Weird history facts all gathered right here under our history category. Once you have had your fill of history facts head over to our random fact generator to learn more random factoids!
Back during the Soviet Union, high school students learned how to assemble and take apart an AK-47 in class. In 2019, Russia’s Education Ministry published a set of methodological guidelines again calling for nationwide lessons on the AK-47 to foster patriotism. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Why Soviet children were prepared for war better than anybody else – Russia Beyond (rbth.com)
Russian students to be taught how to assemble AK-47s in themed lessons (businessinsider.com)
During the Siege of Weinsberg, a surrender was agreed that allowed the women to leave with whatever they could carry, so the women lifted their husbands onto their shoulders and walked out. – WTF Fun Facts
A trencher is a type of tableware commonly used in medieval cuisine. It was originally a flat round piece of (usually stale) bread used as a plate, upon which the food could be placed to eat. You could then eat it with sauce or give it to the poor. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Trencher (tableware) – Wikipedia
On November 6, 1869, what many consider to be the first collegiate football game was played between Rutgers College and College of New Jersey (now Princeton). Rutgers wore scarlet-colored turbans and handkerchiefs to distinguish themselves from the NJ players. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1869_New_Jersey_vs._Rutgers_football_game
Paris’s Musée du Louvre was originally a fortress, built in 1190, to protect Parisians against Viking attacks. It had a moat protecting it from attacks as well as defense towers in all corners. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The Louvre: Five Facts You Probably Didn’t Know (amarantechampselysees.com)
The Sacred Band of Thebes was an elite troop of select Theban soldiers, consisting of 150 pairs of male lovers, in the 4th century BC. They were often used as shock troops, crippling the enemy by engaging and killing their best men and leaders in battle. – WTF Fun Facts
The microwave was invented after Dr. Percy Spencer realized a chocolate bar melted in his pocket while working with microwave energy for a radar system during WWII. –WTF Fun Facts
During the early 1800’s, ketchup was made of fish or mushrooms in the US. Then in 1834, Dr. John Cooke Bennett added tomatoes to ketchup and claimed it cured diarrhea, indigestion, rheumatism and jaundice. Dr. Bennett went on to work with salesman Archibald Miles to sell it in pill form. – WTF Fun Facts
In the 1700’s, it was believed that the sound of a bell could disperse thunder. Many bell-ringers were electrocuted as a result. In France, between 1753 and 1786, 103 bell-ringers were killed during thunderstorms as a result of holding on to wet bell ropes. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Bell-ringer – Wikipedia
The highest paid athlete of all time was a Roman Charioteer named Gaius Appuleius Diocles. Over a 24 year career, he amassed a fortune worth 35,863,120 sesterces (an ancient Roman coin), or roughly $15 billion in today’s dollars. – WTF Fun Facts
Michelangelo was hired by Piero de’ Medici to make a snowman. It’s recorded by the art historian Giorgio Vasari that “one winter, when a great deal of snow fell in Florence, [Piero de’ Medici] had him make in his courtyard a statue of snow, which was very beautiful”. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Michelangelo’s snowman and other great lost works of art | Art | The Guardian
Jesus was often depicted performing his miracles with a magic wand in ancient Christian sarcophagi. – WTF Fun Facts
In the early 1900’s, marathon and other distance runners were given champagne, brandy, or strychnine (now known as rat poison) as a form of “energy drink” during long races. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Athletes Once Downed Champagne—and Strychnine—for Energy Boost – InsideHook
Pistol dueling was held at the 1908 Olympics. The competition involved two male competitors firing at each other with dueling pistols loaded with wax bullets and wearing protective equipment for the torso, face, and hands. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Olympic dueling – Wikipedia
In the 1600s, Paulaner monks created a special beer full of carbohydrates and nutrients called “Salvator,” which was the only thing they consumed during the 40 days of Lent. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: These 17th century monks did a beer fast for Lent (catholicnewsagency.com)
In 1900, Margaret Abbott was the first American woman to win an Olympic “gold medal” (golf) but was given a porcelain bowl instead as prizes were customary at that time. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Olympics 2016: Celebrating Margaret Abbott, the First American Woman to Win a Gold Medal | Vogue
In the 1700’s, “bitch the pot” or “stand bitch” was English slang for hosting a tea party. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Gossip Girls: Tea Parties And The Sexist Slang They Inspired : The Salt : NPR
Between 1887 and 1950, American weather forecasters were forbidden by the Weather Bureau from using the word “tornado” and instead had to use euphemisms like “severe local storm.” – WTF Fun Facts