Misconceptions
Anti-Semitism was something created by the Nazi Party.
Jews have been persecuted for a long period of time in many cultures. For example, they were expelled from England in 1290 by Edward I and were not allowed to return for over 350 years!
The Black Death was spread by rats.
In recent research, the rat has had its name all but cleared. The disease was likely spread through human parasites (lice or fleas) – passed from human to human.
Gutenberg’s printing press was the first of its kind in the 1450s.
Outside of Europe, the Chinese and Arab worlds were already using print. In fact, the oldest printed book is dated to 868!
Vikings had horned helmets.
A lie! Horned Viking helmets have never been found by archaeologists; this was simply a Victorian invention within theatre and opera.
Napoleon Bonaparte was short.
He was not. He was 5 foot 7 inches, which was slightly taller than the average Frenchman at that time.
Walter Raleigh introduced potatoes and tobacco to England.
Potatoes were brought to Europe by the Italians and Spanish and the French were responsible for introduction of tobacco – both prior to Raleigh’s expedition to North America. Raleigh merely popularised the use of both.
The Egyptian pyramids were built using slave labour.
The Great Pyramid of Giza was in fact built by many thousands of highly skilled craftsmen. The Pharaoh would have never trusted slaves to build a tomb in his honour.
World War One ended on 11th November 1918.
This was the day the armistice was signed but, officially, the war did not end until 3rd October 2010! This was when Germany paid the final reparations payment - owed under the Treaty of Versailles.