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If you grew up in a generation where you learned history through textbooks in school, you likely didn’t enjoy every single class, and that’s fine. Some days will be more of a drag than others. 

That’s not the case with memes. They will usually involve humor, making learning much more enjoyable. It’s likely why subreddits like History Memes have 1.2 million followers, all keeping the page alive with relatable content that also involves absorbing the same information you will find in school books. 

Here are some of the best ones from the page. As always, don’t forget to upvote your favorites!

#1

Swedish People Are Smart

Meme about historical classification of homosexuality in Sweden with a man in a suit discussing homophobic problems and gay solutions.

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    #2

    Violence Is Not The Answer

    Viking helmet below text about violence not being the answer with humor related to history class and historic events.

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    Verena
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It was always the wrong answer. Most of those who tried it, lost on the long run.

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    #3

    Evolution Of The Alphabet

    A humorous history class meme showing evolution of alphabet scripts from Egyptian to Latin to learn valuable history concepts.

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    Outside of memes, there are other ways to make learning history more interesting and enjoyable. Oakwood High School social science teacher Alex Brouhard suggests allowing students to be “investigators.” As he noted in an article for EdSurge, it’s a way to sustain interest. 

    An example he gave was having students investigate what happened in the two years between 1915 and 1917, including the sinking of the Lusitania during World War I.

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    #4

    Imagine Growing Up And Wanting This For A Job

    Historical meme about armies using drummers in battle, combining humor with valuable history class insights.

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    #5

    Specialization

    Muscular Doge representing medieval scholars versus sad Doge as modern experts in history class meme.

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    Gul Dukat
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    in fact, Prussian labor laws were mostly put in place mid-19th century (like Child Labor Law in 1839), so there's not so much to talk about anyway

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    #6

    Good Old Days

    Emoji in modern camo versus knight in 1225 armor, humorous history class meme about military uniforms and learning.

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    “My students not only learned the content but also developed critical thinking skills as they analyzed evidence, put together persuasive arguments, and respectfully debated their peers,” Brouhard wrote. 

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    Brouhard further explained his process, stating that once the students discovered the information he tasked them to find, he assigned points of view between the Allies and Germany, sparking an insightful debate. 

    #7

    A Curious Detail

    Adam and Eve depicted in a historical meme combining religious history and educational humor for history class learning.

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    Kkg
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think it would be much better if they had also daughters....

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    #8

    Artist In Picture

    Historical memes showing royal family dynamics from 1400 CE to 1600 CE with humorous dialogue and period costumes

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    Alexandra
    Community Member
    18 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, there was an influx of non-even-remotely-related royal marriages, so things should be ok for the next few generations.

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    #9

    Different Motives, Same Ending

    Memes comparing English, French, American, Russian, and Polish literature showcasing humor during history class learning.

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    AndyR
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pretty sure Shakespeare was all about dying for love...

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    Renowned historical figures are human beings, too. They have personal lives outside their accomplishments and the causes they fought for, something worth exploring as well. 

    One notable piece of information is President Abraham Lincoln’s battles with depression, and there are lengthy articles written about it.

    #10

    Best Prisons In The World

    Comparison meme showing American, French, Swiss, and British prisons, illustrating cultural differences in history class memes.

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    Kristy Marion
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Steal a loaf of bread and get sent on a 3 month voyage to a strange but beautiful paradise. I think the newly fledged Aussies got the better deal! (And thank you to my ancestors for being petty thieves lol)

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    #11

    How Much History Can We Cram Into Half A Century?

    Meme about living in historically interesting times with a tired man, related to history class memes.

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    #12

    Ancient Egyptian Bros Might Be On To Something

    Funny history meme showing Egyptians in 3000 BCE with cat and humorous captions about ancient beliefs.

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    Focusing on individual stories is another strategy that Brouhard applies with his students. As he noted, crime shows, for example, appeal to people not just because of the suspense but also for the emotional connection. 

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    “These elements resonate with my sense of empathy, compelling me to form an emotional connection with the show,” he wrote.

    #13

    Age Is Just A Number!

    Boy dressed as WW1 recruiter saluting humorously, illustrating history memes that teach valuable lessons during class.

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    #14

    Interpretatio Graeca

    Meme illustrating monotheist and polytheist interactions, useful for learning valuable history class content through humor.

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    Awenpotato
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think it's hilarious that monotheists especially Jews/Muslims/Christians see polytheism as a lot of made up gods, yet somehow theirs just happens to be the only one that isn't made up. Dudes, they're all made up!

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    #15

    Bodybuilders Back In The Day

    Ancient Greek rock carved with inscription, featured in history class memes for learning valuable lessons humorously.

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    Now, let’s flip the conversation. To all of you history buffs out there, which of these memes connected with you the most? Which were your least favorite? Share your insights in the comments section below!

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    #16

    It’s That Time Of The Year

    Two men shaking hands with text about Guy Fawkes, history memes illustrating historical facts in a humorous way.

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    Spidercat
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Every year I wonder if we celebrate the fact he was caught, or the fact that he tried in the first place...

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    #17

    What Is Japan On About

    Meme about Jesus traveling to Japan and historical facts seen during history class for educational value.

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    Gul Dukat
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    that's actually more believable...

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    #18

    Nothing?

    Scene from Kung Fu Panda meme highlighting countries with no war crimes, connecting to history class memes for learning valuable facts.

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    Kristiina Männiste
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can add Estonia to the list. The only war crime we got was giving surnames to the russian peasants who lived in the territories that we won in our war of independence from the soviet union (1918-1920). My poor coworker is surnamed Pushkin because the Estonian officers who came to their village were russian literature buffs. Apparently the entire village got named after famous russian authors. Other than us, I think Latvians are pretty clean too?

    #19

    Ah, A Classic Never Gets Old

    Cartoon character explaining a trap with historical reference to horse archers retreating in a history class meme.

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    #20

    Disappointing

    Comparison of fictional and historical war hammers featuring medieval warriors in armor, related to history class memes.

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    #21

    Good Question

    SpongeBob meme showing Europeans confused about the significance of November 9th, a history class meme for learning.

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    Fat Harry (Oi / You)
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's world freedom day, the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and, sadly, the anniversary of Kristalnacht.

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    #22

    A Short History Of Rome

    Humorous history memes comparing toilets from Roman Republic to Holy Roman Empire showing evolution in empire bathrooms.

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    #23

    Most Sane Romanian Reaction:

    Anime child in pajamas and a hat watching TV, meme related to history class learning with valuable historical moments.

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    #24

    Europeans In The 1880’s And 1890’s

    Puzzle piece figure labeled European Empires holding missing piece labeled a port city in China in history meme.

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    #25

    This Actually Is Sad

    Sad white cat crying with text about the French Navy's last Morse code message in history class memes.

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    Ace
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The code in the image actually spells "Promise you won't cry." In English.

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    #26

    It’s Certainly Crafty

    Meme showing a historical event about the King of Belgium with a humorous take on Catholic Bishops questioning legality.

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    #27

    Right Triangle Theorem

    Pythagorean theorem history explained with a humorous meme about its independent discovery across cultures.

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    #28

    Asian Parents Don't Mess Around

    Historical meme featuring an emperor in traditional attire with speech bubbles about watching inside a rice box.

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    Agfox
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Asian version of Schrödinger's cat fail

    #29

    The Benefits Of The Industrialisation Took A Long Time To Reach Everyone

    Two kids labeled Kaiser Wilhelm I and Chancellor Otto von Bismark aiming a toy gun at a rabbit, history memes humor.

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    Zig Zag Wanderer
    Community Member
    3 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mate, it's still taking a long time to reach some people apparently ....

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    #30

    Their Practices Involved Creating An International Network, Fund Transfer Systems, Letters Of Credit, Among Others To Create Of The First International Banking Systems

    Meme showing a man smiling through blinds related to history class and valuable educational memes.

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    AndyR
    Community Member
    47 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Considering the order was violently suppressed and disbanded in the 14th century, I don't think this one works.

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    #31

    Perhaps His Quest Was Not In Vain At All

    Meme showing a man on the phone with text about Gilgamesh's story outliving others learning history class memes.

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    Awenpotato
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Until some unscrupulous so and so copied it and renamed him Noah

    #32

    What Pride Flag Is This

    Rejected 2002 EU flag meme with colorful vertical stripes, combining humor and history class learning through memes.

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    Tucker Cahooter
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Imagine all the squabbling that would have gone on about the order of the stripes

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    #33

    I've Never Realize How Young Some Us Founding Fathers Are

    Portraits of key historical figures aged 18-21 in 1776, highlighting youth in history class memes for learning value.

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    #34

    Golden Age Of India

    Comic meme showing a character correcting a math claim while angry and happy crowds labeled Indians react, history class meme.

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    Peeka_Mimi
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Mexica and Mayans invented the number '0' .

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    #35

    Historians Hate Him: See How One Director Reinvented Greece!

    Comparison of Christopher Nolan’s vision for The Odyssey versus historical accuracy in a history class meme.

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    #36

    Times Fly So Fast

    Ancient king with beard and headband in a historical meme referencing King Sargon of Akkad and history class memes.

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    #37

    And Everyone Lived Happily Ever After

    Black and white political meme from the 1960 campaign using humor to engage voters during history class lessons.

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    Zig Zag Wanderer
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Scott Adams omce analysed the US presidential winners. Apparently, most of the time, the tallest candidate won. In all other cases, the one with better hair won. And this is supposed to be better than a monarchy, where we don't actually let the monarch do anything.

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    #38

    We Don’t Even Have One Primary Source For Irish Myths

    Meme illustrating different mythologies with children in a pool and an underwater skeleton, humor in history class memes.

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    #39

    Guys Stop, You're Making It Worse

    Historical memes showing inventions that increased warfare casualties with images of cannons and bombs.

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    Khavrinen
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like Rocky says to Bullwinkle: That trick never works.

    #40

    Well That Backfired

    Meme illustrating Eli Whitney inventing the cotton gin with a graph showing the rise in slavery rate in the USA.

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    #41

    Prank Goes Wrong

    Scene from Friends meme about Soviets making missile decoys and Americans building giant weapons, history class meme concept.

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    Kristiina Männiste
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I happen to live near a decoy warhead base. The geniuses built it on a border of a medium sized (for Estonia) oil shale mining town. So that, if the evil capitalists b**b out the fake base, they would ALSO take out half of a strategic shale oil producing town and ignite the underground oilshale deposits for good measure.

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    #42

    Something Of A Trick Question

    Black and white meme comparing Royal Australian Navy Cruiser HMAS Sydney and a cargo ship with old guns, history memes.

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    Tucker Cahooter
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well it depends on whether the cargo ship was crewed by emus or not

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    #43

    It Was The Happiest Day Of His Life, Until It Wasn’t

    Historical meme depicting 1884 Albany assembly celebrating Teddy Roosevelt's daughter with humor, blending history and comedy.

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    #44

    Who Knew Raiding And Subjugating Your Neighbors For Decades Would Really Piss Them Off?

    Meme illustrating Hernan Cortez and Tlaxcalteca allies during Aztec conquest with historical humor in history class.

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    #45

    Keep It Simple

    Meme comparing samurai and medieval knights discussing the quality of their swords in a history class context.

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    #46

    I Always Wonder How Neanderthals Perceived Homo Sapiens

    Two characters representing Neanderthals struggling to survive and humans inventing basic mathematics, history class meme.

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    Stardust she/her
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It kind of makes me sad whenever I remember that homo sapiens sapiens are the only members of the genus homo as every single human species besides us is dead :(

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    #47

    No, I Think Not

    Funny history meme showing the United States ignoring Thailand's 1941 declaration of war in a classroom context.

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