Unbelievable Moments in History You Never Learned About

Unbelievable Moments in History You Never Learned About

Learn about 10 unbelievable moments in history that you never learned in school. These hidden historical facts, untold stories and unbelievable events changed the shape of the world.

Introduction:

When we think of "history", what are the first things we think about? Battles? Revolutions? Kings and queens? Inventions? The reality is that history is much bigger, messier, and much more interesting than we learned in school. There are so many moments in history that never get told in classrooms - usually because they are too controversial, uncomfortable or simply forgotten.

As we read through these untold stories, remember that they are not just trivia. All of these moments give us new ways of understanding the world, where ordinary people, unlikely moments, and unseen choices make; and have made change across this world.

Let us jump into 10 unbelievable moments in history that you didn't learn in class. Stories that might surprise you, perceptions you might wish to confront, and curiosity informed by remembering that history is much messier and bigger than we ever imagined.

1. The Great Emu War in Australia (1932)

Yes, you read that correctly; Australia declared war on a bunch of birds! In 1932, Western Australia faced serious crop destruction caused by emus in large numbers. Farmers petitioned the government for military assistance, prompting the military to send machine-gun-toting soldiers to manage the situation.

Believe it or not, the emus were smarter than the soldiers. They travelled in groups that shifted and changed direction unexpectedly, ran away faster than anticipated, and most couldn't be killed by the bullets. After several weeks of combat, the "war" was a failure and the emus had "won."

It may seem ridiculous, but it shows how humans sometimes do not win against nature, and that sometimes the tiniest of events can sometimes present some huge lessons.

2. The Dancing Plague of 1518

In Strasburg (what is now modern-day France), people began dancing in the street uncontrollably. The strange event lasted several weeks, where some dancers danced until they collapsed from exhaustion, or died while dancing.

Historians are still not sure what happened, with some believing it was a case of mass hysteria, while others believe it was caused by bread that made people sick. A truly bizarre historical event!

3. The Neglected Black Pharaohs of Egypt

When you think of Egypt, you think of great pyramids, pharaohs, and Cleopatra. However, most people don’t know about the 25th Dynasty Nubian Kings of the Kingdom of Kush who ruled Egypt.

These African rulers restored temples, revived traditions and styles, and even defended Egypt against foreign powers. These kings’ story is hardly, if ever discussed in history books, demonstrating how aspects of history can be ignored over race or politics.

4. The Day It Rained Fish in Honduras

In a small town in Honduras, called Yoro, the locals say one day of the year, fish fall out of the sky. Called "Lluvia de Peces" (Rain of Fish) this has been reported for over a century.

It is hypothesized from the scientific community that waterspouts (which are tornadoes over water) may carry fish inland from rivers, but natural or miraculous, it is one of those historical anomalies that continues to leave people aghast to this day.

5. The Lost Colony of Roanoke

In 1587, a group of English settlers set up a colony in Roanoke, North America. But there was a lack of usable supplies and many years later when sailors were finally able to reach board the ship and help the settlers, they found that the colony had vanished.

The only clue was the word "CROATOAN" carved in a post. The fate of the settlers in Roanoke is among the greatest mysteries of all time - were they killed, absorbed into one of the local Native tribes, or lost at sea?

6. The Great Molasses Flood (1919)

In Boston, USA, there was a giant storage tank of molasses that burst wide open. The released wave of molasses syrup hasted through the street at close to 35 miles per hour.

Buildings were destroyed, horses were trapped, and 21 people died. It sounds bizarre and almost unbelievable, but this tragic yet comical disaster went to show us that things we take for granted can become dangerous without proper management.

7. The Mysterious Voynich Manuscript

In the early 20th century, a strange book was found, known as the Voynich Manuscript. Within it are an assortment of bizarre drawings, mysterious symbols, and a language that no one has even tried to decipher.

What is the Voynich manuscript? Some have posited that it's a medieval medical text, others that it's a grand hoax, and some have even theorized that it's related to outer-space or alien life. Even today the manuscript remains one of the historical greatest mysteries.

8. The Real Trojan Horse Wasn't Just a Legend?

Everyone has likely heard the story of the Trojan Horse from Greek mythology. But do you know many historians believe the story was based on real happenings?

Many believe that the "horse" was not a wooden statue at all, but rather a description of a siege weapon or trick utilized by Greeks to slip into Troy. Color me crazy, but, if this is true, it's rather fascinating to see history emerge out of the legends, even with the scintilla of truth buried amidst a mountain of imagination.

9. Operation Paul Bunyan (1976)

During the Cold War, there was a major escalation of tensions between North Korea and the United States over...a tree. Yes, a tree.

Following an attack from North Korean soldiers on American troops who had been trimming a poplar tree in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the United States launched "Operation Paul Bunyan." Rather than engaging in a firefight, the United States sent hundreds of soldiers, tanks, and helicopters to cut down the tree using chainsaws.

It was an overwhelming display of force that ended the intense situation, but is undoubtedly one of the strangest military operations recorded.

10. Cleopatra Wasn't Egyptian

Cleopatra, one of the more famous queens, was one of the last and largely the last "true" Egyptian pharaohs. The curveball here is that Cleopatra was actually of Greek ancestry as a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled Egypt after the reign of Alexander. the conquest of The Great.

She partook in Egyptian heritage and ways, nonetheless, genetically, she was Macedonian Greek. This is contrary to what a majority of people are taught in schools.

Why These Shocking Historical Events Are Important

You probably ask, so why do I (we) care about these facts from history? The answer is straightforward; history is not about years and kings. History is about stories (some shocking, some thankful, some mysteries), history helps to better our understanding of human behaviour and how communities change and evolve.

When we learn about these unknown events from history, we see that:

History is more complicated than textbooks portray.

Even small or weird events can have significant ramifications.

We cannot claim to know our past because it is subject to change through new discoveries.