5 Misconceptions From History You Should Stop Believing

It’s time to debunk the nonsense

A photograph of Grace Kelly by Bud Fraker, 1954 (Wikimedia Commons)

Disinformation is becoming a huge problem.

With the rapid rise of social media, it’s never been easier to deceive and manipulate large numbers of people.

The subject of history isn’t immune to this problem. Despite all the books and documentaries available to us, there are still plenty of bad influences out there.

So, next time you hear someone mention one of the following misconceptions, make sure you correct them.

Misconception #1: The Christian Crusades Against Islam Were Unprovoked

An illustration of Pope Urban II by Artaud de Montor, 1842 (Wikimedia Commons)

In 1095, Pope Urban II gave a sermon at the Council of Clermont, calling for Christians to unite and take Jerusalem from the Muslims. This, according to some, was an unprovoked declaration of war.

But only those with a narrow view of history would come to such a conclusion.

The origins of Islam date back to 622, when the Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina. Muhammad sanctioned eighty-six military campaigns against…