Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Share this article:

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

History’s Hidden Oddities: 18 Strange Trivia Facts You Didn’t Learn In School
13

“Think You Know History?”: Prove It By Identifying These 18 Absurd Facts

ADVERTISEMENT

We’ve probably all heard or faced some strange things—maybe something weird happened to you or someone you know. Well, history is no different. It is full of mysteries and even strange, bizarre & oddly weird truths. If we were to look more closely, at all times and for all kinds of people (yes, even famous figures like Cleopatra or Julius Caesar), odd things happened. But let’s be real—we don’t actually learn these things in school.

Since you enjoyed the first weird history quiz, we’re back with more bizarre truths. This time, you’ll be treated to 18 such historical facts that might sound fake but actually occurred.

So, it’s time to dust off your history books—let’s start this oddly weird quiz! 📜

RELATED:
    Ancient Greek architecture with caryatids under a vibrant sky capturing bizarre history.

    Image credits: Hoàng Vũ

    Ic_chat

    Trivia Discover These 18 Weird History Truths

    1. In 1518, a mysterious "dancing plague" struck the city of Strasbourg. What happened?

    People uncontrollably danced for days and weeks until they collapsed

    The government banned music, fearing it was caused by demons

    A single woman danced in public for a full year

    The event never happened

    2. Which animal did the CIA try to turn into a spy during the Cold War?

    Rat

    Cat

    Dolphin

    Penguin

    3. Is it true or false that Cleopatra lived closer in time to the invention of the iPhone than to the building of the Great Pyramid?

    True

    False

    4. What was the original purpose of bubble wrap when it was invented in 1957?

    A way to package fragile goods

    An alternative to glass windows

    A child’s play mat

    A new type of wallpaper

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    5. What did Julius Caesar do after being captured by pirates in 75 BCE?

    Hired them into his army

    Raised his ransom

    Challenged their leader

    Claimed to be a god

    6. What did the builders of the Great Wall of China use to bind the bricks?

    Egg whites

    Tree sap

    Sticky rice

    Camel milk

    7. What rare event happened in the Sahara Desert in 1979?

    Snowfall

    A river formed

    Monthlong sandstorm

    An earthquake

    8. How long did the shortest war in history last?

    Less than an hour

    2 hours

    One day

    One week

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    9. Is it true or false that Vikings wore horned helmets into battle?

    True

    False

    10. What strange rule did the first modern Olympic Games have?

    No athletes could be over 5'8" tall

    Only amateurs could compete

    Winners were crowned with real gold crowns

    Every competitor had to grow a mustache

    11. What odd method did ancient Persians use to make decisions?

    Rolling a dice

    Consulting a dog’s reaction

    Asking their oldest citizen

    Debating sober and drunk

    12. What did King Louis XIV of France reportedly do only three times in his life?

    Wear the same outfit

    Laugh out loud

    Take a bath

    Write his own name

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    13. What was unusual about the first vending machine in ancient Greece?

    It could only be used once a day

    It dispensed red wine

    It dispensed holy water

    It dispensed scrolls with philosophical quotes

    14. Is it true or false that the Mongol Empire once used catapulted plague-infected bodies as an early form of biological warfare?

    True

    False

    15. What did Teddy Roosevelt do after being shot during a speech?

    Chased the gunman himself

    Kept giving the speech

    Didn't realize he had been shot

    Wrapped his wound and went home

    16. What was the reason behind creating the Guinness World Records?

    To track bizarre human feats

    A pub argument about a bird

    To settle sports debates

    A marketing idea for Guinness

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    17. What odd superstition did medieval people believe about sneezing?

    Only happened under a full moon

    It meant a longer life

    Your soul could escape

    A sign of good luck

    18. Is it true or false that there were female gladiators?

    True

    False

    Share on Facebook
    Gerda K.

    Gerda K.

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Read less »
    Gerda K.

    Gerda K.

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Erika Saikovskytė

    Erika Saikovskytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Read less »

    Erika Saikovskytė

    Erika Saikovskytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    BP trying to get me to subscribe to Premium so I can compare my stats with others? BP is vastly overestimating my competitiveness.

    Kiki Likes Sweets
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    18/18. Meh, not that hard, every one has been a " fun fact" on BP about a hundred times!!!

    Mike F
    Community Member
    22 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    15/18 today. As usual, it was good but for once Gerda didn't make a monkey out of me! 😂

    Load More Comments
    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    BP trying to get me to subscribe to Premium so I can compare my stats with others? BP is vastly overestimating my competitiveness.

    Kiki Likes Sweets
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    18/18. Meh, not that hard, every one has been a " fun fact" on BP about a hundred times!!!

    Mike F
    Community Member
    22 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    15/18 today. As usual, it was good but for once Gerda didn't make a monkey out of me! 😂

    Load More Comments
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda