Nnamdi Constance 
Historical facts that are lies are all around us. In fact, you may believe some. History has many great stories. But some of these stories are not true. They are fun to tell. But they are just myths. So, this article looks at big history lies.
1. A Historical Fact That Is a Lie: Viking Horns
This is a very popular history lie. We all think of Vikings with horns. In fact, they never wore them. This is a total myth. So, where did this idea come from? An opera in the 1800s used them. A person in the show made them look cool. And the look just stuck. Real Viking helmets were just simple, metal hats.
2. Historical Facts That Are Lies: Napoleon’s Height
People love to say Napoleon was short. This is another big lie. In fact, Napoleon was not short. He was about 5 feet 7 inches tall. This was a normal height for his time. So, why do people say he was short? It was a story made up by his enemies. They wanted to make him seem weak. In short, the lie became very famous.
3. A Shocking History Lie: The Salem Witch Burnings
Ask people how the Salem witches died. They will often say “They were burned.” This is also a history lie. In fact, no one was burned at Salem. The people there hanged them. This was their law at the time. Burning witches was done more in Europe. So, the two stories got mixed up.
4. A Big Historical Fact That Is a Lie: Columbus
This is one of the biggest historical facts that are lies. We all learned this in school. But Columbus did not “discover” America. First, people were already living there. They had lived there for thousands of years. They had full societies, like other ancient cultures that vanished. Second, Vikings landed in Canada. They got there 500 years before Columbus. So, he was very late.
5. Mungo Park Discovered the River Niger
Another big myth says that Scottish explorer Mungo Park “discovered” the River Niger. But the river had long been known, used, and named by West African peoples for centuries before his arrival.
Truth: Africans had mapped and navigated the Niger long before Europeans recorded it.
Why Most People Love Historical Facts That Are Lies
In conclusion, history is full of myths. Historical facts that are lies are often better stories. They are simple. And they are fun. But the real story is not so simple. Therefore, it is good to ask questions. And to check your facts. It is key to find the real stories. Like Africa’s untold story. This story is richer than the myths. You have to do the work to find the truth.
