Some of the most exciting stories you’ll ever hear are those that come straight out of history books. But sadly, the way these tales are often delivered tends to bore us to tears or leave us snoring through our lessons. So if you’re interested in taking your understanding of history into your own hands, we’ve got the perfect list for you, pandas.
Below, you’ll find photos of some of the most fascinating moments from the past couple centuries that have been captured on film, courtesy of the Incredible History Instagram account. Enjoy scrolling through this virtual blast from the past, and keep reading to find a conversation with Luke Rosa, teacher and creator of Students of History!
This post may include affiliate links.
Iran, 1979 - Thousands Of Iranian Women Protesting On The Streets Against Prospects Of Mandating Hijab
This is such a sad picture, knowing all of those women lost the freedoms they were accustomed to and became little more than property
650 American Officers And Enlisted Men Paying Tribute To More Than 8 Million Horses, Mules And Donkeys That Died In Service In The World War I
Shavarsh Karapetyan, An Armenian Finswimmer(10-Time World Record Holder), Who Saved Lives Of 20 Drowning Passengers In A Sinking Trolleybus Which Fell Of A Bridge Into The Yerevan Lake
He absolutely did! He dove down over 90 feet in cold, sewage filled water with no visibility over 20 times. He ended up hospitalized for 45 days with pneumonia and sepsis, and the damage to his lungs prevented him from ever competing in swimming again. He never was bitter about it though. He really is a true hero!
Load More Replies...
I thought this was done dictator on an ego trip but no - what a hero!
Finally, some hope left in humanity. Good men are good not because they are born good but because they make good choices and try to help humanity. - me
He's not a soldier. He was an athlete who ended his own career when he saved all of those people. He got so sick from the nasty water they were in he ended up hospitalized and unable to compete anymore.
Load More Replies...
You can tell he must be very fit to wear all that metal in front ;-)
I happen to have a student who has the same family name. I showed him this story, he didn’t know that man but was very proud to share the same name :)
*Coughs, slowly falls forward, hits ground face first. Cue Sonic the Hedgehog losing rings sound*
The Incredible History Instagram account has made quite an impact on the platform, as it has shared over 2,350 posts and amassed an impressive 41.6k followers. The account’s bio states, “Nihil novi sub sole,” meaning “there is nothing new under the sun” in Latin, and notes that the page is for sharing history, stunning places and interesting facts. So if you pandas need to brush up your knowledge of historical events, or need a reminder of why learning about history is so important, Incredible History has got you covered.
To learn more about why we should all be interested in history, we reached out to Luke Rosa, teacher and creator of Students of History. Luke was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and share what inspired him to become a history teacher in the first place, as well as why he's so passionate about the subject.
A 9000-Year Old Skeleton Was Found In A Cave Near Cheddar, England, And Nicknamed "Cheddar Man"
His dna was tested and it was concluded that his living relative, a history professor, is living a 1/2 of a mile away from the cave, tracing back 300 generations to each other
This tickles me pink every time I see it. And a history professor is the cherry on top
Remains Of An Ancient Roman City Of Timgad In The Aures Mountains Of Algeria
A Shepherd From The Village Of Kınalık With His Children, Azerbaijan, 1970's
“I wanted to help make learning history fun for all kids,” Luke shared. I felt like there was too much memorizing of dates and facts and not enough appreciation for the amazing stories from the past. I also saw it as a way to bring people together. Learning about diverse cultures helps kids see how alike we are and also to appreciate the accomplishments of others.”
And as far as why we should all care about history, Luke says it’s about much more than memorizing facts. “It’s about understanding who we are,” he told Bored Panda. “World History introduces kids to the rich diversity of world culture and fosters empathy and respect for those of different backgrounds. US History helps kids evaluate sources, analyze evidence, and think critically. And my US Government classes help students understand the importance of rights and freedoms and how to be an active and responsible citizen.”
The Arkadiko Bridge, A Mycenaean Bridge Near The Modern Road From Tiryns To Epidauros On The Peloponnese, Greece. Dating To The Greek Bronze Age, It Is One Of The Oldest Arch Bridges Still In Existence And Use Today And The Oldest Preserved Bridge In Europe
If only that bridge could talk, what amazing stories it would tell!
Polish Border Guard And His Horse Drinking Water From The Stream In The Bieszczady Mountains During A Patrol, 1980
Bieszczady, one of the wildest and most beautiful places in Poland
Princess Elizabeth At 19 Years Of Age Is Seen In The Auxiliary Territorial Service In The 1945, During World War II
We were also curious if Luke is partial to any particular moments or events in history. “I love so much of History!” he shared. “For World History, I love teaching about Ancient Egypt. It’s so mysterious and a unit kids love to explore. In US History, I love teaching the Civil Rights Movement. It’s a living example of how society can transform for the better and an opportunity to help students understand the struggles of marginalized communities.”
Paris, France, 1890
Picture is of the Exposition Universelle, which was attended by more than 2,000,000 people.
"Mother's Eyes" The Bedouin Mother; Photograph By Ilo Battigeli, 1948
German And British Pilots Engaged In A Dogfight Above St Paul's Cathedral During The Battle Of Britain, London, 1940, World War II
If I see it isolated, I absolutely have to love the gechnology used there. But, unfortunately, I can't ONLY see it that way. German aircraft engines in WW2 had single-lever steering (throttle only, so to say, ignition, mix, compressor if present were regulated by a mechanical device on the pilot's behalf), direct injection, and some 5 liters more displacement. British had traditional carbs, but, as a german, I'm more than glad the British won, the German lost. Because the ideology of that time's germany shall lose anywhere, everywhere. But the Tech, the same the tech of today, of the USSR, China, and all our own Evil Empires, still, is technology that serves a purpose, and development during wartime often made it work better than prior... Radar would've been invented a lot later without the war, same with jet engines - story I love: Both main inventors from England (Whittle) and Germany (von Ohein) became friends later on, after the war. Cos we engineers gotta be role models! Who else?
Luke also noted that social studies education is more important than ever. “Americans are blasted with a fire hose of information every day. Some is real, and much of it is not. In social studies, kids learn critical thinking and how to evaluate sources,” the educator explained. “This teaches kids how to discern facts from fiction and make informed decisions. At the same time, social studies connects kids with different cultures and fosters empathy. Lastly, history shows students the progress we’ve made in terms of civil rights, gender equality, and social justice, and hopefully inspires them to continue the fight for a better, more inclusive world.”
If you’d like to expand your own knowledge of history or improve your plans for teaching it to students, be sure to visit Luke’s website Students of History!
March 16, 1945: A U.S. Marine Approaches A Japanese Soldier On Iwo Jima, Japan During World War II
The Japanese soldier was buried for 1 1/2 days in this shell hole playing dead and ready with a live grenade inches away from his hand. The marines feared he might be further booby trapped underneath his body after knocking the grenade to the bottom of the shell hole. Promising no resistance, the prisoner is given a cigarette he asked for and was dragged free from the hole
Fanaticism and propaganda needlessly killed a lot of people. This one was lucky, though he might not have seen it that way at the time. I think a lot of Japanese were ashamed for not having died.
Actor Yul Brynner Arriving To The Premiere Of The Movie "The Ten Commandments" In His Mercedes 300 Sl Roadster, 1956
Activist Ben Masel Smokes A Joint While Voting In The 1976 Presidential Election Taking Advantage Of An Apparent Law That Prohibits Arrest While Voting
Living in a sate that marijuana is legal, and has been for about 10 years, I forget it used to be illegal and still is in some states (looking at you Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Indiana, and North Carolina). Weed is by far less problematic that alcohol, and in states where it is fully legal, there are 25% less opioid related deaths than stated that marijuana is illegal. Not to mention The tax revenue it brings in! It is time the fed decriminalize it and stop putting people in jail for long a*s sentences over weed!
Aside from how fascinating it is to see images from World War II or a snowball fight in France in 1896, it’s actually important that we ensure history isn’t forgotten. According to University of the People, studying history is a key factor in understanding our world better. Systems that we may simply accept, such as governments and how societies function, can be understood by examining the past and how these structures came about in the first place.
We can also deepen our understanding of people and ourselves through studying history. Ever wonder why certain countries have such strong bonds or distaste for one another? Just look back in time, and you can clearly see how wars, occupations and alliances have bonded nations or torn them apart. And the impacts of these events can last long after they actually took place.
A Lone Dog Sits In Snow Next To A Column Of Retreating Italian Soldiers Near Stalingrad, Soviet Union, December 1942, World War II
The expected lifespan of a soldier during that battle was twenty-four hours. One and a half million soldiers died during the battle.
The Bridge To Nowhere
Goodyear’s Illuminated Tires - A Woman Adjusts Her Stocking Using The Light Emitted By The Goodyear Tire On An October Night In 1961
I believe they were a prototype and never made it into circulation. They look so cool though.
Looking back in time also helps us understand our own identities. The culture of any specific place or group of people likely took centuries to form, and it’s impossible to understand why your grandmother always prepares tamales on Christmas or why you celebrate Halloween in that way without learning the historical context. We can feel closer to our ancestors when we learn about their ways, and when we understand how traditions came about, we’re more likely to consider them significant and continue passing them along.
A Soldier Of The French Foreign Legion Holding The Dog "Fritz", The Battalion Mascot, At Bir Hakeim. Fritz "Moved Over To The Other Side" And Joined The Battalion In Narvik In 1940, And Stayed With Them Ever Since
The Coins That Saved A Soldier's Life- At The Beginning Of World War I
To Protect It From Drying Out, A Worker Sprays Water Onto A Millennia-Old Chariot Recently Unearthed In The City Of Luoyang In Central China
Another way you can learn more about history that An Historian About Town recommends is doing things the old fashion way: actually going to the library. She explains that many public libraries actually offer talks and presentations from authors, professors, politicians, artists, historians and more that can quickly teach you a bit about anything at all! If you’re not even sure where to start or which topics interest you, it can be great to simply see what information is available and dive into whatever piques your interest.
The Cockpit Of An American B-24 Bomber From The 392nd Bomb Squadron Of The 30th Bomb Group, Damaged By A Japanese Anti-Aircraft Shell On January 27, 1945, During A Sortie To Bombard Iwo Jima
The projectile badly damaged the instrument panel, the co-pilot and the navigator of the bomber were injured by shrapnel, but miraculously the pilot managed to return the aircraft to base
J. Robert Oppenheimer With Albert Einstein At The Institute For Advanced Study, 1947
Jordanian Brides Wearing Full-Face Veils Seen Waiting Patiently For Their Mass Wedding Ceremony
This largest ever mass wedding ceremony in Jordan brought together 48 couples in a ceremony funded by islamist Charity group which covers all expenses for couples who cannot afford to pay for their wedding. Amman, Jordan, 1999
If you do know which time periods or events interest you the most when it comes to the world’s history, then you can certainly find books, podcasts, documentaries and more on those topics. Learning about history can be much more fun when you get to decide what you want to know, and becoming curious about a topic will likely lead you down a rabbit hole of learning more and more. It doesn’t matter where you start, just pick up some fun facts and you’ll certainly be able to impress your friends with interesting knowledge any day now!
A Fake Tree Used As An Observation Post And Sniper Nest On The Frontline By The British Army During World War I
A 1960's Coca Cola Advertisment Made By Spreading Grain For Pigeons In St. Mark's Square, Venice, Italy
Mugshot And Fingerprints Of Benito Mussolini, Bern, Switzerland, 1903
Have you learned something new about our world through scrolling through these photos, pandas? We hope they’ve provided you with a different perspective on a certain time or place, and remember to keep upvoting the ones that deserve to be seen by everyone. Feel free to share in the comments what some of your favorite historical moments are, and then if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article, we recommend this one featuring images of some of the darkest moments in history.
Last Sword Duel In History In France, 1967, Between The Mayor Of Marseille -Gaston Defferre, And Another Member Of French Parliament, Rene Ribière
The U.S. Pacific Fleet Seen Positioning For Battle During The Marshall Islands Campaign, 1944, World War II
American Pilot Robert L. Brown Of Denver, Colorado, Poses In The Cockpit Of An F6f Hellcat Aboard The Uss Yorktown (Cv-10) Aircraft Carrier With “Scrappy,” The Ship’s Mascot, November-December 1943, In Pacific, World War II
111 Football Games Played At Hackney Marshes, London, United Kingdom In 1962
The Crew Of British Hm Submarine ‘Unison’ Display Their ‘Jolly Roger’ At Devonport, Plymouth, Having Returned From A Successful 16 Months In The Mediterranean. 1943, World War II
They've been busy. 5 merchant vessels torpedoed, 1 warship torpedoed, 1 enemy vessel damaged,2 cloak+dagger operations, 2 surface gun actions, and 1 beach marking operation.
Drive-In Theater, Los Angeles, 1949
Portus, Roman Empire's Imperial Port, As It Would Have Appeared In The Past Compared To Today. The Port Was Established By Emperor Claudius, And Enlarged By Emperor Trajan, To Supplement The Nearby Port Of Ostia
Painter Marc Monnier Paints A Canvas On The Front During The Gulf War In October 1991, Kuwait
Japanese Samurai, 1870's
Canadian Police Officer Guarding The Pharmacy In Waist-High Flood Waters In Galt, Ontario, 1974
Babies Left To Sleep Outside In The Freezing Cold, Enforcing Their Immune System, Moscow, Soviet Union, 1958
Unfortunately, as this was once considered true, new evidence has suggested that the humans are more likely to get sick in cold temperatures and the cold is more likely to weaken the immune response and system, specifically the nasal and upper airway defense (which is our first and most important defense) A drop in nasal tissue temperature by 5⁰ c kills nearly 50% of the billions of virus and bacteria-fighting cells in the nostrils and upper airway. It also kills of important RNA, necessary for helping identify viruses and bacteria and getting the immune system to respond accordingly, in the cells that survive. Your blood vessels also restrict throughout your body, accusing white blood cells to become sluggish and slower to respond. Vitamin D levels are also lower in the winter and cold weather lands, which also effects the immune system. The other factor is that viruses love cooler, dry air and are much more prevalent during cold weather. That being said, it doesn't mean that we should all stay inside and never be cold. With proper precautions, like hand washing, increased vitamin C and D intake, and general caution around people who are sick, you will be just fine, but sleeping, or being in the cold does not benefit the immune system. Here is a link to some studies and articles if you want to learn more https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(22)01423-3/fulltext .... https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/coronavirus-why-cold-winter-weather-makes-it-harder-to-fight-respiratory-infections ..... https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323431
Germany, 1923: During Hyperinflation, Banknotes Had Lost So Much Value That They Were Used As Wallpaper, Being Much Cheaper Than Actual Wallpaper
World War I Us Army Helmet With Skull Trench Art On The Front
Digital Reconstruction Of Untouched Manhattan, New York, In Year 1609, In Comparison To Year 2021
Members Of The Fat Men's Club Of New York, 1904. All Members Had To Be At Least 200 Pounds(91kg), Pay A One Dollar Fee And Learn A Secret Handshake And Password
Pavlik Manukyan, Armenian War Hero During The First Nagorno-Karabakh War In The Early 1990's, Seen During A Visit To His Family Away From The Frontline. He Is Posing Armed With A Pkm Machine Gun, Standing Next To His Son
I went to both Azerbaijan and Armenia within the span of about a month and heard very different stories about the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute
Young Boy With Prepared Molotov Cocktails On A Rooftop Of A Building In Derry, During The Battle Of The Bogside, August 1969
I learned a lot about the history of Derry from the show Derry Girls. I know it is a fictional comedy, but being from the US this part of history is not well known to us, and the show was enough to perk my curiosity and start researching it. It is so incredibly crazy how all this has been going on into today. If you all want to learn more, the books Say Nothing , The Troubles, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died, and That's That were all very good and informative in different ways and voices. If your not a reader, I recommend watching The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Belfast, I Dolours, The Devil's Own, Hunger, The Images you Missed, and I am going to throw in The Crying Game because it is a great yet crazy movie. (if anyone lives in Great Britain or Northern Ireland and has other recommendations of books or movies, please add,or even better, share your own experience! And if I recommend a movie that is very inaccurate, please let me know)
Burning Kuwaiti Oil Fires, Caused By The Iraqi Military Setting Fire To Approximately 700 Oil Wells As Part Of A Scorched Earth Policy While Retreating From Kuwait In 1991 Due To The Advances Of Us-LED Coalition Forces In The Gulf War. Photograph By Steve Mccurry
German Kaiser Wilhelm II Of The German Empire, Photographed Smoking In Silesia In 1913
The Ball Turret On The American B-17 Bomber Plane, 1943, World War II
A British Soldier Is Seen Tempting Turkish Snipers To Give Away Their Positions While Others Snatch Some Shut-Eye During The Gallipoli Campaign In 1915, World War I
The retreat of the ANZAC troops was very interesting - they placed rifles alongside the trench, tied buckets with water to the triggers and pocket holes into them at different heights to make the Ottoman troops think that the trenches are still manned
An Elderly Chechen Man Wearing Traditional Clothes, Poses On A Horse While Chechen Rebels Behind Him Stand On Top Of A Captured Russian Armored Vehicle, Grozny, Chechnya, First Chechen War(1994-1996
He had to ride the horse because his shoulder pads were to big to fit in the tank.
An American Soldier Poses On The Dragon At The “Nibelungenhalle” In Königswinter, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany - 1945
RICHARD WAGNER’S FANTASTIC OPERA CYCLE Der Ring Des Nibelungen is the inspiration for a great deal of the fantasy genre, and it also inspired Germany’s Nibelungenhalle, a stone temple decorated with scenes from the opera that even has its own collection of “dragons,” both living and sculpted, that recall the giant-turned- dragon, Fafnir. Opened in 1913, on the 100th anniversary of Wagner’s birth, the original building was constructed to reflect the epic fantasy scope of Wagner’s work with the sites name etched in runic leterring above the door bookended by bas reliefs of dwarves. (S: Atlas Obscura)
American Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali During His Visit To Egypt, June 1964
Bosnian Girl With An Ak-47, Smoking Smokes While Waiting For A Funeral Service At Sarajevo’s Lion’s Cemetery On Monday, Sept. 14, 1992
Us Marine Resting After The Capture Of Saddam Hussein's Presidential Palace In Tikrit, Iraq, April 14 2003
Luftwaffe Pilot Adolf Galland Preparing To Take A Gift Basket Of Lobster And Champagne For General Osterkamp's Birthday, 1941
Croatian Soldier Attending A Mass In Front Of A Destroyed Church, Croatian Homeland War, 1991-1995
There's always a certain feeling of unease when I see religious soldiers.
Soldier Of The 1st Mechanized Guard Brigade "Tigers" Of The Croatian Army, Posing With A Tiger Cub, The Unit's Mascot. 1991, Croatian Homeland War
Kurdish Peshmergas, Iraq, 1970's
I mean no disrespect, but the guy on the left looks like when he takes off his glasses the nose and mustache comes off too.
Oil Derricks And Beach-Goers At The Huntington Beach, California, 1930's
A Man Rushes Off With A Trolley Full Of Diapers During The 1992 Los Angeles Riots. Photograph By Kirk Mckoy
LA92 is a documentary on Netflix all about the build-up (Rodney King), during and after effects of the LA riots. Definately worth a watch
Us Soldier Circa 1942 With A Flamethrower And Experimental Camo At Fort Belvoir, Which A Testing Ground For The Us Army
OMG! My Dad was stationed there 3 times during his 21 years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He served as Occupation Forces in WWII, combat engineers in the Korean conflict, and combat engineers during the Vietnam War. So proud of my Dad, RIP.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
German Fallschirmjäger Armed With The Fg 42 Automatic Rifle, Seen During The Battle Of Monte Cassino, 15 March 1944, World War II
The Norrmalmstorg Robbery - Press Photographers And Police Snipers Side By Side On A Roof Opposite Of Kreditbanken Bank In Stockholm, Sweden, August 1973
Teenage Wasteland - A Young Us Marine Takes A Break During A Ground Movement 25 Miles North Of An Hoa, North Vietnam. 1969, Vietnam War
Austro-Hungarian Officer At The Frontline In Galicia, Eastern Front, 1915, World War I
Rest In Peace, Tony Sirico
Continuation War, Finland. Close-Up Of The "Elephant-Gun", The Lahti L-39, Lipola
"Forgotten Weapons" on YT has a video on it, he fires it on a shooting range and the recoil is insane
Town Of An-Loc, Vietnam. Soviet -Built North Vietnamese T54 Tank Destroyed By South Vietnam's 81st Airborne Ranger Group, 1972, Vietnam War
Town? Maybe once upon a time. The Vietnam War (never a declared war, so actually a police action, not to mention the area had been French Indochina, so should’ve been their fight, it ours) absolutely gutted the infrastructure that had been built in the country, which had greatly benefited the population. Such an unnecessarily destructive and sad situation all around.
German Ski Patrol Equipped With A Mg 34 Machine Gun In Snowy Conditions In The Soviet Union, Winter 1942, World War II
A Crew From The 16th/5th Lancers, 6th Armoured Division, Clean The Gun Barrel Of Their Crusader Tank At El Aroussa In Tunisia, 1943, World War II
Chechen Fighter, 1995, First Chechen War
A terrible time. I just think of all those little children at Beslan, caught up in something there is no way they could understand, suffering horribly because of idiotic grown-ups.
Lebanese Christian Militia Of The Phalanges. Note The Iraqi Made Ak ‘Tabuk’ And Hungarian Made Amd65 Rifles. Lebanese Civil War, 1975-1990
Following instructions, I noted rifle models and manufacturing countries. And now? Just asking, because I'm going to erase this information from my brain within a few seconds.
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
Two Croatian Soldiers On The Frontline In Turanj, Croatia, 1992, Croatian Homeland War
Members Of The 1st Guards Brigade - Tigers Of The Croatian Army, On Trpinja Road, Vukovar, 1991, Croatian Homeland War
Agreed, far too much. You would think that they could have made more of an effort to find things more enlightening than soldiers carrying guns
Load More Replies...
Best collection of historical photographs yet. Saw so many for the first time. Fascinating!
@ Atero, you do realise that the world is bigger than your state of mind and social conditioning, right? If you have the time, meet women in your neighbourhood who are Islamic, or just get out more often. There are plenty of strong women who choose hijab, and unfortunately there are those who have.no choice. But to claim it is all oppressive is hypocrisy. And ignorant
Salaams. So respectfully, Greenmantle, _do_ they choose it? Let's say in Saudi or Iran, or Afghanistan? لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰه
Load More Replies... Agreed, far too much. You would think that they could have made more of an effort to find things more enlightening than soldiers carrying guns
Load More Replies... Best collection of historical photographs yet. Saw so many for the first time. Fascinating!
@ Atero, you do realise that the world is bigger than your state of mind and social conditioning, right? If you have the time, meet women in your neighbourhood who are Islamic, or just get out more often. There are plenty of strong women who choose hijab, and unfortunately there are those who have.no choice. But to claim it is all oppressive is hypocrisy. And ignorant
Salaams. So respectfully, Greenmantle, _do_ they choose it? Let's say in Saudi or Iran, or Afghanistan? لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰه
Load More Replies...