10 Historical Events You Probably Didn’t Know About That Could Change Your Perspective on the World

10 Historical Events You Probably Didn’t Know About That Could Change Your Perspective on the World

Learn about 10 historical events that you probably didn't learn about in school that changed the world — and how thinking about history in hidden ways can reveal how small events made big events happen.

Introduction

History is usually taught with a textbook of famous wars, revolutions and stories of famous leaders, but countless events — practically hidden moments — changed the world we live in today. These lesser-known events also provide surprising insight into how humans progress, how we make mistakes, and how we struggle.

In this article, we will give you 10 historical events that you probably did not know about that might change the way you think about history and possibly the future.

1. The Dancing Plague of 1518

In the summer of 1518, the residents of Strasbourg (then part of the Holy Roman Empire and now in France) experienced a strange occurrence: people started dancing uncontrollably in the streets. They danced in droves, with not only dozens but reportedly hundreds of residents joining along, and in many accounts people danced until they collapsed or died from exhaustion during these wild displays.

Historians still grapple with the origins of the dancing mania — was it hysteria, ergotism (hallucinogenic fungus on rye), or a spiritual experience? Regardless of the explanations, the event reminds us how psychology, environment and belief systems can converge at unexpected points.

2. The Great Emu War, 1932.

Yes, indeed, Australia went to war with a bird—and lost. After World War I, farmers in Australia had their crops invaded by emus and asked the government for help. The government sent soldiers armed with machine guns to control the emu population.

The soldiers fired thousands of rounds at the emus, but the emus were too fast and resilient. Eventually, the Army gave up altogether, and the Great Emu War lives in infamy as a reminder that nature has a mind of its own.

3. The Explosion that Shook Siberia - The Tunguska Event (1908)

On June 30, 1908, a gigantic explosion decimated more than 800 square miles of Siberian forest. While we are unaware of the cause (believed to be a meteoroid or comet), the explosion was powerful enough to brighten the skies above Europe and Asia.

The Tunguska Event is one of history's largest unexplained natural disasters, serving as a reminder of our planet's vulnerability to cosmic forces.

4. The Day the Sun Went Dark - The Mystery of 536 AD.

Historians and scientists consider the year 536 AD to be the "worst year to be alive." Over part of Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia a mysterious fog darkened the skies and lasted for about 18 months.

There were colder temperatures, failed crops, and famine spread across the land. Later study shows that a gigantic volcanic eruption caused the incident. This catastrophe was forgotten but changed societies and may have accelerated the process of empires collapsing.

5. The Whiskey Rebellion (1790s, U.S.)

While most people are familiar with the American Revolution, very few understand the significance of the Whiskey Rebellion, a tax protest that brought the young nation nearly to the brink of destruction. Farmers in western Pennsylvania resisted a federal tax on whiskey and the result was violent uprisings in that area.

President George Washington himself, along with the Army, quelled the uprising and clearly demonstrated that the new U.S. government could enforce its laws.

6. The Cadaver Synod (897 A.D.)

One of the strangest legal cases in history occurred when Pope Stephen VI ordered the corpse of his predecessor, Pope Formosus, to stand trial. Formosus's body was dressed in papal robes and seated in a chair and questioned. Unsurprisingly, the dead pope lost the trial and was guilty.

This event demonstrates the political chaos in 12th century Rome and the extent of power struggles in the Church.

7. The Dust Veil of 1783 - The Laki Eruption in Iceland

In the summer of 1783, the European continent was affected by the enormous eruption of Iceland's Laki volcano which spewed clouds of poisonous gas around the region. Thousands died from starvation and poisoned air, and animals died as well. Some historians argue that this natural disaster eroded European societies and contributed to unrest that ultimately led to the start of the French Revolution.

This single event demonstrates the potential of natural disasters to create shifts in political and social history.

8. The Taiping Rebellion (1850 - 1864)

Although many people are aware of the events during the American Civil War, few people outside of China study the Taiping Rebellion, a civil war which caused an estimated 20 - 30 million deaths.

Led by Hong Xiuquan, the Taiping Rebellion took the historic war a step further by having Hong declare himself the brother of Jesus Christ and call for a radical reformation of the Qing Dynasty. The enormity of this war makes it one of the deadliest in history, yet it rarely enters conversations in Western classrooms.

9. The Halifax Explosion (1917)

During World War I, two ships collided with each other in Halifax Harbor, Canada. One of the ships was carrying explosives, and following the collision the resulting destruction leveled much of the city killing almost 2,000 people outright and injuring thousands more.

For many years it was the largest non-nuclear explosion in history until nuclear weapons were invented. This little known disaster reminds us that a single accident can change a backdrop.

10. The Lost Colony of Roanoke (1587)

One of the great historical mysteries is the fate of the Roanoke Colony in North America. When the supply ships arrived again in 1590, the colony had disappeared without a trace. All that remained was the word "CROATOAN" carved into a tree.

What happened is still unclear - were they absorbed into local tribes, killed, or taken away? This mystery has intrigued historians and storytellers for centuries.

Why Forgotten History?

To be sure, not every history text details an event like Roanoke, but they likely entered into the historical record in some manner; perhaps they are part of local lore. These examples, and events like them, tell us something - history is more than kings and queens and wars; it is the tapestry of human existence - sometimes obviously tragic, other times absurd, but never uninteresting.

By exposing ourselves to these stories, we better see how tenuous societies can be, how powerful nature can change the course of history, and how even the most unusual stories can stay in our memory.

Conclusion

History is not just about remembering, it is about learning. Forgotten histories such as the Dancing Plague, the Tunguska Event, or the Halifax Disaster illustrate the strength, power, and fragility of humanity.

Next time you think history is boring or predictable, think of some of these events. They show that there are always histories that have surprises in them, and often it is the surprise of the past that interconnected individuals.