History is Hilarious: 15 Amazing and Funny Unknown Historical Facts

Welcome, history buffs and comedy fans! Today, we're taking a trip back in time to discover some of the most hilarious and bizarre stories from human history. From ancient medical practices to unusual hobbies, these ten historical facts will make you laugh, cringe, and maybe even learn something new.

1. Hippocrates Thought Farts Could Cure Diseases

That's right, the ancient Greek physician and father of medicine believed that passing gas could cure diseases. He even prescribed farts as a treatment for a range of ailments, from abdominal pain to epilepsy. We don't know about you, but we'd rather stick to modern medicine, thank you very much.

2. The Roman Emperor Elagabalus Had Some Weird Hobbies

Elagabalus, who ruled Rome in the 3rd century AD, was known for his eccentric tastes. He enjoyed cross-dressing, wearing makeup, and even prostituting himself in the imperial palace. He also had a strange obsession with his pet chariot horses, whom he believed to be his lovers.

3. The World's First Computer Was Invented In Ancient Greece

When we think of ancient Greece, we tend to think of philosophers, warriors, and myths. But did you know that the ancient Greeks also invented the world's first computer? The Antikythera mechanism, discovered in a shipwreck in 1901, was an astronomical calculator that could predict the positions of the sun, moon, and planets.

4. Ancient Egyptians Used Crocodile Dung As Contraception

This one might make you cringe, but it's true: the ancient Egyptians believed that inserting crocodile dung into the vagina could prevent pregnancy. Needless to say, this method was not effective, and probably not very pleasant either.

5. The First Recorded Olympics Had Only One Event

The ancient Olympics, held in Greece from 776 BC to 393 AD, were quite different from the modern-day games. In fact, the first recorded Olympics had only one event: the stadion race, which was a sprint of about 192 meters. Over time, more events were added, including wrestling, boxing, and chariot races.

6. Isaac Newton Invented the Cat Flap

Isaac Newton is known for his groundbreaking work in physics and mathematics, but did you know he also invented the cat flap? Newton was a cat lover, and he wanted to give his furry friends the freedom to come and go as they pleased. So, he created a small hole in his door, which he covered with a piece of wood that could be moved by a cat.

7. The Aztecs Used Chocolate As Currency

Chocolate lovers, this one's for you: the Aztecs, who lived in what is now Mexico from the 14th to the 16th century, used cocoa beans as currency. They believed that chocolate had medicinal and spiritual properties, and it was often used in religious ceremonies and as a gift to the gods.

8. Saying "Bless You" After a Sneeze Started as a Superstitious Belief

We've all said it: "bless you" or "God bless you" after someone sneezes. But did you know that this practice started as a superstitious belief? In ancient times, people believed that a sneeze could expel evil spirits from the body, and saying "bless you" was a way to protect the person from being possessed.

9. In the 17th Century, Coffee Was Banned in England Because It Encouraged Gossip

Coffee lovers, beware: in 1675, King Charles II of England banned coffee houses, claiming that they were hotbeds of gossip and political dissent. He believed that the caffeinated beverage encouraged people to gather and talk about controversial topics, which could lead to unrest and rebellion. The ban was met with widespread outrage, and many coffee houses continued to operate in secret.

10. Mark Twain Predicted His Own Death

Mark Twain, the beloved American author and humorist, had a knack for predicting the future. In 1909, he famously quipped, "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it." Sure enough, Twain died on April 21, 1910, one day after Halley's Comet reached its closest point to Earth.

11. The Great Emu War

In 1932, Australia found itself in the midst of an unusual conflict: a war against emus. The birds had become a nuisance to farmers, destroying crops and property. The Australian government dispatched a group of soldiers armed with machine guns to take care of the problem. However, the emus proved to be more difficult opponents than expected, and the soldiers were forced to retreat after several unsuccessful attempts to cull the population. The Great Emu War remains a quirky footnote in Australia's history.

12. The Dancing Plague of 1518

In July of 1518, a strange phenomenon swept through the city of Strasbourg in France. Hundreds of people began dancing uncontrollably in the streets, often until they collapsed from exhaustion or died from heart attacks. The bizarre epidemic lasted for several weeks and was eventually attributed to mass hysteria or ergot poisoning (a type of fungal infection). The Dancing Plague of 1518 remains one of the most peculiar events in European history.

13. The First Cyber Attack

In 1988, a graduate student named Robert Morris unleashed the first ever computer worm onto the internet. The worm, which was intended to measure the size of the internet, quickly got out of control and began replicating itself on thousands of computers. The resulting chaos caused an estimated $100 million in damages and earned Morris a criminal conviction. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of computer networks and sparked new interest in cybersecurity.

14. The Tunguska Event

In 1908, a massive explosion occurred over the remote Siberian forest of Tunguska. The blast, which was equivalent to the detonation of 10-15 megatons of TNT, flattened an area of forest over 800 square miles. The cause of the explosion remains a mystery, but theories include a meteorite impact, a comet, or a nuclear explosion caused by alien spacecraft. The Tunguska Event is one of the most enigmatic events in modern history.

15. The Gadsden Purchase

In 1853, the United States government purchased a strip of land from Mexico that is now part of Arizona and New Mexico. The purchase was made to provide a southern route for a transcontinental railroad and to settle a border dispute. The deal was negotiated by James Gadsden, who designed the famous Gadsden flag (featuring a coiled rattlesnake and the phrase "Don't Tread on Me") as a symbol of American independence and strength. The Gadsden Purchase is often overlooked in American history, but it played an important role in the country's expansion and development.

If you have a favorite historical fact that we didn't mention, we would love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and share your favourite weird and wonderful piece of the past. You can also mention the fact you liked most (or shocked you most) in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

We hope these 15 historical facts have tickled your funny bone and sparked your curiosity. History is full of strange and fascinating stories, and we encourage you to keep exploring and learning. Who knows, maybe one day you'll discover your own bizarre piece of the past. Until then, stay curious and keep laughing!

If you want to read the Part 2 of this series then click the link below: