13 Historical Myths We All Believed in School
These widely taught historical "facts" turned out to be nothing more than persistent myths.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
School lessons often simplify history, but sometimes, they get it flat-out wrong. Over the years, a mix of nationalism, outdated textbooks, and pop culture has embedded myths into our collective memory. Here are 13 historical misconceptions most of us accepted as truth — until we looked a little closer.
1. Columbus Discovered America
Wikimedia Commons
Christopher Columbus never set foot on what is now the United States. Indigenous peoples had lived across the continent for thousands of years before his arrival in the Caribbean. Even Viking explorer Leif Erikson beat him to North America by centuries.
2. Vikings Wore Horned Helmets
Fernando Cortés on Pexels
Contrary to the classic image, there’s no solid evidence that Vikings wore horned helmets in battle. That image came from 19th-century opera costumes, not archaeological findings. Real Viking gear was more practical and intimidating without the horns.
3. Napoleon Was Short
Andrea Appiani on Wikimedia Commons
Napoleon Bonaparte was actually average height for his time — about 5'7". The myth that he was unusually short likely came from British propaganda and confusion over French vs. British measurement units. The “short man” insult stuck and became symbolic.
4. Einstein Failed Math as a Kid
Orren Jack Turner on Wikimedia Commons
Albert Einstein did not struggle with math — in fact, he excelled at it from an early age. This myth likely originated from a misunderstanding of grading systems or people confusing brilliance with unconventional learning methods.
5. The Great Wall of China Is Visible from Space
William Olivieri on Unsplash
Despite the popular claim, the Great Wall can’t be seen from the Moon with the naked eye. Astronauts have confirmed it’s nearly impossible to distinguish without aid. It blends in too well with the landscape.
6. Salem Witches Were Burned at the Stake
Thomas Satterwhite Noble on Wikimedia Commons
No one in Salem was burned; all convicted “witches” were either hanged or died in prison. Burning witches was more common in Europe, not colonial America.
7. The Emancipation Proclamation Freed All Slaves
Penn State Special Collections on Flickr
Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 order didn’t immediately free a single enslaved person. It only applied to Confederate states in rebellion, not Union-held territories.
8. George Washington Had Wooden Teeth
Pharos on Wikimedia Commons
Washington had dental issues, but his false teeth were made from a mix of ivory, gold, and even human teeth, not wood. The wooden myth likely came from discoloration over time.
9. Medieval People Believed the Earth Was Flat
One lucky guy on Flickr
By the Middle Ages, most educated Europeans were aware that the Earth was round. Ancient Greek scholars had already figured this out centuries before. The flat Earth myth was invented much later to make past generations seem ignorant.
10. Marie Antoinette Said “Let Them Eat Cake”
Yann Caradec on Wikimedia Commons
There’s no proof Marie Antoinette ever uttered those infamous words. The phrase existed in political literature decades earlier and was likely used to mock aristocrats in general.
11. Thomas Edison Invented the Light Bulb
Bachrach Studios on Wikimedia Commons
Edison improved the light bulb’s design and made it commercially viable, but he didn’t invent it. Several inventors, including Humphry Davy and Joseph Swan, laid the groundwork.
12. Lincoln Freed the Slaves Because He Was an Abolitionist
Alexander Gardner on Wikimedia Commons
While Lincoln opposed the spread of slavery, he didn’t start as a radical abolitionist. His primary goal was to preserve the Union. Ending slavery became part of that strategy as the war progressed.
13. Paul Revere Rode Alone
Kenneth C. Zirkel on Wikimedia Commons
Revere wasn’t the only one warning about the British. William Dawes and Samuel Prescott also rode that night, with others helping to spread the word.