Misconceptions

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In a world without modern medicine or vaccines, Medieval populations stricken by the plague turned to strange and desperate remedies they hoped would save their lives.

Alfred Hitchcock helped popularize the modern mimosa. Discover how the famous director became unexpectedly connected to the brunch cocktail.

Charles Manson may not have been the clinically insane person or criminal mastermind you may think he was. Here are seven things people get wrong about Manson, his Family, and the Tate-LaBianca murders.

The Victorian Era might not have been as gloomy or prudish as some films make it seem.

From blacksmiths to cowboys, these essential jobs defined everyday life on the rugged frontier.

The historical narrative that began with one Italian scholar and lasted for centuries.

Did Homer get Greek history right? Explore what 'The Odyssey' reveals about ancient hospitality, sailing, armor, and Bronze Age historical blunders.

The Wild West is associated with lawlessness, near constant violence, dusty towns filled with gun-toting, and Stetson-wearing cowboys. But just how much of this image is true?

How a single word changed the meaning of one of history's most famous phrases.

Ernest Hemingway is famous for his drinking, but he never said "write drunk, edit sober." Discover the true, surprising origin of this legendary literary myth.

Most of our ideas of what ancient Greece was like come from Hollywood's misrepresentations.

Life on the American frontier was filled with dangers, and many settlers relied on strange beliefs to make sense of them.

In medieval Europe, couples sometimes got married without attending their own wedding. Here's how proxy marriages actually worked.

That motivational Henry David Thoreau quote might actually be a dupe. From "go confidently in the direction of your dreams" to "happiness is like a butterfly," these lines were never said by Thoreau at all.

Stories of pioneer life have been told through books, movies, and TV shows. But what are the myths?

From Mulan to William Tell, these icons started movements and starred in Disney movies...but weren't actually real.

While Game of Thrones showed the worst side of the bedding ceremony in its third season, the historical tradition is a little more complicated.

Frida Kahlo has become heavily mythologized, but some misconceptions—including her birth year and the idea that she was unknown during her life—are especially persistent.

From secret messages to the Liberty Bell, some of what you might believe about July 4, 1776 and the Declaration of Independence may be entirely incorrect.

Some of the Founding Fathers spread misinformation and owned slaves. Here are five false beliefs you might have about the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin.