Bizarre Stories From History That Are Somehow Real

Math and science might be governed by a set of rules, constants, and unchangeable truths, but there are no such restrictions on human behavior. That's a good thing — it's led to instances of incredible ingenuity and the development of inventions that have changed the course of history, but it's also led to a lot of really weird stuff.

They say truth is stranger than fiction. Open a history book, and you'll see why. History is packed with incredibly odd moments, and it's sometimes difficult to learn the facts behind these strange stories. But if you wade through all the silliness, superstition, and speculation, you can discover the real stories behind history's bizarre events.

The truth isn't always stranger than fiction, despite the old cliché, but sometimes the truth is so odd, it makes even the most imaginative fabrications feel dull and uninspired. The real world is brimming, in fact, with silly, outlandish, and fake-sounding facts that are 100% true. Stretch your neck — it's double-take time.

There is never an easy time to be alive. The New York Times claims that, in 3,400 years of recorded history, humanity has only been at peace for a grand total of 268 years, or eight percent of the time. And as world diplomacy becomes increasingly complex and national interests rub up against one another, it doesn't seem like we'll be adding to that total anytime soon...

Every country, religion, and cultural group has a different idea about the best way to send off their dead. Burial practices can even vary regionally, and they've changed an awful lot over time, too. In Ancient Egypt, mummification was the gold standard. If you were upper class, the only way you could hope to achieve eternal life was if your body was perfectly preserved for its passage into the other world. For everyone else, well, you could get a budget mummification and just hope for the best.