: Man, Myth, or Both?
King Arthur is one of the most enduring figures in British folklore — the noble king who pulled a sword from a stone, ruled from Camelot, and led the Knights of the Round Table. But was he real? There’s no concrete evidence for Arthur as a single historical figure. Instead, he may be a composite of several warlords who resisted Saxon invasions after Rome’s fall in Britain.
The Historia Brittonum (9th century) names him a battle leader, and Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 12th-century History of the Kings of Britain gave us much of the legend — but also much invention. Over time, poets and chroniclers layered fantasy over fact: Merlin the wizard, the Lady of the Lake, and the quest for the Holy Grail transformed Arthur into a symbol of ideal kingship.
Whether man or myth, Arthur represents the deep human need for heroic leaders — especially in times of chaos.The Black Death: Europe’s Darkest Hour
In 1347, a silent killer crept into Europe aboard merchant ships. Within just a few years, the Black Death had wiped out an estimated one-third of the continent’s population — a trauma so vast it reshaped history.
The culprit was the bacterium Yersinia pestis, spread by fleas on rats. It caused boils, fever, delirium, and death within days. Cities shut their gates, families abandoned loved ones, and mass graves dotted the landscape. But the consequences went beyond horror. With so many dead, labourers became scarce, forcing landowners to pay better wages. The feudal system began to crumble.
Some historians trace the roots of modern Europe’s transformation — from serfdom to wage economy — to this very plague. Out of catastrophe came change.The Women of Sparta: Freedom in a Warrior State
While most women in ancient Greece lived under strict control, Spartan women were an exception — and a paradox. In Sparta, the male population was consumed by war. Boys left for military training at age 7, and adult men lived in barracks until 30. As a result, women ran households, managed land, and held significant autonomy. They were educated, physically trained, and even mocked men who failed in battle.
But Spartan freedom wasn’t modern equality — it served the state. Strong women were expected to produce strong warriors. Marriage was delayed, and motherhood was treated like a civic duty. Even so, compared to Athenian women, Spartan women held a remarkable degree of power in a deeply patriarchal world.