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It's a universal truth that a school subject is as interesting as its teacher or the materials they provide. Take history, for example. Memorizing dead people's names, distant places, and so many dates; at the wrong hands, it can become quite boring.

But at the right ones, it becomes a valuable tool, showing how past societies, systems, ideologies, governments, cultures, and technologies were built, how they operated, and how they have changed. Not only does this knowledge make people more rounded, but it also inspires and accelerates one's critical thinking, a skill that transfers to every intellectual pursuit.

Plus, it can also be fun! We at Bored Panda expanded on our earlier list and put together a new collection of the best history memes on the internet.

#1

Imagine

Imagine

historyinmemes Report

#2

Nestlé Biting Their Tongue

Nestlé Biting Their Tongue

historyinmemes Report

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beastmachine.
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hard to believe it's the same company that thinks water isn't a human right

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Howard Zinn, an American historian, playwright, philosopher, and socialist thinker, said he started studying the subject with one view in mind: to look for answers to the issues and problems he saw in the world about him. "By the time I went to college I had worked in a shipyard, had been in the Air Force, had been in a war. I came to history asking questions about war and peace, about wealth and poverty, about racial division," he explained.

Zinn saw the thrilling, entertaining side of history even without the memes. "There's a certain interest in inspecting the past and it can be fun, sort of like a detective story," he said. "I can make an argument for knowledge for its own sake as something that can add to your life. But while that's good, it is small in relation to the very large objective of trying to understand and do something about the issues that face us in the world today."

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"Students should be encouraged to go into history in order to come out of it, and should be discouraged from going into history and getting lost in it, as some historians do."

#3

Anyone Know Her Of?

Anyone Know Her Of?

Alice Roosevelt with her dog Leo. She smoked cigarettes in public, chewed gum, placed bets with bookies, rode in cars with men, stayed out late partying, and kept a pet snake named Emily Spinach, which she often wore wrapped around one arm and took to parties. Her father President Theodore Roosevelt once said of her “I can either run the country or I can attend to Alice, but I cannot possibly do both.” 1902.

historyinmemes Report

#4

Simps

Simps

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well focusing on a woman's sexuality as a way to undermine her legitimacy or achievements is common. Catherine the Great gets the same treatment. Elizabeth I has a whole chunk of the New World named after her not getting laid. And this is only the women who can't be effectively erased from the "Great Man" version of history. Thank god for gender, Queer, disability and minority studies for pushing to include historical actors who aren't white men in history and for revealing some of the most fascinating narratives out there.

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To learn more about history meme culture, we contacted people behind one of its biggest communities, the appropriately-titled subreddit r/HistoryMemes. Its owner and head moderator, u/TheDelta was kind enough to respond.

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"[Some of the most popular topics are] the World Wars (mainly 2) and the late interwar period (rise of the Nazis in Germany and the Sino-Japanese war)," they told Bored Panda. "Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, the assassination of Julius Caesar, and Vlad the Impaler [are also pretty big.]"

#5

It Really Do Be Like That

It Really Do Be Like That

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Pixie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ein hausgemachter Kartoffelsalat mit vegetarischer Thüringer Rostbratwurst bitte.

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#6

Dog History Memes Are Undefeated

Dog History Memes Are Undefeated

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Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Meanwhile, cats: "These humans still think they own us. How cute." :P

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r/HistoryMemes has a whopping 2.8 million members with thousands browsing it at any given moment. If you like this sort of content, we can't recommend joining the subreddit enough. The moderator of this online community likes to think of it as a high school club — there's a general interest in the subject, but everyone has their own specific thing they like to study/know the most about.

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u/TheDelta thinks history works great in memes because "everyone has to learn history in school and history itself is often taught/studied as a narrative and that is something we humans are drawn towards."

"Combining that with something we all have been exposed to and have (mostly limited) knowledge of, you have people who want to make memes and jokes to tell those events and stories," they explained.

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#9

Relatable

Relatable

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure "overwhelming desire to beat someone with a chair" exists as a word in some language. At the every least the Germans can make it a word

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#10

Humans Rock

Humans Rock

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However, as the moderator pointed out, one has to remain careful when "consuming" history. "The sheer amount of stuff we hear about from media (movies, books, video games, etc.) is just wrong or very much misinterpreted," u/TheDelta added.

"Things like German tanks being the best of WW2 and how they had such a mechanized army, how the 'vomitorium' used by the Romans was a place for them to vomit so they can eat more peacock brain and hummingbird wing, etc. I guess I'd say we really want to encourage fact-checking and people looking critically at this history you're told by people with little to no actual credentials."

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George Santayana once said: "History is always written wrong, and so always needs to be rewritten." Something tells me he'd appreciate these memes!

#11

Shoutout Yuri

Shoutout Yuri

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NsG
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"If you can name five Kardashians [...] you should probably re-evaluate your internet and reading habits" really explains a lot about the state of the education system.

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#15

Innovation Is Scary

Innovation Is Scary

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's an old cartoon where a woman asks a conductor from an electrical tram if it's safe. His reply: As long as your one foot isn't on the ground while your other foot is touching the wires, you're safe.

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#16

Gotta Love Geography

Gotta Love Geography

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#17

Canadians Are So Nice

Canadians Are So Nice

historyinmemes Report

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think since Canada is literally digging up mass graves of Native school children we can agree that this tweet is far from their most aggressive act.

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#23

Read The Primary Sources, People!

Read The Primary Sources, People!

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Steve Barnett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. The Angels in the bible were described as being, well, all over the shop. A mish-mash of animals here, some gold wheels there (Yes, interlocking gold wheels, plus eyes?).

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#24

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité!

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité!

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François Carré
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if they lived to the age of 92 they could still see a quick and awful defeat of the French against the Prussians, the fall of the Second Empire, the rise of the Third Republic, and a ephemeral attempt at forming an utopian socialist government in Paris, which would result in a bloody civil war... all of this in less than one year.

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#25

It Do Be Like That

It Do Be Like That

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Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my country, you are not allowed to sell or buy your blood nor your plasma... It can only be donated for free. I still do it anyway, but I am upset.

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#26

Home Of KFC’s Secret Recipe

Home Of KFC’s Secret Recipe

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#28

Fashion Is A Matter Of Historical Perspective

Fashion Is A Matter Of Historical Perspective

EasieEEE Report

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Otter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Raise your hand if you think Cary Grant could carry off frou-frou men's clothing from the 17th and 18th centuries!

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#29

Keep Your Voices Down; The English Could Walk In At Any Minute

Keep Your Voices Down; The English Could Walk In At Any Minute

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#30

"Will You Update Your Portrait, Caesar?" "No, I Don't Think I Will"

"Will You Update Your Portrait, Caesar?" "No, I Don't Think I Will"

Evening-Raccoon7088 Report

#31

The Strike Was Truly An Up And Down Kind Of Affair

The Strike Was Truly An Up And Down Kind Of Affair

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#32

Sick Balcony

Sick Balcony

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King Joffrey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure but show us how the common man lived in ancient Rome and then we'll compare...

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#33

Don't Be Tricked By The Puppets, Morty...

Don't Be Tricked By The Puppets, Morty...

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littlesaresare
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been reading a book of the original Grimm fairytales. All I can say is... they were all high on bread mold, right?

J. F.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those were stories for adults as well - it's like Disney would take the movie "Aliens" and tone it down to be suitable for kids

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#34

'look Who's Laughing Now, Pierre!'

'look Who's Laughing Now, Pierre!'

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#35

My Stomach Hurts

My Stomach Hurts

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#36

Weird How Many People Found Their True Calling During The Prohibition

Weird How Many People Found Their True Calling During The Prohibition

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#37

'are You Sure You Don't Want To Come In And Browse My Bedding Wares, Hans? You Look Tired From All That Intimidation You're Trying To Do'

'are You Sure You Don't Want To Come In And Browse My Bedding Wares, Hans? You Look Tired From All That Intimidation You're Trying To Do'

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Yudi Holtsberg
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The man wearing a iron cross is a ww1 Jewish German veteran named is Richard stern. As an act of defiance is standing in front of his store.

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#38

Like Father Like Son

Like Father Like Son

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#39

Me Who Knows That They Were Built By Aliens:*signature Look Of Superiority*

Me Who Knows That They Were Built By Aliens:*signature Look Of Superiority*

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#40

Funny How Pop Culture Can Change How We Remember History

Funny How Pop Culture Can Change How We Remember History

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#41

We Are Perfect

We Are Perfect

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Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Killed the natives, stole their lands, owned slaves, had racist laws, stole tea, betrayed Britain...

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#42

I Wish Jesus Gave Me A Cool Nickname

I Wish Jesus Gave Me A Cool Nickname

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#43

The War Never Really Left Him

The War Never Really Left Him

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King Joffrey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, this is me as a kid. Also had a grandpa who fought in the war and heard all the stories way before I was ready to really comprehend them.

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#44

Domestication Always Comes With A Heavy Price

Domestication Always Comes With A Heavy Price

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Life is ?
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some dogs cannot take sounds of carhorns but bark like a fire alarm.

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#45

Rip Captain Cook

Rip Captain Cook

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure if the indigenous people of America knew what would happen, they would have killed every stranger who set foot on their soil.

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#46

You Know, I'm Something Of A Philosopher Myself

You Know, I'm Something Of A Philosopher Myself

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#48

"Lenin, Stop Taking Selfies! We Have A Civil War To Win!"

"Lenin, Stop Taking Selfies! We Have A Civil War To Win!"

johnlen1n Report

#49

'mamma Mia, Have You Never Heard Of The Frogmen At Alexandria?!'

'mamma Mia, Have You Never Heard Of The Frogmen At Alexandria?!'

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J. F.
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, they helped the USSR by invading Greece and delaying operation Barbarossa by 5 weeks into the winter months when they called the Wehrmacht for support - that was indeed quite effective

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#50

"What About Engineering, Anakin? That Could Be Fun, Right?"

"What About Engineering, Anakin? That Could Be Fun, Right?"

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get very tired of the idea that degrees in humanities are not "useful". They are useful. Universities are about learning and growing as a person and citizen and are not meant to be on the job training. Cutting humanities funding screws over society as a whole.

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