ADVERTISEMENT

It's a universal truth that a school subject is as interesting as its teacher or the materials they provide. Take history, for example. Memorizing dead people's names, distant places, and so many dates; at the wrong hands, it can become quite boring.

But at the right ones, it becomes a valuable tool, showing how past societies, systems, ideologies, governments, cultures, and technologies were built, how they operated, and how they have changed. Not only does this knowledge make people more rounded, but it also inspires and accelerates one's critical thinking, a skill that transfers to every intellectual pursuit.

Plus, it can also be fun! We at Bored Panda expanded on our earlier list and put together a new collection of the best history memes on the internet.

#1

Imagine

Imagine

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
brendanroberts avatar
Brendan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's ridiculous! We don't steal, we just borrow (and never return).

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

Nestlé Biting Their Tongue

Nestlé Biting Their Tongue

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
ggiscarnival avatar
beastmachine.
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hard to believe it's the same company that thinks water isn't a human right

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Howard Zinn, an American historian, playwright, philosopher, and socialist thinker, said he started studying the subject with one view in mind: to look for answers to the issues and problems he saw in the world about him. "By the time I went to college I had worked in a shipyard, had been in the Air Force, had been in a war. I came to history asking questions about war and peace, about wealth and poverty, about racial division," he explained.

Zinn saw the thrilling, entertaining side of history even without the memes. "There's a certain interest in inspecting the past and it can be fun, sort of like a detective story," he said. "I can make an argument for knowledge for its own sake as something that can add to your life. But while that's good, it is small in relation to the very large objective of trying to understand and do something about the issues that face us in the world today."

"Students should be encouraged to go into history in order to come out of it, and should be discouraged from going into history and getting lost in it, as some historians do."

#3

Anyone Know Her Of?

Anyone Know Her Of?

Alice Roosevelt with her dog Leo. She smoked cigarettes in public, chewed gum, placed bets with bookies, rode in cars with men, stayed out late partying, and kept a pet snake named Emily Spinach, which she often wore wrapped around one arm and took to parties. Her father President Theodore Roosevelt once said of her “I can either run the country or I can attend to Alice, but I cannot possibly do both.” 1902.

historyinmemes Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

Simps

Simps

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well focusing on a woman's sexuality as a way to undermine her legitimacy or achievements is common. Catherine the Great gets the same treatment. Elizabeth I has a whole chunk of the New World named after her not getting laid. And this is only the women who can't be effectively erased from the "Great Man" version of history. Thank god for gender, Queer, disability and minority studies for pushing to include historical actors who aren't white men in history and for revealing some of the most fascinating narratives out there.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

To learn more about history meme culture, we contacted people behind one of its biggest communities, the appropriately-titled subreddit r/HistoryMemes. Its owner and head moderator, u/TheDelta was kind enough to respond.

"[Some of the most popular topics are] the World Wars (mainly 2) and the late interwar period (rise of the Nazis in Germany and the Sino-Japanese war)," they told Bored Panda. "Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, the assassination of Julius Caesar, and Vlad the Impaler [are also pretty big.]"

#5

It Really Do Be Like That

It Really Do Be Like That

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
juhel avatar
Pixie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ein hausgemachter Kartoffelsalat mit vegetarischer Thüringer Rostbratwurst bitte.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Dog History Memes Are Undefeated

Dog History Memes Are Undefeated

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Meanwhile, cats: "These humans still think they own us. How cute." :P

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

r/HistoryMemes has a whopping 2.8 million members with thousands browsing it at any given moment. If you like this sort of content, we can't recommend joining the subreddit enough. The moderator of this online community likes to think of it as a high school club — there's a general interest in the subject, but everyone has their own specific thing they like to study/know the most about.

u/TheDelta thinks history works great in memes because "everyone has to learn history in school and history itself is often taught/studied as a narrative and that is something we humans are drawn towards."

ADVERTISEMENT

"Combining that with something we all have been exposed to and have (mostly limited) knowledge of, you have people who want to make memes and jokes to tell those events and stories," they explained.

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

Humans Rock

Humans Rock

historyinmemes Report

However, as the moderator pointed out, one has to remain careful when "consuming" history. "The sheer amount of stuff we hear about from media (movies, books, video games, etc.) is just wrong or very much misinterpreted," u/TheDelta added.

"Things like German tanks being the best of WW2 and how they had such a mechanized army, how the 'vomitorium' used by the Romans was a place for them to vomit so they can eat more peacock brain and hummingbird wing, etc. I guess I'd say we really want to encourage fact-checking and people looking critically at this history you're told by people with little to no actual credentials."

George Santayana once said: "History is always written wrong, and so always needs to be rewritten." Something tells me he'd appreciate these memes!

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Shoutout Yuri

Shoutout Yuri

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
saragregory0508 avatar
NsG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"If you can name five Kardashians [...] you should probably re-evaluate your internet and reading habits" really explains a lot about the state of the education system.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Innovation Is Scary

Innovation Is Scary

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's an old cartoon where a woman asks a conductor from an electrical tram if it's safe. His reply: As long as your one foot isn't on the ground while your other foot is touching the wires, you're safe.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

Gotta Love Geography

Gotta Love Geography

historyinmemes Report

#17

Canadians Are So Nice

Canadians Are So Nice

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think since Canada is literally digging up mass graves of Native school children we can agree that this tweet is far from their most aggressive act.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#23

Read The Primary Sources, People!

Read The Primary Sources, People!

EliotHudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
s_p_barnett avatar
Steve Barnett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. The Angels in the bible were described as being, well, all over the shop. A mish-mash of animals here, some gold wheels there (Yes, interlocking gold wheels, plus eyes?).

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité!

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité!

Glenny08 Report

Add photo comments
POST
fracarr avatar
François Carré
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if they lived to the age of 92 they could still see a quick and awful defeat of the French against the Prussians, the fall of the Second Empire, the rise of the Third Republic, and a ephemeral attempt at forming an utopian socialist government in Paris, which would result in a bloody civil war... all of this in less than one year.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

It Do Be Like That

It Do Be Like That

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
ryandeschanel avatar
Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my country, you are not allowed to sell or buy your blood nor your plasma... It can only be donated for free. I still do it anyway, but I am upset.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Home Of KFC’s Secret Recipe

Home Of KFC’s Secret Recipe

historyinmemes Report

#28

Fashion Is A Matter Of Historical Perspective

Fashion Is A Matter Of Historical Perspective

EasieEEE Report

Add photo comments
POST
donotreplytokjk avatar
Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Raise your hand if you think Cary Grant could carry off frou-frou men's clothing from the 17th and 18th centuries!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Keep Your Voices Down; The English Could Walk In At Any Minute

Keep Your Voices Down; The English Could Walk In At Any Minute

johnlen1n Report

#30

"Will You Update Your Portrait, Caesar?" "No, I Don't Think I Will"

"Will You Update Your Portrait, Caesar?" "No, I Don't Think I Will"

Evening-Raccoon7088 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#31

The Strike Was Truly An Up And Down Kind Of Affair

The Strike Was Truly An Up And Down Kind Of Affair

johnlen1n Report

#32

Sick Balcony

Sick Balcony

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
jakeleehutch avatar
King Joffrey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure but show us how the common man lived in ancient Rome and then we'll compare...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

Don't Be Tricked By The Puppets, Morty...

Don't Be Tricked By The Puppets, Morty...

johnlen1n Report

#34

'look Who's Laughing Now, Pierre!'

'look Who's Laughing Now, Pierre!'

johnlen1n Report

#35

My Stomach Hurts

My Stomach Hurts

historyinmemes Report

#36

Weird How Many People Found Their True Calling During The Prohibition

Weird How Many People Found Their True Calling During The Prohibition

SnooCapers2719 Report

#37

'are You Sure You Don't Want To Come In And Browse My Bedding Wares, Hans? You Look Tired From All That Intimidation You're Trying To Do'

'are You Sure You Don't Want To Come In And Browse My Bedding Wares, Hans? You Look Tired From All That Intimidation You're Trying To Do'

johnlen1n Report

Add photo comments
POST
yudiholtsberg avatar
Yudi Holtsberg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The man wearing a iron cross is a ww1 Jewish German veteran named is Richard stern. As an act of defiance is standing in front of his store.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

Like Father Like Son

Like Father Like Son

MadRonnie97 Report

#39

Me Who Knows That They Were Built By Aliens:*signature Look Of Superiority*

Me Who Knows That They Were Built By Aliens:*signature Look Of Superiority*

Other-Apricot-5677 Report

#40

Funny How Pop Culture Can Change How We Remember History

Funny How Pop Culture Can Change How We Remember History

kingcaspr Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#41

We Are Perfect

We Are Perfect

historyinmemes Report

Add photo comments
POST
ryandeschanel avatar
Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Killed the natives, stole their lands, owned slaves, had racist laws, stole tea, betrayed Britain...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

I Wish Jesus Gave Me A Cool Nickname

I Wish Jesus Gave Me A Cool Nickname

DariusStrada Report

#43

The War Never Really Left Him

The War Never Really Left Him

MadRonnie97 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jakeleehutch avatar
King Joffrey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, this is me as a kid. Also had a grandpa who fought in the war and heard all the stories way before I was ready to really comprehend them.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

Domestication Always Comes With A Heavy Price

Domestication Always Comes With A Heavy Price

johnlen1n Report

Add photo comments
POST
lifeis avatar
Life is ?
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some dogs cannot take sounds of carhorns but bark like a fire alarm.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#45

Rip Captain Cook

Rip Captain Cook

EliotHudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure if the indigenous people of America knew what would happen, they would have killed every stranger who set foot on their soil.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#46

You Know, I'm Something Of A Philosopher Myself

You Know, I'm Something Of A Philosopher Myself

worldclassmemes Report

#48

"Lenin, Stop Taking Selfies! We Have A Civil War To Win!"

"Lenin, Stop Taking Selfies! We Have A Civil War To Win!"

johnlen1n Report

#49

'mamma Mia, Have You Never Heard Of The Frogmen At Alexandria?!'

'mamma Mia, Have You Never Heard Of The Frogmen At Alexandria?!'

johnlen1n Report

Add photo comments
POST
j_f_ avatar
J. F.
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, they helped the USSR by invading Greece and delaying operation Barbarossa by 5 weeks into the winter months when they called the Wehrmacht for support - that was indeed quite effective

View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

"What About Engineering, Anakin? That Could Be Fun, Right?"

"What About Engineering, Anakin? That Could Be Fun, Right?"

johnlen1n Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get very tired of the idea that degrees in humanities are not "useful". They are useful. Universities are about learning and growing as a person and citizen and are not meant to be on the job training. Cutting humanities funding screws over society as a whole.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 90 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

See Also on Bored Panda