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To some people, memes are associated with jokes about cats, coffee, and the latest TikTok trends. And it's fine. But online humor can also be sharp, insightful, and educational when it's done right.

That’s exactly what the Instagram account 'HistorylandHQ' offers. From everyday life in ancient civilizations to modern politics, it uses clever cultural references instead of dry textbook explanations to talk about the events that shape our present.

However, having sat through a class or two makes the punchline land even harder!

More info: Instagram

#1

Vintage 1938 newspaper clipping with a funny headline about a man denying a body is his, challenging history knowledge.

That ain’t me

historylandhq Report

Michael Largey
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." - Mark Twain

LizzieBoredom
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If he says the dead body is him, can he collect his own life insurance?

Rick Murray
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That he had to go to a morgue and identify a body to say it wasn't *HIM*. So many degrees of fail here it's actually mind boggling.

Roxy222uk
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When a DJ from the US called Bill Bailey died the BBC announced that the British comedian Bill Bailey had died on its Twitter account. The first Bill knew of his untimely death was when he suddenly started getting phone calls from concerned friends and family. Apparently that was greatly exaggerated too.

Kris
Community Member
2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And everyone was screaming in shock of the corpse walking around

RELATED:
    #2

    Black and white mugshot of Joan Trumpauer Mulholland from 1961, related to funny memes challenging history knowledge.

    historylandhq Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No change since then. Today if you stand up against racism, you're accused of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

    Agfox
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How soon most Republicans forgot or "forgot" their collective reaction to the Obama Presidencies

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    PenguinEmp
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unfortunately the USA government still has issues wondering why we would want to protect civil rights

    DB
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe because authorities back then realized it was really the loss of her own civil rights she was fighting for.

    Sue
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's how men used to get rid of inconvenient wives too.

    Gretchen Esquilin
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I follow her son on TikTok & he interviews her all the time about her civil rights activism. She's a fascinating lady!!!

    Dan St John
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Under the MAGA, only white haters have rights.

    Nathan Melancon
    Community Member
    2 months ago

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    Julia Göke, who is the doctoral researcher at the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History, argues that memes are integral to the creation of contemporary historical consciousness.

    By juxtaposing historical imagery with modern contexts, memes, she says, allow for a democratization of history, enabling people to engage with and contribute to historical discourse outside traditional academic frameworks.

    #3

    19th century union cartoon showing low wages and high rent impacting workers in a funny history knowledge meme.

    Does the union make us strong?

    historylandhq Report

    Nils Skirnir
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Boycott USA. Don’t buy any US products or travel here

    Kim Kermes
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm a USian and approve this message. The civilized world needs to put our government in a corner until it learns to behave.

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    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, the union makes you strong, because your pay and conditions are negotiated on behalf of ALL workers, not individually. While that means a few people (the suck-ups) might get a little less, everybody else gets a little more, and more than that it encourages a standardised pay scale so people are (usually) being paid the same to do the same job. It's not a perfect system (cough, Britain in the '70s, cough) but it's stronger together as opposed to being screwed individually.

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had to explain this to a young coworker, who I think hangs around more rightwing sources of ‘information’, recently. On the whole employers would **far** rather negotiate with one representative in order, for example, to enact necessary changes in a way that suits everyone (e.g. legislative change) rather than have to negotiate one by one with each individual employee. I then pointed out that we never see in the news (or on Tik Tok, or whatever) “Union and Employer come to an agreement that suits everyone, quickly and without fuss” because it’s not a story, it’s normal. He looked surprised that there was another side to the story, to say the very least.

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    Natalia Viana
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes. Union, collective, politics

    L Norton
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unions are the only voice that a working individual has when demanding fair wages and benefits. Why else do businesses lobby politicians to make unionization so difficult.

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

    I'm sure most of the world knows that not all of us in the US are bullies and wankers. But it does make sense to hit our pocketbooks to teach the slightly over 50% of us the error of our ways.

    dollh h
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not a thing that's funny about this.

    Nicole Weymann
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not unless you have them. Seriously: for some reason countries with strong unions and other strong social security measures in place seem to have way less poverty and more happy people. They also have fewer billionaires, but (outside of mega yacht manufacturers) who needs them? Individualism is a nice thing when "nobody gives a fúck" means that minorities are not discriminated against - it sounds a lot less benign when the topic is a single mother of five who is about to get fired because of too many "kiddo is sick" days. Unions help people fight for their rights (one on one against the employer, and on a grand scale by initialising changes in law) and against exploitation.

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    #4

    Funny history meme featuring a quote by Diogenes of Sinope about philosophy and rich men’s houses.

    He was in to something!

    historylandhq Report

    Socrates
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love Diogenes. He had no care in the world for what anyone thought. He would walk around barking like a dog, and shining a lantern into people’s eyes saying, “I’m looking for an honest man!”

    childish gambling addiction
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Diogenes is my absolute favorite. Plato called man a featherless biped, Diogenes just ran up and showed him a chicken (I think) with all its feathers plucked out

    Harlsen Chesterton
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Diogenes would openly masturbate in the marketplace. He was a renowned s*x pest.

    #5

    Close-up of an ancient Egyptian bust with a skeptical expression, paired with a humorous history meme about pharaohs.

    historylandhq Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Tut, tut, my dear, I'm trying to help your family. Your mummy got caught up in some pyramid scheme, and something sphinx about it. She just won't listen - she's totally in denial."

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    (upvoted, despite the urge to take revenge for such terrible punning... 😉 [yeah I'm jealous because I can't do things like that})

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    In other words, Göke believes memes aren't just jokes or distractions; in her eyes, they act as cultural touchpoints that reflect and shape public memory, revealing how we as a society interpret and reinterpret the past.

    Göke sees memes as both mirrors and constructors of historical meaning, giving everyday internet users the tools to interact and discuss the subject in ways that were once the domain of academics.

    #6

    Anglo-Saxon metal face mask above a humorous tweet challenging history knowledge with a flipping through history book joke.

    historylandhq Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As the great sage once said "Violence is not the answer. Violence is the question. The answer is 'yes'. " 😬 (anyway, that helmet belonged to a immigrant culture. Bl**dy Angles and Saxons, coming over here with their fancy continental ways, mangling their language until it turned into English, etc., etc.😉 )

    Grumpy old man
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Finally someone who understands. No one is superior. I knew English-English people as proud of their Saxon blood as WASPs in America proud of decending from Mayflower rejects

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    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Of course most Christians are all about banning books. But..have you READ the bible lately? Pretty vulgar stuff in there.

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Geoffrey Scott: Jesus didn't tell anyone to ban books. Self-identified "Christians" banning books are just a bunch of ignorant authoritarian bigots with whom Jesus would be very cross. (😉)

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    Agent Smith
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Violence poses the question that only contraception can answer.

    FranSinclair
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People greatly overestimate how different things were when we say "history repeats itself" for 10,000+ years and the same human dysfunction. The same greed, power and hate. Different people, places, things...but the same thing over and over. If only EVERYONE chose to be kind. 😔

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I honestly blame the neolithic age. We were doing great up until then. The mesolithic was a great time to be human.

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Roxy222uk : quite right. The rot set in with those devilish Neolithic innovations of agriculture and permanent settlements. We'd never have developed writing without that and look at all the trouble literacy has caused. Pfft. (I'm *probably* joking... 😉)

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    Niki
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    *Grumbles in historian* Just wait until you learn about the Sea People. No written records, Nothing. Just a Bronze Age collapse.

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Niki: all anyone "knows" about the 19th century hypothesis of these "Sea Peoples" is a few claims made in a few ancient Egyptian texts - you could argue that it's just French story-telling from the mid 19th century. Archaeology tells us there was a Bronze Age collapse; there's not a lot of history from the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Peoples#Primary_documentary_records

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    Nicole Weymann
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Historically violence pretty much IS the answer. We need to post better questions if we want different answers...and I'd very much love meself some different answers, if only for the sake of my non existant heirs.

    Gerry Higgins
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Violence isn't the answer? Violence settled Hitler's hash pretty good.

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And what was Hitler famous for? Come on, do keep up.

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    #7

    Portrait of Tsar Nicholas II with humorous text about banning vodka, related to funny memes challenging history knowledge.

    historylandhq Report

    Mreoww
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There’s another one that goes “remember that Caligula once declared war on Poseidon by stabbing the ocean”.

    Dave Van Beurden
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How is this more stupid than the US prohibition that lasted 13 years?

    PeepPeep the duck
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because when he was in power, there was no such thing as age restrictions with drinking and kids and adults alike drunk vodka for health and social purposes, entirely different drinking culture to America 😝

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    David Paterson
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Russia is number 2 in the world for alcohol-related deaths. Belarus is number 1. I can see why he tried.

    azubi
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Didn't Gorbachev also?

    Cuppa tea?
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Next who tried same thing was Michail Gorbačov.

    childish gambling addiction
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you ever feel stupid, don’t forget Tsar Nicholas ii existed

    Sarah
    Community Member
    2 months ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    Andrew Davis
    Community Member
    2 months ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Alcohol is poison, a heavily addictive d**g that all you morons romanticize

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    #8

    Funny history meme explaining why many UK rivers are named Avon, featuring cartoonish Viking characters by a river.

    Yes River River

    historylandhq Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's still the word for river if you're speaking Cymraeg - spelt "afon" but that Welsh letter "f'" is pronounced as an English "v". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_orthography/ Meanwhile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittonic_languages

    Nicole Weymann
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The alleged "Torpenhow Hill", too. Wiki has a whole list of these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tautological_place_names 😀

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    Kim Kermes
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    La Brea, The Tar. The Tar Tar Pits

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a lot of it about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tautological_place_names. There's a "River river river" here in England: "Ouseburn River in Newcastle upon Tyne, England (River River River – from Brythonic usa meaning water, river or stream and bourne also meaning stream in Anglo-Saxon)."

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    Chewie Baron
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Manhattan, from Manna Hatta, the island. So The Island Island!

    highwaycrossingfrog
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of Terry Pratchett's Discworld, which has geographical features called "I don't know, just a mountain", and "Your finger you fool".

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dylan Thomas wrote Under Milk Wood - set in the Welsh village of Llareggub. Llamedos is the name Terry Pratchett gave his Discworld version of "Not at all Wales, oh dearie me no" . In reverse, the two place names work out as "Bugger all" and Sod 'em all". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Milk_Wood. I've failed to find a link to the original BBC version of Under Milk Wood featuring Richard Burton as the narrator. If you can find a link to it - well, it's worth a listen. It was written to be heard, not read. Many Welsh place names begin with "Llan" - that "ll" is a sound peculiar to Welsh. https://welearnwelsh.com/blog/how-to-pronounce-ll-in-welsh/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llan_(placename)

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    Bob Brooce
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Dutch had a big impact in the Hudson Valley at one time and the Dutch word for stream or creek is "k**l". Besides being responsible for a small bunch of mountains being called The Catskills, a lot of stream names follow that, such as The Coxing K**l, Peters K**l and Stony K**l and Swarte K**l (meaning "Black Creek" and it's one drainage over from Black Creek). And then we've got Catskill Creek, Kaaterskill Creek, Plattekill Creek and a bunch of others with the same sort of redundancy.

    Aldhissla
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is that so? I'm a native dutch speaker and have never heard the word k**l being used in the way you say?

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    Serena Myers
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    TIL. I like learning new stuff!

    Tim Gearing
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the south west of Western Australia there are lots of town names with the suffix UP…Nannup,Quininup,Manjimup etc (you get the idea). Turns out it is from the Noongar, an Australian Aboriginal language meaning ‘place of’ . This wiki page goes into more detail. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/-up#:~:text=The%20suffix%20originated%20in%20a,a%20related%20dialect%20of%20Noongar

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Allegedly Torpenhow Hill in Cumbria (torr in Old English, penn in Celtic, hoh in Older English). So it's the highly tautological Hillhillhill Hill. I say allegedly as there's apparently no landform in the location with that name.

    Danielle
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We've also got a lot of.River Frome, which means something like 'fast flowing water'.

    Virgil Blue
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Wales there is a hill whose name translates to Hillhillhillhill if I recall correctly. And every word in the name is from an different ancient language/dialect.

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    #9

    Medieval shoe with elongated toe seen in a funny meme challenging history knowledge and Timothée Chalamet comparison.

    historylandhq Report

    Fairybaby
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    wait y is that true tho

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He's an unrealistic body standard all by himself

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    Spidercat
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because Chalamet sounds vaugly like Charlemagne...

    Sarah
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A normal shoe in Shoreditch London

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    Göke categorizes this process into four stages:

    Productional: Focusing on the creation of memes, this dimension considers the intent and context behind their production, highlighting the role of creators in shaping historical narratives.

    Communicative: This step describes accessibility and reach. Memes vary from circulating in small private groups to appearing on widely used platforms, and since they're also highly intertextual, their understanding depends on the audience’s familiarity with the references and codes they use.

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    Receptive: Here, the emphasis is on how audiences interpret and engage with memes. Likes, dislikes, comments, all of these things determine a particular meme's longevity and relevance.

    Historical: Finally, this dimension looks at the role of memes in shaping historical discourse, influencing collective memory and public perception of historical events.

    #10

    Screenshot of a humorous history meme showing a news headline about T. Rex intelligence from The Seattle Times.

    Been working on my Gruul Dino and Dragon deck lately

    historylandhq Report

    Mreoww
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Smart enough to be working modern jobs.

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

    Defending the family's honor is all too rare these days.

    chickpea me
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now let’s all clap our hands...yaaaay

    childish gambling addiction
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    https://preview.redd.it/obvqaa0lhn841.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=00e27fe47ee6ede53e5e0f0a8be0ce6322fe07d4

    #11

    Funny memes humorously highlighting historical life expectations from height to income, challenging your history knowledge with humor.

    I would’ve been such a stud in the 1700s!

    historylandhq Report

    Panda Kicki
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The are thing is a tiresome trope. If you survived childhood you could prob get to a pretty decent age. People 10-40 usually was thriving (well, better then the younger ones at least ).

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thank you! I was reading this and thinking how sad it was that people have no grasp of history outside what they learnt from memes. Also, I don’t believe consumption was a big concern in the 18th century?

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    Giles McArdell
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "When he offers you cheese" - Actually that one still works today.

    Renaissance man
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Past, not passed-consult a dictionary next time

    #12

    Comparison meme with a majestic unicorn representing the Eastern Bloc in propaganda and a worn horse showing reality, history memes.

    historylandhq Report

    Nosirrow
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was born less than a year before the fall of communism in Poland, but experienced the despair of it. Huge poverty, everything bleak, everything low quality, just the worst. And then I saw an English travel youtuber admire Soviet architecture and what not. Last year I went into bus station that didn't change at all, like a time capsule from the '80s. I whispered to myself, 'Where's Bald and Bankrupt?'

    Grumpy old man
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The truth is all the spies lied. They were bored and made up 💩 on both sides. Modern readers will remember the lie about WMDs in Iraq traced back to one guy with a grudge against Saddam

    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What I found most distressing, is the black man that SHOULD'VE been President, Colin Powell, was essentially destroyed for being a 'good soldier' (doing what his superior said). No shade on Obama, but CP was the right mix of conservative, with a good liberal heart thrown in. AKA common sense.

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    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now do America. Or Britain. Or.... We're all "the greatest country on earth" and we're all sliding right into the jaws of a capitalist hellscape.

    Natalia Viana
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Western’s block reality: coming NOW to a theatre near you ! (Txs Trump + Big Tech)

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    #13

    Funny meme comparing future military uniforms in 2025 as camo emoji and 1225 as colorful knight in armor on horse.

    historylandhq Report

    David
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One you wanted to strike fear in your enemy and show how powerful you are. Today, its let hide before unleashing the firestorms of hell upon them from all over

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As I heard at a re-enactment - they used to wave their flags at each other, essentially sending the message "come and have a go, if you think you're hard enough".

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    J J
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't forget volley style warfare. Stand there while the other side shoots and then take your turn.

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

    How did they convince guys to go into battle carrying only a flag, fife or drum? Only one of the Three Stooges could foil an enemy attacker with any of those items.

    Becky Samuel
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It was considered extremely bad form to attack the drummer boy or the piper. The flag bearer was protected extremely heavily because to lose the flag was a massive dishonour.

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    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That was a HUGE change in warfare. Right up to the Napoleonic Wars everyone knew why there were there. They were all going to go into a big field and fight until there was a winner. The idea was to attack the other side’s morale and build your own by looking wealthier, higher status, bigger, fiercer, whatever. Camouflage would have been utterly pointless.

    Kris
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The emoji really annoys me

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Me too, it completely disproves the words

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    "[Memes] wield significant discursive power, shaping contemporary discourse and providing a platform for diverse political opinions," Göke writes. "They have been shown to play a crucial role in community building, particularly for marginalized groups."

    However, at this point, bad actors have also realized their potential. The researcher adds that political memes aren't simply ways for people to share their opinions; they can also be leveraged to manipulate or influence audiences through strategies like inoculating, spreading, or countering ideas, often with the help of trolls. In this way, memes can serve as powerful tools for propaganda and disruption.

    #14

    Person wearing improvised protective gear while checking out at a store in a funny history meme.

    Is this historical yet?

    historylandhq Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Unknown Comic needed groceries too.

    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know of several folks who would strip at the door after going grocery shopping and shower...seemed a bit extreme.

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People were terrified. Didn't do that myself but know people who did.

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    chickpea me
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I honestly thought that was Sponge Bob imitator, first.

    Tim Gearing
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave”

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    #15

    African-Americans queue outside a flood relief agency in 1937, contrasting with a cheerful billboard on American standard of living meme.

    historylandhq Report

    BrunoVI
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm rather surprised at Roosevelt for such off-key propaganda. On a more curious note, if you've ever seen the movie Gandhi, you'll know who Margaret Bourke White is; she's the reported played by Candice "Murphy Brown" Bergen. This was one of the photos that got her famous.

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

    Perfect for depicting the Great American Dichotomy.

    Janissary35680
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    By Margaret Bourke-White. Complete title is "At the time of the Louisville Flood". It has its own Wikipedia page.

    joann fielding
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like the American Way is about to run them over, and even the dog is happy about it. So sad and dystopian.

    Sue
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like Desi Arnaz driving the car

    #16

    Humorous history meme comparing nations' use of spears and conquest of Afghanistan with a funny conclusion.

    Fair conclusion tbh

    historylandhq Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mmm. I had to check. This is mistaken. The British Army in the 19th century did use lances and lances are a type of spear... (scroll down to plate E for one example) https://ia801409.us.archive.org/13/items/british-cavalry-equipments-1800-1941/vdoc.pub_british-cavalry-equipments-1800-1941-revised-edition_text.pdf and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd bet Britney could conquer and then reconquer them later. ("Oops, I did it again.")

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So is Alexander still in charge there?

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes. He invented Frosties, hence his nickname of Alexander The GRRRRRRRRRREEEATT!!

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

    Methinks there be a fallacy somewhere underlying that conclusion.

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    #17

    Portrait of Isaac Newton with text about revolutionizing math and physics, a funny meme challenging history knowledge.

    historylandhq Report

    Dave Brown
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And apparently he did it all with very weird hands

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

    Well, nearly. He worked out the mass attracts, but more importantly, worked out the the moon's orbit could only be explained if the force decreased by the inverse square. That didn't take additional maths like calculus, although obviously it added to physics in a major way. Gravity was just a side quest for this guy.

    joann fielding
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Surprised he could hold the pencil with those weird hands.

    For example, during the Brexit referendum, Russian operatives shared memes promoting anti-European Union sentiments, framing the EU as an oppressive force infringing on British sovereignty. This tactic not only fuelled pro-Brexit sentiment but also exploited existing divisions within British society. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

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    #19

    Twitter post by Historyland about Public Universal Friend, an American preacher, featuring a historical portrait meme challenging history knowledge.

    Gotta be one of the coolest names out there

    historylandhq Report

    Yrral Spavit
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had a Premier named "Amor De Cosmos"

    Ghostchaplain16
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I kid you not: My wife has an ancestor named Hatevil Nutter (pronounced hate-evil-nutter. He was born in Dover, New Hampshire, Colonial America and lived from 1670-1745.

    joann fielding
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Related to Agnes Nutter. From Good Omens, perchance? 😏

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    childish gambling addiction
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They were a preacher and the first documented person in America to declare themselves non-binary, now they’re an Indianapolis-based queer goth art rock band!

    Nosirrow
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My favourite is Cotton Mather. Heard that in college and we all thought immediately that it was a woman. Cotton in Polish is female and Mather is almost like mother. His father and son were called Increase, if I remember correctly, so even more fun.

    Alex Ruddies
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This person has an interesting story.

    Mreoww
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have to say, The Friend is an awesome title. IMG_0257-6..._700-1.jpg IMG_0257-68bd244b185a1-jpeg__700-1.jpg

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’m never going to trust someone that calls themselves that

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    #20

    Animated meme contrasting German Empire helping Lenin and Red Army in Berlin, humorously challenging history knowledge with funny memes.

    Unexpected consequences

    historylandhq Report

    Agent Smith
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hitler should have read the room better.

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

    It's difficult when you're a batshit crazy megalomaniac

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    #21

    Man squatting and looking at a gorilla sitting with hands clasped, funny memes challenging history knowledge.

    HOW DEEP DOES IT GO?!?

    historylandhq Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Remember when we thought he was the worst president possible?

    The Majestic Opossum
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You know it's bad when you long for the days of GW again...

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    Dan St John
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The monkey was smarter than the last two MAGAs, hands down.

    nottheactualphoto
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mission accomplished. Bagadouche.

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

    Kayla's arguments to get Dubbya not to run were unsuccessful. She used too many big words for him to understand.

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    “Russia has weaponized memes as part of a broader strategy of offensive information warfare—using troll farms, state-controlled media, and AI-generated content to spread false and misleading information as part of their strategy to sow confusion,” explains Dr. Tine Munk, lead researcher and senior lecturer in criminology at Nottingham Trent University's School of Social Sciences.

    So we have to approach historical memes with a critical eye and remember that humor and simplification can sometimes mask bias or manipulation.

    #22

    Athlete wearing Ireland jersey with English label at starting line, humorous history meme challenging knowledge in a stadium.

    historylandhq Report

    Michelle C
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you’re of Irish origin, ancestry.com might just classify you as being mostly of British and Northwestern European origin, even though your family records clearly show otherwise. For some reason, almost 10% of my DNA that shows that I’m Irish has been reclassified as English and Northwestern . European. Considering that my entire direct maternal-line family is primarily of Jewish, Scotch -Irish, and German origin. They also haven’t updated some users’ DNA test results since July 2024. I fully acknowledge and embrace that I am basically a Jewish and European melting pot, so to speak. I am curious why ancestry.com reclassified my DNA results without a sufficient explanation for the the reclassification.

    Bailey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Testing like ancestry is based on clusters of DNA found in previous testing, rather than actual locations, so it can change the more testing is done. When you are tested, if their current data shows the majority of people who have a trait you have are from a certain location, then it will say the likelihood is at some point your ancestors came from that location. However, if after more testing they find there is a greater concentration of that trait in another location, they will update your results to reflect that. Especially with Ireland, Scotland and England, you have thousands of years of population movement back and forth across them, there is going to be a lot of movement in results as the data pool widens (or broader definitions introduced)

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    Miki
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is his name Johnny? ;)

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    #23

    Two contrasting black and white portraits illustrating a funny meme about history knowledge and the Vietnam War.

    historylandhq Report

    panther
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Travel the world, meet new people and then k i l l them. Brought to you by the new Department of War.

    Danny Sauer
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The new department of war doesn't even leave the country.

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    Dan St John
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Remember when America used to defend countries from dictators and now, we have one in our white house.

    DragonofMordor
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well...if you look at our history, it often depended on what was most beneficial for us. If we liked a dictator, we supported them (see eg: Rios Montt in Guatemala and the photos of Reagan with his arms around the man who was currently committing genocide).

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    Maggie Fulton
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you survive, we may give you money for community college!

    #24

    Funny memes comparing gorilla pop culture references across generations, challenging history knowledge with humorous images.

    historylandhq Report

    8Yorkies-and-33cats
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Harambe was a tragedy, not a "f****h".

    8Yorkies-and-33cats
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I did not censor the word, it was automatically censored, so I will write it in Greek: φετίχ

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    Janet Sparrow
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why are we blanking out “f****h?”

    Janissary35680
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's in BP's "Big List Of Words That Might Displease Our Advertisers".

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    DragonofMordor
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And I'm guessing there has been a change of wording, judging by the previous comments mentioning a censoring that isn't here now.

    Sue
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gen X Planet of the Apes? Pretty sure that was Boomers too, at least the first one.

    The Majestic Opossum
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And yet again, millennials come out the most traumatic...

    BK BigFish
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The anti-Gorilla sentiment comes from racism.

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    #25

    Tweet from Historyland humorously calling an Albania vs Serbia soccer match the start of World War III in funny history memes.

    Belgrade Brawl 2.0

    historylandhq Report

    MontanaMariner
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought this was one of those matches FIFA banned.

    #26

    Vintage black and white photo of Yugoslav officials, with humorous text challenging history knowledge through memes.

    historylandhq Report

    guenstig
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't get this...I'm whooshing over this one.

    Grumpy old man
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Trump went to Epstein Island, mlestss and raapz little girls. Said on air he would date his own daughter. His grandfather ran brothels

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    NEMESIS
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you actually have the list to make this statement, then release it a prove it.

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    #27

    Map showing fertile land in Mesopotamia humorously suggesting starting a civilization, a funny meme challenging history knowledge.

    Very fertile

    historylandhq Report

    Yrral Spavit
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and we will call it "this land"

    JB
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think we should call it "your grave!"

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    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Suddenly got an urge for a crescent roll. Be right back.

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And we'll spend the rest of civilisation arguing over who has what bit.

    Johnny O'Connell
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Excuse me, but I believe you are touching my bit....

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    BK BigFish
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't this a warning about climate change?

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    #28

    Humorous meme featuring a historic Prussian helmet with a pickle on top, challenging history knowledge humorously.

    historylandhq Report

    Michelle C
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am of German origin in part and admit I laughed!

    azubi
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please don't do naked gardening near these

    Grumpy old man
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Originaly they had feathers on the pike until snipers popped off officers

    Sofia
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am having naughty thoughts

    Nosirrow
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those helmets look really stupid. When I watch history documentaries, I'm almost glad the next guy had a different fashion sense.

    Nicole Weymann
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yupp, they do. We're not big on fashion in Germany, but rather more of a "function over form" crowd. The stupid things were way less conspicuous than a bunch of highly visible feathers, which used to identify the officer in charge to any happy sniper.

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    #29

    World map with humorous caption about Ottomans and cheaper pepper, a funny history meme challenging knowledge.

    historylandhq Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Greenland looks the same size as Africa here. Africa is actually 14 times larger.

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The usual excuse is "Mercator projection" - only that map's just wonky.

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    David
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People would have eventually traveled west, bc the experts (who said the world was much larger than Columbus who thought it was much shorter than it was, and convinced spain of this),who assumed a huge ocean that would take half a year to sail, more than the supply capability of ships at the time (they were correct about the actual size), so when Ships would have developed those capabilities, they would have traveled to see, as they had VIking legends of islands and lands off to the far west, and maybe it would have been 200 years later, but they would have gone there anyways.

    Sarah Belt
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There were people in the Americas before white people "discovered" it.

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dude, we still all going there to get cod. British fishermen (and surely other Europeans, and maybe Africans) knew that Newfoundland was so rich in fish you could more or less walk across their backs at certain times of the year. Certainly by Tudor times.

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If they knew about Greenland, it's only a shortish hop to Canada, and then realising there's a hell of a lot more below that. And, really, it's a good thing. Can you imagine a world without coffee or chocolate?

    BrunoVI
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Due to his diaries having been published, we now know that Columbus knew of a diocese of the Catholic Church in what we now know to be North America. He didn't seem in problematic to going to Asia.

    Grumpy old man
    Community Member
    2 months ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    This is TRUE. Columbus only sailed west bc of boycotts in Jerusalem. jerusalem isnt "Holy" its just where 3 continents meet and the Silk Road.

    David
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    um what are you talking about? It was Damascus and Aleppo that were the major trade cities on the Silk Road. At that time period, Jerusalem was a second tier town, didnt even have a wall (the wall we see was built by the Ottomans) for 150 years at that point. Jerusalem wasnt even on the Silk Road, it was on a very different trade route that connected Arabia to what is today Turkey, and connected Damascus to Eygpt, but at the time of Columbus traders bypassed the city bc it has fallen into disrepair. Jerusalem from the 800s until the 1700s was not a major trading post, its main value was it controlled the only valley one could move armies from Syria to Egypt along that wasnt costal. It was a military strategic point

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    #30

    Humorous history meme comparing France opposing increased taxes to opposing Germany in 1939 with funny images.

    darkhistorymemes Report

    David
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    france fought, they just had bad battle plans the germans outflanked, they had tanks way better armoured and powerful than German ones, but were 1/4th the speed so they Germans outsped them, etc. They fought, they just poorly planned it all. THough in 1939 they could have ended it and taken Berlin if their leaders followed through on their promise to poland and didnt just barely invade Germany but had gone in full force.

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, it’s just a stupid and insulting trope that the French just rolled over at the slightest provocation. They did the best that they could at the time.

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    TotallyNOTAFox
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be fair, nobody - not even german high command - expected that Guderian would cross the Ardennes with tanks and go around the french defenses

    Nosirrow
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Before the war, in French press there was an article asking why they should die for Danzing. Maybe that's why.

    dan gerene
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So the French don't danz? Do they just listen to la musique and tap their sabot toes woodenly?

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    Julie S
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Let's not be rude about the cheese eating surrender monkeys.

    BK BigFish
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As an American, I used to wonder how so many French (and before them, Germans) could so passively accept, or even welcome, fascism. I don't wonder anymore.

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    #31

    History-Memes-Ig-Historylandhq

    Map showing 19th century Spain with territories highlighted, illustrating a funny history meme challenging historical knowledge.

    historylandhq Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was a lot more red at the start of the 19th Century.

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

    19th century Britain was more sensible...

    Onleetoogenders
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Shouldn't there be some where the US is now?

    Bob Brooce
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, and there actually is. It's very hard to see, but there seems to be some red where the US Virgin Islands are (east of Cuba and Puerto Rico). It's not part of the US now, but the Philippines was acquired by the US (along with Puerto Rico and Guam) as a result of the Spanish-American war. About half of what's now the contiguous US used to be Spanish, too.

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    BrunoVI
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    21st century France is still as weird. It's on every continent, or at least islands associated with the continent. (Despite living on an island, I still consider myself North American.)

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I read ‘How the West Was Won’ back in the 80s, which apparently told the proud story of how the United States became united, I was astonished to learn that actually it was mostly either bargained for or stolen from the French and the Spanish :-D

    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Missing is most of Central America, who speak Portugese.

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    #32

    Medieval-style illustration of a woman with red hair and a braid, captioned with a humorous history meme about battle timing.

    Okay but I would go into battle for her

    historylandhq Report

    Grumpy old man
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Was it Byron who said, "Its easier to die for a woman than live with her?"

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Knowing what I know of Byron, I would earnestly encourage him to take the easy way out.

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    #33

    Meme showing reactions to WW1, WW2, and chaotic internet culture representing WW3 in funny history challenge memes.

    Mooooovd to Florida buy the car you want

    historylandhq Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "I don't know what weapons World War 3 will be fought with, but World War 4 will be fought with sticks and stones."

    Norm Gilmore
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't forget to give credit to the (attributed to) author Albert Einstein...

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    Agree to Disagree
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The concept that some people didn't discover WW2 until 2 years after Germany invaded Poland still boggles my mind at the insular ignorance of said people...

    Nosirrow
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The day the Russia attacked Ukraine, I wondered what to tell my first graders. They ran up to, exclaiming ecstatically, 'War!' Little monsters.

    NEMESIS
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Typical TDS liberal propaganda.

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    #34

    Satirical newspaper headline humorously reacting to the moon landing in a funny history meme format.

    Man walks on Moon

    historylandhq Report

    Stephanie Did It
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are we ignoring that 1969 was fifty-six years ago, not 66?

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah, man, that's top tier censorship. Well done. Bravo!

    Serena Myers
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, I'm not signing up for Insta whatever it is, but can anyone tell us if this censorship in which the "bad/naughty/rude" words are censored is Insta or a very poor effort on the part of BP, as the words are easily read. No, I'm not offended, by the way, BP.

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't need to sign up to anything. Right-click on the image, open it in a new tab. Click on the URL, the gibberish at the top of the page. Scroll right, a lot. Delete "__censored__700". Press Enter. Now you can appreciate it in its true form, including the *many* times "f*****g" appears in the article, quite a number of which slipped past the bot. ;)

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    Laserleader
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Onion being the Onion. So many people never believe.

    Miracle Max
    Community Member
    2 months ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    This is why The Onion isn't funny any more.

    ABC NrTen FCK CENSORISM
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Comparing everything I read in the Onion against everything I read by you, I'd still go for the Onion by miles.

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    #35

    Funny history meme showing a frustrated character demanding sources and an ancient historian referencing a dream.

    historylandhq Report

    #36

    Three simple cartoon figures labeled Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, humorously depicted with a flag, challenging history knowledge.

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    David
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That flag was during WW1 when the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic was formed to fight the Ottomans, before the Ottomans decided to destroy it with German help. Then in 1918 when the Ottomans collapsed they fell into a 3 way war before Georgia backed out if it, and the Armenians and Azerbaijan went into a 2 year brutal war (massacres on both sides) until the Soviets came in and forced all 3 to rejoin as the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, and it didnt work well, so the Soviets decided to split them up into 3, and we still have issues today.

    nm
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    TIL about the short lived Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic (22 April – 28 May 1918)

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    #37

    Split image showing Darth Vader in his black costume on the left and Saddam Hussein with a beard on the right, history memes.

    Very cool

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    Miracle Max
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Absolutely ridiculous BP. It took me fractions of a second to find a picture of the helmets

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And they were fücking awful and useless. This should be publicised more because it is hilarious.

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

    Still looks a bit like Mel Gibson to me. Has anyone ever seen them together?

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Qusay, I am you father." "Yes, dad. You tell me and Uday that every d**n day."

    DragonofMordor
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not surprising someone whose dad was a real life villain didn't understand the difference between thinking a villain was awesome and thinking they should be emulated.

    nm
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He had the death he deserved.

    #38

    Map showing the shift of the Catholic population center from 33 AD to a forecast in 2050 across globe in history knowledge memes.

    There is a new pope in town

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    BrunoVI
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The center of population wisely sailed around North Africa; it knew how bad the Sahara was.

    alchemilla vulgaris
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No idea what you mean by "centre of gravity", but where are Central America, South America, the Caribbeans, and part of South-East Asia? Even assuming that Poland, Ireland, and other parts of Europe are already calculated in your stats.

    Rick Murray
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Given that some of it's in the ocean, I'm just going to guess that if you take the numbers of Catholics around the world and try to work out a statistical centre point... I guess it means there is an increasing number in the south/east? Or maybe just a diminishing number in the north/west?

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    Rosecrucian Roeth
    Community Member
    2 months ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    And who actually cares?

    #39

    Couples kissing by a vintage car in 1983 New Jersey with Twin Towers in background, a funny meme challenging history knowledge.

    historylandhq Report

    Danny Sauer
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You know what sounds romantic, babe? A bunch of other teens hanging out with us at the dump.

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have evidence that at most six people thought this was romantic

    Jp@nda
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lovers parking lot maybe

    cj be like
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are multiple ways this photo would be different today

    #40

    Ancient warriors debating historical beliefs with a humorous take on history knowledge and exploration challenges.

    Dude just wanted to conque

    historylandhq Report

    gerry.garh
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cristobal Colon was just one hill away from discovering the Pacific Ocean. When exploring the Panama isthmus, heat, humidity, bugs, and complaints from the crew made him turn back to the ships. See "History of the Caribbean" by German Arcinegas.

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    #41

    Map of Chicago 2008-2009 with images of historical figures including Obama, Friedman, Al Capone, Pope Leo XIV, and Kanye West.

    Chicago be popping

    historylandhq Report

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Friedman and Capone were dead by 2008.

    Nosirrow
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A year before WW1, Hitler, Stalin and Freud were all in Vienna. If I remember correctly. It's quite possible the first two could have seen each other in a café. Lol.

    #42

    Meme humor challenging history knowledge with a fantasy soldier referencing Alexander's troops and HOI4 game AI.

    Also can be said for most things

    historylandhq Report

    #43

    Historical map of ancient Roman and Greek territories with a humorous military draft text overlay meme.

    See ya in Tehran

    historylandhq Report

    Miracle Max
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So, what does this mean? I have no clue what the poster is trying to convey.

    random_frog_6846
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think it’s saying that because the government was paying attention to the videos we watch, and this person was watching a military strategy video, they were chosen for the draft due to their new knowledge. It might be a joke about men who get forcibly drafted with no experience though, I don’t know.

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    #44

    Crying British meme arguing with calm Irish meme about language history, overlaid on decline of Irish speakers map.

    historylandhq Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ahem. Brit here. Number of times Brits have made a remark like that to anyone is the proverbial "two fifths of fúck all" because, er, we know about the monster that is the English language, British colonialism, British oppression of Ireland, etc., etc.. Americans make that sort of claim, but that's because they've been brainwashed into thinking that the USA saved the world back in 1945, etc., etc.

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was going to say, that’s one thing that Brits do not think or say! We’re incapable of thinking of anything worthwhile we’ve done since WWII, but mostly people hark on about community, pulling together, surviving on rations, and giving it to the jerries.

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    Harlsen Chesterton
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    After Hitler's death the Irish prime minister, Éamon de Valera, went to the German representative in Dublin to offer his condolences. He knew it would be controversial (and it still is) but he wanted to make clear that Ireland supported Germany during the war.

    Shelley Dawson
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If people speak more than one language, they can make a choice about which they use when speaking to those of their own nationality. If people choose one language over another, that is their own issue.

    Cuppa tea?
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was certain notion amongst Irish republican to take side with Germany and offered Ireland as backdoor to full scale invasion of Britain. This was not received well and eventually phased out. Ireland was neutral during the emergency, yet provided vital support and intelligence to Allies. They treated all POW fairly good, even sent Brits back to the front in hope they will be killed by German's.

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cuppa tea?: you're talking nonsense about Irish treatment of POWs - it sounds like you're parroting the sort of nasty anti-British sentiment which characterised a certain type of Irish nationalist thinking back in the bad old days. Of course Ireland had no power to send anyone to "the front" and in at least one case, the Brits sent an Allied escapee back to the Republic Ireland (he'd reached Belfast). https://forthelifeofme-film.com/2019/07/30/the-most-bizarre-pow-camp-during-wwii-curragh/

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    #45

    Cartoon of Hirohito in a military hat addressing Japan’s surrender, a funny meme challenging history knowledge.

    It’s so over

    historylandhq Report

    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hirohito did make a radio announcement after the nukes but what he said was somewhat understated. His opening words were: "The course of the war has altered, not necessarily to our advantage".

    panther
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And he never said the word "surrender".

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