History’s Dirty Little Secrets: 25 Facts That Will Change How You See the Past

Chuvic - April 19, 2025

History class might have put you to sleep, but the real stories from our past are far from boring. While textbooks drone on about dates and battles, they conveniently skip the bizarre, disgusting, and downright shocking parts that make history actually interesting. From mouse-brain toothpaste to pants-wearing prohibitions, the strangest historical facts never made it into your classroom. Here are twenty-five historical bombshells that will make you wonder what else your teachers didn’t tell you.

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Vikings Used Urine to Start Fires

Viking sailors took urine on their journeys as a fire-starting tool. They would soak rope in urine and let it dry repeatedly. The rope absorbed phosphorus-rich minerals from the urine. After several days of this process, the rope could smolder for hours, allowing them to transport fire easily between locations. This practical solution helped them survive harsh conditions at sea.

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Ancient Romans Used Mouse Brains as Toothpaste

Romans had some strange dental hygiene practices. They crushed mouse brains and mixed them with other ingredients to create toothpaste. They believed this concoction would clean teeth effectively. Some wealthy Romans also used Portuguese urine as mouthwash because they thought the ammonia would whiten their teeth. These unusual methods show how dental care evolved through trial and error over centuries.

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Napoleon Was Once Attacked by Rabbits

In 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte planned a rabbit hunt to celebrate a successful treaty. His staff gathered hundreds of rabbits in cages. When released, instead of fleeing, the hungry rabbits charged toward Napoleon, seeing him as their food provider. The emperor retreated to his carriage as thousands of bunnies swarmed him. His military genius couldn’t save him from this fluffy ambush.

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Cleopatra Lived Closer to the Moon Landing Than to the Building of the Pyramids

Time perspective gets warped in history. Cleopatra died in 30 BCE, about 2,000 years ago. The Great Pyramid of Giza was completed around 2560 BCE, roughly 2,500 years before Cleopatra’s time. The moon landing happened in 1969, only 2,000 years after Cleopatra. This fact demonstrates how ancient Egyptian civilization had already been ancient history to Cleopatra herself.

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Tug-of-War Was Once an Olympic Sport

From 1900 to 1920, tug-of-war featured in the Olympic Games. Teams of eight athletes competed for glory by pulling a rope. Great Britain won the most medals in this event. The sport disappeared from the Olympics after the 1920 Antwerp Games. Many countries had formed national tug-of-war federations, and the sport continues today with international championships held regularly.

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People Once Believed Tomatoes Were Poisonous

Wealthy Europeans avoided tomatoes for decades after their introduction from the Americas. The acidic fruit would leach lead from pewter plates, causing lead poisoning. People blamed the tomato itself rather than their fancy dishes. Poor people using wooden plates didn’t experience this problem. This misconception persisted until the late 1800s when pizza began gaining popularity in Italy and the United States.

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The Eiffel Tower Was Supposed to Be Temporary

The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World’s Fair with plans to dismantle it after 20 years. Many Parisians initially hated the structure and called it an eyesore. The tower’s utility as a radio transmission tower during World War I saved it from demolition. Today, this “temporary” structure receives nearly seven million visitors annually and stands as the iconic symbol of Paris.

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Australia Lost a War Against Emus

In 1932, Australia deployed soldiers with machine guns to address an emu population destroying crops in Western Australia. The birds scattered into small groups, making them difficult targets. After spending 10,000 rounds of ammunition and killing only a few hundred emus out of thousands, the military withdrew. Farmers requested military assistance again later but were denied. The press called it “The Great Emu War.”

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Einstein Was Offered Israel’s Presidency

Albert Einstein received an offer to become Israel’s second president in 1952 after the death of the country’s first president. Though deeply honored, Einstein declined the position. He explained that he lacked the natural aptitude and experience to deal properly with people in an official capacity. His skills with equations didn’t translate to politics. The renowned physicist preferred to focus on scientific work instead.

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Conquistadors Used Chocolate as Currency

When Spanish conquistadors encountered the Aztec civilization, they discovered chocolate used as currency. People could purchase a turkey for 100 cacao beans or a rabbit for 30 beans. The Aztecs valued chocolate so highly that counterfeiting existed—some people emptied cacao beans and refilled the shells with dirt. The Spanish initially disliked chocolate’s bitter taste but later added sugar, creating the sweet treat we know today.

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Ancient Egyptian Makeup Protected Against Disease

Ancient Egyptians applied thick black eyeliner made from lead-based substances. Recent research showed this makeup actually helped prevent eye infections. The lead compounds in the makeup stimulated the production of nitric oxide, which boosts the immune system. Scientists discovered that when these compounds contact human skin, they produce small amounts of nitric oxide that can fight bacterial infections.

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A Pope Put a Dead Pope on Trial

In 897 CE, Pope Stephen VI dug up his predecessor Pope Formosus, who had died months earlier. Stephen dressed the corpse in papal robes and put the dead pope on trial for perjury and other crimes. The corpse “testified” via a deacon speaking on its behalf. Found guilty, the dead pope’s three blessing fingers were cut off, and his body was thrown into the Tiber River.

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Women Weren’t Allowed to Wear Pants in Paris Until 2013

Until 2013, a law from 1800 technically prohibited women from wearing pants in Paris without police permission. The law required women to ask police if they wanted to “dress like men.” The rule had exceptions for women riding horses or bicycles. Though not enforced in modern times, officials finally removed this outdated regulation from the books in 2013 after a legislator noticed it still existed.

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The First Computer Bug Was an Actual Bug

In 1947, computer pioneer Grace Hopper found a moth trapped in a relay of the Harvard Mark II computer. She taped the insect in the logbook with the note: “First actual case of bug being found.” While the term “bug” for technical problems existed before this incident, this literal bug helped popularize the term in computing. Hopper’s moth remains preserved at the Smithsonian Institution today.

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Heroin Was Once Marketed as a Cough Medicine for Children

In the late 1890s, Bayer pharmaceuticals marketed heroin as a non-addictive alternative to morphine. They recommended it for treating coughs, colds, and pain, especially for children. The medication came in a syrup form that parents gave to their kids for respiratory ailments. Doctors prescribed it regularly until its addictive properties became apparent. The drug wasn’t banned in the United States until 1924.

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The U.S. Government Poisoned Alcohol During Prohibition

During Prohibition, the U.S. government added toxic chemicals to industrial alcohol to discourage people from drinking it. People drank it anyway. The poisoned alcohol caused an estimated 10,000 deaths. Officials knew this was happening yet continued the practice. They argued that people chose to break the law by drinking, so the consequences fell on the drinkers themselves. This controversial policy lasted several years.

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Turkeys Were Once Worshipped As Gods

Ancient Mayans and Aztecs revered turkeys as sacred birds. They didn’t eat them but kept them for their feathers and religious significance. Priests used turkey blood in important ceremonies. The birds were associated with gods and considered vessels for divine spirits. Archaeological discoveries show turkey bones carefully buried in temples alongside human remains. This reverence starkly contrasts with our modern Thanksgiving traditions.

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Oxford University Existed Before the Aztec Empire

Oxford University began teaching students around 1096 CE. The Aztec Empire didn’t begin until the 1300s, about 200 years later. Oxford had already been operating for centuries when Aztec civilization reached its peak. The university witnessed the rise and fall of the Aztec Empire from across the ocean. Students studied at Oxford through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and continue there today.

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Abraham Lincoln Created the Secret Service on His Assassination Day

Lincoln signed legislation creating the Secret Service on April 14, 1865. He was shot that same night at Ford’s Theatre. Ironically, the Secret Service wasn’t originally intended to protect presidents. The agency was formed to combat counterfeit currency, a major problem after the Civil War. The presidential protection duty came later, after the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901.

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Forks Were Once Considered Blasphemous

When forks first appeared in medieval Europe, religious leaders condemned them as unholy. They argued that food was God’s gift to humans and should be touched with fingers. A Byzantine princess who brought forks to Italy in the 11th century faced harsh criticism. When she died from an illness shortly after, people claimed it was divine punishment for her fork use. Forks only became widely accepted centuries later.

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The World’s Oldest Company Operated for 1,400 Years

Japan’s Kongō Gumi construction company began in 578 CE and operated continuously until 2006. Specializing in temple construction, the company passed through 40 generations of the same family. Careful succession planning kept the business alive through wars, economic shifts, and technological changes. Though now a subsidiary of another company, its incredible 1,428-year independent run makes it history’s longest-running business.

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Ancient Greeks Had Alarm Clocks

Around 250 BCE, inventor Ctesibius created water alarm clocks in ancient Greece. Water dripped at a controlled rate into a container. When full, the container triggered whistles or dropped pebbles onto drums to wake sleepers. Some advanced versions could even be set for specific times. These ingenious devices helped priests and others wake for predawn rituals. The technology spread throughout the ancient Mediterranean world.

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People Paid for Housing with Eels in Medieval England

Landlords in medieval England sometimes collected rent in eels rather than money. Tenants delivered thousands of eels annually to their landlords. The Domesday Book, a medieval census, records many properties valued in eel currency. Smoked and preserved eels kept well and provided valuable protein. People built special eel traps in rivers near their homes to collect this living rent payment.

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The First Person to Circumnavigate the Earth Was Actually a Slave

Ferdinand Magellan gets credit for the first circumnavigation, but he died midway through the journey. His slave, Enrique of Malacca, likely completed a global circuit first. Captured in Malaysia and taken to Portugal, he later joined Magellan’s voyage as an interpreter. When the expedition reached Southeast Asia, Enrique had returned to his starting region, effectively completing a personal circumnavigation before anyone else.

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Artificial Limbs Existed in Ancient Egypt

The oldest known artificial limb belonged to an Egyptian noblewoman from 950 BCE. The wooden toe prosthetic featured leather straps and careful jointing that allowed natural movement. Researchers found wear patterns proving she used it regularly while alive. Egyptians created other prosthetics, including artificial hands with movable fingers. These sophisticated devices show medical knowledge far beyond what we typically imagine for ancient civilizations.

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Conclusion

The pages of history hide countless bizarre stories that rarely appear in standard textbooks. From dead popes on trial to chocolate currency, these twenty-five facts show how strange and surprising our past truly was. What makes history fascinating isn’t just the big events but the odd, unexpected details that reveal our ancestors were just as weird, creative, and complex as we are today. So next time someone claims history is dull, share a few of these facts. They prove the past was anything but boring.

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