Many people mistakenly see history as a boring subject. Learning about events that happened years ago or people who are long gone may seem like a waste of time. But the truth is, it’s actually much more than memorizing a whole lot of dates, figures, and names. And it can be pretty entertaining, too!
Just take a look at ther/HistoryMemessubreddit, which is purely dedicated to sharingepic jokesabout the old days. More than 3.6M self-described history experts continuously share hilarious takes on our past and mix in a bit of fun to the facts.
We have selected some of the best posts from the r/HistoryMemes online community to show that history is anything but dull. Continue scrolling, and let us know which ones you enjoyed most!
#1 Impressive
#2 History Meme
#3 I Am Confusion
Since 2012, the r/HistoryMemes subreddit has amassed more than 3.6M members with several thousand researchers scrolling through the forum at any given time. Online communities like this one show us how learning events that happened before us can help us better understand the present.
Finding the time to explore history is always a great idea. This way, we fill our heads with compelling knowledge and valuable context that allows us to see how our actions shaped the world. While not all things in our past are fun and full of joy, there are plenty of interesting topics for virtually everyone.
To learn more about this subject and why history buffs enjoy looking at hilarious Reddit memes about our past, we reached out to Darren R. Reid, Ph.D., a lecturer in history at Coventry University. When asked whether funny pictures and jokes can be used in teaching, he said that they are a great way of communicating complex ideas in a fun and accessible way.
#4 It Really Do Be Like That (Via: @russiansinlondon)
#5 We Love Petty
#6 Thanks For Clarifying
#7 History Meme
“They can be very clever and I think students really appreciate using memes to help them to connect to the topics they’re studying,” Reid told We. When so many people enjoy encountering funny history memes online, the lecturer said that “when they’re good, they are intelligent, witty, and fun. They also help people easily understand (and remember!) important events or ideas.”
While some believe that history is a dull subject that is slowly losing its significance in the academic world, Reid said that it’s, in fact, one of the most enduring and popular ones.
“Practically everyone, at some point in their life, will set out to learn something about the past. History memes let us explore that enthusiasm in a new way, connecting with a broader and younger audience.”
“If someone doesn’t love history yet, they probably haven’t learned about the area and period that will capture their imagination,” he continued. “Memes are a great way to tell stories in a really accessible way — and they help people to learn about compelling chapters of the past that they didn’t even know existed.”
#8 It Do Be Like That
#9 History Meme
#10 History Meme
#11 Big Brain Meme
Studying the little details, even if from Reddit memes, that surround a specific era or event can help us deepen our knowledge and grasp why things happened the way they did. After all, learning about our past can change our perspective, improve critical thinking, and let us come up with new brilliant ideas. While the basic facts provide us with context, understanding how civilizations, cultures, and governments evolved is the truly fascinating part.
#12 I Still Do This
#13 You’ve Got My Support
#14 Quit Horsing Around
#15 Father Of John Wick
If you’re wondering why people should pursue history at all and why there are so many members in the r/HistoryMemes subreddit, it “teaches you how to investigate complex, world-shaping events,” Reid explained. “It teaches you how to systematically find and analyze evidence. It teaches you how to communicate your ideas. At Coventry University, our students even learn how to make documentaries.”
“People who study history become critical thinkers with a powerful analytical toolset and the ability to communicate complex ideas,” he added. “Those are incredibly important skills — and they develop them whilst learning about the past and the forces that have shaped our society.”
Reid stressed that studying history is not just about gaining knowledge: “It’s about gaining important skills that can be used to find success in a dizzying array of jobs and careers.”
#16 First Roman Meme
#17 Inspired By A Different Post Made By U/Modshave2muchpower
#18 I Love How The Horseshoe Crab Refuses To Evolve
#19 The Great War Was Just One Big Tragedy
#20 More Like Months
However, with so much information and funny history memes floating around the web, not every historic truth or detail is true. Some might even believe in false facts and bogus theories without actually knowing they are incorrect. Reid explained that we must check our sources. “The internet is an incredible tool, but it is also responsible for producing and disenchanting a lot of bad information.”
#21 Absolute Queen
#22 Somebody Wanna Tell Him?
#23 After One Of Stalin’s Speeches People Were So Scared To Be The First One To Stop Clapping That The Applause Went On For 11 Minutes. Eventually The Director Of A Paper Factory Was The First One To Sit Down. That Night He Was Arrested And Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison
#24 The More You Know
“Don’t take anything for granted,” he said. Today, we can find documents, letters, speeches, and many more sources quite quickly, so it’s always important to check how people support their points. “Look to the works of credible scholars to ensure the accuracy of whatever you’ve read or whatever you intend to produce,” the lecturer added.
But for now, let’s return to our selection of Reddit memes on historical events, shall we? There’s still plenty of them on this list for you to check out!
#25 Deep Stuff
#26 Sounds Like A Donda Bar
#27 For The Glory Of Rome
Darren R. Reid advised you to be curious and explore the past. “Learn the lessons our ancestors teach us through their words and actions. Learning about the past is one of the best ways to understand why we — all of us — act the way we do.”
#28 On October 26 2001, An Entire Country Decided To Wipe Their Ass With Their Own Constitution.
#29 Family Tree Goes Brrrrrrr
#30 Gotta Respect The Ogs
#31 Come On Bruv
#32 Goes For Almost Every Movie
#33 Smart Tactic
#34 Tanegashima Go Bang
#35 Stock Market Hurts So Bad Rn
#36 Who’s Ready To Lose A Few Limbs And Earn A Whole Penny?
#37 Two Cities Famous For History Of Slave Trade
#38 We Need More Chungus
#39 Please Help Me
#40 Guilty Pleasure
History can be humorous and enlightening, much like how dinosaur themes remain entertaining. Just as history memes provide a fresh look at the olden days, dinosaur puns shed light on prehistoric times in a fun way.
For more prehistoric humor, explore these hilarious dinosaur jokes that bring these ancient giants to life.
#41 Sadge
#42 Ulysses Has No Time For This White Supremacist Bullshit
#43 Ouch That One Hurts
#44 Who’s Down?
#45 Good Thinking
#46 I’m A Disappointment
#47 Aliens Do Exist
#48 A Good Thanksgiving Dinner Convo Starter For You All (Penicillin Wouldn’t Be Discovered Until 1928)
#49 It All Makes Sense Now
#50 The Good Ole Days
#51 Ethiopia Appreciation Post
#52 I Came, I Saw, I Got Misquoted
#53 Tea Merchants
#54 History Meme
#55 Not A Conflict You Expect
#56 Team Trees, Circa 1800s
#57 We All Know The Deal
#58 You Know What Time It Is
#59 I Hear Symphonies In My Head
#60 Loneeeely, I’m Mr Lonelyyyyy
#61 Don’t At Me
#62 I Aways Thought That Tumblr Invented That Word
#63 He Is A Bit Stupid, Just A Bit…
#64 Let People Enjoy What’s Enjoyable Jeeze
#65 What Happened To Your Country? It Got Wololoed
#66 We Missed A Step, You Guys
#67 I’m Scared
#68 Need Some God
#69 Was Listening To Bush’s Post 9/11 Speech And Though Of This
#70 Shoutout To Portugal
#71 Papa Elon Got Nothing On Musa
#72 @kairoshq Is The Best Account You’re Not Following!
#73 Buddy Is Onto Something
#74 It’s Hsrd Being The King Of Cocaine. Only Buying Hippos Can Keep Pablo Happy
#75 Here They Come!
#76 How Original
#77 Pure Power
#78 Comment Which One You Are
#79 I Wish They Did
#80 In September Of 1944, 9 U.s Pilots Ejected Out Of Their Planes Onto The Japanese Island Of Chichi Jima. 8 Of Them Were Captured, Executed, And Ritually Cannibalized By Japanese Soldiers. The Sole Survivor, George H.w Bush, Landed Far Away From The Island In The Water, And Was Later Rescued
#81 Spoiler Alert: He Gets Eaten By A Goddess’ Private Part
#82 Einstein Was Offered The Presidency Of Israel In 1952, But Turned It Down, Stating: “I Am Deeply Moved By The Offer From Our State Of Israel, And At Once Saddened And Ashamed That I Cannot Accept It.”
#83 Remember Kids, If A Woman With A Mask Walks UPS To You In A Dark Alley And Asks If She’s Pretty, Say “Maybe” And Run!
#84 Ahh S**t Here We Go Again
#85 Me So Smart
#86 Happy 93rd Anniversary Of The Character That Ruined Public Domain
#87 Just Two Kings Appreciating Each Other
#88 He Was Also The Last Republican Elected President Without Winning The South
#89 But Chernoooooobyl
#90 What The F……..
#91 Stumped Em
#92 You Better Not Complain About More Conquests.
#93 The Day I Discovered What A Real Warhammer Looked Like, My Disappointment Was Immeasurable And My Day Was Ruined
#94 I Guess You Could Call The Battle Of Messines…a Banger
#95 Should He Be Remembered Positively Or Negatively?
#96 Never Get Obsessive And Go Down Wikipedia Rabbit Holes
#97 I Know When I’m Lost, Time To Grind Again
#98 Most Of Them Are Wholesome Af
#99 Kentucky Please Excuse Yourself
#100 I Thought Krakens Were Real Though
#101 Booo!
#102 Too Much Undeserved Abuse Given To The French
#103 Oh Canada
#104 The Number Of Impaled Ottoman Soldiers Has Really Spiked
#105 “Importing”
#106 About Time
#107 He Would’ve Loved Spotify Wrapped
#108 Africa
#109 Cato Was Not Expecting That. More Context In The Comments
#110 A Early Milestone For Any History Buff
#111 Epic Chernobyl Meme
#112 Playing The Long Game…
#113 Marshall Zhukov Was Introduced To Coke By Eisenhower After Ww2, The Man Then Asked For Them To Be Secretly Shipped Into The Soviet Union.
#114 Who Will Win
#115 That Shit Heat
#116 No, Just Because A Staggering Amount Of Soviets Died Does Not Mean They Did The Most To Defeat Nazi Germany. With That Said, The Soviet Union Truly Was The Primary Cause For Nazi Germany’s Defeat And Claiming Otherwise Is Foolishness
#117 It’s Legacy Lives On Through Our Glorious Memeing
#118 What A King
#119 It Has Really Accelerated Since Industrial Period
#120 Also, During The French Revolution, Spectators Could Buy Souvenirs, Read A Program Listing The Names Of The Victims, Or Even Grab A Quick Bite To Eat At A Nearby Restaurant Called “Cabaret De La Guillotine”
#121 Neutral Swiss
#122 Maybe Casear Was A Bad Guy
#123 The Csx 8888 Inccident Was A Time When A Train Was Driving With No Driver And One Police Officer Legit Tried To Soot At It
#124 Temper, Temper
#125 History Meme
#126 Yikes
#127 Saucy Boi
#128 “Oh Yeah We Are Totally A Serious Company With A Bunch Of Employees!” (More Context In Comments)
#129 It Do Be Like That
#130 You Guys