33 of the Biggest Historical Lies

What is the truth about the Great Wall of China's visibility from space?

• It is clearly visible from the moon with the naked eye.

• It is easily spotted from low Earth orbit, even more so than major highways.

• It is not reliably visible from low Earth orbit with the naked eye, comparable to seeing a single human hair from two miles away.

• It becomes visible from space only during specific atmospheric conditions.

What is the reality of the "Sewer Alligators" myth in New York City?

• Giant, blind albino alligators thrive in the warm, dark sewers.

• Sanitation workers have discovered several colonies of these alligators.

• There is no evidence that such alligators have ever existed in the sewers.

• They primarily feed on lost wedding rings and pizza-loving rats.

What is the historical truth behind Saint Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland?

• Saint Patrick used his divine power to literally banish all snakes from the island.

• Ireland was already separated from the mainland by water after the Ice Age, preventing snakes from reaching it.

• The snakes represented pagan religions that Saint Patrick worked to replace with Christianity.

• Both B and C are correct.

What was a common misconception about the Earth's shape during the Middle Ages, which was not actually debated by educated people?

• That the Earth was flat.

• That the Earth was much larger than its actual size.

• That the Earth was the center of the solar system.

• That the Earth was a perfect cube.

How did the White Star Line actually describe the Titanic's safety features?

• As completely unsinkable.

• As practically unsinkable.

• As the safest ship ever built.

• As a marvel of modern engineering.

How did Isaac Newton actually come up with his theory of gravity, according to his own account?

• An apple fell and hit him on the head, giving him an instant realization.

• He observed an apple falling from a tree and wondered why it fell straight down.

• He conducted complex experiments with falling objects.

• He read about gravity in ancient Greek texts.

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What was the reality of the Inquisition's use of torture compared to secular courts of the time?

• The Inquisition used torture more frequently and brutally than secular courts.

• Both the Inquisition and secular courts used torture with similar frequency and brutality.

• The Inquisition's own rules limited torture sessions and required a doctor, while secular courts were often more brutal.

• The Inquisition never used torture, unlike the secular courts.

What do Ponce de Leon's own writings and official reports indicate about his quest for the Fountain of Youth?

• They extensively detail his search for the mythical spring.

• They mention the Fountain of Youth as a secondary objective.

• They never once mention a fountain of youth, focusing instead on gold and land.

• They describe finding a spring with rejuvenating properties.